“Thank you,” she said softly. She took a deep breath then said, “I’m sorry I reacted so strongly. I don’t feel comfortable staying in your home. After …” She trailed off and looked away. “I always worry if a man is being straight with me or has ulterior motives. That obviously isn’t your fault and I hate that the innocence and fun of our first interactions are shot to crap. But …” She shrugged.
But they were. He felt even more drawn to her knowing she’d been through pain as well. The uncomfortable spot they were in right now after the exhilaration and sparks of their first meeting and their shared flirtations was disappointing for him as well. Several steps above disappointing, but what did you do? She was probably only here for the weekend anyway. Then back to the ugly part of California and her sleaze ball boss. Jace hated thinking of her fighting off that guy’s advances nonstop. “Why do you work for that jerk?” he burst out with.
Her eyebrows rose and she looked nothing like the bright-eyed, excited, open woman he’d first met. “That is actually none of your business,” she bit out.
Jace held up his hands and backed up. He was stepping on land mine after land mine. “I’ll just make that call.”
“Thank you.” She strode to the couch and sank down on it, studying his Christmas tree.
He walked to his bedroom, not wanting to upset her any further. He pressed speed dial on Klein’s name.
“Hey man, how goes the craziness at the resort?” Klein asked.
“It’s insane and I’ve got a situation. I’m overbooked.”
“Dang. Alivia and I need to add on to that monstrosity again?” Klein teased.
Jace laughed too. He and Ammon had a huge profit year between ski season and tourists coming in droves in the summer to mountain bike. They’d saved and paid cash for the additions. The savings were a bit low right now, just enough to cover costs and wages, but this season would change that.
“Do you have any cabins open?” Please let them have something open. But a cabin in town brought up other problems for Ayla. They didn’t have a shuttle bus to the resort or anything like that. Would she let him pick her up to ski in the morning? What about being together this evening or dinner tonight? He was getting ahead of himself and proving over eleven years of staying strong in the face of appealing and flirtatious women meant nothing when a woman as incredible as Ayla showed up at his lodge step.
“We actually do. A rental fell through yesterday, the guy got sick or something.”
“Oh, that’s perfect. I’ll um …” If he said he’d pay for it and Ayla overheard …What would she think? He didn’t mind billing Bryan but he didn’t want Ayla feeling obligated to that guy any more than she obviously was. Whatever her reasons for working for the jerk she seemed to not want to share. He actually smiled. No, she feistily didn’t want him to know anything. He liked her bubbly, happy side but he also liked that she could stand up for herself. At the same time, what bad experience had taught her to stand up for herself so strongly? Please let her not have been hurt … like that.
“You know …” he said to Klein.
“I’m not sure why you aren’t talking, but I know you’re good for it man. I’ll text you the code and instructions. Good luck with whatever situation you’re dealing with.”
Good luck indeed. He’d need more than luck. He’d need lots of prayers and some way to soften Ayla, without stepping on any land mines. His mind was spinning.
“Thanks, Klein. I owe you.”
“Ha! I always owe you. The skiing yesterday was incredible. I can’t wait for the heli-skiing with Hudson Tuesday. Chat soon.”
Klein was gone and Jace smiled thinking about their ski runs yesterday. It had been incredible, fast, and dangerous, and lots of opportunities to jump and do tricks. Tuesday Klein’s cousin-in-law and Jace’s friend the famed Death Wish Delta was coming and he’d mapped out an insane course through the mountains. Jace had thrived at downhill skiing races and would’ve probably gone to the Olympics if he hadn’t met Iluminada, but even he was stoked for the chance to catch big air like Hudson was offering.
He turned back to Ayla. “Hey, I found a great cabin in town.”
She stood and gave him a smile, but it still had some spice in it. “And nobody currently has the closet full of manly clothes that smell good?”
She thought he smelled good? “Empty closets.” But unfortunately an empty fridge as well. He’d seen something in her eyes when he said the fridge was fully stocked. Did she have money for food? He wanted to run to the grocery store for her breakfast and lunch foods and take her out to dinner. He wondered what would or wouldn’t be overstepping bounds.
“Thank you.” Her smile grew and that fresh, open, happy light he’d first seen in the entry of his ski lodge was back. He thought for a moment she might throw her arms around his neck.
Sadly she just smiled at him and then turned and started toward the door.
He hurried after her. He cupped his hand around her elbow as they reached the porch. She darted a gaze up at him. Dang her eyes were the most beautiful blue he’d ever seen. Her lashes framed them softly and he was lost.
“Are you worried I’ll sprawl face-first into the snow again?” she teased.
“I was a bit concerned about that.”
She smiled and he was so happy. Could they connect again? He found his hand sliding from her elbow and around her waist. It was so natural. So perfect. He had a connection to Ayla he never thought he’d find, and he hardly knew her.
Her eyes widened, but surprisingly she didn’t say anything. Her mouth softened and he’d never seen more kissable lips. He’d thought eleven years ago when he’d met and impulsively married Iluminada that her exotic Spanish beauty was his type. He could see now the perfect woman for him was a blue-eyed blonde with just the right amount of sass and an enthusiasm for life he wanted to restore. How was he supposed to resist her? All the red flags waving in his face didn’t matter at all when she smiled at him.
She didn’t protest about his arm around her waist, but sadly she didn’t lean up to kiss him either. She started walking forward. He hurried to keep up, supporting her with his arm around her trim waist. The walk to the car was far too short. She did lean into his side and he got the opportunity to hold her up as her silly boots slipped on the snow repeatedly.