Laughing, I held up my hands to ward off the impending missile. He launched it at me with frightening accuracy. As I tried to move to the side, he disappeared only to reappear right in front of me, taking another shot in the back for me.
His gesture wasn’t missed on me. His eyes met mine and my smile faded as he lowered his head. My heart leapt in anticipation. Just before his lips met mine, I remembered why I should avoid a second kiss. Too late to pull back, I closed my eyes and braced myself. And nothing happened. Well, not nothing.
His lips brushed lightly against mine, smooth and warm. He gently touched my face, his fingertips tracing my jawline. No pain. He tilted his head pressing closer, distracting me from my concern. Blood rushed to my head as new feelings swamped me. I set my hands on his chest to steady myself. He moved his lips to my cheek, kissing me there before pulling back.
It took a moment for me to open my eyes. When I did, I saw his satisfied grin. I fought to regain my breath.
“I’ll get the other shovel,” I mumbled, but didn’t move.
His grin widened and he dipped his head again. How was I supposed to think or breathe if he kept doing that? Not that I minded.
A knock on the window near us startled us both apart. I looked over and saw Gran holding up a piece of bacon, which she then proceeded to eat with a smile.
“I think that’s our warning. If we want food, we better get shoveling.”
We worked side by side to clear the snow. When we thought we were done, we turned and saw what he’d shoveled first already had an inch of snow on it. I put my shovel away as he quickly scraped that part again.
We walked in shaking off snow. Mom and Aunt Grace still weren’t up.
“You two have a seat,” Gran said pointing to the two cups of hot chocolate waiting for us on the table.
Morik sat next to me, watching me curiously as I took the first sip. “Don’t tell me… never had hot chocolate?”
Gran started clicking her tongue in dismay as Morik shook his head. “Then I should have done it up. I wonder if we have any whipped cream,” she said more to herself than us as she opened the refrigerator.
She mumbled to herself for a moment then remorsefully admitted we didn’t have any. Just like that Morik disappeared. Gran looked at his empty chair and steaming cup. “Does he do that often?”
“With increasing frequency. Makes me wonder why he has a motorcycle.” I blew gently on the chocolate and only managed three sips before Morik reappeared by the door holding a can of whipped cream, which he handed over to Gran.
She smiled at him and patted his cheek. I caught a fleeting look of surprise on his face at the contact, but he quickly suppressed it. He followed Gran to the table and watched her add a mound of the fluff on top his chocolate. Gran and I both watched him take his first sip, which was more of a gulp. I wondered if it burned his throat, but he didn’t seem fazed by it. Based on the look on his face, he enjoyed the drink.
By the time we finished breakfast, Aunt Grace had joined us. Morik and I listened to them making plans for a day filled with cooking and baking leaving us with nothing to do, but stay out of the way.
“Do you think mom would mind if we went to Morik’s house?” I asked Gran.
“No, she won’t mind. Be back by three though. She’s invited Stephen over for dinner as long as you won’t be sleeping early.”
I felt Morik glance at me. “Gran, because of what happened last night, it’d be best if we went back to the way things were.”
“That’s smart of you both,” Mom said walking into the kitchen. “I’ll call and cancel. It’s snowing too much for him to drive out here anyway.”
She couldn’t quite keep the disappointment from her face as she fixed herself a plate.
“Mom, if he’s willing to drive, we can make this work.” I looked to Morik for support. “Before dark we can say we’re walking to your house. I can spend the night there.”
“Is it safe?”
Her question caught me off guard. I’d been anticipating an immediate no. Did this mean she was warming up to Morik, or that she liked Stephen enough to put aside her distrust of Morik to spend more time with Stephen?
Morik answered before I could. “Yes.” He stood when mom sat, which I found endearing. Old world manners by today’s standards. “Although your chant is stronger, my home is safer.”
“Then if you’re willing to take on that responsibility, I’ll agree to it. Just for tonight though,” she said giving me a ‘mom’ look. After that, conversation switched to dinner and preparations.
I excused myself from the table taking my plate to the sink. Morik followed suit helping me clear the dishes. I washed while he dried. Behind us, the conversation didn’t flag. They started talking decorating. When we finished, Mom shooed us out of the house saying they would handle the rest.
Hurrying to my room, I packed a bag for myself. Morik followed me. When I had everything I needed in the bag, I called good-bye to my mom and stepped close to Morik with a smile.