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I racked my brain. “I don’t know the name of the road, but it’s the one that goes up to Destiny Peak Ski Resort. I’m about half a mile past the turnoff.”
“Okay, that’s perfect.” The woman’s voice was calm and soothing. “Stay put and don’t try to move. Help will be with you soon.”
“Thank you.” I ended the call and closed my eyes, realizing too late that I hadn’t asked how long it would take.
It must have only been five or ten minutes later that I heard sirens, but it felt like forever. Lights flashed a short distance away, and then a face appeared by the window. A gorgeous, square-jawed face with messy blond hair sticking out from beneath a helmet.
“Hi.” The man spoke loudly enough for me to hear him through the window. He had dark blue eyes I could stare into forever. “I’m Liam. I’m here to get you out.”
“Thanks.” Suddenly, I wished my eyes and nose weren’t red and puffy from a combination of the cold and finally having given in to the urge to cry.
“What’s your name?” he asked as though we were standing in line for coffee and had all the time in the world.
“Kennedy,” I told him. “Kennedy Carter.”
He grinned. “Well, Kennedy Carter, today is your lucky day. You’ve got the best fire crew here to help you. You just follow my instructions, and we’ll have you in a nice, toasty ambulance in no time.”
My cheeks flushed with a combination of attraction and humiliation. I felt like melting at the sound of his sexy kiwi accent, but how embarrassing would it be to have an ambulance called? Nothing seemed to be broken or bleeding. “I don’t need an ambulance.”
His expression turned stern. “It’s protocol for an accident like this. We need to make sure you’re as fine as you seem.”
I nodded. That made sense.
“Good. Now we’re coming in for you. You ready?”
ChapterTwo
LIAM
Wowzer.
Even when Kennedy Carter had been hanging upside down in her car, I could tell she was a looker, but now that she was right side up and sitting in the back of the ambulance while my best friend Asher checked her over, it was clear she was a knockout. Her hair was long, dark, and shiny. It looked like it would be soft to touch. And her eyes were incredible. A vivid shade of blue that made mine look dull by comparison. But it was the sweet way she smiled and the faint blush of her cheeks as she tried to assure everyone there was no need to worry that enchanted me.
As one of New Zealand’s premier skiing destinations, Destiny Falls had a lot of international tourists visiting during winter. Some of them—especially the ones who stayed at the resort—seemed to think they were above the locals, but not this girl. She was obviously out of her depths driving a car that should never have been allowed on this road in snowy conditions, but she hadn’t gotten defensive or aggressive like some visitors did when things went wrong. Instead, she’d seemed embarrassed by the whole situation. She sat quietly while Asher asked her questions and scanned her for potential injuries. Other than some deep bruising, she’d gotten lucky. Asher didn’t seem to think she had a concussion, although he recommended she have someone nearby for the rest of the day to observe her.
Igor and Zane had retreated to the cab of the truck to keep warm. Only myself and Parks, who was in charge of our crew, remained near the ambulance to listen while Asher did his thing.
“So, where are you from?” Asher asked.
“Los Angeles.” Her voice was soft, with a smooth American accent. “I only arrived a couple of days ago.”
Parks made a sound of disapproval. “You should have had chains on your car—and a better-equipped vehicle. Make sure you buy chains before you head up the mountain again.”
“Chains?” She cocked her head, clearly confused. “What for?”
“To keep you from sliding off the road,” he said. “You should have done your research. I’d have thought anyone who bothered coming here to ski would at least be familiar with the safety tools needed.”
“Oh.” She looked chastened. “I’m sorry. I’ve made a mess of things.” She met Parks’s eyes, improving my opinion of her backbone. He could be an intimidating bastard. “I’m not a tourist. I’m the new barista at the resort.” Her face fell. “You don’t think they’ll fire me for being late on my first day, do you?”
“Of course not,” I hurried to assure her, hoping it was true. “Have you spoken to them yet?”
“Oh my God.” She slapped her palm to her forehead. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”
“You’re still shaken.” I wished I could hug her. She looked like she needed it. But she was in a foreign country, and I doubted she wanted a random man putting his hands on her. “You’re bound to forget things. But letting them know soon will probably go a long way to help the situation.”
She nodded miserably and mumbled something.
“Okay, I think you’re fine,” Asher announced, stepping back. “But you should rest today and make sure someone checks on you every couple of hours. You won’t be up to starting a new job. You need time to recover.”
