AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt an instant connection like this with anyone. Not since the divorce. Hell, maybe not even before the divorce.
With a smile, he touched the brim of his hat and stepped around her, back toward his SUV. Before he’d reached his vehicle, he heard her open and close the door to her car, start the engine, and pull onto the highway. By the time he settled himself in the driver’s seat, she was nothing but a set of taillights.
Chapter 2
Turning off the highway, Ellie followed the elaborately carved signs to Spruce Ridge Resort, guiding her car up a winding path. As she crested the hill, she let out a low whistle. The resort reminded her of the lodge from Dirty Dancing, all gorgeous stone facade and massive peaked windows, with chimneys poking up every fifty feet or so along the roof line. The ski hills rose up behind the lodge, the snow glowing a soft blue as a purple twilight unfolded across the late afternoon sky. As she reached the circular driveway, the lampposts lining the road flamed softly to life, glimmering orange. Following the signs, she pulled the car into a parking space in a lot near the lobby. Towering pines, dripping with snow, formed a protective semi-circle around the lot.
She stepped out of the car and took a deep breath, happy the drive was over. The fresh, cold air filled her lungs, the scent of the pines mingling with the faint aroma of wood smoke. Her overnight bag slung over her shoulder, she made her way into the resort, and with each step, her happiness at accepting Lauren’s invitation grew. The lobby was buzzing with activity, guests checking in, skiers and snowboarders filtering through. A stone fireplace dominated the far wall, and dozens of guests mingled there, sitting in the burgundy leather chairs and enjoying an après-ski drink. Laughter echoed off of the stone and tile floor, and Ellie smiled, letting the warmth of the atmosphere seep into her bones.
As the front desk clerk pulled up her reservation, she texted Lauren, letting her know she’d arrived. Lauren and her boyfriend Trevor had already been here for a couple of days, enjoying the skiing. Key card in hand, she dumped her stuff in her room, which was small but lovely. A queen-size bed faced a flat-screen TV that was mounted to the wall, and two caramel-colored armchairs flanked the window. She pulled the green-and-yellow plaid curtains back and sighed, touching her fingers to her mouth. Talk about a room with a view. The ski hills arched up into the sky, and in the quickly falling darkness, the mound looked like a volcano with molten lava running down its surface. Really, it was the ski runs that glowed like lava, separated by dark masses of trees, but the effect was breathtaking. Turning away, she poked her head in the bathroom and smiled when she saw the marble tile, sleek walk-in shower and large bathtub. An ornate mirror hung above the gleaming dark wood of the vanity.
Her phone beeped loudly, emitting the communicator sound effect from Star Trek. Lauren had texted back with her room number, and Ellie grabbed her key card and hurried to meet her.
Lauren flung open the door to her room and pulled Ellie into a hug. “You made it!”
On the very first day of kindergarten, nearly twenty-five years ago now, Lauren had walked up to Ellie and said, “I like your shoes. Want to play?” They’d been best friends ever since.
“I did, but just barely. I spun out on some black ice and got stuck in a snowbank.” She flopped down on the bed and something warm and tingling worked its way down her spine as she thought about the ridiculously sexy Sergeant Grayson.
“Whoa, are you okay?” Lauren sat down beside her, tucking a strand of light brown hair behind her ear, concern filling her eyes.
“I’m fine. A cop stopped to help me. He dug me out.”
“Hey, Ellie.” Trevor smiled warmly at her as he stepped out of the bathroom with a towel knotted around his hips, steam spilling out around him. He rubbed a hand over his short, black hair and a few droplets spilled onto his bare chest. His dark brown skin glistened, and she smiled at the way Lauren’s eyes practically devoured him. A sudden and unwelcome pang of jealously stabbed Ellie right in the sternum, and she rubbed a fist over her breastbone, trying to ease the ache there. Matt’s gorgeous face swam through her mind, and the ache intensified.
“Hey, Trev.” She waved at him, her hand moving in one smooth semi-circle.
He and Lauren exchanged a look before he took his bag and slipped back into the bathroom.
“Okay, so tell me more about this ‘year of Ellie’ thing.” Lauren made air quotes around the words.
Ellie stood and paced to the window, excitement and nervous energy snapping through her. “This is the year, Lauren. The year it all comes together. I think I’ve figured out where I’m going wrong.” She flicked the curtain back, loving the way the sky looked like navy velvet against the warm radiance of the ski runs. “I mean, everything else is falling into place. The website is doing really well, and I can’t believe I actually get paid to write about video games, movies, books, conventions, TV shows, clothes, whatever I want. Crossing the Streams is doing so well that I might be able to hire a full-time staff writer soon, instead of just writing most of the content myself and hiring freelancers when I need it. And I get to be on a panel at Comic-Con this year! Like, neato burrito, right?” She spun to face Lauren, who smiled widely at her, proud and supportive as always.
“Totally neato burrito.”
“And I love my townhouse. I love my friends. I just need to level up my relationship status. I keep going for guys who are out of my league. So, I need to play it safe. I’m sick of getting hurt. I can’t take much more rejection without turning into a crazy cat lady.”
Catwoman is much more my type. She smiled to herself and heat warmed her cheeks.
“It sounds like you’re talking about settling, which, Ellie, come on. You absolutely should not settle.”
“Doesn’t everyone settle, at least a little? I mean, there’s no such thing as the perfect man.”
Lauren’s eyes darted toward the bathroom door. “No, you’re right. No one’s perfect. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to find the one who’s perfect for you. Don’t give up.”
“I’m not giving up. I’m giving in. I’m accepting that if I want to be with someone, I need to change the pattern. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, right? So. I’m done with insanity. I just want to be happy.”
Lauren sighed and crossed to her, looping an arm over her shoulders. “I feel you, Ellie. I do. Dating is hard. It sucks. But I don’t want you to settle for less than you deserve.”
“Says the woman getting laid on the regular.”
“And you think sex would be any good with a guy who doesn’t give you butterflies?” Lauren raised an eyebrow.
“Sex is overrated.” It wasn’t that she didn’t like sex. She did. A lot, when it was good, which was . . . well, almost never. Because she never seemed quite able to connect with her partner. Sometimes the chemistry was just off, sometimes she felt shy and uncomfortable asking for what she wanted or taking the lead. Sometimes she didn’t know exactly what it was she needed. When that happened, she felt frustrated and disconnected, like she had an itch somewhere on her body, but every time she tried to scratch it, it moved.
“Oh, honey. I don’t think you’re doing it right.” Lauren frowned, shaking her head sadly.
A surge of irritation rolled through Ellie, tensing the muscles of her shoulders. She didn’t want Lauren’s pity.
