There were rules about how much contact Sam had with the outside world and Cole knew that he might not get an answer. And, if he did, it might be in a few weeks’ or months’ time. Or never.
Cole picked up his snowboard and tucked it under her arm, debating whether to climb the slope again. He loved to exercise, loved the hitch in his breath, feeling his muscles burning and perspiration rolling down his spine—and his body felt tight after all that driving.
Sex was great, but it wasn’t great exercise.
Sex with Lex was better than great, he admitted as he pushed his hand through his damp hair. Did he have time for another run? he wondered, glancing at the bank of black clouds in the distance. They were calling this system the biggest snow event of the past fifty years and those dark clouds moving in held more snow. He had maybe an hour left before it started to snow again. This would be his last ride for today.
Besides, he couldn’t wait to get back to Lex.
Despite only catching a few hours’ sleep last night, he’d slept well, and deeply. He generally preferred to sleep alone but he loved having her in his bed. Wrapping his arm around her waist and anchoring her to him felt right, completely natural.
When he’d woken up, she’d been in the same position. Having her there, her butt tucked into his bent legs, his hand holding her breast, was where she was meant to be. But then she’d wiggled and all thoughts had been obliterated as his body had come to attention and his brain had shut down.
She was as alluring out of bed as she was in it. He’d been surprised by her opening up this morning, pleased but surprised. But, as soon as they’d ended the conversation, she’d pulled back and he’d sensed that she regretted being so open and honest about her thoughts and feelings. Why? She’d had a rough few years, and she’d played the game with the chips she had. If she occasionally felt bitter, edgy, resentful, she had the right. She’d made huge sacrifices for her sisters.
He admired her and respected her more. He was a child of extreme privilege, and had had every opportunity. While he’d worked extremely hard to set up a successful company, he’d been afforded the time to get his degree, and had been able to give his entire focus to his studies, and afterward to his company. He’d always had money, but Lex was juggling her sisters, her degree, a part-time job and making ends meet.
And she felt bad because occasionally she felt guilty about taking some time for herself, resentful about what she’d been forced to sacrifice. She was, frankly, one of the strongest, best people he’d ever met.
At the top of the slope, he slipped his feet into his mounts, tightened the clasp and rocked the board back and forth. Instead of seeing the snow-covered slope, he saw Lex’s lovely face, her bright hair on his white pillow, her slim, sexy body, and thought that he couldn’t wait to get back to her, to lower her to the rug in front of the fire. Or to simply share a cup of coffee or glass of wine with her, happy to listen to tales of her busy, girly life.
Cole sighed, annoyed with himself. They were having an affair, he reminded himself. A temporary fling, something that was only built to last a few days for as long as they were here at Rossdale—or maybe, if he could talk her into it, for as long as he was in South Africa. There was nothing between them but sex...
But, damn, a small part of him wished there could be.
Cole rocked the board, the snowboard slipped over the lip and he started to gather speed. He was at a pretty high altitude, he realised, that was why his brain was scrambled. There wasn’t enough oxygen to power his brain. When he got back to Cape Town, things would go back to normal.
He hoped.
Because if they didn’t, he was in big trouble.
CHAPTER TEN
‘WEHADANextraordinary amount of snow already, and they are forecasting more tonight,’ Cole told Lex as he poured her a glass of red wine.
They were in the kitchen and Cole stood next to her at the kitchen island, watching her as she threw together a simple pasta dish of garlic, capers and anchovies.
‘When I got back this afternoon from snowboarding, I jumped onto my computer and managed to find the town’s social media page,’ Cole continued. ‘Rhodes is cut off and no one is getting in or out for the next few days. They’ve had reports of damaged homes and businesses already and, apparently, there’s more to come.’
Lex bit her lip. They were higher up the mountain and were probably going to see more snow than everyone else. Would the ski-lodge be able to cope with what was coming? Cole placed a hand on her butt and gave her a reassuring pat. ‘We might not be leaving any time soon but we’ll be fine.’
Lex lifted the glass of wine to her lips, thinking that he was good at reassurance. He’d managed to convince her that exposing the fear and resentment about raising her sisters, and the sacrifices she’d made, was normal.
It was nice to unburden herself, to feel emotionally connected to a man, but she couldn’t allow it to happen again. He’d been there this time, but he wouldn’t be there in the future. She couldn’t make opening up, sharing her inner world, a habit. Cole wasn’t going to stick around.
Even if he did live in Cape Town and wanted more from her, he’d run when confronted with the day-to-day reality of her life. She was her sisters’ primary care-giver and they’d be a huge part of her life—the biggest part—for the next ten to fifteen years. Cole, or any other man, would have to be able to accept the package deal: Lex and her four sisters, two of whom would live with her until they were grown.
Yeah, her baggage would fill one of those massive cargo planes that carried tanks and helicopters—Cole wasn’t even interested in a relationship, so he would never be prepared to help her carry hers. And, that being the case, she shouldn’t open up to him, let him in.
It would make saying goodbye a thousand times harder than it needed to be.
No, she couldn’t watch another person she loved walk away from her—not again. Her heart had been kicked around enough, thank you.
‘We have wood, food and lots of fuel for the generator,’ Cole reassured her, pulling her back to the present.
‘I’m not worried,’ Lex told him. Well, she wasn’t worried about the snow storm. Allowing herself to get close to him, to feel more than she should? Yeah, she was worried about that.
‘What else did the local media have to say?’ Lex asked him.