Page 6 of Snowed In With You

His head poked out of the top of his knit so quickly he got stuck, ‘What?’

I mumbled a curse under my breath, ‘I mean, your temperature, in like books and stuff werewolves always run hotter than normal humans and they take their shirts off all the time because the cold doesn’t bother them and–’

A hand covered my mouth and I looked up into Fletch’s face in surprise. It wasn’t fair really, it was beautiful here and he only looked more stunning against the snowy backdrop of fir trees and the lake off in the distance that was frozen solid. Whereas I was fairly certain my cheeks were fire engine red, my hair had started to freeze and I had just been rambling awkwardly about… werewolves? I groaned internally, it was a good thing I wasn’t trying to get with Fletcher because I had zero game. Like,zero.

‘Good to know more about what you were reading in the car. Wolf romances eh?’

‘No, I – they’re actually just paranormal romance,’ his smirk grew and I groaned, ‘let’s just get inside?’

‘Sure,’ he said with a chuckle and playful snap of his teeth, ‘I’ll get the bags.’

I nodded and made my way up the stairs to the lodge, it was made of wood and absolutely stunning, towering way above my head and looking like something out of a brochure against the snow. There was a keypad in place of a key and I searched in my phone for the code as the faint sound of Fletcher digging for the bags reached me. God, I hoped Rob and Tanya got here sooner rather than later. I wasn’t sure how much I trusted myself around Fletcher Harris, it had only been three or so hours since he’d picked me up and I’d already seen him shirtless. I could only pray the rest of the trip involved a lot more clothing and a lot less of Fletcher.

Chapter Five

Sara

I was dripping on the hardwood floors of the entryway by the time I made it inside, the snow melting as the central heating thawed my frozen fingers and toes. Fletcher dropped the bags inside the doorway and we took in the sprawling mass of the lodge in mutual awestruck silence.

‘Were they expecting more people or something?’ Fletcher said and I couldn’t help but agree, it was massive for just the four of us.

‘Well, I guess it’s good that we have so much space, right?’That way we can stay out of each other’s way.

Fletcher looked at me like he’d heard the thought, his posture stiffening again and his voice losing its easy rhythm when he said, ‘Ah, yeah, definitely.’

The silence was thick and awkward and I scooped up my duffel from the floor without looking at him. ‘Okay, well, I’m going to have a look around and find a room. See you... later?’

I glanced up and Fletcher nodded, he was facing the direction of the lounge, his jaw tight and arms crossed. I hesitated, things didn’t need to be this way. But as he turned to look at me I remembered how I’d felt when I’d woken up in bed the morning after Rob’s wedding. My head had been pounding with a hangover but I’d been smiling until I’d rolled over to find an empty bed and a sheet of paper that looked like it had been ripped from a hotel guide next to me. Nausea had risen up andtears had filled my eyes and standing here looking at Fletcher now, I didn’t know if I could bear to see his face for another moment.

So I turned away without another word and headed up the dark wood stairs, running my hand over the bannister as I walked, and claimed one of the large bedrooms just off from the main landing. There was a cushy green armchair and small side table tucked in one corner of the balcony that overlooked the lounge and I peered over it, jumping when I found Fletcher gazing up.

I stalked off to my room with a grumble. Yes, he was hot andyesvery briefly he’d made me feel things I hadn’t ever experienced before, but all of that had been ruined the second he’d snuck out the door.

I threw my duffel down onto the bed and growled when it bounced off again, hitting the floor with a thump that had Fletcher calling up. ‘I’mfine,’ I called back and he fell silent. God, please tell me Rob would be here soon.

I pulled out my phone and grimaced, I barely had one bar of signal – this place was pretty but not well connected. Though maybe that was supposed to be part of the appeal? The tiny red notification in the corner of the screen told me I had a voicemail so I hit loudspeaker and then play as I unpacked a few things and froze a few seconds later as Rob’s voice sounded out.

‘Hey, I’m guessing you’re on the road now and the signal might be spotty. Just wanted to let you know our flight has been delayed a little, there’s apparently a snow storm coming in and we’re waiting to find out if we can fly through it. I’ll keep you posted, but have fun in the meanwhile and we’ll see you soon.’

The message ended there and I felt my pyjamas slip out of my hands and hit the bed. Could this trip get any worse? First I had to carpool with Fletcher of all people, and then my brother’s flight was delayed and now I had to spend even longer alone withhim? Tears unexpectedly thickened my throat and I took a few deep breaths.

There was no need to be so dramatic, people hooked up and left early in the morning all the time, I was just one of many. I guess it hurt more because I knew Fletch, I trusted him and he had thrown that back in my face and spat on it for good measure.

A light shiver shook me as I sent Rob a quick message to say we’d arrived and then put my phone on charge.Maybe I should try out that sauna he’d mentioned.I was still absolutely freezing and my hair was now leaking icy water down my back, so I stripped off and tied it back, slipped on my old bikini top and bottoms and felt grateful I’d remembered to pack them even if it had been awkward for Fletch to point them out on the floor. Luckily, things were looking fairly tidy downstairs too. There was a whole row of fresh and fluffy white towels inside the mirrored, fitted wardrobe so I grabbed one and wrapped it around myself before heading back down the stairs and following a second set that took me to a basement level that smelled like water and wood.

I pulled open the heavy door to the sauna room and hung my towel on a row of hooks away from the shower – first rule of sauna etiquette, always rinse off before and after. I tipped my head up under the hot water and gave a sigh of relief. My hair plastered itself to my skull under the deluge and I felt my shoulders relax until an odd prickle on the back of my neck had my eyes flying open instinctively. It was then that I noticed the other towel hanging up and the steam curling slightly underneath the doorway to the sauna.

Fuck. Fletcher.

There was no way he hadn’t seen me, if I left now it would look like I was avoiding him – which I was, of course, but he didn’t need to know that. It would be rude. Plus, it’s not like I couldpretend I’d randomly run down here for a quick shower, in my bathing suit, when I had a perfectly nice en-suite upstairs.

Damn it.I knew what I was going to have to do now and I hated myself for it. I took one step towards the sauna and then another, sighing out a curse and then rushing forward all at once, careful not to embarrass myself further by slipping on the wet, cream-tiled floor. The door was glass and hot to the touch. I could see Fletch inside, sat on one level of the circular wooden benches with a towel wrapped around his waist.

He raised a brow as I walked into the dry heat, ‘Great minds, huh. Good thing you remembered your bottoms in the end, otherwise you’d be winging it like me.’

Oh God. Was he naked? Was that what he meant? That he’d forgotten or didn’t know to pack swimming trunks? I was glad I could blame the rising colour in my cheeks on the stifling temperature in the sauna but there was a gleam in his eye that told me he knew anyway.

‘Yeah, good thing,’ I laughed awkwardly and took a seat on one of the higher benches, letting my toes rest on the one just below. Fletcher stood abruptly and I jumped in alarm, his towel slid slightly and my heart palpitated, unsure whether I wanted it to fall completely or help him pull it up. I stayed frozen and he easily tugged the towel up like he hadn’t just almost flashed me. He picked up a weirdly long spoon and plunged it into a bucket, adding more water to the heated circle stone in the middle of the room. It hissed and steam instantly billowed out, the water droplets on my skin quickly evaporated only for sweat to replace them. I licked my lips, they felt like they were burning, but the heat was nice, if a little suffocating at first. I released a long sigh and leaned back on the bench, deciding to close my eyes and pretend Fletcher wasn’t there with me.

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