Page 39 of A Billionaire for Christmas
It wasn’t the snow that was making her shiver. She pulled her scarf off in a daze. Would every encounter with Levi render her a big mess of jelly? He helped unzip her coat and neatly put it on the peg next to his, likewise tucking her boots into the designated boxes. He was a neat freak like her.
Impressive.
She tried to remove her salopettes without falling over. Why was skiwear so unnecessarily uncooperative?
He walked back over to give her a hand, bending to hold the salopettes as she stepped out of them. Those dark eyes of his, framed with thick lashes, caused butterflies to flutter in her stomach.
For no reason she could understand, neither of them spoke. ‘It’s like we’ve forgotten how to have a conversation with our clothes on,’ he said matter-of-factly, straightening up.
Genuine laughter danced from her lips. A sound she hadn’t heard for a long, long time. ‘I know. None of this came up in the interview,’ Molly said, choking back a flurry of giggles to get the words out. ‘In fact, I’m surprised with menotbeing naked, you bothered rescuing me at all.’
Levi threw back his head and laughed. It was instantly infectious. And before she knew it, there were tears of laughter rolling down her cheeks. It was a while before they both caught their breath.
‘I haven’t laughed like that in forever,’ Molly said, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.
‘Me neither. It feels good. It’s probably delayed shock.’ After a moment, Levi stood up. He grabbed a remote on the large oak mantelpiece above the fire and within seconds, flames roared brighter. The blast of heat was instant. Levi pulled her from the chair, gently down to the rug. ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’
Molly held her hands out to warm them as she sat cross-legged and leaned forward. Levi rested on his knees beside her, dark patches growing where his clothes were damp.
He followed her gaze.
She felt a fluttering in her stomach. She had been so furious at him, but now their fallout had been well and truly put into perspective. ‘Maybe we should get you out of those wet things.’ Molly tried to keep a straight face.
Levi shook his head slowly. ‘I knew it. This avalanche was probably all your doing.’ He began laughing again, the tension draining from his face.
Molly chuckled. It was a relief to feel her heartbeat return to normal.
Levi’s face dropped slightly. ‘I’d probably deserve it. I’m sorry for the way I acted.’
Molly took a deep breath in. ‘Me too. I probably shouldn’t have… you know. But…’
Levi reached out to put a hand gently on her arm. ‘You donotneed to apologise. This was all on me.’
She swept her gaze around the room. The light brown worn-leather armchair was draped in richly coloured, warm woollen throws. The coffee table was strewn with magazines, opened books and financial periodicals lying face down. Lamps, cushions, neat stacks of books and large vases of dried flowers gave the place a homely ambiance. Molly breathed in the woody floral scent. ‘Do you stay here?’
‘When I need time alone to escape my family and to think, yes.’
Molly was having trouble concentrating. Levi’s T-shirt was sticking to his torso. His jogging pants were hanging low, revealing a glimpse of that taut stomach. A fine line of hair snaked its way down to…
‘I like the solitude. It clears my mind. Allows me to think and plan. I practise Hansei. A mindful Japanese approach to business.’
Molly was only vaguely aware of what he was saying. Levi had grabbed a towel. He was lifting his wet T-shirt to pat down his stomach and his arms. She became mesmerised by his forearms, so strong with a light sprinkling of dark hair. Her pulse raced, causing her to become lightheaded, his voice drifting away.
Levi cleared his throat.
Molly snapped to attention. She hadn’t been listening to a single word. ‘Yes. That’s right. Me too. To all of those things.’
But it was too late. She saw her own lustful thoughts mirrored in the dark eyes staring back at her.
‘I doubt you could repeat a word of what I just said.’
‘It’s the avalanche,’ she said, her breath quickening. ‘It has affected my ability to concentrate.’ The electricity crackled between them. She was acutely aware of her chest rising and falling.
Levi, looking unravelled, shook his hair, drops of wet snow showering her. ‘Yes. The trauma of a near-miss. It elevates the… erm, the…’ He closed his mouth and opened it again. ‘You’re right. We should get out of these clothes.’ Levi seemed alarmed at his own words. ‘I mean separately. Not together.’ He hurried across the room to a big wooden door, as though to put a safe distance between them.
Her mind flew to the last text message she sent to Petra, her line manager. Levi was no longer her boss. And her thoughts about him were anything but professional. ‘I can stay in these. They’re not that wet. Both my cases are back at the forest. Hopefully not under a mountain of snow.’ While Levi disappeared into the bedroom, Molly walked over to the large picture window and pulled the cord next to it to lift the shutter, snow falling heavily onto the sill. As soon as it stopped, she would get going before it got really dark. Ava’s precious journal was in one of those cases and she needed to get it back. Besides, it wasn’t fair on either of them to play these games. She would be the one to get hurt. Plus, she was a woman on a mission to save her business. She needed to stay focused.
Within seconds he’d emerged from the bedroom wearing dry clothes. He was rubbing a towel on his hair, making it stick out in all directions. Molly marvelled at how he could look effortlessly good no matter what the angle or circumstance.
