Page 7 of One Snowy Seduction
When she heard a buzzing sound, she stared over to where she’d set her jacket on the end of the bench. Her phone was in her pocket. It was in the case that doubled as a wallet even though she’d known she wasn’t spending any money today. She was on a very modest budget while she was here, but nobody needed to know that but her. Anyway, she ignored the phone because she’d already talked to her mother and assured her that she’d arrived safely. There wasn’t anyone else she wanted or needed to talk to.
She also didn’t need any of these clothes and she was tired of pretending, or rather hiding out. Standing, she changed back into her own shirt and pushed her arms into her jacket. She grabbed the clothes she’d brought into the dressing room with her and opened the door to step out.
“Did you like any of the garments?”
Teesha jumped at the heavily accented voice speaking English, even though she’d figured the salesperson was waiting for her. If this were her job and she worked on commission she’d be stalking people as they shopped as well. Teesha had always taken her job seriously, even when it was running back and forth throughout the municipal complex where she’d worked, to do things like retrieve a mistakenly deleted folder from the central network or reset a password for someone who just couldn’t follow the instructions she’d meticulously stated in an email. Her goal had always been to do a good job, so she wouldn’t begrudge this woman for doing the same. Even if she’d almost scared the piss out of her.
“Hi!” was Teesha’s overly happy reply. “Ah, no. Unfortunately, I didn’t. None of these were the right color.” Or the right price-point she thought as she recalled some of the price tags she’d glimpsed.
“I can help you find just the right one for you.” With a smile in place the salesperson stepped forward to grab the clothes out of her hand. “You can try on any of them you like until you find something perfect!”
She’d pronounced that “t” with a strong punch and Teesha hurriedly shook her head. “Oh, no, that’s okay. I don’t need any of them. I’m fine.” She started backing away from the woman. “But thanks so much for all your help. You’ve been delightful.”
That last word died on a broken scream as she backed into something and lost her footing. Strong arms were around her before she could wobble too much and possibly hit the floor. The thought of falling for the second time today made her furious but something else made her instantly warm. The arms that had come around her were more than strong, they were connected to the hands that now brushed against the sides of her breasts as she hadn’t yet zipped her coat. Teesha yanked away from his grasp so fast she feared she might crash into something else and embarrass herself for the umpteenth time today. But her legs and feet cooperated this time, spinning her around so she could stare up at Kendrick with every ounce of the rage she felt.
“What the hell are you doing? Following me and feeling me up?” She clamped her mouth closed then because she knew she’d been loud and hated that people were probably staring at them. Of course, she hadn’t taken her gaze away from Kendrick to explore who may or may not be interested in their scene.
“Stop it,” he said in that annoyingly bossy tone he was known to take when he was getting pissed off. “I don’t know why you thought we’d come down to this village and not run into each other at all.” He held up a hand the moment she opened her mouth to speak again. “I’ve been to three other stores before coming here. See,” he said holding up more bags. “I picked up some other things to make us dinner since you didn’t seem like you were on board for going to a restaurant.”
Feeling properly chastised and even more ticked off at the embarrassment fusing her cheeks, she huffed. “That’s all well and good, but you had no business copping a feel.”
Now, it was his turn to look embarrassed. He did so by glancing away and clearing his throat. Then he looked down at his hands as if he were about to curse them for touching her. Teesha didn’t know if she was offended because he assumed he had permission to touch her in that way, or because of the possibility that he thought she wasn’t good enough to be touched.
Kendrick had never made any moves on her. Not even when they’d slept together in the same bed for three nights in New Orleans. She’d inwardly kicked herself all weekend for even thinking that she’d wanted him to. Same was happening now. It was silly to entertain that there was anything between them other than a past that she didn’t want to rehash.
“Look, forget it. Let’s just go. If I’m not going to ski, then I’ve got a book I want to read and a hot tub at the chalet that’s whispering my name.”
She didn’t wait for him to speak again but pushed past him and made her way out of the store. He would follow her, hadn’t that been what she’d assumed he’d been doing for the past hour and a half anyway? They’d go back to the chalet and get on with this night they were being forced to spend together. And first thing tomorrow morning, she was going to the resort’s main building and demand they find her another room or chalet. There was no way in hell she was going to let Kendrick ruin something else for her.
CHAPTER4
Kendrick added another pinch of oregano into the pot of marinara sauce. He stirred, then lifted the spoon from the pot and touched a finger to it. Swiping a bit of the sauce, he put that finger into his mouth to taste.
Perfect!
“Shrimp marinara,” he said without turning around. “It’s one of the few complete meals I know how to make from scratch. Courtesy of a cooking class I took a few years back.” He put the top back onto the pot, then moved over to the counter where he unwrapped the fresh pasta he’d purchased. There was another pot of water on the stove that had just started to steam. He eased the pasta into it.
“How did you know I was here?”
He still didn’t turn to look at her. “Because you drag your feet when you’re tired. I heard your slippers when you came down the stairs.”
“I was gonna go downstairs to see the game room.”
Grabbing a towel to wipe his hands, Kendrick did turn then. But he didn’t cross the spacious kitchen to stand near her. Instead, he dropped the towel on the counter behind him and then leaned against the quartz slab and folded his arms over his chest. “But you got a whiff of my delicious cooking and just had to come in here to see what we’re having for dinner.”
She had been standing at the end of the long island, her palms planted on top of the smooth surface. Like him, she’d changed her clothes. Light green lounge pants and a matching top, slipper socks that were…
“Hufflepuff?” He grinned. “You’re still claiming that house?”
In addition to their love of computers there were a few movie franchises that they also had shared adoration for—Harry Potter was one of them.
She looked down at her feet, then extended one leg and pointed her toes down toward the floor like a ballerina. “It’s better than Slytherin any day.”
Her laughter came quick and filled him with more joy than he’d experienced in far too long. “Yeah, whatever. You’re gonna have to keep those hidden behind this island or I don’t think I’ll be able to feed you.”
“I don’t…we, the house of Hufflepuff, don’t need your food.” With a tilt of her chin, she tried for a haughty irritated look, but it really just came off as a pouting sore looser which only made his grin wider. “Besides, you said the refrigerator was stocked so I can just fix myself something to eat,” she continued.
He nodded and extended an arm toward the restaurant-style refrigerator. “Be my guest.”
