Fierce: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 4) (5 page)

“Perfect. And I think we need to stop by that coffee shop where you wanted me to tie you up. I’m craving”—he pauses for effect and then adds—“dessert.”

I shake my head but don’t flush. Now that I know it’s just a game, I can take it easily.

I pull into a parking spot a few blocks away that is between the two restaurants. Because the mountain isn’t open yet, cars only dot the sides of the road. I say, “Why don’t you go get the desserts, and I’ll get dinner? We can meet back here.”

Christian reaches for my arm to stop me from getting out of the car. “Hey.”

I turn to him and he says, “Look, about earlier. I really did want to kiss you—”

“Don’t. It’s okay.”

“No, Nika. I know you were hurt, and that wasn’t my intention. I wasn’t rejecting you.” He strokes my cheek, and I can’t help but feel a wave of heat travel through me. “I’m attracted to you, but I’m not sure getting involved with the sister of my soon-to-be brother-in-law is a good idea.”

I nod. “You’re right. It’s not a good idea. We’ll have to see each other no matter what, and if things get ugly it will be awkward. I get it.”

He smiles. “Forgive me if I don’t stop flirting with you. Your charm is hard to resist.”

I chuckle and say, “Like I could stop you. Somehow I think it just spills out of your mouth.”

“Nope. Very few people bring out this side of me, I swear.”

As much as my ego wants to believe that, my head tells me not to be an idiot. I watch his fine male body walk away before turning in the other direction. At least my brother’s wedding will be fun.

Chapter 7

J
ust in from a run with the dogs, I pick up my phone to read a text from Gretchen.

“You met my brother. He tells me you were quite charming.”

I text back in a full sentence, the way Gretchen likes.
“So was he.”

Moisture condenses on my glass of cold water, and my hand gets wet when I take a sip. I bend to stretch and hear the hum of a reply text.

“Thanks for letting him stay with you and showing him around Breck. He’s excited to be a ski bum.”

I tap out a response.
“He’s fun. It’ll be nice to have him here.”
Christian’s face comes to mind, and a pang of regret tugs at my heart. I wish I’d kissed him anyway.

I send another text.
“I think his idea of ski bumming is like mine. He plans on a wine cellar.”

As soon as I send it, heat rises to my cheeks. Last winter Gretchen and my brother fooled around in our wine cellar, and I guess she’s remembering it right now. I flash to being close to Christian in that same room, and how flustered he got me when I handed him the champagne bottle. The idea of doing something with Christian in close quarters makes my skin tingle. Great, he makes me blush without even being here.

Gretchen texts back.
“You guys do have similar tastes. He’ll be a fun friend for you.”

Yeah, as long as I remember he’s just a friend.

My hamstrings ache as I bend over to stretch them. I had a good run, and it makes me think I can reward myself with cake. I pick up my phone and text my friends Casey, Megan, and Lori to see if they want to meet me for lunch. None of us are employed for a few more days, and I could use some girl time.

Within a half hour we all have plans to meet at the Baked Bean, the coffee shop where I first met Christian. They have amazing food. Interesting soups, salads, and sandwiches, as well as my favorite carrot cake, all make my stomach growl as I think about them.

I enter to the scent of onion and butter, making me think I should have a hearty bowl of soup and homemade bread for lunch. I spy Casey already at a table with her food and give her a quick wave. The decor is a version of modern-day hippy, which flows nicely with the organic-themed food.

When I get in line, Lori and Megan walk in the door together. I say, “Hey. Casey’s already here.” I tilt my head in her direction while the other two girls smile. Casey is always early.

Lori says, “Something smells good. I think it’s a soup day.”

“My thoughts exactly. It’s chilly out there.” A warm buzz of conversation floats around us as locals celebrate the new season to come.

Megan says, “I know. Nick’s already skied.”

Nick is her boyfriend, and he has preseason work with the snowmakers. “Lucky guy. I can’t wait until we open tomorrow. Can we get in the locker room, or do I have to be a regular Joe?”

Megan says, “We can get in and claim our lockers. Rookie training starts on Monday.”

“That’s right.” I think about Christian and wonder if there will be any cute new girls. “Any scoop on the new hires?”

It’s my turn to order, and I ask for soup with bread and carrot cake. I step aside to let the other girls buy their lunches too. When they’re done we all wait for our food by a glass case that displays the desserts. Megan says, “I haven’t heard about the rookies yet. But I bet we’ll find out at the party Friday.”

Every year there’s an instructor’s party just before the season starts. It’s usually at a big, lodge-style house that seven male instructors live in. Casey and Lori’s boyfriends are two of them.

Our trays arrive at the same time, and a rich, spicy scent wafts through the air as we walk over to join Casey. She says, “I hear Christian stayed with you when he was here. Isn’t he sweet?”

“He is. And he’ll be staying with me when he gets back in a couple of days.”

Megan jokes, “Did you let him tie you up?” Plates rattle as we set our trays down on the shiny wood table.

I wish.
I smirk at her. “Funny.” I smear butter on my bread and take a big bite. The soft texture practically melts in my mouth.

Casey asks, “Did he find a house?”

I swallow and answer. “I think so. He hadn’t quite made up his mind when he left, but I’m sure he will have by the time he comes back.” Christian was trying to choose between the spec house on my street and one at the base of Peak 8. He needs to decide between spectacular views of the Continental Divide and a remote atmosphere or view of the ski resort and the feel of being in town.

Casey says, “He’ll have to leave soon if he’s driving. Do you know when he plans to get here?”

“No, we didn’t get into all of that. I only told him to text me when he knows he’ll be here.” I take a cautious sip of my vegetable stew and let salty goodness cover my tongue.

Lori leans in. “Don’t look now, Nika, but Kelly just walked in. And he had a good summer because he’s looking yummy.”

Megan is beside me and can’t see him either. “Tan? Blond streaks and the rippling muscles of a surfer, just the way she likes?”

I hit her. “Stop.” But I’m grinning, and I look at Lori. “Well?”

“Oh, yeah. I think you should take a chance and ask him out before some rookie girl lays eyes on him.”

Take chances.
I turn around and find Kelly in line. He nods his head at me, and I wave. His long hair did bleach out, and while he’s in a fleece I bet a summer on the California coast defined that hard body a bit more.
Maybe I’ll ask him out.

I turn back around and whisper. “Oh, my God.”

Megan nudges me. “Should I turn around to see?”

“No! Then he’ll know we’re talking about him, and since I’m the only one that’s single…”

She turns around and waves to him while the other girls chuckle.

I sink in my chair. “Seriously? Does everyone think embarrassing me is fun?”

Three heads nod. Casey whispers. “He’s on his way over.” Her eyes widen and she hisses, “Sit up.”

I slide up and throw my shoulders back just in time for him to stop by our table. “Hi, ladies. Nice to see Peak 8’s finest all in one place.”

I say, “It’s good to see you too, Kelly. Did you have a nice summer?”

Perfect white teeth shine in his tan face. “I did. Made a lot of money and caught a lot of waves. Doesn’t get much better.”

I lick my lips and let my eyes drop to his chest. When I return to his gaze, he’s smiling. Okay, so that wasn’t very subtle. He asks
,
“Will I see you at the instructor’s party?”

“Yeah, we’ll be there.” Heat is rising in my body, and I reach for my bottle of water. But instead of grabbing it, I manage to knock it over.

Casey jumps up to avoid the river headed her way. “Whoa!”

Megan and Lori use napkins to start to mop up the mess I made. I ponder whether I can crawl under the table to hide or not. Kelly grins at me. “I’ll look for you Friday.” He walks off and puts me out of misery.

I drop my head in my hands. “I shouldn’t be allowed in public.”

Megan chuckles. “Honey, you’re adorably klutzy. It may not have been the flirting you’d planned, but it worked. He knows you’re interested.”

Casey says, “The way you looked him over definitely let him know you’re interested.” I groan, and she adds, “But don’t worry. Considering he only looked at you, I would say he’s interested too.”

Really?
I glance over at the table where he’s seated, and
a seed of hope blossoms in me. Friday can’t come soon enough.

Chapter 8

Th
e first day of ski season is exciting and frustrating. While it’s fun to get out on the snow after months off, the limited number of open trails is annoying. After skiing the same two for a few runs, I’ve left the girls to go to the locker room for my forgotten lunch and wonder if I really want to go out this afternoon.

Clunking down the metal stairs from the hill to the back door, I’m far from graceful. Just before I get to the bottom, the door opens and Kelly steps out. His sun-bleached locks hang below his helmet, and his jacket is open to reveal a tight zip neck that leaves no doubt he’s a hard body.

He says, “Hey, looks like I’m in time to catch you.” The twinkle in his eye makes me grin at his joke.

Last year during rookie training, I tripped and dropped my skis down these steps, and he caught them and me. A witty comeback pops in my head, and I say, “Just say the word, and I’m happy to fall for you.”

He holds the door open and asks, “Are you done for the day?”

Wow, I guess I’m not as witty as I thought. “Maybe. It gets old when there’s only two trails open.”

Instead of going up the steps, he enters the locker room with me. The metal door clangs shut behind him. I use my newfound courage to take a chance. “I was about to eat lunch. Want to join me?”

Wooden racks to store skis and snowboards are to my left as we move toward the lockers. My skis thud against wood when I slide them in their spot, and Kelly answers, “I’d love to.” He rests his board down across from my skis and walks with me to my locker.

We pass restrooms on either side of us and enter an area with rows of blue metal lockers on our right and offices on the left. The tightly woven carpet muffles the methodic clump of our feet. Wooden benches are set out between the lockers, and Kelly thumps down on one.

I twirl my combination lock. “I thought of you this summer. I was back east and got to surf a couple of days. Only the waves made me wish I was on the other coast.” I flash him my model smile, hoping it works for him.

By the widening of his eyes, I guess it did. He pulls a sandwich out of his pocket. “You surf?”

I shrug and pull my lock open with a click. “I try. But I’m sure it’s not quite what you do.”

He shakes his head, “Doesn’t matter. Just being out there with a board is surfing to me.”

I grab my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and plop down on the bench across from Kelly. “Is snowboarding like surfing?”

He speaks around a mouthful of his lunch. “Kind of.” He swallows down a big lump and continues. “I think skiing is a better transfer, because you know how to read snow.”

I nod as I chew and then say, “I’ll have to try it sometime. It looks fun.”

“How about this afternoon? If it’s as boring out there as you say, then today is the perfect time to learn.”

“Really?”

“What size shoe do you wear? I bet I can set you up with some of the extra stuff lying around.”

“Big.” I grin. “For real. I wear a women’s size thirteen.”

He looks down at my feet. “That actually makes it easy.” He walks off in search of equipment for me as the buckle of my ski boot snaps open. By the time my feet are free, he’s back.