Page 14 of Snowed Inn

“Oh, yeah, I’ve had some.”

“And?” Ellie prods.

“And I fell madly in love with exactly no one,” Jesse replies, shaking his head.

“Magic is wasted on skeptics,” Charlotte declares with a long sigh.

“Magic or not, it’s been super popular during this blizzard,” El says.

“Speaking of this awful weather,” I add, “thanks again for taking me in today.”

El gives me the puppy-dog eyes. “Don’t mention it, Maria. I’m just sorry you didn’t make it to California.”

Jesse shakes his head. “California isn’t the right vibe for Christmas anyway.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“It’s like seventy degrees there today. That’s not Christmas.”

I drop my fork. It hits my plate with a clatter. “What’s your problem?”

Jesse shrugs. “I don’t have a problem.”

“He’s just trying to rile you up, Maria,” El warns. Then she gives Jesse a death glare. “And I don’t know why.”

“Oh, I know why,” I say.

Everyone looks at me.

I shrug. “He already said it’s because I won’t give him the kitten.”

“Wrong,” Jesse blurts. He looks and sounds so disgruntled that I actually laugh.

“Oh? Then why are you being such an ass?” I flutter my eyelashes at him. “Do tell.”

He crosses his arms over his middle. “If you must know it’s because you refuse to forgive me for how I acted the day we met.”

I let out another sharp laugh. “You mean when you accused me of being a spoiled rich girl before I’d even finished ordering a drink? When you actually asked if I could read the ‘closed’ sign and then called me a princess? That day?” I fold my arms across my chest too. “Yeah, Ball Cap, if you want me to forgive you, you’re gonna have to do more than offer to take in a kitten.”

He flutters his lashes right back at me. “What is it you’re looking for? A vial of my blood? A contract carved in a stone tablet? My firstborn?”

“You could start with an actual apology,” I reply, giving him my smuggest of smug smiles.

He glares at me and barks, “Fine. I’m sorry.”

“That was unconvincing,” Charlotte informs him. I love Charlotte.

He heaves a deep breath and then looks me straight in the eye. It’s a bit too familiar. I swallow hard.

“Maria,” he says. His voice is deep and the look in his gaze is actually . . . sincere. I swallow again. “I am truly sorry for what I said that day.”

“Ooh, nice,” Charlotte says. And I know exactly what she means. I feel the apology in my bones too. Honestly, this is far too intimate to be happening in front of other people.

“Fine,” I say, purposely looking away and keeping my arms crossed over my chest. “Now all you have to do is show me you’re actually not a jerk. So far, your snarky comments and bruised ego aren’t helping your case.”

I dare a quick glance at him. He narrows his eyes on me, clearly displeased with my second requirement.

“You’re both the most stubborn people I know,” El interjects, shaking her head. “And that’s saying something because I know Aiden.”