Page 204 of Santa Daddies
She bit back all her questions as he pointed to a door. “Cleaning stuff is in there. Along with sheets for the spare bedroom. Will show you it.”
Alice followed behind him again as he headed down the hall and stopped at another door. He opened it. She wrinkled her nose at the musty smell. Had the door been shut for a while?
The bedroom was sparsely furnished. There was a double bed with an iron headboard. The bed was stripped and there were two wooden bedside drawers. That was it.
“Closet there. Bathroom there.” He gestured toward two doors. “Hasn’t been used in a while but should be clean.”
“Thank you. I know this is a big inconvenience.”
Alice waited to see if he would politely protest that it wasn’t. It’s what she would have done, even if she hadn’t meant it.
But he didn’t.
And that was kind of a relief. His honesty was blunt and bordering on rude.
However, it was also refreshing.
She had the feeling she wasn’t going to have to guess what he was thinking because he’d straight out tell her.
“It is,” he said. “But, can’t be helped. Seems like you were unprepared to drive in the mountains in December.” That was a definite note of disapproval in his voice.
“I expected to be here earlier today,” she explained. “I kept stopping to take photos. The scenery is so beautiful. In hindsight, I should have stayed the night in town before heading up here.”
He grunted. “Probably should have stayed there. Safer for a woman alone.”
Was that . . . a threat?
She gave him a nervous glance. He was a good-looking guy, and he’d probably be gorgeous if he smiled.
But she wasn’t going to suggest that to him.
“And that wasn’t a threat.”
Alice cleared her throat. “I wasn’t thinking that.”
A scowl filled his face and his glare was hot enough to have her swallowing nervously.
“What did I say to you about lying?”
Oh. Christmas bells.
“Sorry! I mean, um, oh, sugar dumplings.”
“Sugar dumplings? Seriously?” he asked.
“Yes, seriously. What is wrong with sugar dumplings?” she asked, feeling offended.
“Are sugar dumplings a thing?”
“Well, of course they are. They’re sweet dumplings coated in sugar. Yum. Yum.”
“Have you had one?”
Hmm. “No, I haven’t.”
“No lying,” he told her, going back to what they’d been talking about. “Or you’re out.”
That was harsh but fair, This was his house and she was the intruder. Not a guest.
