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It didn’t work today. Instead of dwelling on Iluminada, he was a hundred percent focused on the incredible blonde. She actually gestured with her hand, beaconing him to her. His mom hadn’t raised any fools and Jace decided to throw caution to the wind and heed this second invitation. He strode toward her, completely focused on those bright blue eyes. He had an odd buzzing in his head as if he should take note as this was going to be an important first meet for him.
It was Christmas time and his mom had blatantly admitted she was praying for the Christmas miracle of both Ammon and Jace finding the love of their lives. He and his brother had laughed at her. Him to hide his angst and Ammon because he laughed at everything and took nothing but their business serious.
He and his brother were successful, busy, and only twenty-eight and thirty. Jace doubted there was a “love of his life” out there who could overcome his trust issues and would also want to settle down in this small town. He knew every woman in town from birth on up. Though he met a lot of intriguing and beautiful out of town guests they were here for a weekend or at longest a week and then gone. He’d tried marriage, as a stupid nineteen-year old. It hadn’t worked out, it had been the polar opposite of working out. He would never rush into another relationship. Why then was he rushing across the burnished concrete floor to an out-of-towner who would be gone by the end of the weekend? The woman grinning at him seemed more than worth throwing caution to the wind and rushing at her.
He was almost to her and that smile on her face went from the sassy challenge to thrilled he was coming. He’d never seen a more expressive or appealing face. He knew in the back of his mind she’d disappear before he could get to know her or trust her. That should stop him dead in his tracks. Here and gone like Iluminada. At the moment he couldn’t force himself to dwell on what his ex-wife had done to his young, trusting heart. He was smart and careful now. Well, maybe not at the moment.
Something darted in front of him and the woman’s brow wrinkled and she cried, “Oh, watch out!”
Jace broke concentration on the blonde to glimpse a small girl running smack dab in front of him. He instinctively leaped as if he were doing a box jump or clearing an obstacle on his skis and hurdled the little one. He cleared the toddler easily, the problem was his leap was too ambitious and as he landed he skidded on a patch of melted snow left from some skier’s boots and he plowed straight into the woman.
She cried out in surprise as he knocked her off her high heels. He wrapped his arms around her and twisted so he took the impact of the wood floor on his shoulder and side. It stung but nothing broke. The momentum rolled them onto his back where they skidded a foot before stopping.
He could hear shouts of surprise and concern around them as his staff and other guests rushed to make sure they were okay. Jace couldn’t concentrate on anything but the pressure of this woman in his arms. It wasn’t about how obviously firm and yet womanly soft she was in his embrace, she just felt … right. As if this friendly stranger had been created for him to hold close. He’d been married for seventeen months, to the day, but only spent a week with his wife. He couldn’t recall if Iluminada in his arms had felt this … intoxicating.
The blonde smelled delicious, a spicy cinnamon and vanilla scent. Like coming home for Christmas and knowing you were going to get the most exciting present of your life, that present you’d always longed for. Her beautiful face was even more lit up, as if being tackled by the ski resort owner was the most thrilling moment of her life.
“That was incredible,” she breathed out. Out of breath because she was pressed against him or because she shared the same feelings that were stirring inside of him? “I’ve never seen such an athletic and gentlemanly move in my life. You leapt over that little doll, took me down, but somehow turned to take the brunt of the fall. You’re like a real-life superhero.”
Jace chuckled in surprise, his cheeks hot from her overinflated praise. He was as athletic as anyone he knew besides the famed Hudson “Death Wish” Delta and he didn’t mind being her superhero, but he shouldn’t have gotten close to enough to knock her down. “If I wouldn’t have misjudged my leap, I wouldn’t have taken you down at all.”
“Now where would be the fun in that?” She grinned as if this were the best time of her life. He’d show her the most incredible experiences that could beat this one hands down—heli-skiing, flipping off a forty-foot cliff, racing down his slopes on skis or a mountain bike.
But actually as he thought about it, the thrill of holding her close surpassed even those breathtaking experiences. What was happening to him? Should he let it happen or distance himself like he usually did when a woman breached his defenses? No woman had gotten through to him this quick. He should be terrified. Instead he felt exhilarated.
“Good point.” He lifted his eyebrows and her smile grew.
“What is going on here?” A male voice demanded from above them.
“Oh, hey, Bryan. I just met a new friend.” The woman’s voice wasn’t friendly or welcoming now and the blond man glowering at them was miles from either.
Ah, crap. And the unrealistic dream of this woman being perfect shattered as quick as it had been sketched in his mind. She was with someone. Dating, engaged, please not married. He’d feel like the biggest heel on the planet if he was holding someone’s wife this securely, and enjoying it this thoroughly. Especially after watching his wife cheat on him repeatedly, with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
He released his grip on her. She gave him a look of surprise, and she didn’t move. In fact she seemed to nestle in closer as if she had no intention of moving anytime soon. She couldn’t be married then. Though the guy standing over them looked angry enough she was definitely involved with him in some way. He also looked too old for Jace’s dream woman, but who was he to judge? His wife had been older than him, and a huge mistake. Did he beg this beauty to not make that mistake? It was none of his business and he should move. He didn’t.
“What’s your name, superhero who leaps children and rescues women wearing the absolutely wrong, perilous to her life and others, boots to a ski resort? It was probably these ridiculous boots’ fault you knocked me over by the way,” she said in an undertone as if they were sharing a joke. Jace wanted to share a lot of jokes with her. How could she be so perfectly appealing, the first woman he’d wanted to take a serious chance on since Iluminada, and … involved with the guy standing over them?
“Jace Jardine.”
“That’s a great name. I like it. I’m Ayla Thurston.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” he said, ignoring the man who was now tapping his foot. Ayla acted as if the man wasn’t there so he followed her lead. He liked her name. A long a and then la as if she were singing it. Her name was as unique and pretty as she was.
Since she showed no intention of standing up and dealing with the man, he found his arms moving of their own volition and he gently wrapped her up tight again. Her smile grew.
“Ayla, really?” the guy demanded, standing right over them.
“Oh, goodness, Bryan, relax. I guess we should … get up?” she said to Jace.
“Probably.” He released his grip on her and she rolled off of him and sat up. Jace popped to his feet, put his arms around her waist and easily lifted her back onto her “ridiculous boots”.
She tottered on her heels and leaned against his shoulder. “Whew,” she murmured for only him to hear. “Who knew Colorado men were so strong and athletic?”
“Everybody, ma’am.” He smiled at her. She was … his mom would say delightful, his brother Bentley, who was a little behind mentally and developmentally would say she was the prettiest lady ever, Jace thought she was that, but also the most intriguing. Ammon would say to take a chance and “finally forget the bratty Iluminada and go after a beautiful and genuine sweetheart”. He’d have to ignore Ammon. He couldn’t go after anyone but he was enjoying these stolen moments with Ayla.
The man cleared his throat and Jace forced himself to look away from her at her glowering … he glanced quick for a wedding ring but thankfully there wasn’t one … so boyfriend. They’d drawn a small crowd as well.
“Are you okay, Mr. Jardine?” Tanner, the young bellhop asked. He was a great kid, fifteen, scrawny, and overanxious to please.
