Page 10 of A Winter Wedding Adventure
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Mattia studied his reflection as he rode the lift to the ground floor where Kira would be waiting for him – probably tapping her foot, he thought with amusement. He’d chosen his favourite cable-knit sweater in charcoal, shoved his hands in the pockets of his slacks. His heart rate was slightly elevated, but he was inclined to think that wasn’t anything to do with the panic attack he’d narrowly avoided.
He owed Kira a full explanation, but he needed some food in his stomach first, even though he was still a little queasy from hyperventilating.
His therapist would probably tell him to go easy on himself, watch a sweet movie with headphones on and get a good night’s sleep, but he’d been staring out of the window off and on while he dressed, catching the glow of the fortress on the hill and the whimsical movement of the snowflakes making their muted descent.
He wanted to see more of this place with its white pillows of snow crystals and the glow of a different kind of light. Some of Kira Watling’s outdoor adventure guide vigour must have rubbed off on him. The thought made him smile as the lift came to a stop with a ding.
She looked very… vigorous where she stood in the foyer with her thick coat open at the front to reveal the shirt he’d admired earlier. It was ugly and grey, designed for function and not aesthetics, but it was so tight, it outlined every curve of her athletic body. She belonged in a skintight superhero costume, except those were probably difficult to get off.
Not that he was thinking of peeling off her shirt. Or maybe he was. He gave himself a little shake to clear his head of that notion as he followed her out to where the cab was already waiting.
The taxi dropped them off by a little row of shops with matching green shutters, all of them decorated with bows and pine boughs, candles in the windows. The ice rink on the square was lit by a shower of fairy lights on the building behind.
Kira grimaced, but quickly tempered her expression. ‘Sorry. I’m grumpy when I’m hungry and I’ve been hungry all day.’
He gestured her ahead and they crossed the square in the direction of the market. ‘That explains a lot.’
‘Oh, does it?’ she responded flatly.
He opened his mouth to apologise, defend himself for the tactless statement, but his gaze snagged on the glow of the light on her cheek, showing up the scar. She was pretty – even when she scowled.
‘But I don’t know why you’re so cheerful.’
A smile tugged. ‘It is a bit of a surprise. I’m sure it’s partly because of you.’
‘Grumpy ol’ me?’
The smile broke out. ‘Yes, grumpy you.’
‘Well, you’re in luck, because I don’t like crowds, either.’
‘I’ll protect you.’
She eyed him – a response he deserved.
‘Crowds are one of the few things that don’t trouble me at all. That inoffensive hum of talking in the background, it’s everything and nothing.’
As soon as they approached the wooden stands under the glowing lights, Kira made a beeline for the second one along and bought an enormous glazed cookie with a smile and a polite ‘Danke,’ which belied how grumpy she’d been with him. Dipping her hand into the paper bag as they walked on, she lifted it to her mouth.
‘You’re going to eat a cookie first? Before dinner?’ he teased.
His words triggered the uncomfortable memory of eating with Carla when they’d been together and he wished he’d never said anything. This wasn’t a date.
‘It’s none of your business,’ Kira stated with a lift of her chin. ‘I’m starving.’ She took an enormous bite for emphasis and Mattia flinched even before the noise reached his ears, but the biscuit wasn’t as crunchy as he’d assumed and the sounds of the market muffled everything except the low ‘Mmm’ of approval in the back of her throat.
He blinked. Kira was nothing like Carla. She wasn’t like anyone else he’d ever met. What a relief.
‘This is so good,’ she said with her mouth full. He registered the muted sound of her chewing, but he could still hear that groan echoing. Sparks crackled over his skin as he watched her. ‘Gingerbread from a Christmas market is always just better. I don’t usually like it, but this stuff, with the edible paper on the back? It’s incomparable.’
The hitch in her voice sent a shiver through him. He noticed her top lip was lush, while her lower lip was thinner. Her eyes were bright and her voice low and husky; her audible enjoyment of food was enough to give him goosebumps and she had blue hair and no make-up and a rather attractive scowl. She’d turned the fridge off for him.
He was more than halfway to a very pleasant infatuation already.
When she eyed him again, he realised he must have been staring. ‘Do you want to try some?’ She looked reluctant to share, but Mattia already suspected how much kindness she hid under her grumpy exterior.
‘Please.’ He dipped his head and opened his mouth, waiting for her to hold up the gingerbread round, but she frowned at him and drew back. Breaking off a piece, she shoved it in his direction and he had to fumble to catch it as she kept walking at her striding pace.
