Maybe I could make it outside before Hayle and put off the awkwardness for a while longer. After putting my hair up in a messy bun, I wrapped a towel around me, slipped on a pair of shoes, and ran to the door leading out to the deck…where a dark-haired figure was already removing the cover to the hot tub.
Sigh. Of course.
Stepping outside, the freezing temperature immediately made me shiver, and I hurried to his side. Knowing I didn’t have a choice, I removed my towel and draped it over one of the hooks attached to the side of the deck. Then, I kicked off my shoes and quickly walked up the two steps and slid into the steaming water.
“Holy fuck,” I heard Hayle mutter from behind me.
Settling onto one of the built-in seats, I gave him a faint smile. “The bikini is Petra’s fault.”
“Remind me to send her a thank you note. Or maybe a fruit basket. Does she like fruit?” He said this all while keeping his eyes trained on the tops of my breasts, which were visible above the water. “Maybe peaches?”
Biting back a laugh, I slid farther down and pointed to my face. “Eyes up here.”
He grinned and met my gaze before climbing into the hot tub and sitting directly across from me. “Right. So, fruit basket?”
“Off the top of my head, I don’t know Petra’s feelings on peaches. But she’s obsessed with the blueberry muffins from The Grind, if that helps.”
“A gift card, then. Got it.” He adjusted his position until everything below his neck was underwater, his legs brushing mine. “I’ve never been a fan of hot tubs, but there’s something about being surrounded by snow that makes it that much more enticing.”
“This is my first time, but I like it so far.” The water was just hot enough to be soothing without being uncomfortable. And I loved that we could savor the fresh air without being bundled up. That was one of the first things I’d noticed about the mountains—the air smelled different here. Like it was cleaner, which was likely true.
“Your first time, huh?” Hayle gave me a slow, suggestive smile as he grazed one of my legs with his. “We better make it good, then.”
Desire and expectation rushed through me, and I had to hold myself back from gliding right over to his lap. But we had a plan, and I wanted to stick to it. For now.
“You can make it good by answering my questions.”
He shook his head at me but said, “Hit me.”
“Other than your love of Teddy Grahams, what’s your deepest, darkest secret?”
“You suck at this game. You’re supposed to start with easy questions and eventually get to the dark stuff.”
I resisted the urge to splash water in his face. “Fine. Then, you start.”
“Okay.” He only had to think for a second. “Who’s your celebrity crush?”
“That’s easy. Jensen Ackles.” I liked the Supernatural storyline just fine, but I really watched it for Dean Winchester. Sue me.
He rolled his eyes. “Why am I even surprised? If Leo and Tristin had a baby, he would look just like Jensen Ackles.”
I half-wished I’d been drinking something right then, because it would have been the perfect moment for a spit-take. “What the hell, Hayle? That’s just wrong.”
“What? Don’t tell me you can’t see it. With more blond in his hair, he’s basically a cross between my brothers.”
I’d never thought about it, but he did have a point. Jensen was basically the perfect combination of the two brothers, especially with scruff like Leo’s and features more like Tristin’s. “I’m pretty sure you just ruined Supernatural for me.” I glared playfully at him. “How about you? Who is your celebrity crush?”
“Lili Reinhart.”
I searched my memory for a face to connect with the name but couldn’t come up with one. “Who?”
“Betty Cooper on Riverdale. You know, the blonde.”
“Oh, yeah. So, you prefer blondes?”
“Not really. It’s more that I have a crush on her character. I like that she’s pretty and feisty and smart and sweet.” He pressed his leg into mine once again. “Reminds me of someone else I know.”
“I’m not sweet.”
“Oh, please. You’re tough, I’ll give you that. But that doesn’t mean you’re not also sweet.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “We must have different definitions of the word.” Violet was sweet. Susan was sweet. But, me? Not so much.
“Agree to disagree. Now, it’s your turn to come up with a question.”
Forcing myself to stay away from the hard questions, I