Page 42 of Chef's Kiss at the Chalet
“We can do both.” He turned slightly to face me more directly. “I’m great at multitasking.”
“Yeah, I bet.”
But as time ticked by, my humor faltered. And without the trees to shelter us from the wind, the temperature seemed to plummet.
“Here,” Charles said, shrugging out of his jacket. He placed it over my shoulders and zipped me up inside, then pulled me closer into his arms.
“Aren’t you freezing?” I said, starting to shiver as I tried to look anywhere but down.
“I’ve got a lot more mass to keep me warm. You need it.”
Charles rubbed my upper arms to generate some heat as I curled up against his chest. He was surprisingly warm, given the temperature up here must’ve been well below freezing.
“You know what we need?” he said. “S’mores.”
“Afraid I forgot to pack my emergency s’mores kit,” I said, teeth chattering.
“When we get back to the house later, we’ll roast marshmallows by the fire. Have some hot cocoa. Get all bundled up in our sweats and thick wool socks.”
“I’m going to eat every marshmallow in sight, then take the longest, hottest shower of my life,” I answered, tucking myself deeper under his chin.
“I’ll join you,” he laughed.
“Nice try.”
“Tell me,” Charles said, furiously rubbing the outside of my thigh to keep me from losing feeling in my limbs, “what are your plans after the season ends?”
“London. I’ve been accepted to culinary school.”
“Hey, that’s terrific. Ever been?”
“I’ve never even left the country.”
“Maybe I can come visit,” he said. “Show you around a bit.”
“Let me guess, you have a flat.”
He chuckled softly and it warmed my face against his chest. “Let’s just say I have a few favorite neighborhood spots I’d love to show you.”
I knew what he was doing. Like a nurse distracting you with conversation while they jammed the needle in your arm. Keep me talking and my mind off freezing to death while we dangled above the chasm below.
“You don’t have to do that, you know. Make promises. I don’t have any delusions that we’ll still be hanging out after my job with your family is over.”
He stopped rubbing my leg and ducked his head to seek my eyes. “Why would you say that?” he asked, a wounded note in his voice.
“Just being realistic.”
It was nothing personal, but I knew the score here. I was a one-night stand that got stuck here and now we were both making the best of a strange situation. I gave him all the credit in the world for not being a dick about it. Still, I didn’t expect to get a Christmas card next year.
“You know, you should give people a little more credit,” he said flatly. “They might surprise you.”
“What would make you fly halfway around the world to take me to dinner?” I said, teasing.
“Maybe I just like your company.”
The lift gave another metal groan and jerked forward. The chair swung again, testing the strength of my stomach as I once again held on to Charles for dear life. I took several deep breaths, and when I looked up at him, Charles was watching me, his arms still tight around my body.
“We’re moving again,” he said, as the lift creaked and resumed its slow progression upward.
