Page 17 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
Tilting his head slightly, he gazed at me with an almost puzzled expression. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Very nice.”
Why did he sound like that surprised him? Had he expected to run into the owners of the property and find them abhorrent?
“Okay, well, this has been… an experience. I’ll just—” I was about to turn and escape out the door when I noticed my laundry scattered all over the floor. He’d stepped over one of my bras to take my hand, and his foot was right next to my hot-pink boyshort underwear.
Pressing my lips together and hoping my face wasn’t flushed red, I crouched down to scoop my clothes back into the basket. Everything would have been fine, but he did the same. We both reached for my underwear and wound up lifting it together, our hands touching.
They were dirty. A mysterious and very handsome British man was holding my dirty underwear.
I pulled them out of his grip, and they snapped against my fist. He didn’t say a word. Just licked his lips and pushed some of my laundry closer to the basket.
“Thanks,” I muttered, wondering how I hadn’t already died of awkwardness.
It wasn’t that he was gorgeous—although he was—that had me wishing I could snap my fingers and disappear. He was a guest in my Airbnb, and I’d walked in on him unannounced, dumped my dirty laundry on the floor, and surprised him so much he’d dropped his towel.
Unprofessional didn’t even begin to cover it.
I finally got my clothes under control and stood, balancing the hamper on my hip. He straightened, still holding the towel around his waist. I opened my mouth to apologize for being the worst host in the history of ever, but he spoke first.
“Would you have dinner with me tonight?”
“I… what?”
“Dinner. A meal, usually takes place in the evening. Pleasant when shared with good company.”
I looked at him like he’d just suggested I jump out of an airplane. “Are you asking me out?”
His mouth twitched in that subtle grin again. “Is that so shocking?”
“I just…” I sputtered, not sure what to say. “No. No, I can’t.”
His eyebrows lifted. “No?”
Something about his apparent astonishment at being turned down snapped me out of my awkward daze. “That’s right. I said no. Is that so shocking?”
“It is a little bit, actually.”
I laughed softly. “Sorry, not sorry. I’m not available.”
“Of course not.” He shook his head. “I could hardly expect a woman like you to be single.”
“Oh, I’m single. Very single. And staying that way. I don’t need a boyfriend to be unavailable.”
His dark brow furrowed. I didn’t understand why he seemed so puzzled. I was being very straightforward.
“Anyway, sorry again for walking in,” I said. “It won’t happen again. Enjoy your stay.”
“Goodbye, Natalie.” The hint of awe in his voice—was that awe?—sent another shiver down my spine.
I hurried out before I could make things worse.
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh,” I said in time with my steps as I descended the stairs.
I flew in through the side door and shut it behind me with a relieved exhale. Nina was in the kitchen. Because of course she was.
She shot me a confused glance. “What were you doing outside?”
“I was going to do a load of laundry in the apartment.”
