Ignoring him completely, she moved closer to the flames, leaning in, revealing her backside, and the vibrator glowing from the pocket.
“That butler guy . . .” She glanced over her shoulder and caught him grinning. “What?”
“Nothing.” To swipe off the grin, he had to look away from the vibrator peeking out of her pants. “Go ahead. The butler guy . . . ?”
She narrowed her eyes. “He said the manager was temporarily unavailable. But as soon as he shows up, he’ll tell you. This place is mine for the week.”
“Look, I hate to argue with a lady who’s already had a pretty fucked-up day—”
“—then don’t.”
“—but you’re wrong.”
“Not about this.”
He might have said more, but instead frowned as it occurred to him that her teeth were in danger of rattling right out of her head. “Hey.” He put his hand on her arm, which was even icier now than it had been. Beneath his fingers he felt her tense enough to shatter, and he lifted his other hand as well, holding both her arms. She was shaking so hard she nearly shuddered free, so he tightened his grip slightly, trying to hold her steady. “You really need to change your clothes.”#p#分页标题#e#
She tried to twist away, but newly concerned, he held onto her, sucking in a breath when her hair brushed his own chilled skin.
“Trust me,” she said through her rattling teeth. “Given what I have in my carry-on, I can’t change.”
“You have nothing?”
“Not exactly nothing.” She stopped trying to break away from him and looked at her fancy boots, the kind that were made for muddying up a man’s brain, not for real use. Her hair fell forward, again against his chest. Normally he loved a woman’s hair teasing him there, but these strands were frozen. He sucked in another breath and waited for her to speak.
“Just . . . honeymoon stuff,” she said softly.
Everything she’d said finally clicked in. “Are you really on your honeymoon? Alone?”
“Well, the tickets were paid for, weren’t they?”
“What happened to your husband?”
“No husband. He never . . . we didn’t—” Taking a step back, she lifted her head, eyes proud. “He didn’t show up, all right? And there was no use sticking around to face the sympathy and barely masked glee that being dumped at the altar brings.” Another violent shiver followed this statement, along with a very disparaging sigh.
Cooper swore softly, softening in spite of himself, and he pushed her into a large leather recliner. It was entirely possible she’d actually had it rougher than he had lately, and that was saying something. “No big deal. I have plenty of clothes upstairs. I’ll be right back—”
She bounced back up so fast she nearly cracked his chin with her head. “Really, don’t bother yourself. I’m fine.”
“But I have a bag right upstairs.”
“Honestly, I’m good . . .” She glanced around her. “No reason for you to have to go upstairs.”
He took in the white around her eyes, the way she gripped him tight, as if maybe he was the lesser of all the evils of her day. “You’re scared.”
She let out a laugh. “No.”
“Just say it. You don’t want me to leave you alone down here.”
“Ridiculous,” she muttered.
“Ridiculous? You’re afraid of the dark, remember?”
“Not afraid, exactly. Unhappy with it.”
“And it was only my imagination that a few minutes ago you were looking at me as if I might be a murderer?”
“Or a serial rapist.” Her lips were still blue as her teeth chattered from her chill. “B-but I’ve since decided you’re probably neither.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Now you’re just the guy standing between me and my honeymoon suite.” More bone-crunching shudders wracked her, appearing to start at her roots and end at her toes. “My w-warm honeymoon suite.”
Once again he ran his hands up and down her arm, truly alarmed for her now. “You were up there,” he said, maneuvering her closer to the fire. “You know it’s not any warmer than the rest of the house. At least not yet.”
She didn’t answer that but looked horribly dejected at the thought.
“Okay, listen,” he said. “You can come with me upstairs, or you can wait here. Either way, I’m going to get us both something more to wear.”
She plopped back into the chair and sent her chin to the heavens. “I’m not budging.”
God, she was stubbornness personified. And frustrating. And somehow, also, inexplicably adorable. “Suit yourself, but I’m going. I’m getting you a change of clothing and me some socks and a shirt, and then I’m starting a fire up there so I can hit the sack.”#p#分页标题#e#