Love on the Lifts (10 page)

“You're really competitive, aren't you?” Joe asked.

“You bet!”

Smash, score!

I smiled saucily. “I like to win.”

“I figured that out this afternoon on the slopes whenever we'd race.”

“Yeah, but you always won there.”

“I like the fact that you didn't pout about it.”

He hit the puck hard and I couldn't stop it from going into the slot. I picked up the puck.

“I recognize skill when I see it.”

I slammed the puck hard, but he still stopped it, sent it back my way. I sent it back his. He hit. I hit.

He scored.

I set us up for another volley.

“You know, you still owe me a dance,” Joe said. And scored.

Not fair. He'd distracted me.

“Yeah, I guess I do.” I scored.

“So how 'bout we dance after I beat you here?”

Smack! Score!

“How 'bout we dance after I beat
you
?”

He gave me that warm, cute grin of his. “Works for me.”

We went back and forth, the score always close, but he won, by one point. I was exhausted and breathing heavily by the time we were finished. And there was a line of people not so subtly breathing down our necks waiting to have their turn at the table.

Joe sauntered around the table until he reached me. He put his hand on the small of my back, and just like last night when he'd kissed me, I could tell it was warm. The heat seeped through my sweater.

“Let's go,” he said.

He escorted me through the crowd until we reached the dance floor. The Ski Lifts were playing a fast-paced song.

Joe and I started dancing. It was strange, because we weren't touching, we were each kinda in our own little space. But the way Joe held my gaze the entire time, it was almost like
there was an invisible thread pulling us toward each other.

And I couldn't help but wonder if I wasn't a little like Dorothy from
The Wizard of Oz
, searching far and wide for something that had been in my backyard the entire time.

I
t was late by the time we all got home—all being Leah, Allie, Sam, Joe, and me. Brad was still missing in action, playing nurse at Cynthia's.

After I got ready for bed, I had way too much on my mind to actually settle into sleep. I was still in semi-shock over Sam and Allie, although it sure hadn't seemed like they were hooked up at the Avalanche. I mean, they danced together, played Foosball together, sat together, and talked together, but they weren't all over each other—not like Cynthia and Brad had been the night before, anyway. And Sam kept looking at me like he was doing something he shouldn't, something that I should tattle on.

And then there was Joe. Good-time Joe who made me laugh and smile. I liked him. A lot.

When things got really quiet in the condo and all I could hear was the moaning of the wood as the house settled in for the night, I put on my robe, grabbed my quilt, and tried to slip out of my room unnoticed.

But Joe was still up, the TV on, the volume turned down way low. I didn't even know how he heard it.

“I'm going out on the deck,” I whispered. “To be alone.”

Which I knew made no sense because I'd been alone in my room. But I preferred to do my heavy thinking on the deck.

“Not a problem,” he said, graciously taking the hint to leave me alone and turning his attention back to the TV.

I almost asked him to join me. I thought if I told him that I didn't really want to be alone, but that I needed to think, that he would sit out there and not say a word. From the moment I'd met him, Joe seemed like he always knew exactly what I needed and how I needed him to give it to me. Whether it was silence or conversation or teasing or a kiss.

And while I didn't
want
to be alone, I thought
I
needed
to be alone. At least for a little while so I could sort out my thoughts.

I crossed the room, unlocked the sliding glass door, and stepped out onto the deck. I wrapped my quilt around myself and curled up in the chair. I dared to glance over at Cynthia's condo. No one frolicking in the hot tub. Thank goodness.

I blinked as a snowflake landed on my eyelash. Then noticed that others were falling. We'd have fresh powder come morning. I snuggled down more deeply in my quilted cocoon.

Then I saw a shadow and Brad was suddenly standing on the back deck, rubbing his arms. He was wearing clothes, but no jacket. Was he crazy? And where had he come from and how long had he been out there?

“Hey, I'm so glad someone is still up. Is it okay if I go in and get my stuff? I'm going to move in with Cyn for the duration.”

I thought I should have felt a pang in my heart, but I didn't. I didn't feel anything. Maybe my heart had turned to ice.

“Sure. But I gotta warn you, Sam gets mean when he gets woken up.”

“Tell me about it. I know all about his sleeping habits.”

He slipped inside and I bundled myself up tighter, studying the night. It was strange, but I thought I really was over him. Maybe it had been a little silly to crush on him as much as I had. I mean really. What did we have in common? Nothing except my brother. Not exactly heavy-duty bonding material.

The door opened again and Brad stepped out, holding his duffle bag. “Thanks a lot, Allie.”

I grimaced not for the first time at the realization that he couldn't remember my name, then decided I was definitely over the guy. “You're welcome, Bart.”

“Brad.”

“Kate.”

“Huh?”

I wanted to laugh. “I'm Kate.”

“Oh, right. Right. Kate's the sister. Allie's the friend. Man, there are way too many chicks here. Never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad that I'm hot-footing it next door where there's only one. Later.”

With that, he turned and hurried down the steps.

Hearing the door behind me slide open again, I shook my head. No doubt Joe coming to make sure I was all right, that I had survived Brad's nighttime visitation with my heart intact. But when I looked over my shoulder, it wasn't Joe. It was Sam.

He sat in the chair beside me. “Geez, it's freezing out here. And it's snowing! Give me a part of that quilt, will ya?”

“Go get your own.”

“Come on, Kate. Play nice.”

“Why? You never do.” Still, I shifted in my chair and freed up one end of the quilt. He moved his chair closer to me. The quilt was a king size so I could share a little of it.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

“Sure. Why wouldn't I be?”

“Brad. I know you were crushing on him, and now he's packed it up and moved next door. I wanted to make sure you weren't having trouble dealing with it.”

“I can't believe Allie told you about my crush.”

“Give me a break, Kate. I've known since family weekend. When was the last time you wanted to take a picture of me? Document my freshman year? What? Do I have clueless tattooed across my forehead?”

Narrowing my eyes, I leaned toward him. “Yeah, I think maybe you do.”

Even in the shadows, I could see him grin. This was so totally weird. Sitting out here, having an almost normal conversation with my brother.

“He's not your type, Kate.”

I scoffed. “How do you know my type? I don't even know my type.”

“Trust me, when you do figure your type out, you're gonna realize it's not Brad. I mean, I like him, and he's a great roommate, but what I want in a friend and what you need in a boyfriend aren't the same. He'd just end up hurting you. Then I'd have to beat the crap out of him.”

I couldn't stop myself from smiling. “Would you really do that for me, Sam?”

“You know I would.” His voice was totally serious.

And I realized that he was so not joking. His revelation stunned me almost as much as Joe's kiss. No, wait, nothing would ever throw me off balance as much as that kiss.

“You do know that, don't you, Kate?” Sam asked. “You're my sister and I…” He waved his hand. “That L-word. You know.”

“Love?” I asked.

“Don't make me say it, okay? Just know it's true. I know I give you a hard time, but hey, that's what brothers do. It's part of our genetic makeup, a little chip inside our brains that gets activated when our parents shove a screaming baby sister in our face.”

“Like you'd have a memory of that moment. You were only fifteen months old.”

“Whatever. Look, I'm out here right now because I've been a little worried about you, and I haven't really been able to get you alone to talk.”

“You've been able to get Allie alone.” And for a lot more than conversation.

He grimaced. “Yeah, she told me you know about us. Are you okay with that?”

“What if I'm not?”

“Then tough. Get over it.”

“Some understanding brother you are.”

“I've got my limits.”

“So you really like her, huh?”

“Yeah. I have for a long time, but geez, she's my sister's best friend. How weird is that?”

“Totally weird. When she described the way you kiss—”

“What?” Horror echoed in his voice. His eyes were wide, his mouth open.

“Payback for the snowball,” I said snidely.

“I already paid you back for that.”

“So? Maybe there's a little chip inside a girl's brain that gets activated when her brother is a jerk and erases paybacks as soon as they happen so we need a steady stream of them.”

“You're definitely not playing nice, Kate.” I heard him heave a sigh. “You know, that's part of the reason I've steered clear of Allie. I don't want her discussing my…moves with my sister.”

“Yeah, like you've got moves.”

He gave me a cocky look. “Hey, I've got moves.”

I held up my hand. “Definitely don't want to hear about them.”

“Definitely don't want you to hear about them.” He leaned forward, planted his elbows on his thighs, and peered at me. “Seriously, you're okay with me and Allie?”

“I question her taste in guys, but yeah, I'm okay. Is that the reason you weren't acting like a couple tonight? Because you thought it would freak me out?”

“I was a little uncomfortable. Stupid, I know. But it's a little strange liking someone who stays up all night whispering to my sister about personal things. I mean, admit it. You talk a lot about guys.”

“Sure, we do, but not the really personal stuff. She won't reveal your secret handshake.”

“It's not my handshake I'm worried about.”

“Pretend it is, because as far as I'm concerned, that's all the two of you do. Shake hands. Even if I see you kissing? In my head, I'm going to tell myself that you're shaking hands.”

“I guess that'll work. And you sure you're okay that Brad moved next door?”

I shrugged. “I need more than what he was offering.”

“You know, Kate, I'm here for you if you ever need me.”

The strange thing was, I knew he meant it. Sure, he was usually clueless, but he was my brother, and I knew he loved me—as much as I loved him.

“Thanks, Sam.”

He stood up and tucked the part of the quilt he'd borrowed around me.

“Don't stay out here too long. Don't want to find you here in the morning, a frozen statue. Who'd cook me breakfast?”

“I love you, Sam.”

“Course you do.” He gave me his usual arrogant grin. “What's not to love?”

Before I could start listing all the things, he disappeared into the condo, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I realized there were times when Sam wasn't half bad as a brother.

So maybe I could understand why Allie had hooked up with him. Of course, I'd never tell him that!

T
here are days on the mountain when it's so sunny and so bright, the sky is such a clear blue, that you almost forget it's winter. Your face gets sunburned, sometimes worse than it would at the beach because the sunshine reflects off the snow. It's like being surrounded by a tanning lamp set on high. But the bite in the air and the way your lungs ache if you breathe too deeply always serve to remind you that it's not summer.

Then there are days when the wind howls down through the mountain passes and you understand how myths about Bigfoot first began. People had to feel like they were afraid of more than the wind.

“No hot tub tonight,” Joe said, like he thought someone was possibly considering it.

We were all nestled inside the condo: Joe, Allie, Sam, Ian, Leah, Aunt Sue, and me. The first sign of the storm was when the sky had darkened and the wind had picked up enough to close down the ski lifts and gondolas. Trust me, you don't want to be on either one when the winds are strong enough to rock them. Even if the cables hold, your heart might not. It's frightening.

The increasing strength of the winds and the poor visibility had the slopes closing down. So like all the other skiers, we'd headed back at a slow crawl.

Aunt Sue had closed up her shop and had been inside the condo, setting out candles and supplies—just in case—when we arrived. The look of relief on her face had me apologizing for not calling to let her know that we were all fine and on our way back.

“It always seems when they predict bad weather, it doesn't happen,” she said. “It's when they don't predict it and it happens that you have to watch out.”

“Are you going to stay with us tonight?” I asked.

“We'll see,” she said. “At least through supper.”

She'd brought over the steaks she'd bought and cooked them in the broiler instead of out on a grill. They really hit the spot.

Supper had been an hour ago, and everyone was still here. Waiting it out. We had the drapes pulled back on the sliding glass doors, and the outside light on. Not that we could see much except swirling snow and accumulation.

“How much snow are we supposed to get?” Sam asked. He and Allie were sitting on the couch, holding hands.

“They're predicting two feet,” Aunt Sue said.

“Two feet?” Allie asked. “How will we get out in the morning?”

“Just open the door and start plowing your way through,” Ian said.

Leah smiled at him like he was her own personal hero. I guess he was. He'd brought her back from the mountains. They'd been riding on the gondola that went up to the highest peak when I'd called her on my cell. She'd told us to go ahead and not wait on her. So Ian had
brought her home and joined us for supper.

“At least there's a football game on tonight,” Sam said.

“Yeah, but in about twenty minutes, the girls get the TV,” I said.

Sam groaned. “Ah, come on, Kate. We're in the middle of a snowstorm here. I can't go down to the Avalanche and watch their TV.”

I lifted my shoulders in a hapless shrug. “Sorry, but rules are rules.”

“What are you going to watch?”

“Something you'll hate.”

“Great.”

Aunt Sue was sitting in a recliner, Joe in the other. Leah, Ian, and I were sitting on these big floor pillows in front of the fire.

Joe got out of his chair. “I'm going to get something to drink. Anyone want anything?”

“Kate, why don't you and Joe make us all some hot apple cider?” Aunt Sue asked.

While I sneaked a glare at Aunt Sue, Joe said, “That sounds good. If you'll just tell me how—”

“It's easier if she shows you,” Aunt Sue said.

“She's right,” I said, as I shoved myself to
my feet and whispered, “Meddlesome matchmaker,” in her ear as I walked by.

She just laughed while I followed Joe into the kitchen.

“Did I miss a joke?” Joe asked, when I came into the room.

I was really embarrassed that Aunt Sue was being so obvious about what she was trying to do. If I didn't know better, I'd think she arranged this snowstorm just so we'd all have to stay indoors for a while.

“Not really,” I said. “Just Aunt Sue giving me a hard time. Grab the mugs, will you?”

I went to the pantry and pulled out the box of hot apple cider mix. Then I went to a cabinet, took out a pan, poured water into it, and set it on the stove to heat. Joe had placed an assortment of mugs on the counter. I dipped a spoonful of powder into each one.

“Tell me there's more to it than just adding water,” he said.

I gave him a pointed look. “Nope. That's all there is to it.”

He looked over his shoulder at the doorway that led to the living room, then back at
me. “Matchmaking?”

I grimaced and nodded.

“You don't look thrilled.”

“It's my love life, and everyone treats it like it's a community project.”

“That's because they care about you.”

“And I appreciate it. I just…” I shook my head. “I just wish everyone didn't know I made a fool of myself with Brad.”

“You didn't make a fool of yourself.”

“I'd really prefer not to talk about it.”

And I wished he wasn't being so nice about it, which was a dumb thing to wish. I took the pot of boiling water off the stove and began pouring the water into the mugs.

“Stir,” I ordered.

“Yes, ma'am,” he said like a private answering a drill sergeant.

“Sorry, I don't mean to take it out on you.”

“Not a problem.”

He started stirring. I emptied the pot, rinsed it out, and put it in the sink. I grabbed the box of mix and carried it back to the pantry. Something caught my eye. “Hey!”

“What?”

I hadn't heard him approach, but Joe was right there, in the pantry doorway with me.

“Do you like s'mores?”

“Love s'mores.”

I held up a box of graham crackers and a package of chocolate bars. “I was a girl scout.”

“And I was a boy scout, but we have no campfire—”

We also suddenly had no lights. I heard a couple of shrieks, some male laughter, a couple of
shhh's
.

And my heart pounding.

“Joe?”

“Yeah?”

I released a nervous chuckle. “It's really dark.”

“Yeah.”

In the distance I heard, “Where's the flashlights?”

“I thought we had flashlights.”

“Someone light a candle.”

Joe said quietly, “There's a little light in the other room because of the fireplace.”

“We should probably move in there then.”

“Probably so.”

But we both just continued to stand there. My eyes had adjusted and I could see his outline, just standing there. I'd crushed the box of graham crackers and chocolate against my chest.

“We should find the marshmallows first,” I said.

“I think s'mores are out. We have no electricity.”

“But we have a fire. We could stick marshmallows on a coat hanger.”

“A true girl scout,” he said.

I felt his hand wrap around my neck, felt his breath skim along my cheek.

“How did you find me?” I asked.

“Just did.”

Probably by the rapid pounding of my heart. I thought I could hear it echoing throughout the pantry.

“Kate?”

“Yeah?”

“Is the Brad-ectomy holding?”

“Totally.”

I felt his lips brush mine—

“Everybody okay in here?” It was Sam,
yelling, sweeping the light of the flashlight around the room, startling me.

Joe stepped back quickly. I wanted to toss the cookies at my brother.

“We're fine, Sam,” I said. “It's just a loss of power. No reason to overreact.”

There was a flickering and the lights came back on.

“What are y'all doing in there?” Sam asked, his gaze narrowed as it went from Joe to me.

Ah, suspicious minds.

I held up the box and bag of goodies. “Searching out s'more makings.”

“Cool! I love s'mores.”

Everyone loved s'mores. Allie went into my bedroom and found some hangers, which the guys uncoiled. There wasn't enough room in front of the fireplace for everyone so—surprise, surprise!—the girls were the designated cooks.

I skewered a marshmallow and warmed it over the fire. I wanted it to be a perfect golden brown.

I looked over my shoulder. We'd set the graham crackers broken in half on a cookie
tray and set the chocolate bars on half of them. Although now little evidence remained that chocolate had ever been there. “Sam! Stop eating the chocolate!”

All three guys were guiltily licking their fingers, but you can't get after guys you barely know, so Sam got the brunt of my yelling.

“It's taking too long to make these things,” he said.

I grabbed the bag of chocolate bars and moved it to the other side of me.

“Hey, your marshmallow's on fire,” Joe said.

“Dadgum it!” I pulled it close and blew on it. It was charred, and gravity was drawing the melting ooze toward the floor. I dropped it on a graham cracker, snatched a chocolate bar out of the bag, unwrapped it, broke it in half, and placed it on top of the marshmallow, then a cracker on top.

The three guys were waiting to see who I'd favor with the s'mores. And since Sam had Allie and Ian had Leah…well, I had no choice. I held it out to Joe.

He grinned, took the offering, and promptly
wolfed it down. “Thanks, but try not to burn the next one.”

I scowled at him. He laughed.

“It's gonna be a long night,” I said.

It was a long night. The lights went out again, but we were prepared with the candles already lit and flashlights nearby.

We were also all stuffed with s'mores. I thought if I never saw another marshmallow for the rest of my life, it would be too soon.

“Well, this sucks,” Sam said, sitting on the floor, his back against the couch. “I wonder how the game ended.”

“Someone won, someone lost,” I said.

“Very funny, Kate.” He glanced over at Aunt Sue who was reading a book in the recliner, using a tiny flashlight. “You're not going to try to walk home tonight, are you?”

Looking up, she peered out the glass doors. “Probably not.”

“You can sleep with me,” I offered. “I've got the king-size bed.”

“Thanks, Katie.”

“It'll be like old times,” I said. When I was little, I'd always sleep with Aunt Sue when I
came to visit her.

Aunt Sue smiled. “Do you remember that time—”

“Aunt Sue, before you say something that will probably embarrass me, can we skip the walk down memory lane?”

“If you insist.”

“There will be great skiing tomorrow,” Ian said.

“Since Brad moved out and we have the extra bed downstairs, I told Ian he could stay. I hope that's okay,” Leah said.

“That's cool,” Sam said.

“He can sleep on the couch, Joe, if you want—” Leah began.

“I'm cool on the couch.”

Leah smiled like Joe had handed her a ring. I guess she wanted Ian as close as she could have him.

“How long have you lived here, Ian?” Aunt Sue asked.

“Three years.”

“Do you miss your family?” Allie asked.

“A little, but I love living here. America has the most beautiful girls.” He gave Leah a look
that said she was one of them.

“I always thought Australian girls were beautiful,” Sam said.

Allie slapped his arm.

“Hey!” He rubbed his arm. “What was that for?”

“You're not supposed to notice beautiful girls.”

“I was doing the noticing before you.”

I couldn't help but smile. Allie always seemed like the quietest of our group, but I had a feeling that Sam wasn't going to get away with a whole heck of a lot.

I felt Joe's gaze on me and I looked over at him. I think he was thinking the same thing. That Allie was sweet, but she also knew her own mind.

“I think I'm going to turn in,” Aunt Sue said. “Good skiing tomorrow means I'll be busy in the morning. Goodnight, everyone.”

Her departure practically started a stampede: the downstairs group headed downstairs, leaving me and Joe sitting in front of the fireplace, watching the fire burn. I thought about saying that I should go to bed, too, but I wasn't tired.

The lights came back on and Joe popped up. “I'm going to turn them all off.”

We left the candles burning. The scent was familiar. I remembered it from that first morning when I'd done meditation with Aunt Sue. I was pretty sure it was midnight passion.

Figured. She probably hadn't really gone to bed, either. Come to think of it, she took her book with her. Meddlesome matchmaker.

Joe sat back down on the floor. Raised a knee, draped his wrist over it, looked at the fire.

“Well, I guess when the storm is over and Ian goes back to wherever he lives, you'll finally get to sleep in a bed,” I said.

“I like the couch.”

“How can you like sleeping on the couch?”

He angled his head slightly so he could see me better. “I just do. I can watch TV, raid the kitchen.”

“You raid the kitchen?”

“Sometimes.”

Of course, he could still watch TV and raid the kitchen if he was sleeping in a bed. It wasn't like where he slept made either off-limits.

I thought about what had almost happened
in the pantry, how he'd almost kissed me. Part of me wanted to say, “Hey, remember what we were doing before Sam spoiled the party? You can finish now.”

But part of me thought that maybe I should leave well enough alone. I'd practically thrown myself at Brad. I didn't want to do that with Joe.

I mean, sure, he'd expressed some interest and maybe he had wanted to kiss me earlier, but he didn't seem to want to kiss me now. I drew my legs up, wrapped my arms around them, planted my chin on my knees, and stared at the fire.