Countdown to First Night: Winter's HeartSnowbound at New YearA Kiss at Midnight

by Jillian Hart

  Jolie had spent more than one New Year’s Eve alone.

  The door finally opened. It had been an hour. Jake walked through, pulling at the collar of his shirt. He crossed the room immediately to Anna and hugged her.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Did you get it all taken care of?”

  “I did. And now we can go skating.” He sat in the chair next to the child. “We’re going skating, right?”

  “I’m ready. Anna has her boots waiting by the door.”

  “Then let’s go. I have skates in the closet. There should be a pair downstairs that fits you.”

  “You have skates that fit me?”

  He smiled, but from the tight worry lines around his mouth, she wondered how serious the problem downstairs had been.

  “We keep several extra pairs for guests. When I was younger if we had friends over, we were prepared. So, are you ready?”

  “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” Jolie winked at Anna and the child covered her mouth in a silent giggle. “Anna is sure I’m going to fall.”

  “I’ll catch you.”

  * * *

  HE HAD TO CATCH HER TWICE.

  The first time, she slid sideways the minute she stepped onto the ice. His arms went around her waist and he pulled her back up. Anna spun around fearlessly. Her cheeks and nose were red and her dark hair hung out from under her stocking cap, framing her sweet little face.

  Jake held Jolie’s arm. “You’re doing great.”

  Her feet were going in all directions and her legs felt like overcooked spaghetti. “How do you figure?”

  “Well, you haven’t broken anything. Yet.”

  “I guess that’s a positive. Now what do we do?”

  He steadied her and then turned her loose. She instantly missed his hands on her arms. If she moved at all she’d go down. A person couldn’t maneuver on two thin metal blades. It wasn’t possible.

  “Watch me.” He kicked out and effortlessly glided in a circle, stopping in front of her.

  “Of course, it’s that easy.”

  His smile warmed her. And it wasn’t right to be that warm on the ice. What if the ice under her feet melted?

  “You’re not going to fall.”

  “I was thinking of other things.”

  He grinned wickedly and skated up to her. “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “It was something. It made your cheeks pink.”

  “I was thinking that, the ice could melt.”

  “How would it melt? It’s twenty degrees out here.”

  She gave him a meaningful look and then heat raced to her cheeks and she looked away.

  He laughed and Jolie stood there, frozen to the spot, cold but warm. It was a strange situation she found herself in. Finally he said, “There would have to be a sudden heat wave for the ice to melt.”

  “I know.” She didn’t know what had come over her. She’d never been a flirt.

  He leaned in close and blew on her neck.

  “That the kind of heat wave?”

  “Anna.” Jolie tried to move away, but her left leg slid and her right leg went a little forward.

  He grabbed Jolie’s arm and held her. “Come on, I’ll stop teasing you and teach you to skate.”

  “Thank you.”

  He placed a strong hand on her waist. “Watch me. It’s really easy. Promise.”

  She watched his feet and she moved hers in what she thought was a similar motion. His hand tightened on her waist. She focused on her feet. She watched Anna just ahead of them. The child would skate forward, get a little ahead of them and turn to skate backward.

  “Will I ever be as good as Anna?”

  “She’s only been skating for a couple of months.” He moved her closer to his side. “Stick with me. I’ll do all the work and you hold on.”

  Hold on. It sounded so easy.

  He skated a little faster, pulling her along with him. She moved her feet, trying to keep up. Suddenly one of her feet slid in front of Jake’s. And that was the second fall. Together, with Jake. The two of them went down. Legs, arms, bodies. Jolie hit the ice, Jake landed next to her.

  Anna skated back to them, her mouth and eyes wide. Jake signed and must’ve told her they were okay. And then he looked at Jolie, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, too embarrassed to tell him her rear end felt numb, but she thought it was from sitting on ice, not from injury. “I think I’m good.”

  “Does anything hurt?” He stood and held a hand out to her.

  “Nothing but my pride.” She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet.

  Anna reached for her other hand.

  “Are you going to teach me, Anna?”

  The girl nodded and moved slowly, her feet taking easier steps than Jake’s. Jolie turned to look at Jake, who stood behind them.

  “She’s a better teacher than you are.”

  “Yes, she is.” He skated up beside her. “I should have gone slower.”

  Yes, slower. Slow is always a good way to start out.

  “Don’t be sorry.” She reached and he held out his hand. “It’s wrong that I’ve lived here my whole life without learning to skate.”

  “Or ski?”

  “Yes.”

  “We’re going to have to take care of that.”

  At almost thirty, it seemed to her as if it might too late. Anna let go of her hand and skated off. Together, Jolie and Jake stopped to watch her. Music played on speakers hidden inside the lampposts. In the ever-darkening sky, Christmas lights twinkled on the bushes and trees that surrounded the ice rink.

  Magical. Romantic. Dangerous.

  “I should go soon.” She continued to watch Anna because looking at Jake seemed to be dangerous. She would want to study his lean, handsome features, his eyes, the way he smiled.

  Focus on Anna. Easy. But the hand on hers was strong and eased her into Jake’s side, his breath warm near her ear. She couldn’t remember the hurt or the anger toward him the way she once had.

  “You’re coming to the ball, right?”

  Maybe. If she didn’t come to her senses. She looked up at him, because she needed to see in his eyes the reflection of his words.

  “I’ll be back. You’ll have to find me. I’ll have a mask on.”

  “I’ll find you.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “If you’re leaving, I’m going to take Anna up and get her ready for bed before the nanny gets here.”

  “I’ll see you in an hour.” Jolie tottered to the edge of the rink and dropped onto a bench. “And I am gladly returning your ice skates.”

  “I’ll put them in the closet, but you’re not getting out of this. You’re going to learn to skate.”

  He took her by surprise, kneeling in front of her and quickly unlacing the skates. He pulled them off and replaced them with her boots. Jolie didn’t know how a person could forget to breathe, or how a heart could stand still, but for a moment, both seemed to happen.

  It wasn’t until she was on her way home that she managed to catch her breath.

  * * *

  JAKE WATCHED JOLIE GO and then he skated out to Anna. He would take a few laps with his niece before going up to his apartment. He needed a chance to clear his head.

  Anna didn’t smile when he reached for her hand.

  “What’s up?”

  Her shoulders drooped as she signed. She didn’t feel good.

  “Let’s go upstairs. Maybe you’ll feel better after some hot chocolate.”

  She shook her head. That worried him.

  “Can I carry you?”

  She nodded and raised her arms. He lifted her off the ice and carrie
d her back to the bench. He sat her down while he changed into his boots and then he picked her up again and carried her across the lawn to the entrance that led to his apartment.

  Anna had her arms around his neck and he felt warm tears trickle down her cheeks.

  He carried her to the sofa. From the living room he could see the skating rink where couples skated arm in arm while children glided in circles and tried spins that put them on their bottoms. He turned back to Anna. Her bottom lip pouted out.

  “Hey, kiddo, it’s okay. I’ll get something to make you feel better.”

  She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and then she signed with her little hands, “I don’t ever want to leave.”

  He shook his head, confused by that because he’d been expecting tears.

  “You’re not going anywhere.” It was a bold promise, but he made it anyway. He’d fight for her if he had to.

  Anna sniffled. He pulled off her skates and helped her out of her coat and mittens.

  “Do you want hot chocolate now?”

  She shook her head and told him again that she didn’t feel well. He didn’t have a lot of experience with a child not feeling well. He touched her forehead because that seemed like the thing to do. Even with his lack of experience, she felt warm.

  “Does anything hurt?”

  She pointed to her throat and her belly.

  “Then I think we should get you some medicine.” The nanny had taken care of stocking supplies because he had no clue.

  A minute later he had the right amount of children’s aspirin and a glass of water. He got back to the living room just in time to see Anna race to the bathroom. He set the pills and glass on the table and followed, knowing only one thing he could do for her. He ran a washcloth under cold water and when she turned into his arms, he dabbed her face and neck.

  “Time for bed, kiddo.”

  She clung to him as he carried her to her room.

  CHAPTER NINE

  JOLIE STEPPED THROUGH the doors of the ballroom in the red dress Cassie had bought for her. It shimmered and clung...she never would have picked it for herself...but Cassie had been right. It was perfect. She felt as if she belonged in this world. Jake’s world.

  If only Jake had bothered to show up. She made her way through the ballroom, searching for Cassie in a sea of colorful gowns and masks. At least if she found her friend, she wouldn’t feel alone.

  Finally she spotted Cassie with Lance. Her friend turned, saw her and started through the crowd to her.

  “It’s about time you showed up.” Cassie eyed the dress and smiled. “You look beautiful.”

  “I love it, Cass. But you shouldn’t have.”

  “I wanted to. And seriously, every man in the room is looking at you. I’m jealous.” Cassie looked over her right shoulder. “Except mine. He’s smart and has eyes only for me.”

  “Because Lance loves you, completely. Every woman should be so blessed.”

  “Yes, and you will be, too.” Cassie stepped away from her. “I’m going to dance with my man and you need to find Jake. I haven’t seen him yet.”

  “I’m sure he’s busy.”

  “He shouldn’t be. He has Tansy in charge so that he can have a night off.” Cassie pointed across the room. “That’s our table.”

  Jolie made a sweep through the room, and then took a seat. Alone. She knew a few people in Cassie’s party, but not well. She listened to their conversation, but they didn’t include her other than a question from time to time. They were all paired up. Once again, she was the third wheel.

  She didn’t belong here after all. Nothing about this night was real. The connection with Jake wasn’t real. The dress wasn’t real. She was hiding behind a mask pretending she fit in.

  She lifted her chin. Her art was being shown to visitors from all over the world. She belonged.

  She watched Cassie, listened to the band and, more often than she should have, she looked toward the double doors wondering what had happened to Jake.

  She reminded herself that he hadn’t said anything about the two of them, just that he would see her down here. They’d had corn dogs, gone skating and he would see her later.

  End of story. Obviously the end. She accepted a glass from a waiter and took a drink. Cassie returned and took the seat next to hers.

  “I’m sure he’s busy.”

  Jolie smiled at her friend and picked up the cracker with a thin slice of smoked salmon on top. “Cassie, don’t make excuses for him. This is the way it goes in my life.”

  “Don’t be silly. There’s something between the two of you. I think there always has been, you’ve both just been too caught up in the drama of your lives to accept it.”

  “My drama was called surviving.”

  “His drama was called keeping this lodge in the black.”

  Jolie closed her eyes. “I know. Look, I’m going to the restroom. It’s late and I might go home.”

  Cassie looked away. A guilty look, if Jolie had to guess.

  “What?” Jolie stood.

  “I kind of rented you a room.”

  “Oh, Cass.”

  Cassie half smiled and shrugged. “Sorry.”

  Jolie bent and kissed her friend’s cheek. “Thank you. I’ll go check out my room.”

  “Jo, don’t go. He’ll be here. I know he will. Until then, hang with us. I want my best friend with me tonight.”

  Jolie nodded in the direction of Lance. “You have the best and really, I need quiet time to get my thoughts together. I’ll be back.”

  “Okay.” Cassie touched her arm. “You’re beautiful.”

  “Thanks. And he’s the one missing out, right?”

  “Definitely.” Cassie reached for her hand and held it. “You’re a successful artist who has done nothing but good her entire life. Stop living in your father’s mistakes. They weren’t yours.”

  Jolie closed her eyes and nodded. “Thanks, Cass. I’ll be back down.”

  “Promise?”

  Jolie nodded and Cassie let her go.

  She eased through the crowded room and into the corridor where it already felt easier to breathe. A quick glance in the direction of the lobby showed her there was no sign of Jake. She considered going to the desk and asking if there were any messages for her, but really, how desperate would that be?

  Cassie had given her a key when she told her about the room she’d rented. Jolie would just go to her room and rethink everything a million times. What had she thought, really? Had she thought that Jake was interested in her? Had she thought that he really wanted to spend time with her?

  Maybe a little.

  But she’d also known that they’d been thrown together today by Anna and Cassie, both very determined. If the third time is the charm, then she would finally learn her lesson and forget Jake Wild.

  Forget Jake. She walked into the bathroom of her room and stood there in the center of marble and stone opulence. She turned on the water and splashed her face, not caring that it would smear her mascara or wash away the makeup she had taken forever to apply.

  She dried her face with one of the heavy, Egyptian-cotton towels and walked back to the main room of the suite. A suite. For one person. Cassie shouldn’t have. But no one could tell Cassie she shouldn’t.

  Cassie just did.

  Jolie walked to the glass doors that opened onto a balcony. She could see the lights of Snow Falls, the glimmering ice rink, the snowy mountains that glowed under the nearly full moon despite the clouds that threatened to cover it. The snow that had fallen earlier had stopped for a while. Wafting up from the banquet hall she could hear the band playing a song from the 1950s.

  Happy New Year. She stared at her reflection in the glass door and felt sorry for herself. For the woman who had spe
nt too many New Year’s Eves alone. Even the miracle of a daring, red dress couldn’t change history.

  She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the cool glass. Soon it would be midnight. She would have to make a decision. Did she go downstairs and join the festivities, or stay up here, alone?

  She preferred alone.

  She whispered her resolution. Next year she would stop loving Jake Wild.

  * * *

  JAKE FOUND TANSY IN THE LOBBY. “Did you tell her?”

  Tansy blinked a few times. “Tell her?”

  “Jolie? I was supposed to meet her down here and I’ve been upstairs with a sick child.”

  The sick child now slept peacefully, with her nanny in a rocking chair next to her bed. Her fever had gone down. And she’d even smiled before she fell asleep.

  Tansy closed her eyes briefly and shook her head. “Jake, I couldn’t find her and then I had to take care of double-booked rooms. I’m sorry.”

  “It isn’t your fault. This is the worst night of the year for me to take off.”

  “As if you’ve been off. You’ve taken care of the safe issue, you’ve taken care of Anna. And really, you deserve a day off.”

  “You don’t deserve to have all this dumped on you. What can I do to help?”

  Tansy pointed at him. “Don’t try to take over. I’m in charge tonight. You have one mission, to find Jolie.”

  He headed for the ballroom, still trying to decide what he would do when he found Jolie. If he found her.

  Music pounded from inside the ballroom. He opened the door and watched as couples danced. Once again the New Year’s Eve ball was a success.

  Except for one thing. He had thirty minutes to find Jolie, because he planned on kissing her at midnight. He had made a resolution while he sat with Anna. He wouldn’t let this year be a replica of last. He was getting too old to keep letting the years go by without seeing what could be.

  He found Cassie on the dance floor. She gave him the evil eye and he guessed he had it coming. He had thought Tansy would get the message to Jolie. He should have made sure, because from the look on Cassie’s face, they must have thought he’d stood Jolie up.

  The music ended and Cassie walked off the dance floor. Flounced, actually. Her lips were pursed and her eyes narrowed as she headed his way.