Page 18 of Snowed in with the Grump

I lean back in my chair, placing the cutlery on the plate. “Poor Ava. Stuck in a cabin with me for entertainment.”

“I happen to love your company.”

“Why?” I laugh. “You’d get better conversation from a stone, I reckon. Sorry, Ava, but I’m no good at this.”

“Making conversation?”

I shrug but don’t say anything, further proving my point.

“Goodness knows I have a million questions to ask you. Ask me anything. I promise I won’t bite.”

She’s goddamn adorable. Once I stop laughing and catch my breath, I fiddle with my empty glass, searching for a casual way to ask the question on my mind.

“So, what do you have planned for the future when you return home?” I ask, keeping my tone light.

The conversation starter is hardly impressive, but I need to know if someone is waiting for her. My heart squeezes painfully.

Ava shrugs and traces delicate circles on the woodgrain. “You know, the usual routine—work, friends, same old, same old.”

“I understand routine, but I don’t know what yours looks like,” I say. “Tell me about your job. What are you doing for work these days? Sarah said you tried a few different things.”

Something shifts in her eyes. Her expression becomes flinty. “I bet she did. She's always scolding me about it. Your sister thinks I can't stick to one thing, that I'm restless, but it isn't true.”

“You haven’t found the right thing yet,” I offer.

I study her bowed head, wishing I could read her thoughts. Does the idea of going back home excite her or make her feel trapped?

“That's right.” She smiles, pointing her finger at me. “I found something I love doing, but it doesn't pay the bills.”

I shake my head. “Yep. Little Miss Sunshine. You were always altruistic. It's that soft heart of yours, but my sister is right. Love doesn't pay the bills.”

“Unless you're married to a sugar daddy,” she quips.

The beast inside me stirs. I don’t want to think about her with another man. “Is that likely?”

She glances up, surprise flitting across her face.

“A sugar daddy?” she asks incredulously. “Not my style. I'd rather eat glass than date a guy for his money.”

I refill both glasses, buying myself a few moments to decide how to continue.

I hold her gaze, willing her to confess if someone else has her heart. “No special someone to go home to then?”

Her voice takes on an edge. “What do you take me for? I’d have told you if there was.”

“Of course,” I mutter. Relief washes over me. Message received loud and clear.

A slow smile spreads across her face. “Besides, silly pants, no one makes me feel the way you do.”

My pulse quickens. I’m tempted to brush away the hair falling across her cheek but stop short.

I clear my throat and lean back. “Can you tell me more about this job you love?”

She drums her fingers on the table. “Well, how much time do you have?”

I smirk and glance out the window. “Take as long as you want,” I say dryly.

Ava's eyes light up as she talks about teaching English classes at the local library.

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