Page 39 of A Snowy Escape

“No, I want to work,” she says, stretching out a hand to pat my arm. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to be negative. I appreciate you letting me stay upstairs. I would be so bored if I wasn’t getting out a few hours a day.”

I nod.

That’s understandable.

“Just as long as you understand you’re under no obligation. The apartment is yours for as long as you need it.” I smile. “Now, are you finally cut?”

“Yeah, this was my last table,” she says, rolling her shoulders back.

“How about we get food to go? I can head up with you to let Echo out, and it’ll be done by the time her walk is finished,” I offer. “I know she’s been struggling with the noise and having people walking around outside while you’re gone.”

As a matter of fact, Lawson has been bringing Shadow over to hang out in the apartment for a few hours each time Abby is on shift.

The first day she worked, Echo barked for hours. We could hear it down here, and Law finally went up and kept her company.

It’s not like it’s a hardship for him. Although he did grumble about not getting to spend time with Abby. He’s still willing to do it to make it easier on her.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asks, blinking up at me from behind her lashes.

“Mind?” I chuckle. “Hell no. It’ll be nice to spend some time together.” I wink, backing away from the table. “Come find me when your side work is done, and we can put in our dinner order.”

Well, shit.

Hopefully that doesn’t sound too much like a date.

Unless she wants it to be one. In that case, I would be totally down to call it what it really is.

* * *

We take Echo for a long walk around the parking lot and down the sidewalk on the street next to the plaza.

On the way back, we grab the food.

Once we’re inside, I keep the bags on one arm and lean down to unclip Echo before going over to the table to drop the bags.

I get those put down and spin back toward the living room.

Abby is still in her work clothes.

I’ve never seen a polo and black jeans look so good on a person. She’s already out of her jacket, and she shivers, running her hands down her arms.

I’m going to have to order her gloves, a beanie, and a scarf. With how pushy Law is, I figured he would have brought it up to her by now.

Hell, maybe he has.

I’ll still do a little online shopping when I get home tonight. Or if I get out of here early enough, I could swing by the sporting goods store.

“Are you cold?” I ask, crossing the distance between us. “You want me to bump up the heat?”

“Nah, I’ll live,” she says, laughing awkwardly. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to winter in New York. It’s brutal.”

I chuckle and grab her arm, pulling her into my chest. “Wrap your arms around my back. I’ll warm you up.”

She doesn’t hesitate to bury her face in my shirt as she hugs me. I cover her with the sides of my jacket, and she rewards me by digging her cold little hands into the material of my shirt. It reminds me of all the times that my dads joked about my mom attacking them with her cold feet.

“Jesus, woman. You are freezing,” I say, pulling her even closer as I bear hug her. “We need to get you a way better coat. There’s no way you should be this cold.” Especially not when I was the one keeping hold of Echo’s leash. She could have buried her hands in her coat pockets for warmth.

“Wow, Luka. You give a great hug. You smell really nice too.” She rubs her face around my chest, and I have to force myself to breathe normally.