by Taylor Hart
Recognition hit to her. “Pennington. Your brother is Sterling Pennington?” She saw the resemblance now, even though part of her thought Nathan was cuter. In a non-movie-star way. Crap.
“Yeah, but don’t spread it around.” He smiled. “I kinda like the women to fawn all over me for my natural selling skills, not the fact my brother is a movie star and they want to meet him.”
She detected a tiny bit of sarcasm and jealousy in his voice, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking more questions. They had quite a long trip up the mountain anyway. “Well, you know pretty much all the important stuff about me. Since you also know I’m getting married in three days, you may as well tell me about your life—skeletons and all.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Skeletons and all, you say? You know you’re talking to a man whose father was running for the U.S. Senate. We never talk about skeletons.”
Something intense passed between them as their eyes met. She wondered if she should recant the words. “Yep, skeletons and all.”
He sighed. “Okay, what do you want to know?”
“All of it. You know way too much about me. So if we’re going with the friends theme, I need to know more.”
“Okay. I’m an attorney.”
“No, you have to start at the beginning.”
He smiled and took on the old man tone. “I was born in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred eighty-six.”
She laughed. Thirty, she thought. He was exactly five years older than her. “Well, you look good for your age.” She offered teasingly, surprising herself.
He cleared his throat. “Be careful with complimenting me like that. You’re going to be a married woman soon.”
It hit her again. She really would be a married woman.
He continued quickly. “I was born in a small suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. My father was a lawyer, my mother a homemaker.”
She frowned, all of it rushing through her. “I’m so sorry about your father. I remember hearing about his passing on the news.”
He hesitated then nodded. “Can’t get away from the press sometimes. Thank you.”
She couldn’t remember hearing anything about his mother and didn’t want to ask.
Once again, it felt like he read her mind. “My mother passed a few years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
Letting out a breath, he nodded. “I was definitely one of those annoying kids in school who ran for student body president and later attended Harvard.”
“Total snob.” She teased.
“Probably.”
“Have you been married?” The words tumbled out quickly, much to her embarrassment.
“No.” His voice was quiet. “Never found the right one.”
“No land tied to ownership? No arranged marriages set up for you? You really missed out.”
He let out a light laugh. “So I’m learning.”
They neared the top of the mountain, which she realized was a good thing. What had once seemed to be a silly dinner date with a man who sold a lot of merchandise felt like it could definitely turn into something more. Unfortunately, this was not the time for that.
As they pulled on their goggles, he smiled at her. “I suppose you’re thinking fast track, Ms. Goodman?”
“You know me so well.”
After they both pushed off, he said, “I guess you better go first so I don’t get in your way.”
Unable to stop herself, to stop the rush of going full speed down a darkened mountain, she laughed and shot forward. “Race ya!”
At the bottom of the run, she turned back, wondering how fast he was. So many things had flashed through her mind as she sped down the mountain. He’d said he hadn’t been married, but why? He was gorgeous. Obviously rich. Well connected. And he seemed so down to earth. Well, at least when she’d bared her soul to him and told him the whole marriage thing, he hadn’t acted judgmental. She realized he hadn’t acted shocked or worried at all.
It amazed her he seemed to take it all in stride, like it was a normal occurrence.
He seemed sad, not that other people would see or notice. He definitely wouldn’t advertise it.
No, it was just something in his eyes sometimes. It was only briefly visible before he covered it with his charming smile.
She saw him appear a few minutes later, and it made her smile to see he was wearing her gear. The black didn’t stand out as much since it was so dark, but she would be lying if she said he didn’t look good in it. Really good.
When he reached the bottom, he took off the goggles and grinned. “That was fun.”
Her heart lightened. “Want to hit some more runs?”
They headed toward the Chickadee ski lift, the only other one open for night skiing.
He laughed. “You are pretty fast.”
“Ya know, I was just thinking how you don’t seem fazed by much.”
They got to the line just as some teenagers whizzed in front of them. “Punks.” He commented without any heat.
She grinned, watching the kids go by. “I like the punk kids.” She whispered.
“What do you mean I’m not fazed by much?”
Man, she couldn’t help being distracted by how handsome he was. His facial hair was slightly dusted with snow, and she thought about he’d looked at the restaurant when he’d taken off his coat. Not super buff, but you could tell he took care of himself. “I don’t know. You just took it all in stride when I told you about the crazy stuff with my life right now.”
He glanced away. “I’ve learned that there’s usually a bunch of stuff happening in someone’s life at the same time. Whatever they’re doing may look a certain way to one person from their perspective, but the person doing said ‘insane’ thing usually has a good reason for it.” He cleared his throat. “You’re only marrying Sky because you want to save the land, right?”
It unnerved her that it felt like he was asking a different question. She felt her heart rate kick up a notch. “Yeah, of course. Why else would I be marrying him?”
It was their turn to get on the lift, and they both scooted forward. She felt a rush when the lift took them just below their knees.
For a few minutes, they hummed easily up the slope. It wasn’t awkward between them, but it wasn’t as lighthearted it had previously been. All she could think was how much she didn’t know, and how much she wanted to, about this mysterious guy who’d shown up in her life.
“What are you thinking, Goodman?”
She sighed. “Actually, I was just wondering about you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I get the snobby lawyer side, but I want to know more about you. The person. Not the movie star’s brother. Not the senator’s son. I want to know about Nathan Pennington.”
“Hmm.” He looked thoughtful. “I like chocolate ice cream.”
She grinned. “Okay.”
“I like mystery novels. I like John Grisham novels too. It’s exactly what the life of an attorney is like.”
“I’m sure,” she said, laughing. “But tell me something deeper.”
He seemed to take her demand seriously, quietly thinking before saying, “It might sound stupid, but the only thing I have to look forward to in my life right now is the next ski run.”
She rolled her eyes and gently pushed him. “Whatever.”
“What?”
“You just sound a bit pathetic.”
He laughed. “I don’t think any other woman has ever called me that before. I’m not sure I like it.”
“Seriously, you’re obviously rich and semi-famous, whether you like that or not. Plus, you’re in Park City on vacation. How do you expect me to feel bad for you?”
“Hey.” He put his hands up. “I’m not asking you to feel bad for me. I was just … well, okay, I am looking forward to spending Christmas with my brother and his new wife.”
She tried to remember who Sterling Pennington married from the magazines at the grocery store, but for the life of her she coul
dn’t. She vaguely thought she remembered a face.
“Sayla Jones.”
She stared at him. “How do you do that?”
“What?” He looked innocent.
“You’re practically reading the next question out of my brain.”
He laughed. “I don’t know. It’s just like we’re in sync or something tonight.”
Trepidation passed through her. Their eyes met, and she realized she wanted to kiss him. This kind of thing didn’t happen with her very much. Honestly, she hadn’t really thought about anyone romantically since her grandfather died. She hadn’t even kissed Sky since he’d been back. She squinted and thought about Sky for a brief moment—could she really marry him?
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“You tell me.”
Letting out a breath, he smiled. “That you really want to kiss me.”
“Pshaa—whatever.”
He winked at her. “You were.”
Realization dawned on her. “No, you were thinking that.”
“Pshaa—whatever.” He looked away, but a smile played on the edges of his lips. “Or you were thinking about kissing Sky. Maybe that’s what I was sensing?”
“No.” She blurted. “We haven’t kissed since …” She could not believe she was telling him this. “Never mind.” She looked away.
“No.” He reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “You’re already telling me. Who cares? Tell me when the last time was that you kissed him.”
For just a moment she had that same lightheaded, giddy feeling she’d had as teenager when she was talking with a cute boy she liked. No one outright said what they were feeling, but the questions they asked hinted at their interest. Caught up in the moment, she giggled. “No.”
The drop-off was coming up.
“So you said you were getting married in a restaurant. Which restaurant is that?”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“You want to come?”
“Am I invited?”
She laughed as they put on their snow goggles. “I don’t think so.”
“I want to talk about how you were thinking about kissing me when we get down the bottom of the slope.”
She was ready to hop off the lift. “Whatever.”
“You totally were.” He called after her.
She grinned back at him, wishing he’d been wrong. “In your dreams, Pennington.”
Chapter 8
When Nathan got to the bottom of the mountain, he couldn’t see her. He rubbed his freezing lips and pulled off his fogged-up goggles. Man, it was cold. He found himself thankful he was wearing her gear. He wasn’t sweaty like he usually was. A bit cold, but nothing like he would be if he were wearing his old stuff. His aching muscles didn’t even bother him as much as they would have if she weren’t with him.
No, at the moment, his mind was full of her. Her liveliness. The way she laughed. The way her eyes had glazed with tears as she spoke about her grandfather.
She was beautiful, but it wasn’t just her physical beauty he was attracted to. It was her goodness especially in the face of adversity.
He shook his head, trying to clear it. This was one night he wouldn’t forget.
As he moved toward the shops, he spotted her taking her skis off while she waited. It suddenly occurred to him that it was probably eight or nine, and their date might be over—something he wasn’t ready for.
Grinning at him, she scrunched up her face, clearly teasing. “Hey, slowpoke.”
He kicked off one of his skis. “Man, you’re not easy on the ego, are ya?”
She lifted her brows and picked up her skis. “I’ve heard that more than you can imagine.”
“Actually, I can imagine you’re a heartbreaker without even trying to be. Why don’t you tell me the last time you kissed Sky? Or—” He couldn’t resist. “The last time you kissed anyone?”
Giving her a sideways glance, he saw her cheeks flush, and his heart grew lighter. Even though she was openly sassy, she wasn’t the kind of woman who really knew how amazing she was. If she were, she never would have gotten involved with a guy like Sky. Sky’s face, and the possessive way he’d spoken about her, felt like a small knife needling at an open wound now.
“What’s wrong?”
Glancing up at her, he saw her expression and worried she might be reading his mind no. “Nothing.” He put on an innocent face and picked up his skis.
She frowned as they headed back to the ski return. “Right. You definitely were thinking about something you didn’t like. Maybe you were thinking how I smoked you on every run, even on rented skis.”
He laughed, loving her brashness. “Right, exactly what I was thinking. Hey, why don’t you come back and soak in the hot tub with me? My resort is just down the street. I’ll get us some hot chocolate, and we can relax.”
She shook her head. “I wish I could, but you still have to take me to Midway tonight.”
“Oh.” He hadn’t realized that.
“I got a ride in with Sky to sell the stuff, and it was a huge mistake. I had to listen to him lecture me on the dangers of this date for almost twenty minutes.”
Nathan cleared his throat and covered his smile with his glove for a second.
“I hope that’s okay?”
“Of course, it’s no problem.” Nathan couldn’t help thinking Sky was probably less worried that he was a danger to Storm and more worried about him being competition.
They returned the skis and headed out, but Nathan found he really didn’t want this date to end. “Come on, I’ll buy you a swimsuit. We’ll soak for an hour, and then I’ll take you home.”
As they walked toward the parking lot, she wagged her finger at him. “Don’t try to use your charms on me, Nathan Pennington.”
He put up his hands. “Actually, I wasn’t trying whatever you’re thinking about. I honestly just enjoy your company.” Pretty much, mostly. Did he want to try his charms on her? If he was honest, yeah, he’d thought about it.
Getting to the passenger side of the car, he tugged it open for her. It bothered him a bit how vulnerable his last words had sounded.
She turned, and they were almost face-to-face. If he were to lean in a couple of more inches, his lips would be on hers.
His heart hammered in his chest. He felt like he was a young man again, standing there with a beautiful girl he didn’t know if he would ever get to kiss.
It was exhilarating. These days, he was pretty sure by the time dinner was over if a woman was interested or not. The sad fact was that most of the women who wanted to date him had machinations of their own in the back of their mind. Like Sadie from earlier.
Staring into his eyes, she surprised him by taking her glove off and slowly reaching up to touch his cheek.
Fire burned through him. All he wanted was to take her in his arms and give her a kiss she would never forget. But he held back, knowing it wasn’t the right thing for her.
It was almost painful the way her eyes saddened. “This was a great night, Pennington. If only things were different.” Then she turned and got into the car. “Timing.”
He shut the door, taking a moment to suck in another breath of the cold, night air. His mind was already whirling with thoughts of what he’d like to do with this woman. He wanted to take her to see the world. To help her have a better website and help her business take off.
It was amazing to him because he didn’t usually think this way, but he found himself wanting to give her whatever she wanted.
This realization disturbed him. He’d never felt this way about a woman before. Not like this. Not so soon. Maybe never.
Had he ever really given this much attention or thought to a woman, her life, and what she was going through? He’d always been so busy with the next campaign. Event. Case. Managing the firm or the various other business ventures.
Trudging around the car, he mumbled to himself. “Get a hold of yourself, man. It’s one night. One woman
. It’s going to be over in twenty minutes anyway.”
Getting into the car, he felt like his brain had turned off. He acted on autopilot, turning on the car and defrosting the front window. He felt jerky as he put it into gear and backed the car out of the parking lot a few silent minutes later.
“Hey, are you alright?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. “You forgot to turn on the lights.”
Embarrassed, he turned the lights on and focused on something other than these strange feelings and thoughts. He imagined his father’s face. The certainty his father had always carried with him like a mantle of great sacred duty, probably like the children of Israel carried the Ark of the Covenant. His father always had an air of steadiness and purpose, even in the face of great opposition.
The memory steadied him. “I’m fine. Which way?” he asked as they got to the main road. He didn’t remember seeing any signs for Midway.
“Oh, go east on I-15. Then you’ll take the next exit, and Midway is tucked up in the mountain.”
He drove, trying to ignore the feeling he’d had when she’d touched his face. Trying to forget the whole night and the way she’d been the most beautiful, vulnerable, interesting woman he’d met in a long time. Maybe ever. Which was sad, right? He’d found a girl from Midway, Utah. Midway? His father would surely laugh at that, but he would find it intriguing too. He wondered what Sterling would think.
“Hey, you’re not driving as crazily as you were earlier.”
Jerked out of his thoughts, he found a smile playing on her lips. He squeezed the steering wheel. “Ha.” It came out sounding pathetic. Wasn’t it just his luck he’d found the one woman in America who was bound by an arranged marriage for a land deal. He shook his head and hissed out. “Perfect.”
“Nathan?” It was the first time she’d used his first name by itself, and he turned to look at her. “What’s wrong?”
He took the exit to Midway and tried to figure out how to answer her question. Truly, it was impossible to answer. “Uh, nothing.”
Silence fell upon them. It was somewhat awkward, especially since the rest of the night had been the easiest conversation of his entire life.
Fifteen minutes later, after she’d guided him to her ranch, he found himself putting the car into gear and wondering how he could let this date end.