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She thought about it, mentally probing for pain. “Okay.”
“I shouldn’t have lifted you. What if you have a neck or back injury?”
“You’re worrying …” She paused and took a breath. “Like an old grandma. If you hadn’t lifted me up, I’d be brain-dead.” Another long pause to breathe. “I couldn’t get a breath in.”
“Kiera! I’m supposed to be taking care of you.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have challenged me to do a double backflip with a twist.”
He stared at her and then he started laughing. “You tease.”
“I’m the tease?”
Their gazes locked, and the moment slowed. She was lost in his blue eyes. Did she dare tell him how gone she was over him? No, she had to make certain he was dying over her too. She had to draw him in before she could confess how long she’d loved him. This plan had been months in the making; she could stick to it for a couple more days.
“All right then?” he asked softly.
“I will be when you kiss me,” she said.
His eyes widened, then fastened on her lips and filled with a heat that made her certain she’d never be cold or alone again.
He leaned closer. His eyes smoldered with longing for her and only her. Kiera’s heart raced, and the anticipation of his kiss made her tingle. Finally, all her dreams were about to come true.
But he straightened. “Kiera … I can’t.”
“You can’t kiss me?” That was horrible.
His blue gaze captivated her as always, but torture and regret had replaced any desire in his eyes.
“Why not?” She would not settle for ‘I can’t.’ He would explain, and quick.
His jaw tightened. “I can’t.”
“You don’t care for me?” she questioned, going right for the jugular.
“Well, now.” He reared back and shook his head. “You need to get that crazy idea out of your head right now.”
She smiled. “Youdocare for me?”
“Deeply,” he admitted, his voice husky and lovely.
“What is keeping you from kissing me, then?”
“Ah, Kiera …” He cupped her face with his gloved hand. “I promised?—”
“Hey!” Sarah and Josiah skied up to them. “You all right?”
Bosh! She would’ve been better than ‘all right’ if they would’ve quietly skied past. He’d promised someone not to kiss her, or he’d promised himself to another woman. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. Worry made each breath hard to take in, like she was face down in the snow again after slamming into it. What had he promised?
“I’m fine, thank you,” Kiera said.
Mason pushed to his feet and offered a gloved hand. She took it, stood, and swayed. She would’ve hit the snow-covered slope again if Mason hadn’t wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Kiera,” he admonished. “You are not okay.”
“Give me a second.” The world swam, and dark spots danced in her vision. She closed her eyes and when she opened them again, all she could see was Mason’s handsome face and his lovely blue eyes full of concern. She liked his concern, but she wanted even more in his eyes. Love. For her.
“Kiera?”
