Page 32 of Suddenly Tempted
“I saw a helicopter,” he said, blowing out a puff of air that floated up into the blueness.
“Oh thank god, really?” she followed his line of sight, but the sky was clear. “Has it come for us? Where is it? Did it land?”
Devlin didn’t look down from the sky. His lips were moving and he looked as though he was trying to summon the helicopter back into view with dark magic. Darcy thought about doing the same and then remembered she wasn’t a witch and it would serve her better to try and find her coat.
“It’s gone, it didn’t see me,” Devlin said, catching Darcy’s eye as she walked in front of him.
“Probably because you were in a crevasse,” she joked without thinking, looking away flushed when she realised what she’d said.
For a moment she thought the joke was horribly timed, because Devlin’s expression was grave, but as she glanced back she saw his lips tugging into a smile as he hummed sceptically. His eyes snagged on hers, twinkling alpine green, and he burst into laughter. Darcy felt her heart soar.
“You got me there,” he said, cocking his head. “Next time, I’ll try to be less inconspicuous.”
“Do you think you’ll manage to be more high profile? Could be tough for you,” she replied. “Maybe I should flag down the helicopter when it comes back.”
And it would come back, wouldn’t it? Darcy felt her ribs ache as the coldness seeped into her clothes. Devlin’s smiling eyes warmed her a little.
“I could write my name in the snow,” Devlin suggested.
“Like the Bat Signal,” Darcy agreed, rubbing her arms. “Surely, for someone like you, it would summon help with a dash of psychological intimidation thrown in for good measure. Why didn’t I think of that yesterday? We could have been back in the resort by now.”
Her teeth were chattering so hard that Darcy was finding it difficult to get the words out and there was no chance her lips could crack a smile. But she felt like smiling. It filled her insides like warm treacle.
“You’re unbelievable,” he said, shaking his head. The corner of his mouth lifted and dimpled his cheek.
“So I’ve been told,” she replied, so cold her brain wasn’t finding the words as quickly as it should have been.
“Your coat,” Devlin said, the humour evaporating from his features as he seemed to notice how low her temperature had dropped.
“You threw it down the ravine,” Darcy chattered. “A . . . a . . . after it saved your life. B . . . b . . . bit mean if you ask me.”
Devlin grimaced, and struggled up to his feet, taking the hand Darcy offered. It took him a while because of his bad arm, but eventually he managed to unzip his own thermal jacket.
“I don’t need it,” she protested, as he shrugged it off. “You’re the one who fell in a big hole. You’re probably in shock.”
But when he held it to her, she could feel the heat radiating from it and she took it gladly, sliding it on. It carried his warmth with it, and his clean, minty scent, and she felt like she could cosy up right here and stay warm for ever. Devlin, on the other hand, looked absolutely freezing — dressed in nothing but two shirts and his suit jacket.
“Maybe we could share it?” Darcy suggested, lifting the coat flaps open and studying the inside lining.
Devlin pulled his hat down, a flop of hair poking out of the front, bothering his eyes. He tucked it away with his good hand and Darcy found herself wanting it to pop back out.
“Kind of you to offer,” he said, his lips twitching, “but I don’t think we’d both fit in it. And it would be hard to walk pressed up against you. You know, because one of us would have to go backwards or something.”
He looked away, flustered. Darcy thought he looked cute when he was embarrassed. It broke the wall around him. Turned him from all-round, ice-frosted sex god to cinnamon-roll boy next door.
Where did that thought come from?
“I didn’t mean at the same time,” she said, pulling her own hat down and wishing she could cover her whole face. “I meant take turns.”
Devlin’s eyes widened and he cleared his throat.
“Right,” he said, looking at the climb ahead of them. “Yeah, that probably makes more sense than . . .”
He didn’t finish his sentence. Instead he wiggled his hand and then tugged at his suit jacket, popping his lips.
“Let me know when you want a go,” Darcy said. “And I’ll make some room.”
She pushed gently against him, brushing his good arm with hers.
