She merely raised an eyebrow as though pretending to be scandalised and walked over to Scott. Throwing her arms around him she claimed him as her own before some other girl took a fancy to him. She buried her face against his bare chest, inhaling her favourite aftershave with a little murmur of pleasure. She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of his smell, or of being allowed to touch his chest.
The bar manager looked a little dazed as he calculated how many free shots he’d have to give away tonight.
‘Equal opportunities,’ Sophie shouted over to him and he scurried away. He probably thought he’d be lynched by the female contingent if he didn’t comply.
The mood they were in, it was quite possible. Girl power was temporarily in force and they planned to enjoy it while it lasted.
‘I’m surprised you didn’t hide another T-shirt underneath your shirt,’ Holly murmured into his ear.
‘I thought about it. I could break your cover, you know. Tell them you didn’t hand over your own bra. They’d make you do it again.’
‘Just you dare!’ She poked him in the ribs.
‘Ouch.’ He wrapped both his arms around her, holding her close. ‘Don’t worry. I want you all to myself. You can do a strip for me later tonight as a forfeit.’
‘Okay.’ She laughed.
‘Are you having fun?’
‘Yes, I’m having fun.’ And for once she didn’t wish for a snowdrift to swallow her up. ‘Do you think I’m a proper chalet girl now?’
‘No, you’re a Holly,’ he said, holding her in a tight embrace. ‘Refreshingly unique and lovely just as you are. I don’t ever want you to change.’
Then he kissed her and it felt like they were the only two people in the room, despite the crush.
‘So, you’re going to stay with me after the ski season ends then Holly?’ He presented it more as a statement of fact than a question. ‘Switzerland is beautiful in the spring and we can go mountain biking. Didn’t you put mountain biking as an interest on your CV?’
She playfully swatted him on the arm. ‘No, I did not. And I want to make full disclosure that I haven’t ridden a bike since I was eight! But I’m happy to give it a go. Both the staying on and the mountain biking.’
And she was.
Blissfully and unreservedly happy. She knew real life would throw some rocks in front of their skis from time to time but she was sure they’d manage to negotiate them.
Instead of having her nose pressed up against the glass of the cake shop window she was now very much inside and licking her lips as she ate the stickiest bun in the place.
‘Come back to the chalet with me, I’ve a rather urgent matter we need to attend to,’ Scott murmured in her ear, his breath prickling the skin on her neck.
‘I know. I can feel the urgent matter against my hip.’ She grinned, surreptitiously lowering her hand to brush against him.
Scott groaned, stiffening against her hand. ‘You evil woman.’
‘You brought me over to the dark side, it’s your own fault,’ she teased.
‘I’ve created a monster.’ He pulled a horrified face. She poked him in the ribs again.
‘Get a room you two,’ Sophie called out good-naturedly.
‘Good idea.’ Scott slipped his shirt back on, manoeuvring them out of the crush of bodies to where they’d left their jackets.
Soon they were inhaling the tranquil night air and walking through the snow that sparkled in the moonlight.
‘You don’t have any more confessions for me, do you Holly?’ Scott asked, his eyes inscrutable.
‘Yes.’ She stopped walking and stared at him seriously, only waiting long enough for the first worry line to appear on Scott’s face before she put him out of his misery.
‘I need to confess that I think I might love you,’ she said quietly, her heart hammering in her chest.
Scott's eyes blazed with heat as he pulled her close and kissed her, slow and delicious.
‘I think I might love you too, Holly Buchannan, slalom queen, chalet girl and burner of casseroles…’
‘That wasn’t me,’ she interrupted. ‘You know that wasn’t me.’
He went on as though she hadn’t spoken. ‘But, all things considered I think I’d like to keep you on. I have another position I’d like you to try out. Well several in fact.’ He grinned wickedly and Holly flushed again, her cheeks hot.
Damn it, would she never stop blushing around Scott?
On reflection she hoped he never stopped making her blush.
‘That’s an interesting proposal Mr. Hamilton. Perhaps you’d like to go over it in more detail?’
‘It would be my pleasure.’ He clasped her hand. ‘It might take some time though.’
‘That’s okay, I’m not going anywhere.’ An unfamiliar peace settled over Holly as they entered Chalet Repos.
I feel like I’ve come home.
The house was aptly named - it was a refuge, a place of peace for her.
She knew she’d finally come home to a place she hadn’t even dreamt had been waiting for her. Life was what you made it and she was going to make it a good one.
‘Okay?’ Scott asked, pulling her towards him and tugging impatiently at her buttons.
‘You know Scott?’ She smiled, a smile that felt like it was stretching from ear to ear. ‘I think I am, I'm really okay.’
She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him. She’d been given a chance and she was going to take it.
THE END
Fancy seeing what the rest of the Chalet girls are getting up to? Look out for more books in this deliciously naughty series, starting with
Secrets of a Chalet Girl
About the Author
Lorraine Wilson
I live in Wiltshire with my husband but love to travel and have lived in four continents. From playing amidst Roman ruins in Africa as a child to riding a Sultan's racehorse in the Middle East as a teen, I’ve many experiences to draw on for the stories I’ve been writing ever since I can remember. When I’m not writing you'll find me listening to audiobooks while I sew or design handbags, usually with a rescue terrier or two curled up on my feet!
About HarperImpulse
HarperImpulse is an exciting new range of romance fiction brought to you from the women’s fiction team at HarperCollins. Our aim is to break new talent from debut authors and import the hottest trends from the US, bringing you the very best in romance. Whether that is through short reads for your mobile phone or epic sagas that span the generations we want to proudly publish romance fiction that gets everybody talking.
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First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2013
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Confessions of a Chalet Girl: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance Novella Page 9