Page 75 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
Should she ask for more flexibility to work remotely? Push that new software again? Or—
“Dahlia.” JJ’s voice held that hint of laughter that made it impossible to ignore.
She turned and faced him. He was sitting at the small table, his booted feet kicked out before him. “Much as I enjoy watching you pace, I promise you that no amount of fretting is going to make this storm come or go any quicker.”
She sighed, torn between amusement and annoyance. How could he be so laid-back all the time? Didn’t he have places to be and responsibilities to tend to as well?
He kicked the chair out that was sitting across from him. “I hate to be the one to break this to you, but there’s nothing you can do to control Mother Nature.” He arched his brows. “Your only option is to surrender.”
“Surrender?” She drew the word out in disgust, her lip curling in a sneer.
He laughed. “Relax. Kick back. Try to look on the bright side.”
She felt a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. “Please do not be Mr. Glass Half Full right now. I don’t think I can handle the glare of your sunny attitude.”
He tipped his head back with a full belly laugh. “Okay, fine. If you can’t find the fun in this situation, you can at least try to distract yourself so you don’t drive me nuts with your fretting.”
She rolled her eyes but found herself moving toward him like he had some sort of gravitational pull. “Fine. What do you suggest I do, then?”
He held up a stack of cards. “Come play with me.”
A laugh bubbled out of her at the boyish grin he wore.
“What do you want to play?”
He seemed to think it over. “Depends. What do you know?”
She smirked as she sank into the seat across from him, a new sort of energy making her toes tap against the floor. She always loved a good competition. “Well, I know gin, rummy, hearts, poker.” She leaned forward with a wink. “You name it, I probably know it.”
His laugh filled the cabin, and he leaned forward as well, setting the deck down between. “All right, then. Let’s go with a classic—Texas Hold’em.”
She couldn’t have stopped the grin that spread across her face if she’d tried. “You’re on.”
He narrowed his eyes with mock suspicion as she picked up the deck and started to shuffle.
“Why do I get the feeling that I ought to be scared?”
She laughed, the sound horrifyingly close to a giggle. “Because you probably should be, especially if we’re placing bets.”
He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. The lopsided grin he gave her had an edge to it that set off butterflies in her belly.
There was something wicked about it. Something… sexy.
She turned her gaze to the cards in her hands. Maybe he wasn’t the one who ought to be afraid. The way he made her feel?
If she had any sense at all, she’d be running scared.
26
JJ leaned back, keeping his hand close to his chest. “You are truly terrifying when you look at me like that.”
Dahlia’s expression didn’t budge. “This is my poker face.”
He grinned, delighted more than he could say by the wicked scowl she had him pinned under. “You know a poker face is supposed to be bland, right? It’s supposed to be unreadable.”
She arched a brow, but her glare didn’t waver. “You think you can read me right now, cowboy?”
He chuckled. “No. I have no idea if you have a good hand or not.”
