winter."
I look at him with wide eyes. I always thought he only stayed at first-class hotels that had the best of everything.
I touch the scarf. "Thank you."
Since he went through all the effort of wrapping it around my neck and trying to convince me he doesn't need it, I might as well accept it.
I bring the scarf up to my chin. The wool feels nice. Soft and warm. And it smells of Ethan's aftershave, too.
I close my eyes as I breathe in the scent. Something about it just makes me feel safe, happy.
"Besides, we'll be at the restaurant soon," Ethan says.
I open my eyes to find that he's slipped his hands inside his pockets and continued walking.
"Or so I hope. I know Simone Odermatt said this place was excellent and even went through the trouble of booking it for us, but I wish he'd mentioned that we had to walk from the car to get to it."
"At least we get nice views," I say as I catch up with him.
The sun has started to set, so right now the clouds and the surrounding mountains look like they're glowing. I can also catch a glimpse of the city and the lake down below. I can only imagine how much more enchanting it will look at night.
"Too bad your brothers don't get to see them."
Ethan shrugs. "Well, it can't be helped that Ryker has work. And Asher wanted to see a different Swiss mountain."
I know. Asher went to see the Matterhorn and Ryker had another meeting with some executives from Odermatt Corp. after the one that he and Ethan attended this morning.
"Why?" Ethan asks. "Do you miss them? You and Asher seem to have grown close."
My eyes grow wide. Me and Asher? Well, he did talk to me a lot yesterday. Flirted, even.
Wait a second. Is Ethan jealous?
It's an absurd idea and yet I feel like smiling again. After all, if Ethan's jealous of another man, his brother no less, that means he cares about me, right? Maybe there's a chance he even... loves me, too?
I know I said I wasn't hoping for anything from Ethan, but his words just lit a spark inside of me and now I can't help but feel hope. I guess if you really love someone, you want them to love you back.
"If you don't want to be alone with me, we can just turn back," Ethan says.
"After walking all this way? No." I shake my head. "And I don't mind being here with you."
To be honest, even though it may sound awful, I'm not sorry Asher and Ryker aren't here. In fact, I'm glad. I get to visit a romantic restaurant atop a Swiss mountain with just Ethan. It's almost like a date.
I wonder if it's alright to think of it as one.
"Good," Ethan says. "Because to be honest, I don't think I can walk back to the car before getting some food in me first. What about you? Hungry?"
"A little," I answer. "I hope the food is good."
~
It is.
A sausage and cheese salad. Salt-crusted rack of lamb. And now, a raspberry and spiced rose meringue parfait with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup and thin honey biscuits on top. I pick one up and marvel at the design on it. It looks like a bouquet of flowers.
"It's called a tirggel," Ethan informs me. "Traditionally, they're baked during Christmas with designs of old buildings, knights and horse-drawn carriages."
Interesting.
I take a bite out of it and get a loud crunch. It's a little too hard for my liking, but it does taste good.
"You should see Zurich at Christmas," Ethan says. "It's beautiful."
"I can imagine." I gather some of the whipped cream with the rest of the biscuit and pop it into my mouth. "I've never been anywhere but home for Christmas."
For the past two years, I spent the holidays alone at my apartment, which I don't want to think about.
"In fact, I've hardly been anywhere."
"Oh, you'll get around," Ethan tells me before taking a sip from his glass of wine. "Because I'll be bringing you along on all my business trips from now on."
My eyes grow wide. "You're kidding."
He looks at me. "Do I look like I'm kidding?"
No. Even so, what he just said sounds too good to be true.
"I'd be a fool not to bring you after how helpful you've proven to be during this trip," he adds. "Besides, it's more fun traveling with you."
I stare at my parfait. I still can't believe it. More