by Dale Mayer
“I’ll be right there.” She dressed quickly, picked up the cup still full of cold coffee, and carried it down the stairs. He was standing in front of the stove holding the coffeepot when she made her way over to him. She dumped it and rinsed out her cup and returned to where he stood, the cup held out in front of her.
He filled it.
“I’m surprised I slept so much,” she said with a smile.
“It goes with the territory. Coming out in the cold like this often tires someone out. Especially someone who isn’t used to it.”
“I do remember. It’s been a while though.”
“Three years by any chance?”
She knew he was asking if she’d been skiing since the avalanche. “Not since then,” she said. “Everything was before then.”
He didn’t agree. “Not everything.”
That deep dark voice rolled through her, bringing back memories better left forgotten. She glanced at him sideways from under her lashes but she stayed quiet, not sure what to say.
After a little silence, she asked, “When will they be back? I was supposed to have breakfast ready for them.”
That brought a healthy laugh from him. “In that case, let’s get them something to eat. They’re likely to be here in about fifteen to twenty minutes.”
He walked over to the coolers of food and opened them. He found what he was looking for in the second one and hauled out sausages and eggs. He nodded to one of the boxes on the side. “There are several loaves of French bread over there. And there are crumpets.”
“Oh, now that sounds good.” She pulled out the crumpets and one loaf of bread, then spied the wire toaster rack where she could clamp the bread in between the racks and hold it over a fire. She turned to glance at the open fireplace. “Toast would be good.”
“Absolutely. Have a piece now,” he suggested. “I’m going to put a pan of sausages on the stove and we’ll do a big mess of eggs as well.”
She quickly cut several slices of French bread and sat in front of the fireplace, making toast. The others might not be here on time, and that was okay with her. She’d eat it all with the appetite she’d worked up.
“I hope you plan on sharing that.”
“If they get home in time.”
“I’ll have a slice, please.”
And with that, they slid into the easy camaraderie they’d had years ago.
*
That had happened easier than expected. He hadn’t been sure when she’d first come down but after a few awkward sideways glances and a weird buffer of space between them, she seemed to have settled down with being alone with him.
Good.
He wanted a lot more but hell, he’d take baby steps if that’s all he could get right now.
She was so damn skinny still. He wanted to feed her several meals before the others returned. As he watched, she broke off a piece of toast and popped it into her mouth, closing her eyes at the taste.
Christ. She was a hundred percent in everything she did. It was damn irritating when she turned that concentration into ignoring him but when she’d turned it on him that weekend…well, she’d blown every other relationship out of his reality and he finally found what he’d been missing all his life.
Her.
Now she was here. He wondered. Should he bring up their history? Say something about their future – not that they had one together, but if things went well, they could have something to work towards. He hated the gauche feeling of being a teenager again. Worrying about what to say. Worrying about every nuance on her face when she looked at him. Worrying about making the correct interpretation from everything she said.
But they were alone.
So it was a good time to talk. To ask what he’d done that had sent her in hiding and that whatever it was, he wished he’d known. Because he was damn sorry about it.
He opened his mouth and said, “I’m so—”
And heard sounds of the crew laughing outside.
Stacy shot him a disconcerted look. “Did you say something?”
“No.” He shook his head. “At least, nothing important.”
Chapter 9
The group was loud and raucous when they came in the front door, bringing freezing cold air and lots of laughter with them. George stomped the snow from his feet and took his boots off. “It’s a gorgeous day out there. We will have some awesome runs today.”
Royce grinned. “Glad to hear that. Did you go up Robber’s Trail or over to Sycamouse Trail?”
“Both – well, almost both. We went to the base of Robber’s Trail then took the Green Trail over to the other one. Both were great.”
He walked over to the fireplace and held out his hands. He was joined by the others all huddling around the flames.
“Something smells great,” Stevie said, his head tilting up for a bigger sniff. “Toast.” He sniffed again. “Stacy, did you make breakfast?”
She shot him a look at the disbelief in his voice. “I do cook, you know. But Royce did most of the work.” She turned around and grabbed the platter of toast she’d made and held it out. “However, I did make these.”
“Yes,” he crowed, “Toasted on an open fire.”
“That’s the best kind.”
“Hey, pass it over here.”
Within seconds, the platter had been reduced to several of the smallest pieces. She grinned and placed it down on the small coffee table.
“Stacy?”
She turned around. Royce was motioning toward her. “I’m serving. Can I get you to deliver?”
And with that, she had a plate for everyone. Some of them stood in front of the fire, others sat on the couch, and several took their plates over to the small table.
George motioned at Stacy with his fork. “Where’s yours?”
“Ha, I ate first.” If she hadn’t been looking at him, she’d have missed the narrow-eyed look he tossed at Royce. As she was turning away from him, she also caught Royce’s nod in response. Really? She wondered about making an issue of it but decided that it was just her brother trying to be sure she was looking after herself. He’d need to see for himself that she was okay.
She couldn’t blame him for worrying. If their positions were reversed, she’d do the same thing.
She loved him.
He loved her.
That’s what caring was all about.
While the others ate, she and Royce washed the dishes in companionable silence. She put on a second pot of coffee while the group discussed where they were going. Given it was just day one, several people were determined to make the most of their time. Others were more concerned about overdoing it on the first day.
She knew she’d be asked about her plans soon. She had no idea. Then she realized that the one group was going to the runs by the frozen waterfall. That was where she wanted to go. With the blue sky and sun, she’d be sure to get amazing photos.
She walked up to her loft room and dug around for her gear. She put on different socks, her thermals, and her outer layer. That was the easy decision. Now what did she want to take for camera equipment? She pored over her lenses. She didn’t want to pack anything unnecessary, however, any camera buff would be in the same boat – they’d want to take it all with them. Just in case.
In the end, she cut her choice down to the basics then headed back down the stairs. She caught George’s surprised look. She shrugged. “I thought I’d come and see what the light is like.”
“There are three groups going out right now,” Royce stated, his gaze penetrating. “Where are you planning to go?”
“To the waterfalls,” she said lightly. “Unless anyone objects?”
“Glad to hear you’re coming,” Stevie said, a big smile on his face. “Make sure you catch my good side.”
That brought the insults flying as they teased him. Stacy just smiled and sat down to put on her ski boots. The others were in various states of dress as they all got ready to go back out. George sat beside Stacy, and she looked a
t him. “Anyone staying here to keep the fire going?”
George shook his head. “No, it will hold fine.”
She smiled. “I’ll only be out for a few hours.”
“Good. Don’t overdo it.”
“I won’t.”
“When you’re ready,” Royce said, “someone will come back with you.”
“No need,” she said smoothly. “I’m an old hand at this, remember?”
“Safety first, remember?” Royce said. “I’ll be making sure you get there and back.” His tone brooked no argument. If anything, he shot her a hard look as if to remind her who was the boss, then he grabbed his jacket and walked out.
She made a face. And here she’d thought she’d just have big brother worrying about her. Still, this wasn’t a small resort. It was dense with hundreds of runs, and people were often only found missing when, hours later, they didn’t show up. Often no one could say exactly where to look. After the avalanche that had ripped their lives apart, the group had adopted a few rules. Never alone. Always let someone know where they were going to be at all times and to not do anything stupid.
*
Royce stood on the closed-in porch and breathed deeply. The bite of the cold helped stabilize his mood. It had been a great morning with just the two of them. Friendly. Companionable even. As if the years between them had never been. Actually, he paused to consider. It was as if the years including that weekend had never existed. He’d been friends with George since Stacy had been in pigtails. He wasn’t sure exactly when that was, or when it happened, but somewhere along the way he’d started to care for her more than he should for his best friend’s kid sister. George hadn’t been the one to warn him off. Stacy’s father had. And in no uncertain terms. Stacy was going on to university and getting a real education. She didn’t need a bad boy jock giving her the eye.
He’d hated that meeting. But he’d respected the man. And the lecture. He’d backed off and had stayed well back. He’d stepped forward after she lost her friends and she’d had these massive walls up, keeping him firmly on the other side. He’d given her space. Then about three months afterwards, when he’d tried again, he had been rebuffed in no uncertain terms.
It had surprised the hell out of him when she’d come to him many months later, but he was no fool and from the first touch, they’d gone up in flames.
And damn if, immediately afterward, she hadn’t given him the deep freeze of all deep freezes. He’d backed off, giving her space, thinking to come back in a few months. It hadn’t worked out that way. She’d shut and locked that door.
She’d stayed behind that icy wall since. He’d hoped she’d drop it one day, but he hadn’t waited. He’d gone on with his life. Somewhat.
He had no idea when she would ever warm up enough to let someone join her in her icy prison. Even better, to let her heart open up and let that icy exterior melt forever.
God, he hoped he was there when it happened.
“You okay?” George stood beside him, reading his reactions. George knew him well. And knew how he felt about Stacy. How he’d always felt about her. He shrugged. “I’m fine. It’s just weird.”
“Yeah, it would be. I’m hoping it’s all good.”
Shit. This was his garbage. Not George’s. “It’s all good. It’s great to see her here.” He grabbed his board. “Now if only we can get her through the week.”
He glanced over at Stacy, satisfaction rippling through him as he watched her settle in. All through the drive yesterday, she’d been an outsider. Although sitting in the vehicle with them, she hadn’t been one of them. Even last evening, she’d been uncomfortable with George bringing up her photography. Particularly the controversial ones. Her Eternal series.
Her room choice for sleeping had also been indicative of how she felt. She’d chosen the loft. Maybe for the reason she had voiced, but also so she didn’t have to share a room with anyone, again keeping herself separate. He’d planned to go up to the loft with her, needing to be close. Not too close, but close enough to keep an eye on her. So she would know she wasn’t alone. He’d actually hoped that she’d be waiting and watching to see if he was sharing a room with Yvonne. Instead, by the time everyone had crashed, well after she’d left, she’d been sound asleep.
He should know. He’d crept up the stairs intent on putting his bedroll up there as well.
Instead, he’d decided she’d slept so well, he’d stay down by the fire and let her have her space.
That might have been the right thing to do as she’d slept soundly. He’d shushed the second group as they left to avoid waking her. And it had worked. She’d slept though the ruckus. Now she was comfortably in the middle of the group, as if she’d never been so separate. A little too comfortable with Geoffrey though.
“Hmmm…” George said in a low voice. “She’s not interested in him, you know?”
Heat washed up Royce’s neck. Damn. He’d hoped George hadn’t noticed. She was always so relaxed, so playful with Stevie and Mark that he couldn’t help but wonder about her closer connection to Geoffrey.
“They’re just friends.”
Royce pulled his belt on and slammed it home, checking his buckles.
“I’m sure they are.” He knew that, it’s just that he didn’t want them to become anything more.
“Good.” Sounds of more clicks and snaps said George had put his helmet on. “Are you good?”
“Yeah.” And he was. He always was. Like he and George had discussed, they’d do everything they could to look after Stacy and see that she enjoyed her first holiday since that fateful time.
Then maybe they could coax her out of her shell again.
*
Bitch.
That was the nicest thing he could say about her. She’d slipped into place with the group, and damn if he didn’t feel like he’d been ousted to make room for her.
Stupid bitch. There, that was better.
Maybe he’d do a series of portraits too. Her face in stupid positions so that everyone could see her true colors.
The thoughts only festered in his mind. He’d tried to clear them out. And failed.
She was like mold. Insidious and all encompassing. Everything she touched succumbed to her will.
Like hell.
If anyone was the ruler in that department, it was him.
And she’d learn that lesson soon enough.
Chapter 10
Stacy stopped, stabilized her breathing, and then climbed up another rise. Ski boots were not made for walking. It was an easy climb. Her movements were strong and steady. She’d been more overwhelmed by the extreme beauty of the frozen waterfall than the physical exertion. She’d forgotten the sheer joy of feeling the fresh air fill her lungs and the burn of her muscles, but her heart was full of laughter.
The scenery was spectacular.
She was glad she’d come. She crested the top, and damn if Royce wasn’t waiting for her there. She did a quick step and laughed out loud. Life was good. She dropped her skis and clicked her boots in the bindings.
“You aren’t as out of shape as I thought you’d be,” Stevie crowed at her side, giving her a big hug. Their helmets clanged against each other.
She let him. It went with the day and the scenario. She’d have stomped him if he’d tried that at work.
“You’re doing great out here, you know.” He gave her a big grin.
She rolled her eyes at him. “I haven’t been that bad.”
He gave her a serious look. “Yes, you have.”
Startled, she took a closer look and realized from the deep dark troubled look in his eyes that he cared, like really cared. And she was touched.
“I’m better now.”
“Now,” he muttered. “Finally. It’s been a rough couple of years watching you fall apart then put yourself back together again, as if the new model was made of steel, fortified so you’d never be hurt again.”
“Wow, does everyone know about that?” Being a private person, it w
as disconcerting to think that others knew of her breakdown. “I thought I’d hid it much better.”
He rushed to reassure her. “You did a great job, but for those that knew you and loved you, it was hard to watch.” He shrugged sheepishly. “We couldn’t help you besides being friendly and supportive. And hope you pulled out of it.”
She nodded. She tilted her helmet back slightly and rubbed an itch along her forehead. She didn’t know what to say. She’d been unaware of so much back then. Now that she was pulling herself back into line, she regretted not knowing. Maybe she’d not have fallen into such a downward spiral if she hadn’t been alone.
But she had. And here she was today. Realizing she had more friends than ever. “Thanks, Stevie. I hadn’t recognized much around me back then. It was a difficult time. Thanks for standing by me.”
“Always. We’d tried to get George to do something…”
She shook her head, a startled laugh coming out. “Good try. George loves me dearly, but he’s not yet been able to force me into doing anything.”
“And yet,” Stevie threw his hand wide, pointing to the wide expanse of frozen beauty all around them, “here you are.”
With a shout of laugher, she reached out and slugged him lightly on the shoulder. “I hate to disappoint you or to knock George off a pedestal, but I’d already decided it was time to face this. I came because George requested that I come, but if I hadn’t come this time, then I’d have asked to come on another time.”
At his look of dismayed astonishment, she laughed again. “At the risk of really ruining your mood, I’d also like to find new inspiration for my photography.” She motioned to their surroundings. “I need to heal myself and get back to living life like I used to.”
*
Oh, look at that. The ice princess deigned to come out and play. He hid his smirk and waved at her. Bitch. He smiled brightly. “Hey, nice you came out.” He buckled up his belt. “You’re just in time to have some fun.”
Then I’ll have fun with you later. Whore. After Royce, are you? He watched her smile at the man in question, a burning sensation in his gut. They were all whores. Women. The scourge of the earth.