“I love you too, Lily,” I assure her, wiping her tears.
An ache of tenderness and perhaps empathy softens Callahan’s features as he watches us.
“I have to stay,” I tell him.
“Of course.” He nods firmly. “Absolutely.”
Taking Jackson back to his bed, he closes the door behind him.
In the soft glow of the nightlight, I cuddle close to Lily under her blankets. Once she calms down and falls asleep, I lay awake, remembering Albuquerque when I was fifteen.
Elle
“COME ON, ELLE! It’s fun!”
“To you it’s fun, buddy.” I ruffle Max’s hair and mumble under my breath, “To me, it looks like a painful demise.”
Just then, Tyler rushes by, his boots stirring up the deep snow, his sled held in front of him. He whoops loudly as he throws himself onto the flat piece of blue plastic and goes speeding at a breakneck speed down the mountain we’re standing on top of.
There’s a reason they call it break-neck.
“Yeah, no.” I shake my head steadfastly. “I like my bones intact.”
“Come on, Max.” Jackson can’t wait another second. “I’ll take you down.” He drops his rear end in the back of his sled, beckoning Max to sit in front of him.
Max eyes him nervously.
“Don’t be scared. I’ll hold you around the waist, so you don’t fall out,” Jackson tells him.
Reassured, Max cozies in with Jackson, who looks to Callahan. “Connor, will you give us a push?”
“Hold on tight!” He gives them a mighty shove. Perhaps towards certain doom.
“I can’t watch.” I turn away, holding Lily’s tiny mittened hand in mine even as she squeals in delight at the sight of her brothers plummeting down the cliff.
“I wanna go.” Lily yanks my arm.
“Not you too,” I whine.
Brandon and Nicole trudge through the snow with their sleds, coming back for another run.
“You going next?” Brandon offers me his sled.
“No thanks. Wouldn’t want to steal your ride time,” I decline graciously. “We could be leaving soon.” Especially when someone gets hurt.
“We just got here!” Nicole exclaims, looking to Callahan. “Are we going already, Connor?”
“No. I guarantee we are not.” He smiles, more at me than at her.
“Hurry up.” Nicole nudges Brandon with her elbow, a strand of her straight purple-black hair escaping her black knit hat. “Before she changes her mind.”
The pair go speeding off, leaving me, Lily and Callahan on the mountain.
“What are you so afraid of?” Callahan eyes me with an I-dare-you grin and gleam in his eye.
“This is a giant mountain!” I say, defending my position. “What if she gets hurt? No thank you. That would be very irresponsible of me to allow her to take such a risk.”
“Um… Elle…”
Right then, two happy families come onto the hill with their toddlers. They all have picture-perfect, rosy-cold, windswept cheeks. They’re laughing and chatting together, pulling their sleds and toboggans.
Callahan cocks a knowing eyebrow at me.
Point.
“Considering you live in Minnesota, you think you’d be used to deadly winter sports,” he teases.
I roll my eyes and heave out a defeated sigh as the two families go barreling down through the snow, screaming in delight.
“I grew up in New Mexico—as far from snow and cold things as you can get.”
“New Mexico? Really?” He states it like he’s not really surprised, which is weird since I know I kept tight-lipped about it during last night’s conversation. He adds, “What part?”
“The part without snow,” I quip.
He suddenly moves in closer until our bodies are only scant inches apart. My heart palpitates as my breath catches.
Callahan’s ocean-colored eyes capture mine, his voice rough tumbling gravel and sex. “It really won’t hurt you.”
Swallowing hard, I imagine the snow around me melting. Are we still talking about the sledding?
The sunlight enhances his already magnetic features and brings attention to the silver barbell in his eyebrow, the small black gauges in his lobes, the natural dark red highlights in his tossed-about deep chestnut hair and the tattoos that climb up his neck and out of his jacket collar.
Stepping back, I say, “There’s no guarantee.”
He nods to indicate the family-sized behemoth he’s towing. “I have a big enough sled to take the three of us down.”
“I’d rather tangle with a rattlesnake than sled down that.” I point down the hill in an attempt to get his gaze redirected away from me because he’s still too close, and my wild imagination dares to contemplate how his strong, tattoo-covered, python-like arms would feel wrapped around my waist as I brace my back against his thick muscled chest.
I curse that I know every detail of what’s under all those layers of cloth from watching him train at the gym.
My head reels! I still can’t believe it was him I was gawking at! What are the odds? Or how Debra set us up. What he did for the kids. He didn’t even know I was going to be at North House. We were both equally surprised. Horrified, actually. But his act of bringing the children together—especially when he knew it went against his client’s and superior’s wishes—I’m beginning to think it was genuine. How could it not have been, now knowing some of his backstory and how he talked to Brandon last night.
It all makes him even more sexy.
“I already thought ahead and snagged a bike helmet for Lily.” Miraculously, he produces a pink child’s helmet, rocking it back and forth from the chin strap hooked over his thumb. “Had it in the backpack for just such an occasion.”
How much more did I miss while I spaced out? “That was very… thoughtful of you.” I’m still scared. I wasn’t kidding. I’ve never been sledding. “Maybe the two of you should go.”
A look of disappointment crosses over his face, then almost a second later, it lights up just as quickly. “Have you ever been on a rollercoaster?”
“Yeah. Hate ’em.”
“Then lucky for us, this is nothing like riding a rollercoaster. It’s more like sliding down the slide at the playground. Didn’t enjoy that as a kid?”
The moment he says it, a pang shoots through my heart. “Yes.” With the thought comes bittersweet nostalgia. The slide was my little brother’s favorite.
“It’s just like that. Only bigger.”
I feel the corners of my mouth turn up even more. Wherever he is, I bet my brother would love sledding down a snow-covered hill.
Then Callahan adds, “Don’t be scared. I’ll protect you and Lily.”
I study him from under my lashes, wanting trust him in more ways than one.
“If you do it, I’ll get you a hot chocolate at the lodge. My treat.”
I peer down at Lily. “Well, if hot chocolate is the reward…”
“YAY!” She jumps up and down, her little boots kicking up the powder.
“Okay, Connor—”
“Connor?” His surprised smile grows exponentially.
“I can’t keep calling you Callahan. Especially around the kids.”
“Alright, Elle.” He offers me his gloved hand, helping me get positioned in the middle of the sled.
It’s just a sled ride, right? For my brother. It gives me courage.
Once I settle myself, I pull Lily in with me, surrounding her with my arms and legs for fortification.
Connor then situates himself behind me. I close my eyes as blood and adrenaline pump hard and fast through my body. I can’t catch a steady breath as his arms come around my waist and he draws me flush against him. My imagination couldn’t possibly compare to how delicious the actual sensation of his body next to mine is.
When his legs come around us in a protective wall, I think, I’m going to die, and not from a sledding accident!
He scoots the sled closer to the
drop point. When I look over the edge awaiting us, I remember my fear. “Connor, don’t let us die.”
“I’d sacrifice myself first.”
His words wrap around me as strongly as his arms. He says them with such conviction, it makes me think of the ink etched over his left rib: I Am My Brother’s Keeper.
“Are you ready?” His warm breath laced with hints of peppermint tickles my ear, chasing away the cold.
I really can’t afford to let him affect me like this. I check Lily’s helmet once more and give a definitive nod. “We’re set.”
“Okay, hold on tight.”
Immediately, we’re soaring down the mountain, following the well-worn groove, like on an Olympic luge track. A scream bubbles up through my chest, into my throat and out my mouth. At first, it’s bloodcurdling, but then it morphs into completely unbridled excitement!
The soft snow sprays around us, lighting ice cold crystals on our faces as the wind whips at our cheeks and noses. My pulse is racing from the sheer exhilaration. Lily is laughing hysterically.
“THIS IS SO INCREDIBLE!” I shout against the clear blue sky. “IT’S LIKE WE’RE FLYING!”
I hear him laugh behind me, and I swear he squeezes me tighter.
Then, just as we come rushing to the bottom of the hill, a small child, maybe only three or four years old, comes dashing across the snow and directly in line with our trajectory. Out of the corner of my eye, I see his mother running toward him, shouting his name.
“Oh shit!” Connor whispers behind me.
Suddenly, I feel his entire body shift as his arms envelope both me and Lily in a protective bear hug. Our sled swerves to the left.
Amazingly, we miss the kid, albeit just barely… but then, I can feel the sled begin to capsize.
I was afraid of that!
As we tumble out of the protection of the thin blue plastic and I think this might be the way I die, Connor keeps us in his arms and takes the brunt of our impact with the snowy ground with his own body.
I don’t know how he does it, but he keeps us from getting hurt. By the time we stop our skidding-roll, Lily is on her feet, stomp-jumping in the snow beside us, squealing with delight. I, however, am laying completely on top of Connor, his bright blue-green eyes seared with mine; our breath vapors become one, our lips mere inches from each other’s.
For a moment I’m utterly frozen.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Connor’s eyes fill with concern.
It’s all I can do to nod.
“WOW! That was so COOL!” Jackson shouts as he, Max, Tyler, Brandon and Nicole are all applauding us and cheering. Max is jumping around, happy. Jackson’s smile is so huge.
Quickly, Connor hops up. Giving me a hand, he pulls me to my feet. I brush the snow off me and Lily.
“I can’t believe you missed that kid,” Brandon exclaims.
“And we all survived,” I add as I pass a grateful look to Connor.
“You’re funny, Elle!” Max giggles, falling and rolling into the snow.
“Thanks, Max.” I scoop up snow and throw it at him. “As long as I make you laugh.”
“Connor, can we hit it again?” Tyler asks.
“Sure, then whoever wants to take a break and warm up with some hot cocoas, we’re headed to the lodge.”
The three younger kids yell, “COCOA!” while the older three aren’t quite convinced.
“They have games, and I have a twenty reserved specifically for tokens,” Connor adds.
“TOKENS?! ALL RIGHT!” Brandon, Tyler and Nicole shout nearly simultaneously, then start fist bumping each other and Connor.
So, with six kids in tow, we hike to the lodge. Connor orders the biggest hot chocolates I’ve ever seen.
“This mug is as big as Lily’s head,” I chuckle as I blow cool air over the steaming surface of the cocoa.
“Thanks, Connor. Thanks, Elle,” all the kids say.
“You guys are welcome.” Connor beams. “I’m psyched to spend the day together. I’m having a blast.”
All the kids agree they are too. The teens finish their cocoas, play in the arcade, then head back on the hill for a few more rides. The younger ones hang in the arcade with us.
I can’t help but study the man making this day possible.
His eyes lift to mine as he catches me studying him. I feel the blush of embarrassment paint my cheekbones, but I ride it out with a soft smile.
He smiles back; it’s instantly genuine and engaging.
I believe my enemy is becoming my friend.
“Almost ready with the drum kit,” Connor calls out from behind the equipment as he sets the stage to play Rock Band.
“Lead guitar is synced!” Brandon sets the instrument in its holder.
Nicole asks, “Whose singing lead first?”
Brandon, Tyler, Jackson and Connor all say, “Not me” in unison.
I laugh.
“We’re drawing straws to make it fair.” Connor reaches into his back pocket, pulls out the straws, which are already cut to different lengths, and passes them to me.
“Which straw do I need to get for lead guitar?” Tyler steps closer.
“We’re going to take turns, switch off between songs,” Connor explains.
“Can the first song be Blink 182’s ‘All the Small Things’?” Tyler asks.
Brandon jumps in. “Linkin Park anything.”
I hide the straw ends in my fist. “Okay, guys, everyone pick.”
“Itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout.” Lily commandeers a microphone. “Down came the rain and washed the spider OUT!”
We all chuckle and clap and cheer for her. She curtsies, then dances off around the room.
Everyone draws straws. Nicole’s DJ, Connor gets bass, Brandon gets guitar, Jackson’s on drums while Tyler is lead singer.
“One thing—” Connor runs up the stairs two at a time and comes back a second later with two guitars from an older version of the game. “Max and Lily, we need some more players.”
“Yeah!” Max snags his guitar and starts air playing. “I’m ready.”
They’re not in the system, but this will make them feel like they’re part of it. I give Connor a thumbs up.
It may be my imagination, but the way he smiles back at me makes me think he’s pleased to have made me happy.
Everyone takes turns, alternating instruments and positions, as we try to beat the game. Each kid gets a turn. Some bring the points down while others bring them up, but we all laugh, having fun. It’s a great time until…
“I’m warning you, I’m a lousy singer.” I tell them when it’s my turn. “I’ll plummet the score.”
“The point is to have fun,” Connor says. “Not up the score.”
“Umm, the point is to win,” Nicole retorts.
Jackson says, “Come on, Elle, you can do it.”
“You’re too close to winning. Pick someone else.”
“Connor, you sing! You could kick the game’s ass!” Brandon says excitedly.
“You sing too?” It’s out of my mouth before I can stop it.
“Sometimes,” he answers, then cocks an eyebrow toward me. “Too?”
Yikes! Don’t want to answer that one. Fortunately, I don’t have to. All the kids cheer him on, and it’s not long before they’re chanting his name.
Now I’d like to hear him sing. “Do it.”
He shrugs with a shy smile.
Nicole’s already on the controller. “Which song, Connor?”
He gives me a quick look as he takes hold of the guitar. “‘Hysteria.’”
“Def Leppard coming up,” she says.
Brandon sits at the drums while Tyler grabs the bass. Jackson takes a break to watch the show, and Lily and Max join him.
“Connor sings.” Lily smiles at me.
“That’s what I’ve heard.” I park myself next to her on the couch for the show.
The intro starts, and Connor begins. His singing voice cuts through the room like a h
ot knife through butter. It’s smooth and mesmerizing.
Is there anything he can’t do?
He keeps his eyes closed for the first verse, like he’s really feeling it. Into the chorus, he checks over his band and smiles his approval. During the second verse, he lets his eyes move through the room until they land on me…
“Oh, believe in me, I gotta know tonight, if you’re alone tonight.
Can’t stop this feeling, can’t stop this fight...”
His eyes burn through mine, the words he’s singing and the passion in his voice fighting to reach my soul.
“Oh, can you feel it,
Do you believe it?
Hysteria when you’re near…”
Am I imagining this? My body’s hot all over, and my breathing shallows. I’m drawn in, moth to flame. I try to turn this reaction off, to look away, but I can’t.
Maybe I don’t want to.
As the song reaches the final chorus, he gives Tyler and Brandon a look of praise as they hit the background vocals and finish big. Then, during the very last lines of the song, Connor’s eyes focus on mine again.
It’s not on purpose. I’m sitting in front of him. Where else is he going to look, right?
But when he sings, “Baby, get closer to me,” I’m sure I’ll never be able to listen to the song the same way again. I’m the one consumed by the hysteria and hope to heaven he can’t tell he’s having this effect on me.
The performance is flawless. Five stars, 100%. They win the game. The kids go crazy. Everyone is screaming and cheering, high fiving each other and jumping around the family room.
In the midst of it all, Connor’s eyes lock onto mine as he smiles shyly. Heat lights across my skin, as if he’s touching me.
“CONNOR! YOU KILLED IT!!” Tyler breaks the spell.
I cannot keep this tension in check. I’ve got to get the hell out of here.
“Congrats, you guys! That was amazing.” Then I call out, “Max and Lily, it’s getting late. Time to get washed up. Jackson, you have another hour.”
“Really? Thanks, Elle!”
I hurry out of the room with the two little ones in tow. When I hit the stairs, knowing the family room will be out of sight, I can’t help but glance over my shoulder.
Risk: An Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance Romance Standalone (Brothers of Ink and Steel) Page 11