Winter Heat, Part 3

by Larissa Emerald

  “There is one thing.” Amy fiddled with the multi-colored beaded necklace she wore. “Taylor and I were talking about Tiffani Michaels and her fiancé, and he said he remembered them arguing at the top of the slope.”

  “Ugh. I’d like to hear more, but I need to go.” She ran her fingers through the top of her hair and flipped it to the side, thinking. “I’ll call you from Denver later, okay?”

  “Sure thing.”

  Kelsey hustled out the door.

  Behind schedule and frustrated because she didn’t have enough time to handle all the parts of her life that were suddenly going whacky, she hit the gas a little too hard.

  “Easy,” her dad said.

  On a sigh, she slowed down. God, her emotions were all over the place. Not surprising, she supposed, considering all that was going on—Tiffani’s accident, the threats, a dead animal, hiding everything from her dad.

  And her growing feelings for Jared.

  Her face must have showed her preoccupation because her dad didn’t say a word until they got on I-70.

  “You…l-like him, don’t you?” he asked.

  The question caught her off guard. “Maybe,” she admitted. “But I’ve only known him a few days.”

  “The heart knows,” he said. “Some k-kiss…for so short…of time. You k-kids move fast.”

  Kelsey glanced sideways, not really wanting to have this conversation. Dad wore a devilish grin. “Wait a minute. Have you kissed Diane yet?”

  He sputtered, “N-not your business.”

  “You brought up the subject.”

  “Hmph.

  “I think she’d like for you to kiss her. A woman can tell.” Kelsey reflected on yesterday when she watched Diane and Dad. The signs were there in the way she touched him often and covered his hand with hers.

  Her dad peered out the side window. “My illness m-made me realize…the need to g-grab hold of things w-while you can. Things that make you h-happy. That’s w-what’s important.”

  “Then you better start locking lips with her soon,” she teased.

  He chuckled, then sobered. “The p-pup telling the old d-dog what to do. Just like when you were…t-ten. Told me your m-mom and I weren’t g-good for each other. D-didn’t want to h-hear it then. You w-were wise beyond your years.”

  “Mom had a lot of issues. And everything worked out the way it was supposed to.” But it had been a hard road to get where they were today. Turned out, her mom had a bi-polar disorder which made her seek out drugs and alcohol. Her father had spent years feeling hurt and abandoned, as had Kelsey. Now was his chance to discover love and happiness again.”

  Kelsey always believed in creating her own reality. And the positive route was her choice. Things happened for a purpose. So what reason did she attribute to Jared’s presence?

  Good question. One only time would reveal. She sighed.

  “D-did you know Diane…is getting ready to retire?” her dad asked, interrupting her thoughts.

  “No. I didn’t.” The news disturbed her because he was making such progress, and she wanted it to remain that way. “Does that worry you?”

  He coughed and cleared his throat. “A l-little.”

  Kelsey let the topic drop, but it was something she would need to monitor.

  Dad’s appointments would take most of the afternoon, with a late morning doctor’s check-up, then lunch, followed by physical therapy. They tried to pack everything into one day in order to limit the number of long drives. Today, her father had already informed her that Diane was meeting him for lunch. A date, he’d said, letting her know that she could find something else to occupy her time.

  This was fine with her. She rarely was able to have time for herself.

  At a stoplight not far from the doctor’s office, Jared pulled up beside her and lowered his passenger window. “I’m going to my office, but I plan to visit Tiffani this afternoon. Call me when you’re done, and we can meet up. I’ll tag along for the return trip.”

  It made sense to meet at Spalding Medical Hospital since his sister was an inpatient there, too. But part of Kelsey wished he didn’t have to go now.

  The light changed and she waved good-bye, and then rounded the corner, pulling into the parking lot of the medical center.

  Dr. Greene ran a punctual office and was on schedule, as usual. Which really made her life easier for a change. He gave Dad a good report, and noted that it seemed he was improving more each week—Kelsey could see that with her own eyes—but they were still going to keep him on meds to prevent another stroke. So basically, it was more of the same. Both a relief and frustrating.

  They met Diane at twelve-thirty in the food court inside the complex. It was lovely with indoor and outdoor seating. Kelsey confirmed everything was set for Diane to escort her dad to his physical therapy appointment. And then, she was unexpectedly free.

  She strolled to her SUV, trying to decide what to do with the afternoon. Instantly, the sun seemed brighter, the air crisper, and her steps picked up with a light and easy pace. She breathed deeply. Over the past six months, she’d had no time for herself, other than the minutes she stole for painting. But her efforts were paying off, and she felt a sense of pride in that. The resort had made a turnaround, her father was steadily improving, and Jared was making her see new potential in regards to a relationship. If nothing else, he showed her what she’d been missing by locking herself away. And she realized that was sort of what she’d been doing, wrapping herself up in her responsibilities.

  Striker Gallery wasn’t far up the road, on Colfax Avenue. She had to think hard to recall the last time she’d had a chance to visit a gallery. Perhaps today was the day to renew that part of her soul.

  She headed west on 287, anticipating the color and texture, as well as the clear sensation of being in the right place that she always experienced when she was among art. Almost at her destination, a text chimed on her cell phone. At a stop-light she glanced at the message. Her heart raced a little faster. It was from Jared.

  But along with the leap in her chest, there was a niggling fear. She kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. Was this the farewell message that would inevitably come? She opened the text: How r things going? Do u want to meet for lunch?

  And she positively loved spending every moment she could with him, best to take advantage of that.

  When she parked in the gallery parking lot, she texted him back, telling him where she was and that he could join her if he liked. His response: Be there in ten.

  Walking into the gallery, Kelsey breathed deeply. The art had a scent all its own. Without thinking, she chose the left aisle to begin.

  She meandered through the exhibits and thought about how she would lay out her gallery when she had one of her own. Striker’s clumped all the smaller paintings together in the front of the room. That didn’t allow for the best displays, in her opinion.

  “Hi,” Jared said, moving in to stand beside her at a James Brooks exhibit.

  She blinked. “Oh! Hi.” His approach had been so silent she had nearly jumped. But then, she was known to lose track of everything external when she was in a gallery.

  “This is a fine place. I’ve never been here before.”

  “It’s one of my favorites because it features local artists.”

  Together, they walked the maze of rooms. She was pleased that he didn’t talk too much. He just made a comment or asked a pertinent question every now and then. He seemed to understand the way the art needed to be absorbed. And she valued his fine eye and the interest he showed. He came up behind her, placing his palm on the middle of her back. She could feel the heat of his hand through her many layers of clothing. Or was that her imagination?

  She leaned into him as they took in a turbulent ocean scene. Later, they paused to admire a depiction of pedestrians walking a busy city street. The focal couple was holding hands. She didn’t know if he realized it or not, but he slid his warm fingers into hers, locking them together, a mirror
image of the lovers in front of them.

  A smile tugged at her lips at how right things seemed. This simple gesture affected her as much as hearing his rich voice or experiencing the way he could make her insides melt. She glanced from the painting to their joined hands. This was the essence of two matched souls, when feelings and movements became harmonized and attuned to one another. She recalled at breakfast when they ate in a matched tempo. This felt like the beginnings of…love.

  “We probably should be going,” he said quietly.

  “Yes, I’m ready.”

  Jared paused, as if considering something. “Want to join me while I visit Tiffani?”

  Kelsey straightened as her sense of contentment faded. “Yeah. Sure.”

  Damn. She’d forgotten to call Amy about what Taylor had overheard on the slopes. How could she have forgotten something so important, something that could absolve Chalet Romance of responsibility for Tiffani’s accident?

  God, she hated being caught between the tug and pull of obligation to the resort and sizzling attraction.

  She wanted Jared. Desperately she realized as they exited the building. The question was—what was she going to do about it? * * *

  She dialed Amy as she waited for Jared to check in at the nurse’s station.

  The conversation was quick.

  She swallowed, suddenly frightened. Yes, frightened—overcome by a sense of panic. What if Jared didn’t believe her? Tiffani Michaels quality of life was at stake here. And the woman was in that position because of what happen at her at Kelsey’s father’s resort.

  The idea of seeing her again under such dreadful conditions, even if she was improving, made her stomach clench. That, no matter how many times she’d had to visit a hospital lately, she still disliked the place. The strong, antiseptic smell reeked of unpleasant memories of when her mom had overdosed and nearly died.

  What if her father never recovered enough to take back over the responsibility of the resort? What if this chance at love slipped through her fingers? And love, she was discovering, was what she wanted more than anything else.

  So many things were beyond her influence. She shifted nervously from side to side as she waited for Jared to return.

  “Kelsey?” Jared’s voice stopped her thoughts from spiraling too far out of control.

  With a grin that made him look way too handsome, he took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She clasped his hand harder.

  “The nurses said my sister’s been doing much better today,” he told her.

  “That’s wonderful.” She smiled, even through the fear. Because it was wonderful.

  His eyes held hers for a second, and then she watched his gaze drop to her lips and rise back up. He was so darn kissable. Was he thinking what she was? Remembering the perfect feel of the kisses they’d shared?

  Then he blinked. “I hope Tiff feels up to talking about the accident. Maybe she knows what happened to her skis. Perhaps Mark has mentioned it.”

  Kelsey braced herself. “Actually, this morning when I stopped by the office, I discovered an interesting tidbit of information about your sister and her fiancé.”

  He nodded. “Okay…”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Jared could see the tension in her body. Oh, he knew part of that reason was simply physical, because the same longing was ever-present inside of him, but he also knew she had a heart as big as the Rockies and something was bothering her.

  Unable to help himself, he gave in and touched her, massaging the tightness in her neck, dipping his fingers into the soft curls at her nape.

  Kelsey twisted to face him, and he smoothed his fingers along her neck and over her shoulders.

  “Mmm.”

  “Better?”

  “Much.”

  More relaxed, now, she then explained.

  “It seems Taylor overheard an argument between Tiffani and her fiancé when they were at the lift station.”

  “And?”

  She licked her lips. “The quarrel was over having children. Something about she wanted them desperately and he didn’t.”

  Jared assumed a poker face, as the topic struck a nerve.

  She hesitated, searching his eyes. “There’s more.”

  “I think I know, but go on.”

  “Taylor believes he heard her say she was pregnant.” Her words wobbled. “And the disagreement centered around that.”

  “She was,” he said, unable to keep the sorrow from entering his voice.

  “Was?” Her face scrunched as if she dreaded the answer.

  “Yes. She lost the baby.” Strange, how it seemed different when he stated it out loud. He absently patted his pocket, reaching for his packet of gum.

  Kelsey’s eyes glistened and slowly closed as her chin touched her chest.

  He paused. “Kelsey?”

  “No wonder she’s struggling to heal. Her spirit must be broken,” she muttered thickly.

  She sniffled, and it tugged at his heart.

  “Honey, you obviously don’t know Tiffani. She’s a fighter. She comes out swinging when she’s down.”

  Kelsey raised a brow, appearing unconvinced. “Taylor said her fiancé was the one who took to the advanced slope. Tiffani was just going after him.”

  A few minutes later, they were in his sister’s room with the door half-closed behind them. The TV was on, and Tiffani was watching a game show. Jared moved straight to the bed and kissed his sister’s forehead. “How’s my girl?”

  Kelsey hung back, staring at the way Tiffani’s leg was strung up.

  “Any change?” he asked.

  “I wiggled my toes,” she exclaimed with a little squeal.

  He flicked a glance at Kelsey. “Good! That’s great news.”

  Kelsey folded her hands together in front of her chest, almost like she was praying, and tapped the tips of her index fingers against her lower lip a few times.

  He felt bad for her that she was so tense. “Can I take your coat?” he asked, trying to break the ice. They both removed their jackets, and he tossed them over a beige chair in the corner.

  Jared made introductions since they hadn’t met at the resort.

  “I’m glad to see you’re improving,” Kelsey said, moving to stand beside Jared and folding her arms.

  “I am, thank you.” Tiffani smoothed the sheets. Then she fixed her brown eyes on him, a lighter shade of brown than his, almost golden. “Now, tell me what you’ve been up to?”

  Jared’s gaze skimmed from his sister to Kelsey and back. He shrugged. “I’ve been visiting Chalet Romance, trying to figure out what happened up there. You know, if they treated you as they should have.”

  Tiffani’s mouth parted and then turned down at the corners. “You couldn’t let well enough alone, could you?”

  “But that’s just it, you weren’t well. And I had to find out more.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

  To Kelsey, she said, “He thinks he knows it all, you know.”

  Kelsey laughed, bumping her shoulder against him. “I really like your sister. She gives off positive vibes.”

  “That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier.”

  Tiffani seemed to notice the eye contact happening between Jared and Kelsey. “Hey,” she said as her eyes narrowed suspiciously, “what’s going on here?”

  Jared and Kelsey spoke at the same time. “Nothing.” He looked at her and smiled. It didn’t matter what they claimed, he had the urge to slip his arm around her.

  “Yeah, right.”

  Jared felt a shift in the air, someone’s presence as the door creaked. He turned to look, only to find Mark Carter, Tiffani’s fiancé, staring back at him, his face red with fury.

  “What the hell is she doing here?” Mark bit out.

  “Mark, this is—”

  “I know who she is. She’s from the resort. The question is, why is she here? And all snuggled up to your brother.” He practically snorted in disgust
as he glared at Kelsey.

  “Actually, Kelsey is helping investigate Tiffani’s accident,” Jared said, hoping to calm things down.

  “Looks like she’s doing more than helping. Looks more like she’s making sure we don’t sue her ass.”

  “We?” Jared barked, an inch shy of decking the guy. He moved between Mark and Kelsey, curling his fingers into ready fists, reluctantly admitting to himself that at the onset, he too had initially blamed Chalet Romance.

  She moved to stand beside him, touching his arm. “It’s all right.”

  Jared clasped her hand. “Mark, where have you been? I’ve left phone messages and you haven’t returned a single one. I wanted to ask you some questions.”

  Kelsey chimed in. “Why did you take the Eternity trail? You must have known it was difficult.”

  “Maybe the issue should be why are you trying to shift the blame away from the resort?”

  “Mark, stop,” Tiffani said, her brows drawn together. “Why are you here?” She collapsed back onto the pillows.

  Mark paced about in a huff. “I wanted to change your mind. Convince you to give us another go.”

  Jared’s guard fired up even more than it usually did with this guy. He was too arrogant, too theatrical, and too selfish.

  “Our engagement is off,” Tiffani explained.

  “Come on, Tiffani,” Mark said softly this time, his face crimson for a new reason.

  “Tiff, why didn’t you tell me?” Jared asked, relieved. He always worried his sister’s choice might be the type to be abusive.

  Tiffani shook her head. A long silence hung in the air before she rolled her eyes and blew out a breath. “I’ve been a little tied up, right.” She brushed her hair out of her eyes. “But seriously, I had a lot to figure out, you know, after the miscarriage. And Mark, if we’re honest, we know this has been coming for quite some time.”

  “What the fuck. Everything was fine until we went to that resort.” Mark lunged at her, it looked like he meant to grab her hand—but he lost his balance and bumped into her hip.

  Tiffani cried out in pain.