Winter Heat, Part 3

by Larissa Emerald

  “Dad, get out of your chair!” she cried, from her knees. He’d be harder for Lyle to control if he had to pull his weight. Her father stood and tumbled to the ground, his balance still unsteady without his walker. She screamed as Lyle kicked him.

  Kelsey had two thoughts as panic gripped her. Call Jared. Get the gun.

  As she ran furiously toward her chalet, she dug her cell phone from her pocket and hit redial. She heard his, “Hello?” and instantly started talking, her breaths coming fast.

  “Jared. Jared, it’s Dad.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  But he was in the lobby, working, and she was closer, so it was up to her. Her hands shook as she unlocked the door and it took far longer than it should. Damn. Damn. Finally inside, she flew to the gun case, opened it, and retrieved the revolver.

  Out the door she ran. By the time she got to the back of Dad’s chalet the men were all the way into the rough brush. Rocks and a sharp drop were just beyond that. She hurried closer to them.

  “Stop,” she hollered again. Then she raised the gun with trembling hands. She fired high above their heads. She’d heard that that wasn’t what you were supposed to do, but the men were too close to each other and her mind was too befuddled to think clearly. Both men turned their heads to stare at her. Her dad was on his knees, Lyle stood over him, with a firm grip on Dad’s shirt.

  Now that she had their attention, she breathed deeply, knowing what she had to do.

  Jared careened around the back corner of the chalet, his simple presence making her feel safer already. She heard his footfalls slapping the ground, and he came up beside her, quickly seeming to assess the situation.

  Kelsey shoved the butt of the gun in front of him. “Here, take this.” He complied automatically.

  Raising her opened hands, she straightened her spine and took several cautious steps forward. “Lyle, listen to me. Here’s what we’re going to do. I’m coming over there, and you’re going to release him.”

  “Kelsey, get back here,” Jared, demanded. “What are you doing?”

  But she ignored him, focusing on her task. “We will go inside and figure this out.” She walked in slow, steady steps towards him, her voice calm and even. “I’ve known you all my life. You don’t want to do this.”

  Lyle licked his lips. “There’s no other way. Chalet Romance has to fold in order for me to get ahead again.” He shook his head with a grimace that looked like he was in pain.

  Lyle was still, now, looking between everyone. His wide eyes revealed his uncertainty.

  “It’s okay.” Changing to a sideways step, she gave Jared a quick look, trying to silently relay to him that things were in control. “We’re going to go in to the house to talk this over, Lyle. We’ll figure out how we can help you.”

  She placed her feet carefully, for they were insanely close to the edge. One slip in the icy snow and…she didn’t want to think about it. Her fingers trembled as she reached down to grab her dad beneath his elbow to help him up. For an instant, Lyle glanced past her to the edge. But in the same way an artist directed the eye to a focal point in a painting, she did so with this man. “Lyle, look at me.” When he did, she smiled encouragingly. “Why don’t you take his other arm? We’ll all walk back to the house together.”

  With reluctance, Lyle did as she asked. He bent down slowly, stood wearily. Her dad blinked, and then the three of them shuffled forward. “Are you all right, Dad?” she asked, watching for any sign that he was injured.

  Kelsey was aware of her shallow breathing with each cautious step she took as they navigated to inside the chalet. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Jared tuck the gun into the back of his waist band. He followed them inside and closed the door.

  Kelsey wanted to emit a huge sigh, but even that she held in check. She seated both men, dad on the sofa and Lyle at the dining table. Then she collapsed into the other dining chair across from her dad’s attacker.

  Lyle slouched, a thin, sorrowful pile of human flesh, reminding her of a snail that had crawled out of its shell. Jared appeared the least affected by the ordeal, as he waited, silent yet alert, for everyone to recover. Finally Kelsey let out the long breath of air she’d been holding back.

  Lyle looked right at her father. “I’m sorry. I…I just don’t know what’s happening to me.”

  “Lyle, you did all those things, the note, the accidents, the dead animal?” Kelsey asked hoarsely.

  “Yes.” He hung his head.

  “W-hat accident? W-hat are you t-talking about?”

  “I’ll fill you in later, Dad.”

  “Why, Lyle?” she asked softly.

  Lyle cradled his head, and his hand twitched and shook as he did so. “The headaches. I need my medicine.” He reached into his pocket, and Jared took several quick steps toward him, totally alert. Lyle withdrew a pill bottle and tried to open it. His hands shook harder.

  Jared held out his palm. “Here, let me help. And I’ll get you something to drink.”

  Lyle handed off the bottle which Jared immediately read as he went into the kitchen.

  Lyle massaged his temples. “I’m losing everything. My ski resort, my wife. Everything.” He glared at Dad. “You should have sold to me when I asked. She wouldn’t have to be here now.” He flicked a thumb at Kelsey.

  Jared returned with the pills and a glass of water. “How long have you had the headaches?”

  Lyle shrugged, grimaced. “Months. It’s a brain tumor. I’m not doing treatment, though, dammit. Lost everything anyway. Should have jumped off that mountain.”

  Jared shot her a rapid glance that appeared to match the same realization she had. Lyle’s drastic personality change may have a medical reason.

  “It’s too late for me. Too late.” He went back to holding his head.

  Kelsey’s breath caught in her throat. Lyle had been their neighbor and friend ever since they’d moved here. She felt terrible for him.

  A siren screamed out front and then silenced.

  “I called Sheriff Cameron,” Jared explained, heading for the door.

  Lyle didn’t even raise his head to acknowledge Jared’s statement.

  Silence filled the room when he returned with the sheriff. The two men radiated power and friction. And Kelsey wondered what Jared had said to Dale.

  Her dad pushed his back into the sofa. “I w-wish someone…would tell me…w-what’s going on?” he grumbled.

  “Dad, I think Lyle has been instigating pranks, trying to cause trouble for Chalet Romance, perhaps hoping even to shut us down.” She looked at Lyle. “Isn’t that right?”

  Lyle nodded. “I’m sorry. I never meant for anyone to get hurt.”

  Jared crossed his arms. “My sister was injured in a skiing accident. Did you have something to do with that?”

  “I notched a pair of skis. She was just the unlucky guest who got them.”

  “But did you retrieve them after the accident?” Jared asked. She was amazed at his calm.

  “Yes, from the rental hut. But it wasn’t easy. I had to get it out of Rob where he’d hidden them first.” Lyle’s face contorted in pain.

  Jared’s mouth thinned and his brows came together. “Here’s my suggestion. Sheriff Cameron, should take you to Denver Hospital. You are a very sick man and I don’t think throwing your ass in jail is the answer. I want you admitted and to go through a thorough screening. And then we’ll take it from there.”

  “I can’t afford that,” Lyle stated.

  “I understand,” Jared said. “Worry about that later. There are options to handle that. So, is everyone in agreement?”

  With nods all around, Kelsey had the distinct feeling that Jared had already cleared his plan with Dale. Kelsey, Jared, and Dale Cameron escorted Lyle to the sheriff’s car and watched him get inside. “I’ll call ahead to the hospital and make the necessary arrangements.”

  Dale extended his hand to Jared. “Sounds good.”

  “Thanks,” Jared shook the
man’s hand.

  After they’d drove off, Kelsey smiled and stepped into his embrace, grateful he was there to help and to support both her and her dad. She sighed a long, heavy sigh, feeling what felt like a bowling ball lift from her chest. “You just never know what tomorrow will bring, do you?”

  “No, you don’t.” He smoothed her hair back behind her ear. “It’s a relief to have this over with.”

  “Yes, it is.” Kelsey tensed for a new reason. She could hardly breathe with the thought that now, though, with things wrapped up, he would be leaving. For good.

  “Relax,” he said, setting her back to gaze into her eyes.

  But she avoided him. “Now you can go home and get back to your work.”

  “Yes, I can.” Then he gently cupped her cheek, forcing her to look at him. “But I’ll be back this weekend to take you on a date. If that’s okay?”

  “Yes. Oh, yes.” And she felt renewed hope and anticipation about getting to know Jared better without all the drama surrounding them.

  He leaned in and kissed her, with sweet, intense longing, as she slipped more securely into his warm arms. When she ended the kiss, his jaw flexed, then he grinned.

  She stared into his beautiful dark eyes and smiled. “Let’s go fill Dad in. No more keeping secrets.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The sky gleamed bright blue on Saturday, four months later, as Kelsey waited in front of Chalet Romance’s office for Jared to arrive. They’d been dating regularly, taking turns commuting between Denver and the Chalet, ever since the fiasco that had brought them together.

  She’d put some of her paintings on display at Striker Gallery, with awesome success. And she bunked at Jared’s place during her short stays in the city. With Dad’s health improving every day, he had begun taking back over some of the duties of the resort. Of course, their fabulous staff made that possible.

  Jared pulled up in a shiny new black truck, towing a trailer loaded with an ATV.

  “New, toys?” she commented.

  “You bet.” He grinned. “I need to do some research for the movie I’m working on.”

  “Ah,” she said, and then walked around to the passenger side. She climbed inside and leaned over the console to kiss him. The warmth of his mouth on hers immediately stirred desire low in her belly.

  Pulling back, she smiled at him. “So what’s on the agenda today?”

  He grinned back and winked. “It’s a secret.”

  He put the truck in gear and drove off.

  Kelsey inhaled the new-car smell as she glanced around the cab. Her gaze stopped on the basket and blanket occupying the rear seat. “We’re going on a picnic?”

  Jared raised a teasing brow. “That’s part of what I have planned.”

  As he stopped at the road crossing that led to her chalet, Dad and Diane were in the midst of their morning stroll. Kelsey lowered her window and waved. Things had worked out marvelously for Dad. Diane had retired and moved in with him. They were Chalet Romances newest love story.

  “Nice truck,” Dad said as they walked over, hand in hand.

  Kelsey gave him a thumbs-up and Jared smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Did you hear about Lyle?” Her father shook his head. “He’s moved into a hospice facility. Too bad.”

  Diane patted the back of his hand. “At least Lyle’s been happy these last months. Ever since Jared bought his property and his financial burdens lifted, he’s been a new man.”

  Her dad added, “We’re going…to go visit him tomorrow.”

  “That’s nice of you both, you, especially, Dad,” Kelsey said.

  He shrugged. “It’s the fate in store for all of us.” Then he smiled at Diane, his spirits blossoming with a frisky smile. “Need to live it up while I can.” Diane blushed.

  “Very true,” Kelsey said, winking at Jared.

  “Well, you kids have fun.” Dad and Diane stepped back.

  “We will,” Jared answered for them both, then gave the truck gas and drove on.

  Kelsey stared out the window, only partially aware of the rich color in the summer landscape. They passed the location where Lyle had shot at her vehicle, giving her a flat tire. After all that had happened, she still couldn’t dislike the man. If it hadn’t been for Lyle, she and Jared would have never met. And while what he’d done was inexcusable, she had to feel sorry for the man because the tumor had altered his thinking process.

  But all had turned out well. Tiffani, with her strong determination, had recovered, showing only the slightest limp. She would be here tomorrow, actually, to see if she might be interested in running the resort that Jared had purchased from Lyle.

  Jared. He’d proved that some people do stick around when things get tough. He’d been steadfast and unwavering through it all. She sighed as her heart pounded harder, and she glanced over at her sexy boyfriend.

  Nervous energy suffused her as she considered the day ahead. She didn’t know what Jared had planned, but it would have suited her just fine if they simply spent the day in her chalet, wrapped in each other’s arms, in bed.

  Jared gave her a roguishly conspiratorial smile. Could he read her mind? If so, he’d be turning this truck around.

  But no, he continued on, and a few miles further they passed Tinny, driving the opposite direction as he headed in to work. He’d graduated from massage school and since her dad didn’t need him any longer, Kelsey had hired him to offer massages at the Chalet on weekends.

  She stretched her tight neck and shoulders, thinking Jared could expertly take care of what she really needed. She sighed. “How far away is this place we’re going?”

  “Not far. Be patient.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Me neither. You don’t know how close I came to driving up last night when I got back from L.A.” His gaze held hers as long as he could while driving. “I’ve missed you.”

  He reached across, grabbed her hand, and gave a steady squeeze. When he flicked his finger across her palm, she squirmed in her seat. “Ooo.”

  With a groan, he firmly gripped the steering wheel again and accelerated the truck. Watching him, she noticed he chewed his gum more aggressively. She zeroed in on the spot she loved on his jaw.

  A few minutes later, he veered off the road onto a smaller trail. “We’re heading to Lake Dillon?” she asked.

  He smiled. “Yes. Near there.”

  Delicious anticipation whipped through her. She allowed her imagination to run with possibilities: a picnic, sensual food, open sky, remote location, and naked bodies making love on a blanket. Outdoors, wild and free. He was her kind of guy.

  Man, it was suddenly extremely hot in this truck. She adjusted the air vent.

  In what seemed like the middle of nowhere, with not a soul to be seen, he stopped and threw the truck in park. He leaned over and she met him half way as he cupped the back of her head and drew her to him, taking her mouth in a long, probing kiss, full of yearning.

  “I’ve planned a day all alone, with no interruptions.” He set his phone on the console and thumbed it to OFF.

  While he got out and started unloading the back seat, she did the same, placing her phone right next to his. It took several minutes for him to back the four-wheeler off the trailer, and then she helped him tie down the blankets, backpack, and basket on the rear rack.

  He held out his hand to her. “Come on. I have a promise to keep.” He slid onto the seat, indicating for her to sit behind him. “It’s not a snowmobile, but you’ll see, it will be even better.”

  “Oh, you’re bad,” she said into his ear as she wrapped her arms around him.

  “I’m about to show you just how bad I can be.” He waggled his sexy, dark eyebrows as he looked over his shoulder at her.

  She couldn’t help snuggling her hips closer to his bottom, showing him what she wanted. Most girls wouldn’t consider this romantic, but she thought it was heaven. So out of the ordinary, so meaningful, and so naughty, very naughty. And she hoped this fantasy was re
al.

  He started the ATV and the engine purred. “Hold on,” he instructed. He took off fast down a line of high grass.

  Wind whipped her hair. She could feel the hum of the four-wheeler vibrate between her thighs. Then he turned off the beaten path, and they rolled over a rocky knoll. As they swayed to and fro, Kelsey held on tight, her breasts pressed and rubbed against his muscular back. It was a foreplay like no other, and by the time they parked within sight of the lake, her body was delightfully aroused.

  As soon as he dismounted, she wanted him back, touching her, kissing her, close to her.

  “Stay there,” he said, his voice thick and deep.

  She looked around, noting the privacy. They were in a small clearing surrounded almost entirely by dense brush, with only the entrance they’d come in on and a tiny view of the lake breaking the circle. He set down the basket and bag, then spread the blanket.

  “You planned this.” Her heart caught at his thoughtfulness.

  “For some time.” He drew her into his arms.

  “What? Since when?” She thought she knew, but she longed to hear him say it.

  “Can’t you tell?” He sent a meaningful look to the four-wheeler beneath her.

  “You’re crazy—”

  “In love. Infatuated. Wild about you. Now kiss me,” he ordered. He leaned into her, capturing her mouth in a slow, intoxicating kiss.

  Love? Had he actually used the L word she’d longed to hear for so long?

  She peeked up at him. The woods were empty, no one for miles. “I like this place,” she said.

  “Me too.” He gazed into her eyes, his desire evident. When his lips touched hers, her insides whipped and fluttered. She was a whirl of familiar, intoxicating sensations. His hot, slow kiss, the sultry feel of his lips, was making her feel wild and shameless. The spicy scent of him filled her nostrils, as his body pressed the length of her in an oh-so-delicious embrace.

  A force of nature was building inside her, and the fact they were in the outdoors, only heightened her excitement. She wanted to give herself time to explore these new sensations. Boldly, she lapped the inside of his mouth with the tip of her tongue. His reaction was immediate and fierce, and sent her pulse racing. He dragged her up against him harder, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, fanning across hers. She’d never known a kiss could be so delightful. Or so addictive.