Page 2 of My Secret Snowflake
Should we really be doing formal introductions now?
“Iris Murphy,” I say. “Thank you. I was definitely stuck.”
“It was definitely a pleasure.” He flashes me a wicked grin.
I blush. Yes, my underwear was definitely showing. And I’m wearing my white full-coverage underwear—not at all sexy, especially with the cat pawprints. I close my eyes.Why did I have to wear those?
Still, given his smile and chiseled cheekbones, those dark-blue eyes, and his wavy blond hair, I’m sure he’s seen women in underwear before. Just maybe not granny underwear that looks like a cat stepped in pink paint and then massaged my butt.
“You’ve earned your good Samaritan points for the day,” I say wryly.
“I don’t think this qualifies,” he says with a slight laugh to his voice. “I couldn’tnothelp when it was like a luminous white flag of…”
My underwear was glowing? Great.
“Surrender?” I ask.
“That’s not quite what I thought, although it definitely works. Given that HR is right behind me, I’m not going to say anything else.” He gives me this half-smile that definitely hints at something more.
“You can’t leave me hanging,” I say.
“I didn’t. I’ll be off, then.” He backs up through the bushes, back to the gravel pathway that meanders among the cute little cottages at this French countryside resort.
That’s more in line with his usual behavior, according to the female office gossip. He’s gorgeous but aloof. All work and no play. I smooth down my skirt again. Patrick had the same complaint about me.My ice princess. That’s what he liked at first—that I wasn’t falling over myself to attract him. But that didn’t last. I sigh. I leave by the front door and meet Amelia and Jazmine outside.
Amelia takes her key card, saying thank you again and waving good-bye. Jazmine and I walk down the path to our suite in the building next door.
“I can’t believeSebastiancame to your aid,” Jazmine says. “I wouldn’t have pegged him as the type to rescue a damsel in distress.”
“I wasn’t a damsel in distress. I would’ve gotten myself over the ledge eventually,” I say.
Jazmine pats my back. “Of course. Still, sometimes it’s good to recognize when you need help. You don’t have to do it alone.”
“Why wouldn’t you have pegged him as the type to rescue a damsel in distress?” Let’s not drop that far-more-interesting line of conversation. Does Jazmine also see him as distant?
“I mean, he seems like a great guy, but he doesn’t socialize much,” Jazmine says. “But I think he was definitely smiling when he passed me. Maybe he’s just the ticket to get you over your good-for-nothing ex.”
I shake my head. “Should you—as HR—really be advising me to date a work colleague?”
Jazmine laughs. “You know I’m all for dating in the office. If I could only get Aaron to notice me. We’re in France, and it’s a romantic, moonlit night.”
I swoop my arm through Jazmine’s. “And I’m happy to be here with you.”
Jazmine and I had met at an office public service event this past summer where we’d been paired painting a classroom.This past summer. I’d spent all my free weekends flying to Patrick’s rock concerts. I hadn’t seen my friends or family at all. When I was really down about my breakup with Patrick, she made me the absolute sweetest care package—with bubble bath, a romantic comedy book, hot chocolate mix, and a gift certificate for a Thai restaurant around the corner from my parents’ house. I’d moved back home when I had to leave the apartment I’d shared with Patrick.
“I really hope our flights home don’t get canceled because of a labor strike, like on our way over,” she says.
“Me too. Tessa’s engagement party is Saturday night, and I’m both the DJ and tech person. I don’t want to miss that.” Earlier this year, I’d missed most of my sister’s engagement party because of a cyberattack.
My phone beeps.
“Who is that?”
“My brother. Asking if I’m okay. Liam’s become such a worrywart ever since I texted him when I…found Patrick.” I still can’t quite say when I found Patrickcheating. “And asked him to help me move out.”
“You’re doing much better. And I know you don’t want to hear this, but you and Sebastian talking through that window looked sparky tonight.” Jazmine pulls out her key and opens the door to our cottage. “Anyway, are you ready for your presentation tomorrow on cybersecurity?”
“Yes, I even discussed it with my new French infosec colleagues. I think I impressed them. I keep feeling like this is some sort of test and not just let’s-all-get-to-know-each-other.”
