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If the silver fox is hunting for a hen, his best vantage point is right beside the rooster keeping watch over her.
“I got skis, like I said, Carter. But man, if you don’t get bigger every time I see you. No snowsuit I have could fit you now. What were you doing on that rig, turning the damned pump wheel with bare hands?” Greg asks, running his eyes across my upper body.
“I was looking at some snow gear in the shop there,” I chuckle, motioning through the doors with my chin.
“I left all my snow gear on the rig. Time for a new set I reckon,” I tell him.
“We good?” he asks me unexpectedly, giving me an equally unexpected stab of guilt in my belly.
His eyes are clear, friendly, but still searching.
“We’re good.” I comfort him, gripping his forearm in mine and squeezing it until he winces.
I can’t hold his gaze though.
He’s asking me so much in one look and not much of it is about two old friends.
His biggest question is one unspoken word.
And it’s not something I want to commit to telling him I’m gonna leave alone.
Serena.
Chapter Seven
Serena
It’s the first thing I want to ask dad once I get changed and join him by our SUV he’s moved up by the cabins.
But I bite my tongue.
Where’s Carter?
I haven’t skied in ages, but I do remember it’s the one sport I’m actually good at and ice skating.
Graceful almost.
Almost.
“Carter’s getting himself some new snow gear, be along soon. I thought we could just unpack these and get ‘em ready, then I’ll go change myself,” dad says, seeming to read my mind as I constantly look up and around, waiting for Carter.
I try to look like I’m shrugging but I feel a quiet thrill once I know he’ll be joining us again so soon.
It’s been minutes since lunch but it already feels like forever without him.
“This weather’s held off a bit,” dad says as he surveys the sky and snow around us.
“Plenty of pitch on their main run too,” he adds, “so this powder won’t slow us down,” he says smiling to himself.
I can see his upper body flexing under his clothes, itching to get amongst it.
“I want you to stay between me and Carter though, Serena,” he says with a note of seriousness, “I don’t want you losing your way if it comes in white like it was on the way up here.”
I nod in agreement but have already decided I’ll be as close to Carter as I can in any case.
“I’ll go get changed then, honey. You wanna wait here or catch the last bit of warmth back inside?” he asks, smiling again.
I can tell how glad he is to be here, on holiday for once and doing what he enjoys.
“I’ll wait,” I tell him with a shiver that isn’t from the cold.
And there’s at least one place on me I know could do with something cool on it.
Or something hotter than it already is to out the flame.
As soon as dad is out of sight I feel the familiar strong grip around my waist from behind, but I still jump. Gasping.
I feel fatter than ever in this snowsuit, but Carter’s hands explore just enough so I feel his touch on me through it.
“Sorry, Serena. Did I startle you?” he asks as I turn around looking up.
His brilliant smile and dancing eyes make me smile too.
“I didn’t hear you, that’s all,” I tell him, noticing both my hands on his chest as his still grips my waist.
He’s keeping an eye out behind me though, I can tell.
He doesn’t want dad to see him this close to me, but I don’t mind, not at all.
“C’mon, let’s head up to the ski lift. It looks ancient but it’s running. Will be good until four o’clock,” he says, wanting to take my hand I can tell but fighting that urge.
“We better wait for dad,” I tell him, surprised at how bored I sound.
In my mind, it’s like a circus, and my heart is pounding against my ribs so hard I can feel my snowsuit throbbing.
“Sure,” Carter says, creasing a smile. Looking down at his feet at the mention of my dad.
“I like your new suit,” I say hurriedly, wanting to keep the conversation going, reaching out to feel it again as an excuse to touch him.
Catching my breath when I feel his warm hand over mine, pressing it hard into his body.
“You should have gloves on,” he cautions me as he cocks a brow, then murmurs, “Plus I haven’t forgotten what you said earlier.”
I feel my heart shift again, and just as I’m about to say something, anything to bring back that moment in his room, I hear dad calling out to both of us.
“After.” Carter reminds me, giving me a look that tells me it’s up to me what exactly happens after.
