Rising to his feet, he decided he needed to tell her, but when he searched the Penthouse there was no sign of her. At some point during his endless phone calls, she’d gone out.
Antonio entered the suite in response to his urgent call. ‘Miss Anderson has gone to the park, boss.’
‘What do you mean, she’s gone to the park? It’s seven degrees below freezing and it’s still snowing—’ Rio prowled across the thick carpet. The snow was floating past the window, thick flakes that landed on the ground and settled. The streets were virtually empty of people and traffic, everyone trapped indoors because of the weather. For the first time in o
ver a decade the pond in the park had frozen over. A few ducks waddled sorrowfully across the ice. Staring through the window, he peered through the swirling flakes but failed to spot her. ‘What the hell is she doing in the park?’
Antonio cleared his throat. ‘She’s building a snowman, boss.’
‘She’s—what?’
‘A snowman.’ Antonio was smiling. ‘It’s surprisingly good, actually. She’s managed to—’
‘Spare me a description of the snowman.’ Rio spoke through his teeth. ‘Did she leave a message for me?’
‘Yes. She said to tell you that she needed fresh air and that she’d be back when she was finished.’
‘Where exactly is she?’
‘The far side of the pond, sir. Shall I call your driver?’
Rio strode across the room and snatched his coat from the back of the chair. ‘No. I’ll walk.’
‘In that case, perhaps you would give this to Evie, sir, with my compliments.’ Antonio dug his hand in his pocket and withdrew a carrot. ‘I went down to the kitchens and found it for her. She might find it useful.’
Rio stared at it. ‘Call me stupid,’ he said slowly, ‘but I can’t for a moment imagine what possible use she will have for a single raw carrot.’
‘Then you’ve obviously never made a snowman, boss. It’s for his nose. I tried to get a slightly smaller one, but the kitchen—’
‘All right—I get the picture.’ Feeling out of touch with everyone around him, Rio pushed the carrot into his pocket and strode across the room to the private elevator. As he reached the doors, he paused, his mind exploring an idea. His instinct was to reject it instantly, but for once he fought that instinct.
Why not?
It would please her and he certainly owed her a small bite of happiness after the way he’d treated her.
Having delivered his instructions to a bemused Antonio, Rio left the hotel and crossed the snowy street, wondering what on earth he was doing chasing a girl across a park in the freezing cold.
He found her kneeling in the snow, scooping snow into balls and adding them to a snowman, who was now wearing her hat. Her hair spilled over the shoulders of her quilted jacket and her cheeks were pink from the cold. Her lips were moving and at first he thought she was talking to herself, and then he realised that she was singing.
‘Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens—’
‘—and a girl with double pneumonia,’ Rio drawled as he walked over to her. He pulled the carrot out of his pocket and handed it to her. ‘Here. Give the guy a nose so that you can come inside and warm up.’
‘I’m fine. I’m happy here. Thanks for the carrot.’ Without looking at him, she pressed it into the snowman’s face and sat back on her heels. ‘What do you think?’
Rio decided that this was probably one of those occasions when honesty was not required. ‘Spectacular,’ he said tactfully. ‘A real gladiator of a snowman.’ Why wasn’t she looking at him? He changed his position so that he could get a better look at her face and saw that her eyes were red.
He’d made her cry.
Forced to confront the damage he’d caused, Rio gave a bitter smile. The fact that she’d still been prepared to help him despite her own personal agony made him feel about as small as the snowflake that landed on his hand.
She pulled off her gloves and blew on her hands to warm them. ‘There’s no need to go overboard. I know you think I’m crazy.’
He thought she was astonishing. As brave as she was beautiful.
‘I’m no judge of snowmen.’ He dug his hands in his pockets. ‘I’ve never seen anyone make one before. But you clearly find it an absorbing occupation so I’m willing to be converted.’
‘You’ve never made one yourself?’