Page 6 of Gifted

Chapter Four

~ Poppy ~

Butterflies tumbled in my belly as we walked back toward the hotel, my hand again wrapped in his. I could get used to that. Maybe, I could stretch it longer than these few days.

His statement still lay between us. I could go with him to finish the holiday break with his family. And I wanted that more than I could say. Except, I didn’t want to go as his student—which I wasn’t—or the poor girl who was all alone.

So I let the invitation remain open for the moment. I’d see how things progressed the next couple days and then I’d decide. Something inside me said I’d tell him yes. I didn’t want to be alone. Wasn’t that why I kept going to a high school where I was the weird, odd girl out? I didn’t mesh with the rest of them, but I didn’t want to be alone, either. Turned out, being alone in the crowd was better than being alone in the hulking home where I’d grown up.

“I need to get hold of the group still,” Noah said after we’d crossed the street. The snow pelted us, swirling so hard it nearly blinded me. Most of the businesses were dark, but the hotel was a blur of light up ahead. The sky overhead was invisible other than a veil of white snow.

“Do you think you’ll get a signal?” I asked. I kinda hoped he didn’t. Which was ridiculous. But I wanted to stay wrapped in this bubble with Noah for as long as possible.

“If not, I’ll see about dialing one of the chaperones via a land line. The hotel must have one I can pay to use. I had some bars at the pub, though. It was just too loud to call.”

“Yeah, those skiers were something.” They hadn’t wound down for a second while we were there.

“Skiers?”

“Yeah, didn’t you hear them? Those guys from Texas? They’re in town to ski at a place twenty miles north of here. Guess they got more than they bargained for with the blizzard. One of them was talking about the shuttle to take them to the slopes after this clears some.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t realize you were that interested in them.”

Was he…jealous?

“I wasn’t, not really,” I defended in a hurry. “I’ve just learned to…” I shrugged. “Pick up on things. I hear a lot of stuff while people are talking. Even if I’m paying attention to someone else, like I was to you. I heard everything you said.”

Heard everything. Saw how he carefully ate with manners that reminded me of my father, who’d grown up in high society. I’d also seen how Noah’s eyes flitted up to look at me at regular intervals. Each fleeting glance trailed over me like fingertips exploring my body. At least, what I imagined that would feel like.

“Good,” he answered. It took me a second to realize what he was talking about as I got worked up by thinking of how he made me feel.

“How long do you think it will be before we can go home?” I asked, wondering how long I’d have this alone time with him. Even stranded here, I might not have much at all. He might leave me on my own during the day, while he did something else. Ground me to the hotel room since I’d been naughty and gotten us stranded here.

Hell, Poppy. Stop the creeper thoughts.

“I don’t see us getting out of here until the day after Christmas, at least. And that’s if they can get things cleared enough for the train to get through after the blizzard. It was forecast to go at least through tomorrow and then it’s Christmas… I’ll look at booking flights for the twenty-sixth to be safe.”

I could have swooned from excitement over that. Today was the twenty-third. That gave me three nights of sharing a tiny hotel room with him. Of course, how small it was remained to be seen. Perhaps, it wasn’t all that minuscule at all, just not as big as the other rooms. That would be disappointing.

“Okay. Sounds good. I’m sorry again. To hold you up.”

He raised a brow, giving me the tiniest one-sided smirk.

“Are you? Sorry?”

I nibbled my lip then shook my head, looking up at him through my lashes.

“Hmm,” he hummed. His fingers tightened around mine as he opened the hotel door and let me go in ahead of him, never letting go. “I never pegged you as one who liked to play with fire, Miss Kerrigan.”

His words were so quiet, almost inaudible, and I wondered if he’d meant them only for himself.

“People underestimate me all the time,” I replied, equally quiet when he moved beside me again to walk to the desk.

“Ah, Mr. And Mrs. Kessler. Welcome back,” Niles, the hotel’s owner, greeted us. “Yer room is ready. It’s cozy, but fer newlyweds an absolute belter.”

Okay…

I supposed that meant it would be good. I warmed all over at being called Noah’s wife.

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