Page 18 of Stuck With Mr. Frosty (Delectable Protectors #5)
AIDEN
C arter sighs and drops into the chair beside me. “That kid’s going to go tumbling down the side of the mountain if he keeps directing his skis that way.”
I glance at the child he’s talking about, Mia close behind the kid. “Mia’s got him. It should be fine. She seems like she knows what she’s doing, and it’s clear she likes working with kids.”
“Warm words from the guy who shares a room with her.” Carter smirks at me over the rug of his travel mug. “You didn’t tell me that the two of you were an official thing.”
“Because I don’t know what we are, and even if I did, I wouldn’t be parading around and telling everyone about it. Can’t see why everyone would need to know my business.”
“I don’t think it’s that everyone wants to know your business, but I’ve known you a long time, and for as long as I’ve known you, there’s been maybe two girlfriends.
I don’t think either of them lasted longer than a month or two either.
So, the fact that it’s been close to six weeks with Mia and you’re still with her is interesting. ”
I groan and kick up a wave of snow for Honey to chase. She nips at it, barking before nestling down in the snow, half-burying herself beneath it. I kick another wave over her, and she snorts before going to sleep, happy as she can be that there’s snow on the ground and coating her fur.
Carter takes another sip of his coffee. “You know, it’s not a bad thing to have someone you like to spend time with. Some might even say that it’s what they’re looking for and that they don’t want to spend the rest of their lives alone. And, for what it’s worth, I think she’s good for you.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I know you. I think it’s good for you to have someone who likes to have fun and doesn’t take things too seriously.”
“Look, this is just supposed to be a bit of fun for the time being. There are no labels on anything. And there’s no talk of what happens after the season, so there’s no need to start thinking that she’s good for me.”
“Damn, you really do run away like a scared child when someone gets close to figuring out how you feel about people.” Carter smirks and arches an eyebrow, my own reflection shining back at me in his sunglasses.
“I’m not running away from anything. I’m just trying to enjoy my season, and when it ends, I can figure out what comes next.”
“Don’t you get tired of that?”
“At times.” I shrug and reach for my coffee, watching as a group of hikers trek along the trail and into the woods. “I like my freedom though.”
Although these days that sense of freedom doesn’t quite feel like it used to. Instead of thinking about all the new adventures still waiting for me, all I can think about is what will happen to Mia and me. Where we’re going to be.
If she wants to make this work.
I’m not that man though. I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the future beyond which location I’m going to end up in next. I don’t think about settling down and doing the whole wife-and-kids thing.
But lately, I’ve been thinking about it.
Carter slaps a hand on my shoulder. “You look like you’re going to throw up.”
“I do not.”
He snorts and shakes his head. “Look, for what it’s worth, I used to be like you. I thought that life couldn’t get any better because I was on my own, and that felt good. I thought it was going to be fine. And then I met Cassie, and everything changed for me.”
“Mia isn’t my Cassie.”
“Nobody is going to be your Cassie. Can’t compare relationships and think that two are ever going to be the same. However, I think you need to allow yourself to open up to the idea that Mia could be the one to change everything for you.”
I roll my eyes and reach for my own travel mug of coffee, opening it up and taking a long sip, letting the scalding hot liquid coat my throat.
Right now, there’s no telling if Mia could be the person to change everything for me, and I don’t want to put that pressure on us either. I want to have a good time and see where this leads, but I’m going to be fine if that is nowhere.
At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
Carter scoffs. “You need to pull your head out of your ass and see that there’s a good woman standing in front of you. Sure, she might not be who you imagined you would want something long-term with, but from what I’ve seen, she’s the kind of woman who doesn’t give up on you either.”
“She probably should’ve.” I don’t think I’m worth half the effort she’s put into getting to know me, but she seems to think I am. I still haven’t been able to figure out the reason why.
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a good man, and you always have been. You might like to wander the world, but there’s nothing wrong with that if that’s what you enjoy.”
“I’d rather just not talk about all of this and let things happen how they’re going to happen. With you so focused on what’s going on, it feels like I have to figure out exactly what’s going to happen and when, which is impossible.”
“Didn’t mean to make you feel like you had to figure it all out right now.”
I take another sip of my coffee, my breath coming out in a small white cloud when I exhale. “No, I know. It’s just that sooner or later, I know Mia is going to start asking the same questions, and then what am I supposed to do?”
“I’m going to suggest that you figure it out together. She’s probably feeling the same way you do.”
“Maybe.” I bite the inside of my cheek before letting out another sigh. “I just don’t know what to think about it all.”
“You’ll figure it out in time.”
“You’re right.” I dig the toes of my boots into the snow. “Now’s not going to be the time though.”
“What we do have to figure out now is the schedule for next week. I need the week after off since Cassie is bringing the girls up here. So if you take next week off, then you and I can offset each other and we’ll weave the other guys in between.”
“Should work for me.”
I might even be able to arrange something special for Mia.
When I get home late that night, pink and blue lights are flashing in the window. Music pounds, and Honey rushes up the stairs like the best part of her day is coming home. I’ve never seen my dog more excited to go back to the cabin, but then again, she’s attached at the hip to Mia.
I push open the door and come face-to-face with Rosie on the coffee table with a hairbrush held tight in her hand, her hips swaying in the most awkward movement I’ve ever seen.
Mia slides down the hall, playing the air guitar and dropping to her knees in front of me. She flips her hair as she continues playing, her tongue sticking out like she thinks she’s a rock star.
I smirk and kick off my boots onto the mat. “Quite the performance you’re putting out.”
“Thank you, Colorado!” Rosie shouts, pointing her finger at the imaginary crowd as the song changes.
Mia laughs and gets to her feet, pushing up onto her toes and kissing the corner of my mouth. “Are you here to have fun with us, or are you here to judge the way our band works?”
“Oh, I would never judge your band at all.” I shed my jacket and snow pants, hanging them both up, gloves nearly falling out of the pocket of my jacket.
Mia snags my hat and tosses it onto the shelf before taking me by the hand and pulling me deeper into the cabin. She lifts my hand high and spins beneath it. Rosie jumps down from the table, tossing her hairbrush to the side.
Rosie grabs Mia and spins her around, dipping her low before pulling her back in. The pair of them tango around the room before Mia spins her way back to me.
Smiling, I take her by the hand, spinning her out before pulling her back in. We move with the beat of the music, her body pressed close to mine. I press my lips to her temple, laughing when she tilts her head back onto my shoulder.
“You might not be half bad at dancing.” She looks at me with nothing but warmth in her eyes, sending my heart hammering in my chest.
And because I can’t bear the sight of that look anymore, I spin her out, letting go of her and whipping out the sprinkler, my hips rocking in an awkward rhythm to the beat. She bursts out laughing, shaking her head and joining in on the fun.
My cheeks start to hurt from smiling so wide, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Even if I look like a fool while dancing with her.
After a few more songs, she slumps onto the couch and Rosie turns the music off, heading to her own room.
Mia looks up at me. “What should we do now?”
“Gotta take Honey for her walk, but I’ve got nothing going on after that.” I haul on my boots. “You’re welcome to come with me if you want.”
She springs to her feet like she isn’t tired at all, and Honey comes with her. As Mia gets ready to head out, I get Honey into her harness before shrugging on my own coat.
The stars are shining over the trees as we step outside. Mia stuffs her hands in her pockets and looks up at me. “So, I have a few extra days off next week.”
“Well, I have the week off. So, if you want to leave the resort and head into town or something, I can see about borrowing a car from one of the other staffers.”
“I wasn’t thinking about going into town, but I definitely want to spend some time with you. It feels like I’ve barely seen you in the last week or so since our work schedules have been so all over the place.”
“Well, then, leave it to me and I’ll come up with something for us to do.” I already have a plan in place, but I needed to gauge what she was thinking of doing first.
Mia takes my hand in hers, lacing our fingers together as we walk. “The kids were wild today.”
“Yeah, we saw that kid nearly take a header down the hill.”
She laughs and shrugs. “I’m starting to think that sooner or later, I’m going to have to let him. Not enough to hurt himself, of course, but maybe enough that he might listen to me when I tell him how to point his skis.”
“Some people have to learn the hard way.” I squeeze her hand a little tighter. “Although, if you do let him go down, be prepared for some annoyed parents. They don’t like to hear that their child will only learn one way.”
“I know.” Mia gives me a flat look. “One of the girls in the class wanted to switch to snowboarding, so I put her in one the other day. You should’ve seen the fit her mother threw.”
“How bad was it?”
“I think she was going to try and get me fired, but it didn’t go very far. Don’t know what else is going to happen, but I hardly think it’s my business to discourage a child from trying something new as long as it’s safe.”
“I’m sure nothing more is going to come of it. It’s not the first time that a fit’s been thrown by the parents here, and I know it’s not going to be the last.”
She grins and leans into me as we stop in an open field. “I doubt it too.”
I drop her hand and let Honey off her leash, pulling out a ball and throwing it far. Honey takes off bounding through the snow, her tail whipping back and forth.
And for a moment, everything feels right in the world.
We’re not talking about the future.
We’re enjoying what’s happening here and now. The rest can come later.
Though, I still don’t know what the rest is going to entail.