Page 73 of Ski You Later
“Is the prettiness of those boots going to help you over the snowbank?”
He doesn’t move a muscle as he watches me take one step down onto the foot bar of his truck. “Oh, they definitely will. Want to know how?”
“Strangely, I do,” he responds.
I extend my leg to step on top of the bank, and as I attempt to leave the truck, Roman shoots towards me. He steps clear over the two-foot-tall bank, his boot landing in the snow as he suddenly stands before me.
We’re the same height now, and I can’t help but lean in close so I can whisper in his ear. “The guy I’m dating would never let me slip in shoes this pretty.”
The menace of his narrowed gaze is diminished by the obvious smile he’s fighting before my eyes. “The guy you're dating would never let you slip. Period,” he retorts.
“You flirt,” I tease. He shakes his head at me, and I take the hand he has extended.“I don’t want you to slip when I lean on you, so maybe hold onto the door,” I say absent-mindedly.
He chuckles as I step out of the truck and onto the very edge of the giant bank. “I’m not going to slip.” His tone is self-assured, as if the very idea of him falling is ridiculous.
“I’m just saying, my weight might tip you over. I’m heavier than I look, Huxley,” I say simply.
His brow furrows. “What are you even talking about?” He asks with genuine confusion.
“Well, if I slip, I could accidentally take you down.”
He’s looking at me as if I’m speaking another language. “You wouldn’t,” he says dismissively.
“I would!” I say as my voice rises in protest. I can’t tell if his resulting smile is infuriating or amazing, but the butterflies in my stomach lead me to believe the latter.
“You’re what? Two feet tall? I’m not too worried, Langley.”
“I am five three! I’m tall for a woman!”
That causes a full-bellied laugh to come from him, and I do my best to maintain my unimpressed expression. “Maybe tall for a gnome, but not a woman.”
My jaw drops. “A gnome! You’re comparing me to a gnome before our first date has even started?” This boy's nerve is astounding, even more so as a feline smile graces his face.
“Love, we’ve been dating for quite some time now. This is just the first time you’ve accepted it.”
His words shock me almost as much as his actions as he grasps my waist and asks if I’m ready. “Ready? Ready for what?” I ask in confusion.
“I’m going to lift you over the bank, so your shoes don’t get ruined.” He says this so casually, as if I’m not a professional athlete who weighs over a hundred and seventy pounds.
“You can’t lift me. I’m a professional athlete Roman, I’m pretty heavy.”
“Just zip it, Langley,” he sighs. The hand around my waist pulls me flush with his chest, while the other wraps around the backs of my knees.
I can feel the movement of his long leg stepping over the snowbank, and then his weight shifts as he swings the other one around. My feet are gently placed on the sidewalk as I stare wide-eyed at him.
He leans over to shut my door, locking the truck and extending his hand to me in one fluid motion. “Holy cow, that was hot,” I say under my breath. I earn a chuckle and an eye roll from my man as he starts to pull me away.
“Where are we going anyway?” I ask and look around the semi-populated street. The people range from wearing full winter coats to short skirts and tank tops. I smile at those girls, impressed they got out of the house in those outfits.
“We are going, right here,” he says casually. He pulls open a heavy glass door, one of those fancy ones where the handles run along the entire thing. “After you.” Swooping his hand out dramatically, I add an exaggerated jaunt to my step as I walk inside.
It takes me a second to realize we’re currently in New Moon, which is one of the most expensive restaurants in the city. I only know because my parents went here for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, and even then, they booked a year in advance.
“Roman,” I whisper his name and attempt to pull him aside. “You don’t need to do something like this for our first date. I just want to spend time with you, I don’t care what we do.” Have I always wanted to eat here? Obviously, but I can’t let him do this as a first date.
His eyes visibly soften at my words, and I flush as he quietly approaches me. His palm rests on my hip and then slowly moves to circle my waist. I’m pulled flush against his chest as he leans down to whisper in my ear. “When you say things like that, all I want to do is treat you like this.”
The main entryway is empty as he pulls back and leaves a languid kiss on my cheek. The contact mixed with his new cedar cologne causes a million butterflies to erupt in my stomach.
