“A snow cave?”

“I made it. Dug it out. It’s hard work. And something of an art. You don’t want it caving in while you sleep.”

“So you don’t count the threads in your sheets.” She caught his curious glance. “Nothing. Never mind. You can sleep anywhere. I get it. Probably comes from those camping trips with your dad.”

“He had a lot to do with my passion for the outdoors and nature, that’s for sure. How about you? How did you end up working in the toy industry?”

“I got myself on a graduate program for one of the big consultancy firms, and one of our clients was Dream Toys. I loved working with them. Turned out it was mutual. They offered me a job in-house. I’ve been with them ever since. It’s a family-run business, which can be a nightmare, of course, but also has its benefits. We have a great team.”

“But you’re not a workaholic.” He took her arm and steered her away from a deep mound of snow. “You’re not one of those people who spends her life glued to her phone, despite the seniority of your job.”

“I’m glued to my phone when I’m at work, and I do work long hours. But I have a good team, and I believe in empowering people to do the job they’re paid to do. I try not to micromanage.”

He smiled. “You love your job. That’s nice.”

“I really do.” She told him about the new Arctic range, about travel and her time in New York. He told her about some of the expeditions he’d led and described his highlights: kayaking among glacial icebergs, seeing emperor penguins in the Weddell Sea. And she was so interested she forgot that he knew more about her than anyone, or that he’d called this a date, or that later they’d be spending time alone together in a cozy cabin with nothing but a sparkly Christmas tree and a log fire for company.

It was only when he suggested that they should turn around and head back that she realized how much time had passed and how she hadn’t even noticed. She was enjoying herself.

Back in the cabin, she took a shower and agreed to his suggestion that they use the wood-fired sauna in true Swedish tradition.

The moment she stepped into the confined space of the sauna she realized her mistake. The atmosphere was steamy and intimate, and the fact that she was wearing her bathing suit didn’t make it any less so. It made her think about that night of the wedding, something she’d been trying not to do, although it was becoming more difficult with each minute they spent together. Self-conscious, she sat down next to him, wondering how soon she could escape without it being too obvious.

“This is...nice.” His voice sounded strangely tight, and she nodded, careful not to look at him.

“It’s...great.”

Was he thinking of it, too? Was he remembering, as she was?