Snowy Encounters (6 page)

“What do you think?”

Cole looked down at her. His hand lifted and
slid into the hood of her jacket, cupping her cheek.

Her breath hitched at the sudden intensity of
his stare. His gaze dropped to her mouth and her lips parted. She
should move away, walk off, but her feet froze to the ground.
Longing washed over her. It’d been so long since he’d kissed her.
The kiss they’d shared two days ago had only opened another wound,
reminding her how much she craved his touch even though she chose
to deny it. Cole lowered his head, and she found herself rising on
tiptoe.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

His words cloaked her in warmth as his mouth
covered hers.

Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she
pressed up into him. Everything else faded, blending in with the
whiteness around them. The wind blew hard, picking up speed, but
she ignored it. As if they were the only two people on the planet,
Maddy allowed her guard down, releasing the desire she’d held at
bay. She poured every frustration, every pain, every ounce of need
into the kiss. She never wanted it to end.

His tongue teased hers and she whimpered,
loving his masculine taste of coffee and mint. She’d missed him
over the years. Her fingers slid to his nape, latching onto his
hair. She nipped at his bottom lip, and a growl of irritation
erupted from her chest. She wanted to be closer, wanted to feel his
skin against hers. The thick folds of their jackets made it
impossible.

Cole abruptly pulled away, and she cried out.
Her hands dropped to her side at the angry clench of his jaw. He
hesitated then tugged her back into his arms, forehead resting
against hers. His breathing labored, and it made her feel a little
better, knowing the kiss bothered him as much as it did her. His
nose rubbed against hers, and she closed her eyes. A wave of
melancholy rushed through her.

“Oh, Maddy. How am I going to let you go this
time?”

The walls around her heart cracked open.

Chapter Ten

Maddy sat quietly in the passenger seat of
Cole’s truck. The snow fell harder all around them. Night started
to descend upon them as the landscape thickened with its white
blanket.

“How much more decorations need to be put
up?”

She drew her eyes away from the window to
Cole, who focused on the road ahead. Her gaze trailed over the
softness of his dark hair, highlights blended under the light. She
wished she could reach up and brush away the strand over his
forehead but she slid her hands under her thighs, sitting on them,
before she decided to do more. She scoffed to herself. “I just have
to finish up the upstairs waiting room.”

He flicked a glance in her direction. She
watched his fingers tighten around the steering wheel. “Thanks for
helping me out. The lodge looks great.”

“You’re welcome.”

“The town needs a decorator and event
planner. The closest person is in Pentonville, but obviously she’s
not dependable.”

Maddy leaned into her seat.
The idea was tempting, but she couldn’t bring herself to move back.
The town disliked her since she’d divorced their hero and it would
mean running into Cole. With what her mother had told her, he was
bound to get married again. No way could she watch him with another
woman. His words from earlier rang into her mind.
Oh, Maddy. How am I going to let you go this
time?

Her throat constricted involuntarily. What
did he mean by “this time”? She left, and he’d never contested.
“I’m sure with the town growing, someone will open an event
planning business out here soon.”

They sat in silence as Cole maneuvered the
truck down their street.

“When are you leaving?”

“Mom wanted me to stay for the grand opening
but I need to get back to work on a new contract we’d
received.”

“And your job is important to you?”

Maddy shrugged. “Sure, I love my job, but
it’s a job. It’s not going to…” Her voice trailed off. She thought
about her lonely apartment in the city, devoid of warmth and
family.

“It’s not going to what?” he asked, as they
neared her parent’s house.

She swallowed. “It’s not
going to bring my baby back. It’s not going to stop reminding me of
how much I miss everyone here.”
Especially
you.

The truck jerked to a stop. His one hand
gripped the clutch, knuckles whitening. “I miss the baby, too.”

Her eyes pricked with tears. She took in a
deep breath. “It wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”

“I wanted the baby more than anything.”

Her head jerked toward him. She recalled how
he’d had started to work more once they’d found out she was
pregnant. She wanted to believe him, but she couldn’t and their
marriage hadn’t worked out anyway. “It’s so long ago, Cole. It
doesn’t matter. I’m just kind of glad I came home for the holidays.
The city gets old after a while.”

“Don’t you love the city?”

He wouldn’t look at her, and she was glad,
aware of the exhaustion taking a toll on her body and mind fighting
Cole all the time. “I do love the city. It has its perks, but so
does Five Oaks.”

“Then why have you avoided the place in the
past three years?”

Sadness pierced her. She could continue to
tell him she loved holidays in New York, needed the big city and
all its excitement, but deep down, she was still a small town girl.
Spending time at the lodge had reminded her of how much she enjoyed
the town folk—when they weren’t glaring at her with disapproval—and
watching the tourists’ delight at the quaintness of the town and
its offerings. Her heart belonged to the town as much as his did.
So, she told him the truth as she pushed the door open.

“You loved the lodge more than you loved
me.”

Chapter Eleven

Disbelief and shock slammed into him. He
shook his head to clear his mind. Anger melted him into action.
Pushing the door open, he hopped down from the cab of his truck
just as Maddy let herself into the house.

He strode through the snow
piling on the driveway. What the hell did she mean
he loved the lodge more than
her
? He’d practically done everything for
her back then, lived for her, breathed for her, and it hadn’t been
enough. Nothing he’d done made her want to try at their marriage
after they lost the baby.

Cole reached the door and jerked it open.
Mary and Maddy stood in the foyer talking, and they both whirled
around to stare at him. He noticed the overnight bags on the floor.
“What’s going on?”

Mary threw Cole a small smile, tears
brimming. “Kate got in a little accident and I’m going to fly up to
Denver to take care of the kids.”

He closed the distance between them and
hugged her. “I’m sorry. Is she okay?”

Mary nodded then drew away. “My sister is
fine, but the doctor wants to keep her at the hospital for a few
days and there’s no one to take care of her kids. They’re still so
little.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“You’re a sweet boy, but I should be able to
manage. Hank and I are going to spend Christmas with them.” Mary
turned to Maddy. “I’m so sorry. I know I made you come home for the
holidays and now we’re ditching you.”

She kissed her mother’s cheek. “It’s okay,
mom. I can come with you if you’d like.”

“No, no. It’s too much trouble. We’ll be back
before you leave and we’ll celebrate New Year’s together.”

“Mom...” Maddy’s gaze flickered to Cole
before she quickly looked away. “I might not be here—”

“I’ll call you kids when I get to Denver.”
Mary headed to the door.

Cole bent and picked up the bags. His
irritation rose. Maddy wasn’t planning on staying that long. “I’ll
help bring this to the car.”

“Thanks, Cole,” said Mary.

After they waved Mary and Hank off, Cole
followed Maddy into the house. She ignored him when he’d called
after her. Annoyed, he’d slammed the door with a little too much
force, rattling the windows as he stalked into the kitchen.

“We need to talk,” he announced. He wanted
answers and he refused to leave without them.

She sighed, took off her jacket and placed it
over a chair then moved to the kitchen counter and grabbed the
kettle. Filling it with water, she set it on the stove before
turning around to lean against the counter. “About what?”

Cole crossed his arms over his chest. “That
last comment you made before you got out of the truck.”

“What about it?”

He shoved a hand through his hair. “How can
you say that?”

“Why does it matter?” She moved to the
cabinet and pulled down a mug.

He closed the distance and
whirled her around. “I loved
you
.”

“Cole, it’s been so long.”

“How could you think that I had loved the
lodge more than you?”

“It’s obvious. We stopped talking after the
miscarriage and all you did was work. What am I supposed to
think?”

His mouth dropped. “Is that why you wanted a
divorce? Because you thought I didn’t love you?”

She stiffened as he gripped her biceps and
drew her up against him. “Cole…”

“Is it?” he demanded.

Tears welled in her eyes. Her palms flattened
against his chest. “You started working more after we found out I
was pregnant. If you hadn’t wanted a family, then you should have
told me.”

His hands dropped to his side, and he took a
step back as if she’s slapped him. His chest lifted rapidly,
sucking in air. Pain exploded around his heart. He couldn’t believe
her. After all he’d tried to do for her, for them, it hadn’t meant
anything. She thought he didn’t want the baby, when he’d done
nothing but throw himself in work so he could secure their future
together. She’d been the one who pushed him away after the
miscarriage and then everything he did wasn’t good enough, because
she wanted bigger, better things. So, she left him. How could she
turn the blame around?

He had to get out. It hurt just to look at
her.

Pivoting around, he strode to the kitchen
doorway then stopped. Maddy stood gripping the edge of counter,
tears streaming down her face. He didn’t care. “You know, you say I
loved the lodge more than I loved you, but you can’t blame me since
you’re the one who left. Five Oaks was never good enough for you.
Neither was I.”

Chapter Twelve

Maddy attached the last bow to the tree then
sat on her haunches to admire her work. She was done. She’d spent
most of the day in the upstairs lobby/living room finishing up the
decorations.

And still no sign of Cole.

After he’d walked out on her yesterday, she’d
had time to reminisce over his dramatic exit, and became angrier
the more she thought about it. But doubts started to cloud her
mind. How could he imply she was too good for the town? Or him?
She’d grown up there, lived there most of her life, and missed the
damn place when she was away. She’d had to leave. She couldn’t have
stayed with a man who chose his work over her.

Standing up, she collected the box of
decorations she hadn’t used then went downstairs to the guest
counter. Stacy, the front desk girl, greeted her with a smile.
“Cole in yet?” Maddy asked.

Stacy shook her head. “I don’t think he’s
coming in to work since Matt is staying an extra shift, but he
should be here to check up on the Christmas Eve party tonight.”

Maddy frowned. Cole never missed work. His
staff was efficient and trustworthy, but he was always around even
when he didn’t have to be. “Is he home?”

The girl shrugged. “I have no idea. I don't
think he's at the new lodge either since Matt said that everything
was done there and you already ordered up everything we
needed.”

Maddy nodded. “Thanks. I’m going to head home
now.”

“All right.” Stacy took the box of
decorations. “Be careful driving. The snow looks like it’s falling
faster.”

“Thanks.” Maddy gave her a smile.

Once she was in her rental car and driving
down the mountain, she couldn’t help feeling irritated. Her mother
called to confirm their landing in Denver and told her to spend
Christmas with Cole. Kind of hard when he was avoiding her, but
then why would she in the first place? Who was he to be mad at
her?

She stepped on the gas a
little too hard. The car swerved. Her heart raced, and she quickly
righted the car.
Calm down. You don’t need
to make the headlines for driving off the mountain.

At least, not until she talked to Cole.

Instead of stopping at her parent’s house,
she drove further down the street. To Cole’s. She didn’t understand
why he even bothered to keep their house when he could stay up at
the lodge. He worked more than anyone she knew and now that he had
a new place opening, there was no point for him to keep a separate
home.

She spotted his truck in the driveway and
pulled up behind it. Once she got out of the car, she strode to the
door. The wind bit her face as snow blew at her like a whirlwind.
She swallowed hard, lifted her hand, and pressed the doorbell.

No sound.

She rung the doorbell again and heard angry
footsteps before the door jerked open. She took in his disheveled
appearance. Cole’s jet black hair stood on end like he’d run his
fingers through the thick mass a million times. Anger blazed from
his deep bloodshot eyes, his jaw taut and lips thinned.

Her mouth went dry.

He was topless. His bronze skin gleamed under
the hall light, jeans unbuttoned, and she couldn’t help but stare
at the dark patch of hair that disappeared into his pants. His trim
waist and muscled abs sent her pulse racing. Her gaze shot back to
his face.