Page 32 of Ice To Meet You

Lola’s eyes gleamed with delight. “Did you ever find out her name? Who she was?”

At Matteo’s delayed response, my heartbeat hovered somewhere near my tonsils. Would he reveal the truth? Let everyone knowIwas the woman who’d kissed him?

He leaned back, the chair’s leather creaking under his shoulders. “Unfortunately, not. I had to leave, so we never talked properly.”

“How very Cinderella of her,” sneered Bruno, still clearlyput-out by his accidental cold shower. “Did she leave a ski pole behind as a calling card?”

Everyone at the table sent him a sharp look before turning back to Matteo.

“Sadly, no. Now I’m destined to always wonder what could’ve been,” he said.

Everyone around the table visibly deflated, leaning back.

“So romantic,” Lola said, searching Matteo’s face with her blue eyes.

At that moment, the band started, and Lola’s face lit up. “Let’s dance,” she said, glancing around the table. “Itismy birthday!”

Maurice immediately stood, taking Lola’s hand. They practically stampeded over Bruno and headed to join the small crowd gathering on the dance floor.

As the chatter at the table restarted, I turned to Matteo, my face on fire. I ran my hand over the cool of the tablecloth.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his eyes roaming over my face. “Did I go too far?”

I chewed on my bottom lip. He hadn’t, really. Nobody knew the truth. And how could they? Although he’d walked a fine line, apparently Matteo didn’t kiss and tell.

He sent me the tiniest smile, and I bunched the napkin under my hand. “I have to go.”

He blinked twice. “I’ll walk you back.”

I shook my head, looking around for my purse. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why?”

Oh, I don’t know. How about my sanity? My dignity? The more time I spent alone with Matteo, the greater the risk that I’d say something I shouldn’t. Do something I oughtn’t. Even now, trapped in the booth, it was hard to ignore his heat at my side and the brush of his breath on my cheek. I didn’t want a replay of the events on the mountain.

“You stay. Have fun.”Matteo didn’t move. “Please,” I said.

A furrow appeared between his brows, and he stood. I did the same, and he ran his eyes over my dress. “Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“At least borrow my jacket. It’s freezing outside and you know I’m all about body heat.”

The low pitch of his voice sent a prickle of warmth over my skin. “Thank you,” I said.

He moved behind me, tugging his arms out of his suit jacket before draping it over my shoulders. The scent of his cologne and the latent warmth of his body enveloped me. I closed my eyes for the longest beat.

“Esmé,” he whispered, his breath against my neck.

“Matteo!” Lola’s shrill voice broke any spell between us, and I sighed.

“Dance with me like you promised. I’ll be sad if you don’t.” She puffed out her bottom lip like a petulant child.

“I promised no such thing. I’m a terrible dancer.”

Watching his skill carving through the snow, I doubted that very much. Lola tottered on her heels, swaying into Matteo. He caught her and she wrapped her arms around him. How much champagne had she had?

“Well, it would be rude to turn a girl down on her birthday,” she said. “Even Maurice danced with me, and he’s about as coordinated as a goat on stilts.”

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