Avalanche

by Cambria Hebert

  “You have your own built-in coat,” I told Charlie, rubbing his chest.

  The dog flopped down on the floor and rolled, offering his belly.

  Liam laughed. “Well, you’re in.”

  “In?”

  He nodded. “Charlie only shows his belly to people he likes.”

  “I like you, too, boy,” I said, scratching his belly.

  He licked me again, and I squealed. He definitely was a slobber machine.

  “So you were warning me about him?” I asked, still feeling a little tightness in my diaphragm.

  He nodded. “Charlie tends to barrel into a room. I didn’t want him to knock you on your ass.”

  “I didn’t know you had a dog.”

  “There’s lots of things you don’t know about me, Bells.” The admission was quiet, sort of secret, and it made me swallow.

  Liam cleared his throat. “I wasn’t sure if you liked dogs or not, but Charlie was mad I left him alone most of the night, so I figured I’d let him come along.”

  “Most of the night?”

  He nodded, his gray eyes turning stormy.

  He was with me all night? My stomach dipped.

  I stood up from the floor, and Charlie jumped up, shaking out his coat. A string of slobber literally smacked into the wall.

  “Dude,” Liam told him. “Not cool.”

  Charlie didn’t seem to mind and went over to the cart and started sniffing at my leftover breakfast. He was so big he could snatch it off the plates if he wanted. I noticed the way his eyes moved to Liam as he sniffed.

  “You know better,” was all Liam said.

  Charlie sat down with a huff but continued to stare at the food.

  “Thanks for breakfast,” I said because I had no idea what else to say.

  “You look better this morning.” I shifted a little as his eyes perused my jeans and T-shirt, landing on my hair. “Your hair is longer.”

  I nodded.

  “I like it.”

  The compliment made me feel warm in ways I hadn’t in a very long time. All the fighting I did with the length when it got tangled or was a pain to wash didn’t seem so annoying anymore.

  “You ready to go?” Liam asked.

  I straightened. “Go?”

  He nodded. “I have a lesson. Thought you might want to come. Watch Charlie for me.”

  I glanced at the dog, his tail beating against the floor.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  He raised a brow. “You got something better to do?”

  God, he was so nice to look at. His light-brown hair was slightly mussed. The scruff on his jaw looked almost golden. It was such a contrast to his stormy eyes. Like the man had a little bit of heaven and a little bit of hell right there on his face.

  He was dressed in a thick sweater this morning. The kind with a neck that zipped. The collar was turned up, framing his jaw. Beneath the hem, a white T-shirt stuck out, and his jeans molded to the front of his thighs.

  The boots on his feet were big and sturdy. Perfect for traipsing around in the snow. The leather was wet as though that was exactly what he’d been doing.

  “Do you live in the resort?”

  “No. I have a cabin on the other side of the slopes. Charlie needs room to run, and I like my space.”

  “Just you and Charlie live there?” I couldn’t help but ask.

  A slow smile lifted the corners of his lips and put a little mischief in his eyes. “Just me and Charlie.”

  Didn’t mean he didn’t have a girlfriend, though. I mean, just look at him. Even when I was sixteen, everyone at the resort drooled over him and vied for his attention. That was when he was a boy. Now he was all man.

  His smile turned into a full-on show of teeth. “I’m single.”

  “Oh. Good.”

  More of his teeth flashed.

  I wanted to smack myself in the forehead. “I mean… I didn’t… mean.” I groaned. “What I meant was that’s good because I don’t think your girlfriend would approve of you basically putting me up in the hotel last night.”

  “Or tonight,” he intoned, stepping closer.

  I stepped back. “Tonight?”

  He nodded.

  “I can’t stay tonight. I have to go.”

  “Go where?”

  “Uh.” I backed up until I felt Charlie nudge me with his nose. Without thinking, I reached behind me and patted his head. “That’s really not any of your business.”

  Liam’s eyes narrowed.

  The dog nudged me again, so I grabbed a piece of the toast I hadn’t eaten and slipped it to him.

  “You’re going to spoil him,” Liam grumped.

  “He’s hungry.” I gave him another piece.

  “Get your coat,” he replied. “I have to be downstairs.”

  “I don’t have a coat.”

  He frowned. “We’ll get you one in one of the shops.”

  I grappled for another reason I couldn’t. In the end, I felt my shoulders sag. “I really shouldn’t leave this room.”

  He studied me for long moments. The weight of his stare was enough to make me squirm.

  “It’s very clear to me you’re running from something. Or someone. Someone who obviously scared you pretty bad.”

  I didn’t say anything. Didn’t confirm or deny.

  Liam closed the distance between us and stroked over my cheek with the pad of his thumb. “Come out on the slopes with me, Bellamy. I’ll stay close. So will Charlie. I won’t let anyone get to you.”

  Damn him. Damn the way he made me feel. I knew better. I absolutely knew better.

  But Liam’s power was impossible to deny.

  Liam

  Charlie lopped along behind Bellamy like she was a new toy. Probably because of the food she slipped him.

  Or maybe because that was just the power of Bellamy.

  In a way, his immediate devotion was sort of proof that no matter what kind of trouble she was in, she was innocent. Dogs sensed these kinds of things. They could tell if a person was a good seed or a bad one.

  I’d already known she was good.

  But it was sort of nice the dog proved it.

  Her eyes were extremely watchful as we moved through the resort, almost overactive. The girl was making me feel on edge, and I never felt that way. A wave of concern rolled over me for her safety, for dragging her out of her room. What if I shouldn’t have? What if she was better off hidden away?

  What kind of life was that?

  Not the kind she should have.

  Besides, I was very worried that if I let her out of sight too long, she’d disappear. Bellamy wasn’t the only one who’d kept an eye out. I’d done the same with her over the years. Granted, her life wasn’t plastered on the sports channel. She didn’t have reporters vying for her attention and printing stories.

  I didn’t know too much about her life, other than she lived in California and went to college.

  I tried to look her up after my injury, but it was as if she’d vanished without a trace. It pissed me off, and I knew a small part of me mourned her as the rest of me mourned the loss of my career.

  Bellamy was here now. I could take that second chance. This time I wouldn’t screw it up.

  “Here,” I said, taking her elbow and gently nudging her toward one of the ski shops at the resort. Everything was attached to the main building by a series of hallways or breezeways. She allowed me to steer her into the store, but I felt the nervous energy wrapping around her.

  Leaning down, I whispered, “Relax, Bells.”

  Then I patted Charlie on the back. “Stay with Bellamy.”

  He was an incredibly perceptive dog, having belonged to the ski patrol before his handler tragically died in a car accident. After that, Charlie had stayed with Sharon until I showed up busted and pissed off.

  Sharon brought him to me one day, and that was pretty much it. I felt better having him around, and I liked to think he felt a purpose again, helping me back on my fe
et. And at least with me, he got in a lot of snow time, something he loved.

  Bellamy smiled when the dog pushed up against her leg and walked along beside her.

  “Liam,” Robin said, materializing out of a rack of equipment. “So nice to see you.”

  “Hey, Robin,” I said, stopping to smile. “How’s it going?”

  “Better now that you’re here,” she replied. She was an attractive woman with dark hair and eyes. She’d been working at the lodge several years before I came back. She ran this shop, and she did a good job at it. “Are you here for some equipment? You need new gloves already?”

  I chuckled. “Nope, making these last.” I glanced across a few racks where Bellamy was browsing.

  Browsing = hiding.

  “We need a coat and some snow gear,” I said, pointing at Bells.

  Robin glanced between me and Bellamy with surprise in her eyes. “Helping out a guest? How sweet.”

  I wanted to correct her, to lay claim to Bellamy right then. I knew if I did, news would whip through this resort at lightning speed.

  “That’s me. Sweet as sugar,” I said instead.

  I didn’t know what was going on with Bellamy, and I wasn’t sure if she wanted anyone to know I knew her. I figured some anonymity might be wise, for her protection.

  The reply, though, made Bell’s eyes roll to the back of her head.

  I suppressed a smile.

  “All right, then. Let’s get some things pulled.”

  I cleared my throat, and Robin glanced over. “Lesson starts in thirty.”

  “I do love a challenge,” she purred and then got to work.

  Ten minutes later, I stepped up beside Bellamy, who was loaded down with a black puffer coat with a zip-out fleece lining, waterproof, lightweight snow pants, thick socks, gloves, and a scarf.

  Robin had run into the back to find a hat Bells liked but was only stocked out here in green. She was willing to take it, but I wasn’t. I wanted her to wear blue. It would match her eyes.

  The second Robin was gone, Bellamy glanced up at me. “I can’t afford all this right now, Liam.”

  I made a sound. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “I am worrying about it. This is not your responsibility. I’m not.”

  My eyes cut to her. I felt my jaw work. “I’m making it my responsibility.”

  “I don’t want you to be involved.”

  “Sweetheart, I got involved the second you passed out in my arms.”

  “Shoulda let me fall on the floor,” she grumped.

  I laughed.

  “Seriously, I’ll just go back up to my room.”

  “It’s the dead of winter. You’re in Caribou. You can’t walk around in jeans and a sweater the entire time. You’ll freeze to death.”

  Her eyes cast downward.

  I opened my mouth to say something, but Robin appeared. “Last one in blue!” she said victoriously. “And it has the BearPaw logo on it.”

  “Perfect.” I took the hat from Robin, noticing the large box in her hand.

  She cleared her throat. “I noticed your shoes, thought you might want something more… weather appropriate?”

  Bellamy glanced down. “You mean something that’s not ugly as sin and a size too big?”

  “That, too,” Robin muttered.

  I followed both women’s gazes and grimaced. How had I not noticed those godawful things on her feet earlier?

  You were too busy looking at the rest of her.

  The sneakers looked at least five years old, worn in some spots and filthy in others. The right foot had a tear in the side, and one of the shoelaces looked as though someone had chewed on it. Speaking of laces, they were tied tightly, double knotted, and when Bells lifted her foot, the shoe kind of swung, proving the fact that if they weren’t tied so fucking tight, they’d fall right off.

  Anger rushed through me like a forest fire under a strong gust of oxygen. I don’t know how she ended up like this, but whatever the reason, I hated it.

  “Size six, right?” Robin asked.

  “How did you know?” Bellamy seemed surprised.

  Robin laughed lightly. “It’s my job. Here we go.” She set down the large box and pulled off the top. “I didn’t have black, which seems to be your preferred color.” She glanced at all the dark selections Bells had chosen.

  Bellamy’s cheeks turned pink.

  “But hopefully you’ll like these.” She lifted one of the tall boots out of the box and held it out.

  Bellamy’s eyes went wide. She reached toward the shoe, her finger stroking over the light-brown fur sticking out of the top. “They’re beautiful,” she murmured.

  “They’re Sorel. Waterproof, weatherproof, and lined with fur. These are in light brown and feature sturdy blue laces. The varied shades in the fur really bring it all together.”

  The part that hugged the foot wasn’t leather, but some kind of thick rubber material in black, and they had a white sole.

  Bellamy dropped her hand away from the boot and lifted the box to check the price. I could almost hear her head explode when she saw.

  “We’ll take them. Everything,” I said.

  Robin beamed. Bellamy made a choked sound.

  “Put it all on my tab. Okay?”

  Robin was the one to choke now. “Your tab?”

  I nodded and started gathering up all the merchandise. “C’mon, Bells. I’m gonna be late.”

  I knew she wanted to argue, but she wanted out of there more, so she followed close behind, clutching the giant box of boots.

  “Thanks, Robin. You’re the best,” I called over my shoulder on the way to the front.

  “Bye!” she replied, shock still ringing in her voice.

  Once outside the shop, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Did you see her face?”

  “It probably looks a lot like mine.” Bellamy warned.

  I glanced down and grimaced. She was pissed. Figures she’d be the only woman on earth to get pissed when a guy took her shopping.

  “You can pay me back. Okay?”

  Her teeth sank into her lower lip, but she nodded.

  I blew out a breath.

  I walked quickly to the instructor quarters, noticing she had to practically run to keep up. The second time she nearly tripped on those damnable shoes, I slowed my pace.

  “What’s with the shoes?” I asked, gruff.

  She was silent a moment. I gave her the side eye.

  “I stole them out of a gym locker. Didn’t have time to shop,” she practically snapped.

  “Whoever you stole them from was probably relieved. That shit is awful.”

  Her eyes flew to mine, shocked. Then all at once, she started to laugh. I joined in, and then the pair of us were standing outside the instructor quarters, staring at each other, laughing.

  Charlie barked.

  “C’mon.” I opened the door and motioned for her to go ahead.

  There wasn’t anyone around, so I pointed to a small changing room and dumped all her new stuff in there. “Suit up.”

  While she was changing, I opened my locker and pulled out everything I needed to get dressed, too. When I was tugging on my instructor badge and nametag, the door opened and she stepped out.

  Charlie rushed her, greeting her as if she’d been gone for a week instead of a few minutes. She laughed, not bothered at all by his excitement, and patted him on the head with her gloved hand.

  “Everything fit okay?” I asked, clearing my throat.

  My God, she was fucking beautiful.

  I’d missed her.

  I didn’t even realize how much.

  Sure, we sometimes joked that she was “the one who got away,” and sure, I wondered sometimes what might have been… But this—this was a completely different feeling.

  “I like the boots,” she said quietly.

  I glanced down at her feet and smiled. The fur sticking out around her legs was pretty adorable. “They’re a lot better than those other things.”
>
  She giggled.

  My gear swished when I walked over to her, snagged the blue hat out of her hands, and pulled it down over her head so it rested just above her eyes. My hands lingered on her cheeks before they fell away completely. “I knew it.”

  “Knew what?”

  “That the blue would just make your eyes even more beautiful.”

  She ducked her head, and I lifted it back up. We stood there for long moments, just searching each other's eyes, not saying a word.

  Bellamy drew in a shaky breath, and I pulled back.

  “C’mon. I need to be out there.”

  I grabbed up my clipboard and snowboard.

  “You’re going to be teaching a lesson?”

  I nodded. “I have a few today. They’re classes.”

  When we stepped outside, the cold winter air blasted us. I liked the way it slapped over my cheeks, sort of like a personal wakeup call every day. I breathed deep, letting the icy tendrils of air fill my lungs.

  Charlie barked and bounded through the powder, kicking it up when he could.

  Bellamy laughed, watching him. I glanced down. Her cheeks were already turning pink from the cold.

  “I have some time between each class. We can get some lunch later.”

  She didn’t say anything. Her eyes wandered past me to a group of people up the hill. “Is that them?”

  I followed her gaze. “Yeah. Hang out nearby, okay? Charlie doesn’t need a leash. He’ll stay with you.”

  She nodded, and I smiled.

  The urge to lean in and kiss her was so strong. I resisted, though. “See you in a bit.”

  “See you.”

  I went to teach my class, glancing back to make sure she was still there.

  She was. For the entire lesson, she stayed nearby, Charlie her shadow. Every once in a while, I would get distracted because I would hear her laughter in the wind. I’d turn and look to see her and my dog rolling around in the snow.

  Yeah, I had no idea what made her run here or why she so desperately needed to hide.

  But the more I was around Bellamy, the less I even cared.

  Bellamy

  The air was crisp. The snow was pure. A dog’s fun was genuinely innocent.

  Being out here was like a fresh start. A fresh start I wanted so desperately my chest ached with it. Supposedly, I’d gotten a “fresh” start a year ago, but it never felt that way.