Mistletoe Magic

by Fern Michaels

  What does this mean? she wondered.

  Is this love at first sight?

  Chapter 12

  “Ouch! That hurt, but I see where you’re going,” Parker said, obviously chagrined by her comment.

  Angelica offered up a mischievous grin but said not a word.

  “I owe you an apology. I was tired.” He held up a gloved hand. “And I know that’s not an excuse for being so crabby, but I’d like to start over.” He gave her his dazzling smile again, and her heart did another flip-flop.

  She liked that he’d used the word crabby. A regular guy, not the suave sophisticated GQ type she normally dated. Angelica was getting way ahead of herself, though. First, he’d only asked her to ski with him, and she didn’t really believe that qualified as a date. Second, she lived on the East Coast. What happened if she really liked the guy? No way would she commute from coast to coast for a date.

  “Earth to driver,” Parker said, jolting her back to the present.

  Looking at him as though he had two heads, she wasn’t sure if he was insulting her while trying to apologize.

  A driver? Am I being oversensitive? Yes, I am. It was so unlike her to be so offended by comments that were simply comments. The critics had been beyond hard on her many times throughout her career. It went with the territory. So why him and why now? Why am I so defensive with this man?

  “Apology accepted,” she said before she changed her mind. It had been late when he’d rescued her. She could be a tiger herself when she didn’t get enough sleep. Maybe Parker was telling the truth. He had fallen asleep last night in the car, after all. So maybe he had been overly tired. Besides, she had no real reason not to trust him. She’d met and made friends on the slopes many times before. No harm in hanging around with the guy for a few hours.

  He opened the door and climbed out of the car, then smacked his gloved hand against the roof. “So I’ll meet you at the private lift in a couple of hours. If you agree,” he added, offering her his drop-dead killer smile.

  Two hours would be more than enough time to go to the market, make breakfast, and prepare herself to spend the day skiing with a really hot guy. She smiled. “I’ll be there.”

  Parker closed the door, winked at her through the window, then turned away and walked toward the registration office.

  She gave a half wave and backed out of the parking lot onto the main road that led to the center of Maximum Glide. Angelica slowed the SUV to a crawl, searching for another parking spot, when she spied a black Hummer leaving. She whipped the Navigator into the spot before someone beat her to it. Grabbing her purse and keys, she opened the door and, once again, was greeted by bitter cold, but the kind of cold that didn’t make you cringe and race back inside. After New York, where the cold was damp from the ocean, she found the sharp coolness refreshing.

  The sidewalks in the village were clear of all traces of ice and slush. Angelica observed several maintenance men working hard to keep the streets and pathways clear. Briefly, she wondered if Parker was part of this crew, but he really didn’t look like he spent too much time in the sun. Maybe he was a supervisor and spent his time behind a desk. It didn’t really matter what his profession was. In two weeks, he would be nothing more than a memory. A pleasant one, she hoped.

  She found the village market around the corner from the Snow Zone, a ski supply shop she planned to visit later. Her old ski jacket wasn’t quite as warm as some of the newfangled ones she’d seen in the catalogues; it was time to replace it.

  Entering the market, Angelica was greeted by the scent of fresh-baked bread, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since her last bite of chocolate yesterday. With the warm yeasty smell guiding her, she found the bakery at the back of the store. As expected, the line was long, and she could see plenty of baked goods displayed for those waiting in line. Several young women wore white coats, with their hair matted against their heads with the required hairnet. Each performed her task with a smile on her face. Angelica thought that she might like to learn how to bake someday.

  As the line inched closer to the front, she made a mental list of the supplies she would need for the next two weeks. She added a bottle of wine and a nice pair of filets, thinking if the opportunity arose, she would invite Parker to her cabin for dinner.

  Greeted by a friendly blonde, Angelica selected a loaf of freshly baked sourdough bread, three poppy seed bagels, four red velvet cupcakes, and a loaf of French bread. With both arms loaded, she headed to the front of the market, where she found a small shopping cart. In New York, she usually just grabbed a few things and never required a shopping cart, only buying as much as she could carry home on foot. She walked up and down the narrow aisles, picking items that she normally wouldn’t even consider and placing them in her cart. Two bags of potato chips, something she never indulged in as her profession didn’t encourage weight gain. A large hunk of dark chocolate because she simply could not go a day without it. She filled the cart with cans of soup, milk, eggs, and two packages of precooked bacon. In the produce section, she filled bags with apples, oranges, and grapefruit. At least some of her purchases were healthful, she observed, while waiting at the checkout counter.

  Ten minutes later, she had the Navigator loaded with groceries. As she pulled out of the parking place, she glanced at the clock on the dash. She had more than an hour before it was time to meet Parker at the lift.

  Angelica felt blissfully happy, totally alive.

  Did this have anything to do with Parker, or was it simply the fact she was on vacation and had shucked all responsibilities for the next two weeks? It didn’t matter. Whatever the reason, she was boundlessly happy, and didn’t care why.

  Chapter 13

  Angelica found her way around the kitchen and decided she enjoyed the simple act of preparing breakfast for herself. She microwaved the bacon, scrambled eggs, and had three slices of toast. If this wasn’t enough carbs and protein to see her through her ski run, then she was in big trouble. She was not going to count calories on this trip, no way, no how.

  After a quick cleanup, she began the laborious task of dressing for a day on the slopes. Because her jacket was so old, she made sure to wear several layers of T-shirts and a warm sweater. She put on two pair of tights before topping them off with her old ski pants. First thing tomorrow, she would visit Snow Zone and update her ski gear.

  She planned to rent skis when she’d originally made her vacation plans, but was told by the travel agent that the cabin provided skis as well. All she had to do was give them her height and weight, then visit the repair shop, where they would make sure the fit was right for her. As she shoved her foot inside the cold ski boot, she was surprised when her foot slid in comfortably without all the hassle that she usually encountered. Tromping outside in the heavy boots, she found the skis and poles inside the storage shed, just where the agent told her they would be. She should have brought them with her in the morning, when she’d made her trip to the village, but she figured she would just ski to the repair shop, where they could make any adjustments.

  Kicking the toe end of her boot, then pushing down on the heel, she found that the boots fit perfectly in the ski’s bindings. Same with the other foot. There was no need for a trip to the repair shop, she thought as she poled her way several yards away to the private lift.

  Her skis cut through the snow, leaving tracks in her wake. She took a deep breath, reveling in the pure scent of pine and fresh powder. Her part of the mountain was still and calm, except for the soft whir from the wind that blew gently through the tops of the tall pines. She could get used to this, especially after the city.

  Remembering the directions she had read that morning while eating breakfast, she found the private chairlift without any trouble. The operating instructions were easy, so no worries there. It gave her enough time to smooth her hair and add an extra layer of lip balm. As soon as she tucked the tube inside her pocket, she looked up to see Parker, all decked out in Spyder’s latest red and black s
ki attire. He poled his way across the small expanse to the lift, then turned sharply, spraying her with snow.

  Winded, but smiling, he said, “I still have it.”

  Angelica’s heart raced at the sight of this incredibly sexy man, but she did nothing to reveal this. “You thought you’d lost it,” she commented wryly.

  “Never, but it has been a long time since I’ve skied. Work has kept me occupied, and there really hasn’t been time for a vacation,” he explained.

  Of course, she wondered what he did for a living and why there wasn’t time for a vacation, but she was not going to ask. If he wanted her to know, she guessed that he would tell her. For the moment, she was happy to be accompanying him.

  “Well, we’re here now. Let’s take the lift to the top of the mountain,” Angelica said. “Or is that too much for a first run?”

  Parker gave her a look that sent a warm glow throughout her body. Yes, she was in trouble, she thought, as they poled across to the chairlift. This guy was definitely worth pursuing.

  “Of course I’m up to it. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t. What about you?”

  “I’m ready. It’s been a couple of years, but I think I can handle a run down the mountain. Though I have to admit, I am a bit leery of this lift. I have never used this kind before.” She had read the instructions just a while ago and hoped the timer was set to allow them enough time to get seated comfortably before shooting up the side of the mountain.

  Angelica punched in the number of seconds required for the lift to come to life, then poled over to the entrance area with Parker by her side. In fifteen seconds, the chair, squeaking but moving at a slow pace, swung from the heavy cable, stopping when it crossed the line where they waited. As soon as the chair stopped and touched the back of their legs, they dropped down onto the icy seat, and Parker pulled the safety bar into position.

  With a squeal and whine, the chairlift began its climb up to the top of the thirteen-thousand-foot mountain.

  Angelica inched into a comfortable position, or as comfortable as one could be on a ski lift, carefully placing her skis on the bar provided directly below the chair. Sitting on the left side, she held her poles in her right hand over her left shoulder. Parker did the opposite. Once they were settled for the slow climb, the wind in their faces and the sun almost blinding in its intensity, Parker turned to look at her.

  Glad that her face was covered by her scarf, her eyes hidden behind the amber lenses of her ski goggles, she knew she was blushing.

  Damn, I am thirty-two years old! This stuff only happens in those terrific little romance novels I used to read back when I was in high school.

  As was becoming the norm for her when she was with Parker, her heart beat so fast, she wondered if it would pound right out of her chest.

  His words were muffled when he spoke, but she clearly understood him. “Are you nervous?”

  Darn! Am I that transparent?

  Shaking her head from side to side, she adjusted her scarf so she could speak. “Not at all, just cold.”

  Before she knew what was happening, with his free arm, he pulled her closer to him. Their heavily clothed thighs rubbed against one another, and her shoulder was hard against his. Trying to inch away was not possible as Parker now used his free hand to tilt her chin up. Again, he surprised her when his lips lightly touched her own.

  For a few seconds, again, she was at a total loss for words. When she found her voice, all she could manage was a low, “Wow!”

  Chapter 14

  “I’ll take that as a compliment,” Parker said, mere inches away from her face. He smelled like freshly washed skin and shaving cream.

  She wasn’t sure what to say or if she should say anything at all. She decided on not saying anything simply because she was shocked by her reaction to such a . . . chaste kiss! Mentally ticking back the clock, she realized it’d been almost a year since she’d gone out on a real date. Yes, that had to be the reason she was reacting like a lovesick teenager.

  Angelica felt Parker’s gaze on her. It wasn’t like she could turn around and leave. Nope, she was stuck. Deciding to make the best of her situation, as there really wasn’t another choice, she looked him squarely in the eye. “What do you want from me? If you’re looking for a . . . cheap fling, look elsewhere. I certainly hope I haven’t done anything that would make you think I was that kind of woman.”

  Did I actually say that? I must have sounded like an old spinster right out of the nineteenth century!

  Parker laughed, and Angelica couldn’t help but smile behind her scarf. Once again, she came across as an idiot.

  They were more than halfway up the mountain when Parker spoke. “Trust me, a fling, cheap or otherwise, is the last thing on my mind.” His voice became more serious, as though an unpleasant memory had surfaced.

  Angelica wished she had kept quiet. Why couldn’t she just accept that a nice, handsome man kissed her for no reason other than that he wanted to? Did there have to be an answer for every move a man made toward her? Yes, yes, and yes, she told herself. It was probably the reason why she’d had so many dates, most of them disastrous in one way or another.

  She pulled her goggles on top of her head, then wiped her eyes. The air was so cold, her eyes were watering. She knew without looking in a mirror that her nose was probably as red as Rudolph’s.

  “Look, I shouldn’t have said that. I do that a lot,” she said as a way of explaining herself.

  Parker still looked serious, all traces of that fantastically sexy smile gone. “No, I shouldn’t have kissed you. I don’t know what came over me. Look, I don’t normally do that either. Hell, I can’t remember the last time I kissed a woman. It’s been too long. I’m sorry,” he said.

  Wanting to ask him to explain further, she stopped herself before she put her foot in her mouth again. “Hey, it was just a kiss. As long as you don’t expect anything else, then we’re okay. And if it makes you feel any better, it’s been a long time since I went out on a date myself. I work odd hours. Broadway being Broadway and all.” She didn’t dare tell him that, in point of fact, she worked off-off Broadway. She’d already gotten the impression he thought her profession was unprofessional.

  And why did I just tell him I haven’t had a date in a long time? What is wrong with me? Surely, I must be oxygen deprived!

  The cable whined, then came to a complete stop. Knowing this was a private lift, it seemed odd, but Angelica was sure the lift was used by other guests, too. Hanging in midair, the wind whistling through the trees, snow swirling beneath them, she couldn’t have asked for a more vulnerable position to be in, but again, her heart beat double time when she looked at the man seated next to her.

  “I guess someone fell,” he said.

  “I’m sure,” she answered, then turned away. She didn’t understand why she was feeling the way she was. It had never happened to her before. Ever. Zilch. Why now? And she didn’t know squat about the man! He could be a pervert or . . . well, she was sure he was decent and upstanding. She trusted her instincts on things like that. But her reaction to him was just not normal, of that she was sure.

  With a clunk and groan, the lift slowly came to life, transporting them to the top of the mountain. Feeling as though she had to fill the silence between them, Angelica spoke the first words that came to mind. “Look, I didn’t mean what I just said. I mean, I haven’t had a date in a while, that’s true, but the other.” She turned away again, feeling a tiny bit ashamed of her chosen profession. “I don’t work on Broadway. Only once, and that was a very long time ago. I’ve been bartending and working in off-off-Broadway plays. Don’t get me wrong, they’re very successful in their own right, but still they are off Broadway.”

  She could actually feel Parker’s gaze. It was as though he were trying to penetrate through all the layers of heavy clothing and see what lay beneath.

  “You don’t have to explain your choices to me,” Parker said. “To each his own.”

  That was not th
e answer she was hoping for, but it was what it was, she thought, as they dangled once again in midair. “I wonder why they keep stopping,” she said.

  “People fall, and it takes a few minutes to get them up and out of the way. If they’re inexperienced, it takes longer.”

  She knew all of that. It was not her first time on the slopes. Wishing she’d skied downhill to the public lift, Angelica felt very confused as a tumble of thoughts and feelings assailed her. One moment, she wanted to throw herself at this handsome man seated next to her, and in the next, she wanted to run, or rather ski away from him as fast as she could. She’d heard her friends talk, and she wasn’t so unsophisticated that she did not know what was happening to her. The question was—why now? Why this man, who lived across the country? Why not one of the actors she worked with? Someone she knew and could see whenever she chose? She hadn’t come halfway across the country just to fall in love with a stranger. She came to meditate on her chosen profession.

  The lift returned to life, jolting her back to the present. Though they were only stopped for a couple of minutes, it had seemed much longer. She could not sit next to this man and say nothing. She felt too exposed, and somewhat puzzled at this new turn of events. But, she remembered she was an actress, and acting she could do. She only had to pretend that she was onstage and that this situation was staged just for her.

  The only difference was that she did not have a script, so she did not know her partner’s lines.

  Chapter 15

  Finally reaching the top of the mountain, Angelica couldn’t wait to ski downhill, where she knew there would be hundreds of other skiers to take her mind off Parker North. Quickly, as though they did this together daily, both she and Parker moved effortlessly off the chairlift and toward the right, where they both zoomed downhill.