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But it was the way he’d said the words that mattered. As if they made him sad. ‘Then why don’t you?’ she asked quietly.
He met her gaze with his blue eyes. ‘Because I’m a bit in limbo. What I do next could affect other people—whether I like it or not.’
Empathy swelled within her. Connection. Because those words were so familiar to her. What she did wouldn’t affect anyone other than herself. But being in limbo? She raised her glass to him. ‘Limbo. I see your few days’ worth of limbo and raise you a whole year’s worth.’
He turned closer towards her, leaning in and letting her see the shadow on his jawline and the tiny lines around his eyes. That tiny movement made her catch her breath at what might lie ahead. The woody scent of his aftershave filled her senses. She liked it. It had a hint of spice mixed with earthy tones.
He leaned his head on one hand and gave her a sexy kind of smile. ‘How did a gorgeous girl like you end up in limbo in Mont Coeur? Have you always lived here?’
Gorgeous. He’d just called her gorgeous. She could almost hear the echoing voices of approval of her fellow chalet maids at her rapidly rising heart rate. For months they’d been telling her to pay more attention to the guys around her. For months she’d told them she had other priorities and that no one had captured her attention. And they hadn’t. Until now.
She shook her head and tried her best to play it cool. ‘I’m Austrian. But I’ve spent most of my life on skis, no matter where I’ve lived.’ She lifted one hand. ‘This last year? Let’s just say it hasn’t been my best—hasn’t been my favourite. Limbo is exactly the right word to describe the last twelve months of my life.’
It hurt. Every memory about it still hurt. From the physical pain of crashing down a mountainside. To the psychological pain of realising her hopes of winning an international skiing championship gold medal had just been ripped from her grasp. Then there was the emotional trauma of her fiancé and coach, Alain, dumping her.
Leo reached out and grabbed her hand, the touch of his warm skin shooting an instant tingle up her arm. His voice was deep. His other hand reached over and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. It was a personal touch, an intimate touch, and the skin on her face was on fire with it. ‘How about, for one night only, we try and forget about the stuff that’s dragging us down?’
She blinked. Had he actually just said that?
The fire was flickering behind him, sending a warm glow around the room. Her heart missed a few beats.
No way. She wouldn’t. Not ever. She wasn’t that kind of girl.
But...
Somehow, tonight, she wanted to be.
She really, really wanted to be.
She prayed her voice wouldn’t shake as she uttered the words. ‘I could live with forgetting about everything dragging me down.’
He moved closer, his mouth only a few inches from hers, and she licked her lips in anticipation.
She paused for the briefest second. ‘Promise me you have no wife, no fiancée, no girlfriend.’
He gave a flicker of smile. ‘Promise. What about you?’
She smiled too as she leaned in. ‘Oh, I don’t have a wife, a fiancée or a girlfriend.’ This was reaching the teasing stage. Her favourite part.
He smiled back as he reached up and slid his fingers through her hair, anchoring his hand at the back of her head. ‘No significant other?’
She shook her head. ‘No significant other.’
His lips brushed against her ear. ‘Then how about we get ourselves distracted?’
She must be crazy. She must be losing her mind. But for the first time in a year all she could think about was how good it felt to be in the arms of this man she found wildly attractive and how in control she felt. She was making this decision. No one was doing it for her. Leo Baxter was hot.
And he was all hers.
This was one night. Everything else she could worry about tomorrow.
She smiled as she brushed her lips against his. ‘So...distract me.’
CHAPTER TWO
LEO BLINKED AS he heard the faint noise of someone shuffling around. There was only a tiny glimmer of light outside. The bed was uncomfortable and his mind took a few seconds to orientate itself.
Mont Coeur. The will. Sebastian. Noemi.
And then there was last night. Anissa.
He rolled over and leaned on one arm. Sure enough, Anissa was padding around the room, pulling on some kind of uniform.
She looked up. ‘Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you. I have an early shift.’
He wasn’t one for overnight stays and awkward next mornings. Seemed like he’d had more firsts than he’d expected to. The jet lag and emotional trauma of last night had obviously just wiped him out.
He watched as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail. He’d thought she’d looked good last night, but even early in the morning she looked good. Something twinged inside him and his gaze connected with hers.
This was where things got uncomfortable. This was where he had to make a hasty exit and try and find the luxury chalet he’d never made it to last night.
He glanced around the room, trying to find his clothes. Anissa pulled on her jacket and Leo instantly swung his legs from the bed. She had to leave. And she wouldn’t want to leave a stranger in her house.
‘Give me a second to grab my things and I’ll get out of your hair.’
Images of last night flashed through his brain as he pulled on his shirt and trousers. Good images. Great images. And a connection he’d never thought he’d feel.
Anissa was standing at the bedroom door, watching him a little awkwardly. She sucked in a breath. ‘Thanks for helping me last night.’
He pushed his feet into his shoes and moved closer. ‘You’re welcome. How’s your foot this morning?’
She gave it a little stamp. ‘A bit sore, but that’s it.’
Maybe she hadn’t realised it but she was blocking his exit to the door. He stopped in front of her. ‘Last
night was...’ He let his voice tail off, unsure how exactly to end the sentence.
‘The best sex I’ve had in years.’
He blinked, then laughed. It seemed that Anissa had no problem finishing the sentence for him. ‘Okay, then...’ he gave his head a shake at her quick words ‘...I guess I’d have to agree with that.’
Her blue eyes were fixed on his. His stomach gave a twist. Please don’t let this be something it isn’t.
His brain was all over the place right now, as were his emotions. In the space of a few months he’d found his parents, lost his parents, met a brother and sister he’d never known and been blackmailed into taking an interest in the family business. He didn’t have room for anything else right now.
‘I’m not looking for romance.’ Anissa spoke quickly.
‘Neither am I.’ The answer came out automatically, with a sense of relief.
‘And I never usually do anything like this,’ she added. ‘So please don’t think this is normal for me. Last night was just...’ This time it was her that couldn’t find the words to complete the sentence.
‘A one-off,’ he finished for her.
She nodded in agreement. ‘A one-off.’
They were still close. Close enough that he could smell the fruity shampoo from her hair that she’d pulled into a ponytail high on her head.
It would be so easy to lean forward and kiss her. To capture those lips in his again and pull her back down onto the unmade bed.
The truth was Anissa hadn’t been wrong. Last night had unexpectedly been the best night of his life. But in reality he hardly knew her. And his timing was terrible.
She stood back against the door to let him pass. The early morning light was filtering through the windows of the small staff chalet. It was small, neat and functional, with only a few hints of the woman who actually stayed here. A framed photo of her standing in her skis, the two brandy glasses from last night, the ski boots still lying on the living-room floor. He was struck with how much it didn’t really look like a home. The similarities between this place and his own penthouse apartment in New York sent a wash of recognition over him. How long had she said she’d been here? A year?
