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Undeterred, Megan shifted her attention to Lacy. “Thank you, Lacy, for that invitation. Maybe you could answer my question, though. Our viewers watched Sam and Jack Wyatt over the years, as the twins scooped up pretty much every available prize and award available for skiing. Now, since you were once married to Sam, maybe you could share with our viewers just how hard it is for you to deal not only with the ghost of Jack Wyatt, but with your own ex-husband.”
For a split second, Sam had been torn when Lacy hurried up. Glad to see her, but irritated that she’d obviously believed he needed rescuing. What was most surprising, though, was that she would come to his aid in the first place. He’d been home nearly a week and she’d done everything she could to avoid him. Now she rushed in? Why?
He looked at her, wearing a navy blue sweater, jeans and boots, her thick blond braid hanging over one shoulder. No one else would have noticed, but Sam could see what it cost Lacy to stand there and smile at the woman taunting her.
Lacy’s chin lifted, her eyes flashed and Sam felt a swell of pride. When she met the reporter’s gaze, he remembered all of the times over the years when Lacy had stood her ground in spite of everything. Damn, she was something to see. Admiration and desire twisted together inside him.
“I really can’t talk about Jack Wyatt other than to say we all miss him. Always will.” Face frozen into a tight smile, Lacy added, “Thanks so much for coming to the resort tonight and I hope all of your viewers will come up the mountain to enjoy the End of Season party! Now, if you’ll excuse us, Sam and I have a few things to take care of...”
Not waiting for an assent, Lacy threaded her arm through Sam’s and tugged. He took the escape she offered. Leading her away from the crowds, Sam stalked around the peripheries of the noisy mob until they were far enough away from everyone that he felt he could draw an easy breath again. They stood in the shadows behind the main lodge. Here, the music was distanced and so were the shouts and conversations and laughter.
If Lacy hadn’t shown up when she did, Sam thought he might have told that reporter exactly what he thought of her. And that wouldn’t have been good for him or the resort. “Thanks,” he said when he could unclench his teeth enough for words to sneak past.
“No problem,” she assured him, and leaned against the building. “I’ve been dealing with Megan Short for the last two years. She’s relentless.”
“Like a damn shark,” he muttered, shoving one hand through his hair, furious that he’d allowed the woman to get to him.
“Please,” Lacy said on a snort of laughter. “She makes sharks look like fluffy kittens. Everyone she interviews on camera either ends up crying or screaming at her or threatening her.”
“You handled her.”
She shrugged.
“What I’m wondering is why,” he said. “You could have left me swinging in the wind and didn’t. So...why?”
Lacy pushed away from the wall. “I saw the look on your face. Another minute or two alone with her and you’d have ruined all the good publicity we’re getting.”
“That’s it? For the good of the resort?”
She tipped her head back to look up at him. “Why else, Sam?”
“That’s what I want to know.” His gaze moved over her, sweeping up and down before settling finally on her eyes. “See, I think there’s more to it than that. I think you still feel something.”
She snorted. “I feel plenty. Just not for you.”
A grin curved his mouth as Sam watched her fiddle with the end of her braid. She’d always done that when she was skirting the truth. “You’re playing with your hair and we both know what that means.”
Instantly, she stopped, tossed her braid behind her back and glared at him. “You know, here in the real world, when someone helps you out, you just say ‘thanks.’”
“Already said thanks.”
“Right. You did. You’re welcome.”
She turned to go and he stopped her with one hand on her arm. “We’re not done.”
Then he kissed her.
Five
Lacy should have pushed him away.
Should have kicked him, stomped on his foot, something.
Instead, she kissed him back.
How could she not? Two years of hungering for him made her just crazy enough to want his arms around her again. To feel his mouth on hers. His breath on her cheek.
