“I didn’t know I was going to be walking in the snow.”

He sighed. “Never mind.”

She squealed when he picked her up, just like he had in the basement, carrying her easily.

“Keep your eyes closed.”

How did he know she wanted to peek? She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her nose against the soft wool of his coat, smelling cologne and soap and something else, something utterly male. She could hear Liam’s footfalls on the pavement and tried to discern where they were going by the sounds. The evening air was bitter, the sun now below the horizon, her cheeks pinking from the wind. She turned her head toward their destination, eyes still closed, hearing a strange gurgling sound as Liam opened some kind of door or gate and stepped through.

“Are you going to throw me into a witch’s cauldron?” she inquired, frowning.

He laughed. “Okay, you can open your eyes”

“Where are we?” Katie blinked, not quite understanding. They were still outside, the stars coming out over their heads, and in front of them, surrounded by piles of snow, was a bubbling hot tub.

“The local health club where I work.” Liam set her down on her feet. They were standing in an alcove with tables and chairs all around.

“You work here?” She blinked at the hot tub. It was huge-it could probably fit thirty people-the lights below the surface giving the frothy water a soft glow, with a very tall privacy fence surrounding it.“But I thought you were a Dom.”

“I am.” He smiled, taking off his coat and tossing it over a chair. “But I also do this.”

She frowned, watching him loosen his tie. “Are you a personal trainer?”

“Something like that.” Liam’s tie and suit coat joined his other one on the chair. “Take off your clothes, Katie.”

She blinked at him in disbelief, but she found herself unbuttoning her coat, putting it over the chair beside his. The wind whipped under her skirt, making her squeal. She was already shivering.