Fucking Baxter. That prick has a lot to answer for.
El just nodded at me. “But honey, he went through some shit a long time ago. I don’t know exactly what happened. He had a serious girlfriend – then she was just gone… he became the no strings, zero fucks given version of himself. I’m starting to see the old Lawson back when you’re around. It’s kinda great El. I just hope y’all know what you’re doing.” I told her.
“I think I’m gonna fall in love with him… you know that right?” El stared at the ground, only meeting my gaze as she finished speaking.
God please Lawson – don’t mess this up.
I laughed lightly and tapped the end of Ellerslie’s nose. “Oh sweetie… I think you already have.”
30. Lawson
I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I’d been waiting in this line for what felt like forever… but I don’t think I’d taken my eyes off of her for longer than 30 seconds. She was all padded up in her snow gear but somehow she still was an absolute knockout.
“You just gonna stare at my sister all day?” Reeve mocked punched my shoulder.
I laughed and kicked a patch of snow with my boot. “Yeah. I probably am.”
He chuckled. “Well at least you’re honest.” He said with a smirk on his face. “But I gotta tell ya man, you screw with her and I’ll have to kill you. It took the last of my self-control not to finish off that pathetic excuse of a man she left in L.A. He broke a part of her, and I won’t let anyone off the hook for that ever again.”
Just the mention of Ellerslie being hurt made my blood boil. I had the urge to smack something – hard. I looked over at El and Quinn, they were deep in conversation, I would have given my right arm to know what they were talking about.
Fuck.
The thought of her being hurt… it wasn’t an option.
I focused on Reeve again. “Look, I’ll just be straight up - I’ve heard that you aren’t exactly known for settling down, and that’s your business. Just don’t let her get in too deep if you don’t plan on sticking around. I’ve seen the way she looks at you… I’m worried it’s heading for heartbreak for El.”
He was right. I had gotten myself a reputation. The thing was, no woman had mattered to me in nearly 10 years. Not until I stepped into an elevator and had my life turned upside down by a curvy blonde.
“If I ever hurt her, you have my full permission to mess me up man. That woman is something else. I don’t know where the hell my heads at, but I do know that I’d never treat her the way that prick did. The thought of it makes me want to hunt him down and knock him out.”
Reeve nodded – absorbing what I’d said. “I’m glad to hear that. You’re a good guy – but she’s my sister and I want her to be happy.”
I clapped Reeve on the shoulder as we moved closer to the ticket counter. “I’m glad she has you and Q. She must have gone through a really shitty time.”
Reeve’s eyes flashed with sadness. “She still is. Her self-worth is virtually nonexistent. I know she’s getting better, especially in the last few weeks, but I can see how much she doubts herself. I’m worried she’ll never be brave enough to let herself love again.”
I was fuming. I couldn’t think of anything to say, so I just shook my head and tried to contain my anger. I must have been doing a shitty job of it.
“Calm down man. I can practically see the steam coming out of your ears – don’t worry, I had a little fun with Baxter Dent before I had him sign the divorce papers. Trust me, he got the message loud and clear.”
Baxter Dent.
I was filing that name away for future reference, that was for damn sure.
***
I squatted down in front of El. “You ready Ells?” I gave her a huge smile for encouragement – it was fair to say I was pretty bloody excited about this.
She crinkled her nose up at me and I had to catch my breath. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Alright, up we go.” I pulled her up to her feet so she was balancing on her snowboard. I couldn’t help the small snort that escaped as she clung onto my biceps for dear life.
“Holy shit. There’s no way in hell I’m gonna stay upright on this thing.” She shrieked as I slid her slowly through the snow.
The way she was clinging to me, looking at me as if she were relying on me to keep her safe… god… I don’t think I ever wanted her to learn. “C’mon Ells, I know you’ll be fine once you get a feel for it. You might fall a couple of times but it’s soft. I promise.”
“You promise I’m not gonna die?”
I huffed out a laugh and stroked a gloved finger across her cheekbone. “Do you think I’d ever put you in real danger pretty girl?”
She blushed and bit down on her lip as she searched my face. She shook her head. “OK. I’ll try it.”
I pried her hands off my arms and held one of her hands instead. “Lean back a little to slow down… yes move your feet like that… turn on your toes… good… now the other way on your heels… that’s perfect Ells.” I couldn’t believe how well she was doing. I was holding her hand still, but her technique wasn’t bad and she was moving her body exactly as I told her to.
I wonder if she’d move her body all of the ways I want her to.
She practised for a while longer with me holding onto her hand. “That’s really good. You want to try on your own?”
“I’ll give it a go.” I pulled away to give her space, but she tugged me back into her. “You have to promise not to laugh at me.”
“I promise.” I put my hand on my heart and grinned.
She slowly began to manoeuvre her way down the small beginners slope. She was doing a lot better than I’d thought she would and I found myself grinning like a kid on Christmas as I watched her cautiously make her way down. A kid on skis wobbled past her and she lost her focus watching him go past.
Shit.
I took off down to pick her up from where she’d gone down. She’d fallen straight forward onto her face and I was willing to bet she wasn’t going to be happy about it.
“Ells! Are you ok?” I called as I got closer.
Her whole body was shaking as I pulled her up.
Holy shit she’s fucking crying.
“El, honey it’s ok.” I looked down at her face.
She was laughing – uncontrollable, eye watering laughter poured out of her. “Holy shit… that was… too funny.” She said in between laughs. “Can you help me go again?”
Her response surprised me - but this girl was always surprising me. I’d do well to remember that Ellerslie Rush was not like any of the other women I’d spent my time with.
“The best kiss is the one that has been exchanged a thousand times between the eyes before it reaches the lips.”
- Author unknown
31. Ellerslie
This whole snowboarding thing wasn’t so bad.
Lawson looked hot as hell flying down the slopes. I’d found myself just standing there, drooling over him… again. I’d decided that this man could make anything and everything look sexy.
About 2 hours into his teaching, I’d realised I wasn’t actually too bad at snowboarding… about 4 hours in, I stopped falling all over him, given up grabbing onto his firm arms and shoulders, and showed him how much I had actually learnt.
“You can’t blame a girl.” I laughed at his gaping jaw. “You’ve just been so sweet and attentive. I couldn’t have you running off into the sunset now that I’m stable on my feet could I?”
He prowled towards me with a predatory gleam in his eye. “You mean to tell me… that for the last 2 hours you’ve been… messing with me?” He slipped his arm around my waist and pulled my body roughly against his. “You’ve been stealing touches… praise?” he growled in my ear. “Tell me Ells, why would you do that?” I could hear the amusement in his voice – he was teasing me.
“Maybe I like your touches.” I murmured.
“Touches like this?” He taunted as he tickled the side of my stomach
.
Holy shit – I was the most ticklish person ever. I instinctively threw myself backwards to make him stop. Of course, I forgot that my feet were still firmly connected to my snowboard, and I fell straight backward, pissing myself laughing.
It wasn’t until I was lying flat on the freezing, snowy ground that I realised I hadn’t really hit the ground. Lawson still had his arm wrapped firmly around me had broken our fall with his other arm. The whole length of his body was pressed up against me and feeling the weight of him on top of me was doing crazy things to my body.
The look in his eyes put an immediate halt to my giggling.
“I’m sorry I made you fall.” I bit down on my lip and I heard him groan deep in his throat.
“Well I’m not pretty girl.”
Then he was kissing me. Firm but soft, passionate but tender – and I was kissing him back. I met his mouth with an urgency that had been building since the first moment we had locked eyes.
He was everywhere – every inch of my body was covered in him, and I was on fire. His scent over took my senses and his mouth possessed mine. He gently dragged my lip between his teeth and I moaned into his mouth.
He pulled back slightly and broke our kiss. His warm breath fanned my face as he spoke. “You can’t make that noise Ells… Jesus, a man only has so much self control.”
“I vote for less self control.” I whispered. I moved my head forward an inch and sucked his lower lip into my mouth. I felt him dig his hand even deeper into my flesh and welcomed it – I couldn’t get close enough to him.
He slipped his tongue in my mouth and stroked it lightly against mine. We broke apart only when we were both breathless and panting. Lawson rested his forehead against mine and looked deep into my eyes. I shuddered under his intense gaze.
I’d heard people talk about moments where they felt as though they could see into another person’s soul. I’d always thought it was a load of shit. But hell… this was one of those moments. He looked right through me and saw exactly what I was. And although I didn’t know everything there was to know about this man, I saw everything I’d ever need to know right in that moment.
I broke our connection with a husky mumbling. “Holy shit.”
Lawson shook my body lightly with his laughter. “I can’t seem to get enough of you.”
He probably would though. He might get bored just like Baxter did. He’d find someone more exciting and move right along. I just needed to think about the now – enjoy what was happening between us and worry about the rest when I had to.
The problem was, I knew I was falling for him already.
How could I not?
I dropped my eyes to his lips, memorising the details of his rough, sexy stubble, his soft lips and strong jaw. I knew I would never forget a single detail of him.
“Hmm hmm.” Quinn cleared her throat. “What the hell are you two doing down there?”
Just like that the spell was broken.
“I came to see if Bambi here could stay on her feet yet, but maybe I should just leave you to it?” I heard her tease.
I turned away from Lawson and squinted against the bright sun. Quinn gave me a smirk that screamed ‘I told you so’ and winked at me. I managed a goofy grin in response.
Lawson had made no move to get off of me, and when I turned back I found his eyes were still completely focused on my face. I was starting to think that he hadn’t even noticed Quinn standing over us until he pressed a quick kiss to my lips and jumped to his feet – carefully pulling me up with him. He gave Quinn a massive smile as he slipped his arm around my waist again.
“Well it’s about fucking time.” Quinn said dryly.
I just stood there grinning like a fool at my best friend. Lawson was looking at me with a similar look on his own face.
“Oh sweet Jesus, you two are so sweet it makes me sick.”
Lawson chuckled at his sister. “Ells is doing really well. A lot better than I thought.” He joked and nudged me.
“It’s not as bad as I thought Q. I’m still pretty shitty at it, but I’m getting better. You should show me what you can do.”
“Oh no, no, no. You aren’t getting away that easy. Everyone is up in the lodge waiting to grab something to eat.” She turned to her brother. “You go on up Law, we’ll catch up.”
Lawson gave her a look that wasn’t all that fond and reluctantly slid his arm from around me. “I’ll see you in a minute pretty girl.” He grazed his knuckles down my cheek and I shivered. “Don’t let her keep you too long.” He whispered against my ear.
“Save me a seat.” I whispered back.
***
“Alright Quinn. I’m listening.”
She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me in a bear hug.
“Holy shit, what are you squeezing me for?” I choked out.
Quinn pulled back to look at me. “God El. If you could have seen the two of you just now… it was like a movie. You both look like you just won the damn lottery. Goofy grins. Flushed cheeks. Hell I’m swooning girl.”
“Eeeeek!” I jumped around and pulled Q back in for another hug. “Oh my god, I’m so screwed Quinn. That kiss… Oh. My. God. He has been so patient with me, so sweet and kind. This can’t be real life. He has to have some down side. He’s too perfect.”
Quinn laughed. “Oh he’s got a down side alright. He’s a cocky little prick when he wants to be, sorest loser I’ve ever met in my life, oh and don’t get me started on-”
I hit her lightly on the arm. “You know what I mean bitch.” I giggled.
“I know.” We’d taken off our gear and were walking slowly towards the chairlift to head up and meet the rest of our group. “I know I’m probably bias, because he’s my big brother – but I’m not sure he does have a down side. I’ve spent a really long time wondering how he was still on his own, why no woman had ever snapped him up. I thought maybe that whatever happened to him back in Texas might have ruined him ever falling in love. But now I think that maybe he was just waiting for you.”
I blushed at Quinn’s words. She could be such a hopeless romantic. So was I if I was being honest. I just never imagined that I would be feeling like one of the women in the romance novels I liked to read.
“He’s probably just looking for some fun Q. I doubt he’s interested in anything serious.”
“And you’d be ok with that?”
I thought hard for a minute. I nodded my head. “Yea… I mean, no. But if that’s all we’re destined for, if that’s all I get to have of him… then I’ll still take it. I don’t think there’s even a choice for me anymore.”
Quinn did a little happy dance. “God it’s good to see you so happy. I don’t think you have anything to worry about, he’s really into you El. You don’t know him like I do - I’ve never seen him like this. I think that you both have some skeletons you need to let out of your closets, but I think you two are both right there in the same place.”
Quinn was right. We had barely discussed my failed marriage, and I knew he was hiding things from his past from me. I wasn’t going to force him to tell me anything – it was none of my business. I just wanted him to know that I’d never set out to hurt him like this old girlfriend obviously had.
32. Lawson
What the hell was taking so long?
“Would you stop with all the squirming? She’ll be back soon enough.” Reeve shot me a smug grin.
Fucker.
His girl was right next to him – not that El was my girl... not yet anyway. I was hoping to make her mine by the end of this trip. I had to… I couldn’t think straight. My whole world revolved around this sweet woman in a way that was definitely unhealthy.
My girl…
The words floated around through my mind. I liked the way it sounded. I hoped that she would too.
“I’m not even gonna say sorry.” I smirked back at him. There was no way in hell I was going to be embarrassed about Ellerslie – but I was going to take the heat off myself. I tilted
my head in Colt’s direction and gave Reeve a ‘let’s mess with him’ look.
He grinned and focused his attention on Colt too.
“So Colt.” I made my expression serious. “Don’t you think you’re a little young to be involved with a woman like Quinn?”
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