by Janet Dailey
Lainie hesitated before finally placing a white filter tip to her lips. There was something so terribly intimate about lighting another person's cigarette. She did as she was told, passing the lit cigarette and the pack back to him. She watched as he placed it between his own lips and wondered if he could feel the warmth of hers. But with his impassive face, it was impossible to tell.
"Tomorrow I'll be tied up in a meeting with one of my engineers. I've made arrangements for you to stay with his wife, who's presently living in Vail-unless you'd rather spend the day by yourself?" Rad spared her a cynical glance.
"No," Lainie sighed. What did it matter who he pawned her off on? Yet she couldn't help adding bitterly, "How do you plan to dispose of me today?"
His dark eyes flashed with warning signals of anger.
"I thought I would-exhaust you on the ski slopes this afternoon. Tiredness might dull the sharp edge of your tongue."
"I only hope it improves your disposition," Lainie snapped back.
His hand wearily brushed the dark hair from his forehead. "What do you expect me to do? Play the adoring lover? Even you know that would be pushing things too far."
"I'd think it would come naturally to you, considering all the business trips you've taken with Sondra." Lainie's chin quivered at his unnecessary reminder that he cared nothing for her.
"Get it all out of your system!" Rad glared at her coldly.
He leaned back against the bucket seat, inhaling deeply and flexing his fingers, which had been clutching the steering wheel. Lainie was stunned by the genuine weariness in his face and eyes.
"For the past month," Rad went on more quietly, "it's been a round of business and parties and a few snatched hours of sleep. I know you're bitter about being dragged away from your precious Lee Walters, but since you're here, at least pretend to enjoy yourself. For a few days let's forget the past, the future and everything else."
She felt his eyes rest on her thoughtfully, but she didn't glance over to meet them.
"Is it a deal?"
The coaxing tone of his voice brought a whispering agreement from Lainie.
RAD'S APARTMENT couldn't begin to compare with the luxury and elegance of his city dwelling. Yet the decor was in keeping with the rugged surroundings of the Rocky Mountains. The walls were paneled in oak and the shaggy carpet was a warm shade of persimmon. A faded brick fireplace dominated the small living room with its overstuffed sofas and chairs in warm reds and yellows, a startling contrast to the blinding white snow-scape outside the picture windows. Here there was no staff to keep things running smoothly-not that the one bedroom and smaller guest bedroom, or the living room and the compact kitchen with its adjoining breakfast nook, would require one.
Rad did not give Lainie much of an opportunity to explore her temporary quarters. He carried her luggage to the larger bedroom and his to the guest bedroom, declining her offer to unpack his things. His calmly worded request that she unpack, change and be ready to leave for the ski slopes in an hour had only the barest ring of command in it.
Three-quarters of an hour later, Lainie joined him in the living room dressed in her ski suit of honey gold with slashes and stripes of chocolate brown. Rad, in a suit of black and white, seemed unappreciative of her promptness, nodding briskly at her when she entered and immediately escorting her to the door. His impatience was marked. He seemed in a hurry to escape the confines of civilization and pit his skill and strength against the mountains of snow. After his declaration that this was to be a weekend of relaxation, Lainie had thought his air of aloofness would disappear, but all the while his gaze rested brightly on the distant slopes.
Later, as they rode the chair lift to the top of the mountain, Lainie realized that she had wistfully hoped that they would recapture those last moments of their honeymoon spent here in these rugged mountains. It was a ridiculous wish, one that required the effort of two people to fulfill. And Rad didn't care.
It was in this state of apathy that Lainie followed Rad on his run down the mountain. At first her eyes studied the black figure in front of her admiring the litheness and skill in his movements. Then the mountain demanded the use of her own muscles, which had lain dormant for over a year, and her own skill automatically returned.
The cold mountain air blew over her face and tugged at her long hair caught in a clip at the back of her neck. The yellow goggles she wore brushed everything with a golden hue. Her lethargy was giving way to the exhilaration of the moment. She dug her sticks into the snow beneath her as she listened to the swishing sound of her own skis. She saw Rad at the bottom of the slope watching her finish her run, and instinctively she kicked a ski out, jumped and turned to come to a stop at a right angle to the slope.
As she slipped the goggles on top of her head, her eyes were shining brightly. There was a cherry glow to her cheeks and to the tip of her nose. Her inhibitions were wiped away. Her mouth spread into a laughing smile as she looked into Rad's face. No more clouds were in his face, either chased away by the intoxicating mountain air and the exhilaration of the sun.
"Do you want to catch your breath before going back up?" he asked.
"I'll rest on the chair lift," Lainie puffed, wondering how much of her breathlessness was due to the exertion and how much to the warmth of his smile.
Their second run was slower than the first. Rad no longer was at the head, content to slow his pace to Lainie's. Halfway down the mountain Rad stopped, took her hand when she did the same, and together they sidestepped up a rise. It was a small ridge that gave them a view, somewhat obstructed by trees, of both sides of the valley. On one side was the cleared run of the slopes, and on the other a forest of trees, fallen logs, a tangle of growth, and beautiful virgin snow. At the bottom of the valley a tiny mountain stream fought vainly to keep from being covered by snow, here and there disappearing altogether only to break free farther on.
"A Rocky Mountain high," Lainie breathed, and immediately felt embarrassed at expressing such a poetic thought. She glanced at Rad hesitantly through her veil of lashes.
But his face was directed toward the scenery. "Yes," he agreed quietly. "And a much more effective high than could ever be obtained from alcohol or drugs. Rocky Mountain high-lyrical but logical." He smiled down at her. "Are you ready to go again?"
She nodded and followed him as he made the traverse from the ridge back to the slope. They maintained a slow steady pace with Lainie taking a yard or so lead. She knew the cause of her lightheartedness was the sudden opening of the door of communication between them. Perhaps there was still something to be salvaged from their relationship.
She was standing upright on her skis, coasting down the slight gradient. She turned to ask Rad if they were going up again when her skis hit an uneven patch of snow and slid out from underneath her, and with unbelievable force she landed on her rump in the snow. For a moment she could only sit there, her arms keeping her propped upright trying to figure out what had happened. Then Rad was kneeling beside her, his laughing face staring into hers.
"Are you all right?"
Lainie had to give him credit for trying to keep the laughter out of his voice. She winced as she tried to shift her position.
"Who would ever believe that snow could be so hard!" She very tenderly rubbed the injured portion of her body.
"Which is injured, your dignity or your derriere? " he teased.
"The first is shattered and the second is bruised. " Lainie shook her head ruefully, his bantering tone bringing color to her cheeks.
Rad's arm was around her waist to support her after she had scrambled ungracefully to her feet. She felt terribly awkward and gauche as she attempted to right her skis and finish the short distance to the bottom.
"We'll take it slow and easy while you still have something intact."
It didn't matter that he mocked her as long as she remained enveloped by his warm concern. Lainie was almost sorry when they reached the bottom, although she was beginning to feel the soreness set in
. Rad glanced at her inquiringly.
"I think I'll sit out for a while," she said.
"You don't mind if I take another run, do you?
"No, of course not," she said quickly. "I'll wait for you at the snack bar and indulge in a big mug of hot cocoa."
"All right then. I'll see you later.
He sketched her a small salute and headed toward the chair lift. It was just as well she was brought back to earth with such a bang, Lainie decided. She needed a level head to keep from revealing to Rad how much he meant to her. Although there was no doubt about it-a little bit of his charm was a heady thing.
Lainie couldn't stop her heart from jumping when nearly an hour later she saw Rad threading his way through the crowd of skiers toward her. The glances from admiring women made her just a little bit more proud as his hand rested possessively on her elbow and led her away from the throng. There was the contentment of a conqueror in his expression, as if he had just battled the mountain and won. Even if it was just the expansiveness of victory, Lainie liked the way his eyes dwelled softly on her face. For the moment it was enough.
She wasn't really conscious of where he was taking her. Not until she was led from the brightness of the outside into the darkness of a building did she take notice of where they were, and her eyes lifted in silent question to his face.
"Now that we've blown the cobwebs away," Rad smiled, "I thought we'd have a drink."
His smile, free of all traces of sarcasm and cynicism, gave sincerity to his words. Once Lainie's eyes had adjusted to the change of light, she found the lounge wasn't as dark as she had first thought. It was almost a picture postcard representation of a lounge at a ski resort, complete with a blazing fire in the fireplace and laughing people dressed in a variety of ski outfits.
"How are you feeling?" Rad asked as she gingerly lowered herself onto a chair.
"Fine," she said, shifting her weight so that it wouldn't be resting on the bruised portion.
Rad ordered hot buttered rum for each of them. The drinks arrived with swizzle sticks of cinnamon, and they sipped them appreciatively. The crowd in the lounge was too noisy to carry on a normal conversation. After they finished their drink Rad immediately suggested that they leave.
Twilight had cast its crimson glow on the snow-covered mountains. By the time they had stopped and eaten at a locally renowned restaurant and left, a blanket of stars covered the skies, accented by a shimmering pale half moon.
"Tired?" Lainie's long drawn out sigh as Rad stopped the car in front of the apartment prompted his question.
"No, satisfied." Lainie smiled at him serenely. Almost satisfied, her mind added silently, knowing that to complete the fulfillment of the day Rad would have to take her in his arms.
A nervous silence threatened to take over them as they entered the apartment, and she wanted to avoid that at any cost.
"Is there coffee in the kitchen?" she rushed in.
"Instant, I imagine," Rad shrugged.
"I'll make a pot. Why don't you start a fire in the fireplace?" Lainie was a little surprised by Rad's agreement to her suggestion. But then he was in an amiable mood.
Several minutes later they were both sitting in front of the fireplace sipping at the hot black coffee. Yellow flames licked hungrily over the logs in the fireplace, snapping and crackling as if smacking their lips over their woody morsels. Rad had not bothered to turn on any other lights in the room and the atmosphere was one of quiet intimacy.
"Tell me about this couple we're meeting tomorrow." Lainie forced her eyes away from the hypnotic flames.
"The Hansons?" Although Rad responded, he continued to stare into the fire. "Steve Hanson and I went to college together. I was the best man at his wedding after he graduated. He accepted a position with our firm, which at the time was my father's and his partner's. And since I did the same, we naturally saw a lot of each other."
"I don't recall you ever mentioning him."
"When we were married, Steve was in Louisiana handling the construction of a large refinery." Surprisingly there was no bitterness in Rad's voice when he referred to their own marriage. "Their third child was born in Louisiana."
"How many do they have?"
"Four. Three girls and one boy, the boy being the youngest. He's my godchild." He glanced over at Lainie and smiled. "Sean is four, and more of a live wire you'll never find. When he was two, I invariably came out of any meetings with teeth marks. At three, he was always kicking my shins. Linda tells me, that's Steve's wife, that he's on a cowboy and Indian kick now. That probably means I'll be scalped this time."
Lainie laughed and was delighted by this side of Rad that she had never seen.
"Do you know, that's the first time I remember hearing you laugh?" Rad stared at her, searching her face with a thoroughness that left her breathless. "Ignoring those polite sounds you made at various parties, this is the first time I've heard genuine laughter from you in all these weeks."
Lainie didn't know how to reply because she knew that what he said was true. He stood up and offered her his hand. She joined him, letting her hand remain in his for as long as he wanted.
"It's getting late," he said. "You must be tired and a little worn-out. Why don't you go on to bed?"
"Rad." His name was an aching sound that came from her heart. She swayed closer to him. He released her hand and shook his head negatively.
A little smile of regret lifted the comers of his mouth as he bent forward and brushed her lips lightly with a kiss. "Go on to bed this time."
Lainie did as she was told, basking in the warm glow of his half promise.
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Chapter 10
STEVE HANSON was about the same height as Rad, only more stockily built. His hair was fine, straight, the color of corn silk, falling across his tanned forehead. His wife, Linda, was much shorter with ash blond hair that had a tendency to curl.
After Rad had made the introductions, he and Steve lingered at the Hanson's apartment, which gave Lainie the opportunity to become better acquainted with Linda before she was deserted by Rad. She was anxious to become friends with this couple who were so obviously close to her husband. Although Linda was a quiet person, she was not shy. In a very few minutes their conversation lost the strain of strangeness and came easily to both of them. At that point Rad and Steve took their leave, Rad promising Linda that he would have her husband back to her that afternoon.
The Hansons' two older girls were off at a skiing party and their seven-year-old was staying at a friend's house, which only left Sean, Rad's godchild, at home.
He spent most of the morning dashing in and out of the apartment keeping his mother up-to-date on the progress of his snowman. His hair was fine and straight, the color of his father's. The cold had brought cherry patches to his cheeks and button nose, yet there was nothing cherubic about his face or the perpetually burning light in his bright eyes. Heavy winter clothing hid the wiriness of his little body.
Linda kept Lainie laughing all morning with anecdotes of her son's mischievousness. Shortly after lunch, Linda was able to convince her whirlwind son to take a short nap while she and Lainie relaxed over a cup of coffee. The quietness of the apartment seemed to call for more serious conversation and Linda was the one to begin it.
"Well, tell me all about you and Rad."
The request flustered Lainie. She didn't feel secure enough in the budding friendship to confide the exact status of their marriage. "There really isn't much to tell."
"How long have you two known each other, then?" Linda wasn't a bit put off by Lainie's ambiguous answer.
"I met him six years ago," Lainie admitted.
"You must have known his first wife!" Linda exclaimed. "Steve and I were in Louisiana, so we never got to meet her."
Lainie was so stunned by this statement that for a moment she couldn't speak. She remembered then that Rad had only introduced her as "Lainie." He had made no mention that she was his wife.
&n
bsp; "Yes, I know her," she answered not meeting Linda's eyes.
"She always sounded like a spoiled socialite to me," Linda sighed. "Of course, Rad picked a rotten time to marry anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, his father was just buying out his partner's interest in the business when he met this girl. He knew his father's takeover would mean extra work and responsibility for himself, so he opted for a quick marriage. In a way, I kind of felt sorry for the girl," Linda went on. "Here Rad rushes her off her feet, spends every available hour with her before they were married, and then after they were married he had to practically desert her for business. Rad's not like Steve, who's always bringing the business home with him. It must have been a difficult adjustment for his wife."
"Yes, I'm sure it was," Lainie agreed, discovering for the first time the cause of Rad's immersion in the business after they were married.
"Of course, when his marriage broke up he became awfully bitter. Today, with you, was the first time I recall seeing any softness in his face, except where the children are concerned. He adores Sean."
"What about his secretary?" Lainie couldn't resist the question. Sondra had always been the cause of most of her jealousy.
"Sondra the siren? I used to tease him something terrible about her." Linda laughed. Her blue eyes gave Lainie a sideways glance. "I don't think you have any reason to be jealous of her. If she was anything more than just a secretary, I'm sure Rad would have told Steve, and you can bet I would have wormed it out of Steve. I'm not saying Sondra wouldn't like it to be more."
Lainie took a deep breath, wondering how much difference it would have made if she had only known Linda years ago. "Do you think-" she swallowed to take the huskiness out of her voice "-Rad loved his wife?"
"I don't know. He won't talk about her. I can't imagine him marrying anybody he didn't care about a lot, but I wouldn't worry about that if I were you." Linda smiled at her reassuringly. "It's all water under the bridge, so to speak. Besides, Rad isn't the type to make the same mistake twice with the same person. Whoever she was, I can't see Rad taking her back again."