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“Are you comfortable waiting inside while I make some calls?”
She didn’t look like she was certain, but she finally nodded and turned to head back up the stairs, grasping the railing to balance in her silly boots. Fighting the instinct to help her was hard, but despite how open, friendly, and perfect she’d seemed, Jace could tell he was treading on very thin ice. Like the time he, Ammon, Colt, Thor, and Aiden Delta had tried to walk across the lake in the Deltas’ valley after an early September freeze. They’d been scrawny twelve-year-olds and had broken through only twenty feet from shore. Luckily the ice had been thin enough they hadn’t gotten stuck underneath it and their grandpa, Papa Delta, had somehow seen their shenanigans and rescued them like some superhero. Jace would never forget the shocking, painful, and breath-stopping cold of going under the icy water. If Ayla pushed him away and wouldn’t let him near her, he was afraid the sensation would be much worse.
They walked into the cabin, and he gestured to the couch. “Please have a seat and I’ll see what I can figure out.”
She stared up at him and Jace held her gaze, hoping she could see he was sincere and not trying to trick or manipulate her into being with him. He wished he could have a chance with her. How had he let her into his heart so quickly? He knew eventually this would just be another lesson learned, but right now he wanted to push closer to her, hand over his vulnerable heart, and hurt even worse in the end. For some reason he was willing to risk the future pain for the privilege of being around Ayla’s sparkling personality and looking into those blue eyes would be worth future pain.
“Thank you,” she said softly, then took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I reacted so strongly. I don’t feel comfortable staying in your home. After …” she trailed off and looked away. “I always worry if a man is being straight with me or has ulterior motives. That obviously isn’t your fault and I hate that the innocence and fun of our first interactions are shot to crap. It’s the first time I’ve felt like my impulsive, happy self in a long time, but …” She shrugged.
But they were. He felt even more drawn to her knowing she’d been through pain as well. The uncomfortable spot they were in right now after the exhilaration and sparks of their first meeting and their shared flirtations was disappointing for him as well. Several steps above disappointing, but what could he do? She was probably only here for the weekend anyway. Then she’d go back to the “ugly” part of California and her sleaze-ball boss. Jace hated thinking of her fighting off that guy’s advances nonstop.
“Why do you work for that jerk?”
Her eyebrows rose, a shutter went over her blue eyes, and she looked nothing like the bright-eyed, excited, open and expressive woman he’d first met. “That is actually none of your business.”
Jace held up his hands and backed up. He was stepping on land mine after land mine. “I’ll just make that call.”
“Thank you.” She strode to the couch and sank down on it, clasping her hands together and studying his Christmas tree. She looked uncomfortable and instead of being offended that she’d told him “none of your business” he felt even worse for her.
He walked to his bedroom, not wanting to upset her any further. He pressed speed dial on Klein’s name.
“Hey, man, how goes the craziness at the resort?” Klein asked.
“It’s insane and I’ve got a situation. I’m overbooked.”
“Dang. Alivia and I need to add on to that monstrosity you call a lodge again?”
Jace laughed too. He and Ammon had a couple of huge profit years between busy ski seasons and tourists coming in droves in the summer to mountain bike. They’d saved and paid cash for the additions. The savings were a bit low right now, just enough to cover costs and wages, but this weekend alone would change that.
“Do you have any cabins open?”
Please let them have something open.
But a cabin in town brought up other problems for Ayla. They didn’t have a shuttle bus to the resort or anything like that. Would she let him pick her up to ski in the morning? What about being together this evening or dinner tonight? He was getting ahead of himself and proving that more than ten years of staying strong in the face of appealing and flirtatious women meant nothing when a woman as intriguing as Ayla showed up at his lodge step.
“We actually do. A rental fell through yesterday. The guy got sick or something.”
“Oh, that’s perfect. I’ll, um …”
If he said he’d pay for it and Ayla overheard, what would she think? He didn’t mind billing Bryan, but he didn’t want Ayla feeling obligated to that guy any more than she obviously was. Whatever her reasons for working for the jerk, she seemed to not want to share.
He smiled. No, she feistily didn’t want him to know anything. He liked her bubbly, happy side but he also liked that she could stand up for herself. At the same time, what bad experience had taught her to stand up for herself so strongly?
Please let her not have been hurt … like that.
“You know …” he said to Klein.
“I’m not sure why you aren’t talking, but I know you’re good for it, man. I’ll text you the code and instructions. Good luck with whatever situation you’re dealing with.”
Good luck indeed. He’d need more than luck. He’d need lots of prayers and some way to soften Ayla without stepping on any more land mines. His mind was spinning.
“Thanks, Klein. I owe you.”
“Ha! I always owe you. The skiing yesterday was incredible. I can’t wait for heli-skiing with Hudson Tuesday. Chat soon.”
Klein hung up, and Jace smiled thinking about their ski runs yesterday. It had been incredible, fast, and dangerous, with lots of opportunities to jump and do tricks. On Tuesday, Klein’s cousin-in-law and Jace’s friend the famed Death Wish Delta was coming, and he’d mapped out an insane course through the mountains. Jace had thrived at competitive downhill skiing and had been on track to qualify and be a competitor at the Olympics, if only he hadn’t met Iluminada. Even with all the incredible spots he’d skied, he was stoked for the chance to catch big air like Hudson was offering.
He turned back to Ayla. “Hey, I found a great cabin in town.”
