Page 38 of Wintertime Heat (Holiday 1)

That was okay. I didn’t feel particularly attractive right now.

I step out of the bathroom, with Steven’s black shirt hanging from my small frame. His shirt reaches to my knees, and I was trying to roll up the sleeves.

He was sitting on his bed, resting his elbows on his thighs, his hands clasped together loosely, a frown on his face. His suit jacket was gone, and his sleeves were rolled back till his elbows. His hair was mussed up as if he had been running his fingers through it.

He looks up and I don’t miss the way his eyes move over my form, and I shift, awkwardly.

“It looks better on you than it does on me,” He seems to have intended it as a joke, but neither of us smile, his voice holding an undertone that makes me swallow.

“Come here,” He held out his hand and I find myself making my way to him.

Standing in front of him, I feel a little shy, uncertain.

He holds both my hands and peers into my face, “Are you okay?”

I hesitate, “A lot better. The whole thing shook me. I’m sorry for crying all over you.”

Steven grins, a boyish expression, but there is a hint of anger in his eyes, “You can cry all over me any time.”

It seems to me that all the while I had been in the bathroom, he had been trying to calm himself down.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I study his face, “I don’t think I should.”

“Why not?”

“Because you seem ready to commit murder, and I’m not altogether sure that’s a very good idea.”

Steven doesn’t say anything, lowering his head to stare at my fingers, “I am going to find out who this asshole is, whether you tell me or not. And then I’m going to make him regret for ever laying his hands on you.”

I pull my hands away from him and wrap them around my middle, uncertainty and confusion rearing their heads in my brain, “Why do you care so much?”

I thought he wanted me in his bed.

This went a step beyond that.

He just watches me, those gray eyes holding a mixture of exasperation and annoyance, “Because I care about you, you stupid woman.”

Chapter 12

My eyes widen at his words and my face flames.

“I thought – I mean, you were always –“ I stammer.

Steven glares at me, “Yeah, I’m aware. You think I’m some playboy who tosses women aside after I’m done with them. You haven’t exactly been subtle about what you think about me.”

I purse my lips, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such a…”

“A snob?” Steven raises a brow, making me feel even worse about how I had been treating him.

“Yeah, sorry.”

His smile fades, as he studies my face, “Have you eaten?”

I shrug, “I don’t really have any appetite. I’ll just go home and sleep.”

Steven gets up, “You can spend the night here. The weather is too bad for anyone to be out right now.”

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