Page 18 of Snowed In with My Ex

“The roads?” I repeated. I glanced out the window and frowned. “I’m not sure that’s safe, Win.”

“That mean you care about me, princess?” I didn’t dare look at him. Looking at him would make it impossible

“It’s Alaska,” I corrected without any real fight in my tone. Despite that, his shoulders slumped forward. The gesture was slight, but I caught it, and I felt like I’d kicked a puppy.

“Right,” he mumbled, running his fingers through his hair.

“I mean, I don’t not like you,” I admitted carefully. His head rose and his gaze connected with mine. The defeated gaze faded and started to simmer into something else. Something warmer. Warm enough to melt the snow outside, and my panties,if I were wearing any.

“I’ll take that.” His hand squeezed mine before he let it go. I hated losing his touch. But I didn’t lose it for long. His hand rose and caressed my face.

“Bundle up, and I will be right back.” His thumb skimmed the apple of my cheek, and just as I started to sway closer, my eyes locked on his lips. Before I did something stupid like kiss him, he stepped back and walked out the front door. Icy, cold wind howled inside, and I shivered just as the door shut behind him.

I stared at it in the darkness for a moment. Willing it to give me answers to questions I wasn’t ready to ask. Answers only Winston could give me.

I shook my head and carefully headed to the master bedroom to change. Adding joggers under the nightgown and a sweater. But for some reason, even though it was freezing outside, I didn’t put on any panties.

Winston

I stompedmy boots and shook the snow off at the door. The house was still pitch black. There wasn’t an extra generator like I had hoped. The power was out, and the snow was only getting higher by the minute. The storm seemed to have turned into a full-blown blizzard.

“Win?” Allie called out from somewhere in the house.

“It’s me. Sorry, doesn’t seem there’s an extra generator, but I did find a lot of wood and —“ The words died on my tongue when I saw the golden light cast from the candle Allie held in her hands illuminating her like a halo, making her seem almost ethereal. Like an angel.My angel.

She was beautiful. Dressed in an oversized hoodie and joggers paired with a pair of fuzzy socks I personally knew she loved, and a beanie over her head, she looked cozy and warm.Thank fuck.At least that was one less thing for me to worry about. I loved looking at her in that damn satiny nightgown I had no doubt I would be thinking about now till my judgment day, but it wasn’t enough for her to wear now that the power was out.

“Wood?”

“For the fireplace.” I pointed, and she turned before giving me attention. There was a lot to love about Allie.

One reason was that if she didn’t tell you something outright, her face most certainly did. Those beautiful green eyes of hers I missed seeing up close like this roamed up and down my body. I didn’t dare blink. Afraid I’d miss every emotion that played out over her delicate features.

Concern was clear.

But there was an underlying appreciation for my body. I’d been very familiar with that look.

“I can get a fire going for you,” I offered. “Then I’ll head to my car,” I added, hoping like hell she didn’t call me on my bluff. I watched her pretty lips purse and those perfectly plucked brows bunch.

“Head to your car?” Her eyes bounced from mine to the window and back to me. “Win—“ She stepped forward, and my breath hitched in my throat as anticipation climbed up my spine. She stopped a mere foot from me. “Maybe you should stay.”

“I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.” Her head tilted, and the soft candlelight glowed across her face. Her lips twitched.

“But following me here was okay?” she asked with a sneaky little smirk.

“Fair.” I shoved my hands into the front pockets of my pants. “Look, Allie-laska. Alaska.” I hated having to call her that. “I can crash on the couch or floor.” She chewed on her lip.

“We don’t have to figure it out right now.” She shrugged. Just like that, hope started to spring to life inside of me.

“Okay, well…” My voice sounded scratchy in my ears. Was I imaging it, or had she taken a step closer?

“Fire?” she whispered. Her eyes dropped to my mouth, and I swallowed hard. Fuck, I wasn’t to kiss her.

“Yeah, fire. Umm—“ I took a hand out of my pocket and scratched the back of my neck. “The wood.” I shook away the immediate thoughts of the million ways I could keep my princess warm. “I’ll get the wood?—

“I can help you. Let me get my coat.” She started to turn, but I reached for her, wrapped my arm around her waist, and pulled her into me. I hadn’t thought about what I was doing; I simply reacted. And damn if it didn’t pay off. Her back pressed against my front. We fell together easily, fitting perfectly despite the height difference.

“Winston,” she breathed.