Snow Day

by Shannon Stacey, Jennifer Greene

  Tessa drew a deep breath of the chilled air, trying to clear her brain. For a moment, Colton’s face flitted through her mind. She fought it, but then gave up, letting her thoughts roam free.

  He’d said he’d give her back her ring. Why would he say that? What did that mean? Did he still have her ring?

  Not that she wanted it back. No way, no how. He was a fun, smart, sexy, sophisticated guy, but there was no way she could spend the rest of her life trying to live up to his impossible example.

  She wasn’t perfect. She was so very far from perfect, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to get anywhere near it. She’d given up a long time ago, and she had no desire to try again.

  She could still remember her mother telling her she had to set an example, that the Ambroises were a prominent family in Tucker’s Point and beyond. It might’ve been all well and good for other little girls to run and shriek on the beach, to play in the mud, to argue or cry in public, but it wasn’t okay for Tessa.

  Barry never seemed to have a problem with his role in the community. He’d achieved good grades, participated in the right social organizations. He’d never been great at team sports, but his success in ROTC and his talent at golf made up for it. And when he got into Harvard Medical, her parents had been over the moon. Tessa, on the other hand, got mediocre grades in high school, hadn’t played sports. Instead of winning medals and trophies, she’d packed as much fun as she could into her teenage years, even lying about spending the weekend at a friend’s beach house in Nantucket to take off to Florida for spring break.

  “Tessa?” It was Colton’s voice behind her.

  She closed her eyes, pretending she could will him away.

  “Tessa?” he repeated, closer this time.

  She gave up and opened her eyes, blinking across the quiet street. “You do know that you’re who I’m escaping from out here?”

  He drew up beside her, also gazing at the falling snow. “I guessed as much.”

  “That begs the question of why on earth you’d come after me.”

  “I was worried.”

  “About what?”

  “That you’d fall in a snow bank and freeze to death.” He glanced up and down the street. “Now I’m worried that a car will slide out of control and mow you down.”

  “There are no cars out here.”

  “Not at this precise moment. But it is a public road.”

  “I can take care of myself,” she felt compelled to point out. “I’m a grown woman.”

  “We got seats on a flight to Boston in the morning.”

  “Early?” She’d be more than willing to sleep in if it meant Colton would be gone before she came down to breakfast.

  “First thing.”

  “That’s good.”

  “I’ll be out of your hair in no time.”

  “That’s also good.” She glanced curiously up at him, wondering about the turn of phrase. “Does that mean you’re not interested in Land’s End?”

  A small smile curved his lips. “I’m still interested in Land’s End.”

  “Why? There must be a hundred properties for sale along the Eastern Seaboard. Why here? Why mine?”

  Again, he looked around them. “I like it here. It feels peaceful.”

  “So, you want to ruin it by building a monster resort?”

  “It won’t be a monster resort. Have you ever even stayed at a Herrington Resort?”

  “No.”

  “They’re intimate, boutique class, very tasteful.”

  “I’m sure they are.”

  “I can’t believe I didn’t take you to the Classic.” He referred to the chain’s flagship hotel in Boston.

  “I drove past it once,” she admitted. “Right after we first met. I was going to check out the lobby, maybe have a coffee, but I couldn’t find parking.”

  “They have a valet,” he pointed out.

  “I didn’t want to spend the thirty dollars.”

  The Classic was both exquisite and expensive. She couldn’t help but wonder what he would have thought of the Bayou Side Inn where she’d spent spring break, four girls in a room. The parties rang through the halls all night long. It was crass and tacky, but harmless and a whole lot of fun.

  “You should come back inside,” said Colton.

  “I’m fine.”

  “You’re getting cold.”

  “I’m not cold. In fact, I’m thinking about going skinny-dipping.”

  “Don’t talk nonsense.”

  “Why not? I like to talk nonsense.”

  “Tessa, what’s the matter with you?”

  She raked her damp hair back from her face. The snowflakes were melting into it, making her even colder. “There’s nothing the matter with me. There’s a hot tub on the back deck of the castle. I’m going to strip down and get in, turn on the music, turn on the colored lights, maybe open another bottle of wine.”

  “In the snow?” he asked with a touch of surprise.

  “In the snow.”

  “Naked.”

  “Buck naked.”

  “With a houseful of people, including Rand.”

  “They’re welcome to join me if they want,” she shot out cavalierly.

  “Over my dead body.”

  “Getting naked in the backyard too tacky for you, Colton?”

  “I’m not about to let my vice-president see you naked.”

  Truth was, Tessa wasn’t about to let Rand see her naked, either. But she wanted to shake Colton up. It served him right for invading her life like this.

  She turned on her heel. “You guys can do whatever you want. I’m having a hot tub.”

  Colton snagged her arm, turning her back to him. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “I’m angry,” she answered honestly, shaking off his grip.

  “Well, this is a funny way to show it.”

  “You don’t get to tell me how to be angry.”

  He studied her expression, no trace of emotion on his face. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he answered levelly.

  Then he shook his head and started down the driveway.

  For some reason, his cool reaction angered her even more. Did anything shake him up? Anything?

  She impulsively reached down, grabbed a handful of icy snow and shaped it into a compact ball. She took aim and threw hard.

  It splatted into the back of his head.

  “What the—” He turned to glare at her.

  Her hands were wet and freezing, but she was already shaping another missile. “Is this a better way to be angry, Colton? Is this okay with you?”

  She threw the second ball, and he ducked out of the way.

  “Have you gone crazy since you left Boston?”

  She scooped up another handful.

  “Stop it.” He stepped forward.

  She let it fly, half formed, before he could get to her.

  The loose snowball smacked into his chest.

  “You want to fight me?” he demanded.

  “I don’t know.”

  What did she want? Some kind of emotional reaction from him, maybe? For him to do something that wasn’t perfectly controlled?

  He grasped her right wrist. “I promise you, I’m a bigger, badder snowball fighter than you’ll ever be.”

  “Go ahead,” she taunted defiantly. “Give it your best shot.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “They’re snowballs, Colton, not rocks.”

  He stared at her for a long moment. Then he reached to the ground, took a scoop of snow and, before she realized what he was doing, dropped it down the front of her shirt.

>   She gasped from the cold.

  He gave a satisfied smile.

  She leaned down. He didn’t stop her as she scooped her own handful of snow in her left hand.

  She gazed at it, all white and icy. Then she took in Colton’s smug expression and pushed the snow into his face.

  He snagged her wrist, pinning both hands by her sides. “That wasn’t nice.”

  “It wasn’t, was it?” she agreed. “And what are you going to do about it?”

  Shout at her? Toss her in a snow bank in retaliation? Would he finally lose some of that control?

  He leaned in. “This.”

  To her shock, he captured her cool lips with his own. It took only a second for familiar heat to burst between them. His lips parted hers, delving deep. It had been so long. It had been too long. For a moment, she let herself sink into the mind-blowing sensations of Colton.

  Her wrists still trapped in his hands, his arms went around the small of her back, bringing her body up against his. He was so solid, sturdy and strong. She’d never had a single doubt that he could solve any problem, take on any foe, keep her completely safe in any circumstance. His strength was one of the things she’d loved most about him.

  It was compelling, just for a few moments, to let herself feel it all again. She let her curves mold against him, returning the kiss, swirling her tongue with his, tasting what she’d desperately missed.

  When he pulled back, she was slightly dazed.

  “What was that?” he asked gruffly.

  They were still tight together from knee to chest.

  “Sexual attraction was never our problem,” she breathed, even though she knew her reaction had gone way beyond sexual attraction.

  “What was our problem?”

  “Let’s do it,” she offered, answering his question in a very oblique, roundabout way, knowing there wasn’t a chance he’d agree. “Right here, right now.”

  “Do what?”

  “Have sex.”

  He jerked back. Now there was an emotional reaction.

  “In the woods? In the snow?”

  “Why not?” she asked

  “Do you actually need a list of reasons?”

  “I guess I don’t.”

  She wasn’t disappointed. She couldn’t really have sex with Colton, in the woods or anywhere else—at least not anymore. Though there was a time when she’d have done it in a heartbeat.

  * * *

  TESSA AND EMILEE had braved the snow and climbed into the hot tub, setting a tray of cheese and a bottle of wine on the ledge beside them. Tessa knew there wasn’t a chance any of the men would come out on the deck while they were half-naked. Which meant she was safe from Colton for the time being.

  “How’re you doing?” asked Emilee, concern in her tone as Tessa poured the wine.

  “Totally and completely blindsided,” Tessa admitted.

  Muted, colored lights flashed beneath the water. Steam rose into the night, while huge flakes fell steadily from the sky, melting in the water or clinging to the leafless maple trees around the deck.

  “Did you know Barry was even thinking about selling?”

  “He reminded me that we’d talked about it, at least in really general terms, a couple years ago, when Sophie gave him power of attorney. I’d completely forgotten about the conversation, but he’s been working toward it ever since.”

  “Weird about Colton.” Emilee studied Tessa’s expression.

  “Very weird about Colton,” Tessa agreed.

  “You’ve been alone with him a couple of times,” Emilee ventured.

  “I have.”

  “Did he give anything away? What’s he really up to?”

  Tessa shifted under the water. “You mean aside from trying to talk me into selling him my house?”

  Emilee lifted her glass of wine. “Yes. Aside from what he’s making obvious.”

  “He offered to give me back my engagement ring.”

  Emilee sputtered. “Excuse me?”

  Tessa trailed her fingertips through the water. She knew her decision to break it off was irrevocable, but just for a moment, just for a second, she’d let herself imagine it could all work out.

  “Was he serious?” asked Emilee.

  “I have no idea.”

  Not that it mattered. Tessa couldn’t let herself go back to the uncertainty, the stomach-churning double-check of everything she thought and did. Why couldn’t Colton be flawed? Maybe if he were a little more human, she’d have a fighting chance of keeping up.

  “Did you consider it?” asked Emilee.

  “No. Not then. But I had a bad moment when he kissed me.”

  Emilee sat up straight in the water. “He what?”

  “He’s a good kisser, Em. He’s always been a good kisser.”

  “I don’t like where this is going.” Emilee’s tone was dire.

  “It’s not going anywhere,” Tessa assured her. “I didn’t break up with him because he couldn’t kiss.”

  “You know, when you commit to someone for your entire life, there shouldn’t be any compromises.”

  “You’re preaching to the converted.”

  Tessa told herself to quit dwelling on Colton. She reached for the tray and popped a cube of cheddar into her mouth. Then she followed it up with a sip of wine, realizing she was starving.

  It occurred to her that a good hostess would have offered her guests some dinner, or maybe lunch, or anything, really. Then again, Colton and Rand were Barry’s guests. She decided that he could worry about their comfort.

  Emilee seemed satisfied by the answer. She relaxed back into her molded seat. “What do you think of Rand?”

  “For what?” As a real estate purchaser? Rand wasn’t buying Land’s End. It was Colton who owned Herrington Resorts.

  “I don’t know.” Emilee shrugged. “A fling, maybe.”

  Tessa was puzzled. Okay, shocked was a better word. “You think I should have a fling with Colton’s vice-president?”

  Had Emilee lost her mind? Sure, that would slam a lid on any possible future for her and Colton. But it seemed unnecessarily drastic, and rather mean-spirited.

  “Not for you,” said Emilee.

  Tessa noticed that Emilee’s cheeks were flushed, her smile secretive. She waggled her sculpted brows.

  “You and Rand?”

  “He’s got one sexy smile, and a kick-ass sense of humor. You can’t be that funny without being smart.”

  “You don’t mean here. Not tonight.”

  “No.” Emilee waved away the idea. “I was thinking maybe back in Boston. A date or something. I didn’t really mean a fling.”

  “Wow.” Tessa tried to wrap her head around the idea.

  “Would it be too weird for you?”

  “No. Well, a little. But not too much. I mean, I’m not planning to even come back to Boston for a while. Why would I care? No. It’s fine. Sure. Go ahead.”

  “You do realize you’re protesting way too much.”

  “I’m not. At least I don’t mean to be. You took me by surprise, is all.”

  “It took me by surprise, too.” Emilee tasted her wine. “Mmm. That’s good.”

  “You’re thinking about Rand, aren’t you?”

  Emilee responded with a sassy grin.

  Suddenly, the hot tub motor clunked to silent. The lights went out, and the entire estate went black.

  “Oh, that can’t be good,” came Emilee’s disembodied voice, as the water settled to still.

  “The power lines get weighted down with the snow,” Tessa explained. “It’ll probably come back on in a few minutes.”

  “Should we just wait?”

  Tessa heard the sound of the back door opening, about
twenty feet from the tub.

  “You okay out there?” Colton called through the darkness.

  “Fine,” she responded to him.

  “You need a flashlight?”

  “Just put an oil lamp on the garden box. We’ll be able to see.” She turned back toward Emilee, unable to make out anything in the black night.

  There was movement near the door, followed by the faint glow of a match. And then the lamp ignited, spreading a pool of yellow light across the snow-covered deck.

  “That okay?” asked Colton.

  “That’ll work,” Tessa acknowledged. She could see Colton and the door quite clearly, and she could just make out Emilee and the wine bottle.

  “You need me to carry something?” he called.

  “The kayaks,” Emilee deadpanned.

  “Told you he was like that,” said Tessa. Emilee’s earlier criticism of Colton avoiding manual labor was just wrong. He helped out wherever he was needed.

  “What was that?” he called.

  “We’re good,” Tessa called in return. “But we’re not decent. So, go away.”

  There was a slight pause, before Colton muttered something, then the back door banged shut behind him.

  “I didn’t like the sound of that,” Emilee observed.

  “The sound of what?”

  “The way he shut the door.”

  Tessa wasn’t following. “How did he shut the door?”

  “There was a distinct level of sexual frustration in the bang.”

  Tessa peered at the indistinct, gray outline of her friend. “You have got to be kidding.”

  “He’s here for you, Tess,” Emilee stated with quiet authority.

  “He’s here for my house.”

  She’d allow for the possibility that he was doing it to spite her. He’d been pretty annoyed when she broke things off, and Colton didn’t take disappointment very well.

  “Maybe it is revenge,” she allowed. “Maybe he saw an opportunity to get back at me, and he’s taking it.”

  Emilee shook her head. “You need to be very careful.”

  “I’m not going to sell him my house.”

  The top layer of the water was cooling with the persistent snow. Tessa lowered her arms and slumped down so that her shoulders were further submerged.