He wanted to shout to Luke, “Look at this. I get her. I know what she likes. Where are you? Showing off, instead of showing her a good time.”
Instead, he did a series of surface turns with his board. She clapped, egging him on. They swerved through trees, waving at each other through the branches, and when they came out and hit the drop, he crouched low, letting the speed take over, until he felt like he was barely skimming the earth. Gravity had no hold on him, and maybe, just maybe, anything was possible.
Chapter Twelve
Zoey
Watching Parker fly down the mountainside never got old. While Luke moved with purpose—a bulldozer looking to blast his way through—Parker and his board seemed like one entity. He made snowboarding seem reverent, a thing of purity and grace. It was beautiful. Like a bird in flight.
Zoey snorted. That was a little whimsical of her, but she couldn’t help herself. He looked back to check on her and smiled, this warm, happy, thoroughly Parker smile that made her knees weak from the sheer freedom of it.
Wherever the feeling came from, this wasn’t the best time for it. She lost her balance, landing on her butt and sliding to the edge of the trail. Thank God they’d passed the steep part, or she would’ve careened nonstop until a tree caught her…
…or nothing but air did.
She shivered and pushed herself upright. Parker had come to a halt and was unbuckling his bindings, probably so he could climb up to her.
“I’m fine,” she called, waving him on. “Just, uh, a little spill.”
She’d had worse, but staring as her best friend shredded a trail as the reason? Unheard of. She didn’t lose her concentration like that even when she was admiring Luke’s athleticism.
God, was steam coming off her cheeks? It had to be—they were on fire and it was well below freezing up here. This was so embarrassing.
Parker was climbing up toward her anyway, which made her more flustered. He was always so overprotective, but in a good way. “You okay?” He looked her up and down—purely clinical, making sure she wasn’t broken somehow—but she flushed hot all over anyway.
Yep, she was definitely broken…it just wasn’t in a way he could see. Besides, recognizing her best friend was pretty damn gorgeous on his board wasn’t that big a deal, right? She was simply appreciating nature’s work.
Right?
Her heart fluttered an uneven beat when he brushed snow off her back…and her backside. All with a sweet frown of concentration, and nothing else behind it. He was worried, that’s all. Because there was no way they were anything but friends. Like Luke with the sleigh ride, if she told Parker she thought he was cute, he’d double over laughing.
Okay, maybe he wouldn’t laugh—he’d get that same tired expression she always did when someone commented on her looks. The gene pool had been kind to both of them, but that wasn’t who they were. He understood that better than anyone. Luke used his looks to make things happen, and that was fine, smoke ’em if you got ’em. But Parker? He knew it hurt to be dismissed because you were “pretty.”
Which was why she’d never tell him. Their friendship meant too much to her.
“Zoey? Does anything hurt?”
My heart? My head? “Just my ego. Sorry. My legs must be a little less conditioned than I thought.”
“It’s icy up here.” And that’s all he said about it. No teasing. Simple kindness, nothing more.
They started down the trail again, but Zoey couldn’t shake the feeling something was about to change…and maybe not for the best.
“I dare you to sing ‘Sleigh Ride’ while we’re on the sleigh.” Parker handed her a Styrofoam cup. “Double dog dare you.”
“Dude, you have no idea what you’re asking.” She wrapped her hands around her hot chocolate and blew on it. The steam warmed her numb face. “I have the worst voice anywhere.”
“I know,” he said. “That’s why I dared you.”
“You’re a mess.” They went to stand in line for the sleigh and she hugged her arms to her chest. “I wonder where Luke is tonight. He doesn’t know what he’s missing.”
She swept a hand around the staging area where the sleighs pulled in and out. White Christmas lights were strung on poles, twinkling down on the snow, which turned a twilight blue. Overhead, stars shone in a black sky, clear and sharp in the cold. In Colorado, she always felt like the stars were in reach.
Parker rubbed his chin. “I’m not sure where he is. Probably moonlighting as an elf at Santa’s cottage downtown.”
She grinned. “I might pay to see that.”
“I might pay to see that, too. The thought of my brother in pointed shoes with bells on them? Priceless.”
She laughed and squeezed his arm. “That’s not right. Not even a little.”
“I’m so wrong, I’m right.”
“A case could be made.” Zoey drifted closer to him. The air was frigid tonight, probably low twenties, and she’d hunched down inside her coat. Feeling bold, she nudged her way under his arm, and he pulled her against his side. Instant comfort, like always…so why did her pulse jump?
“Am I your space heater?” he asked.
His voice had gone low and husky and she shivered a little. His cheek brushed hers—accidentally?—and the roughness of the stubble on his jaw made her shiver again.
A case could be made for all kinds of “not right” tonight. The sleigh ride was starting to sound like a stupid idea for real, just not for the reasons she would’ve guessed.
“Maybe.” She managed a normal voice, somehow. “Perks of being my best friend.”
“Uh huh.” Did he sound disappointed? Or was she hoping she heard disappointment? What was going on with her?
The line slowly shortened as sleigh after sleigh pulled away. Finally, only the family in front of them remained. The ticket taker had already put a chain on the gate behind them. No going back now—they’d made the last ride of the night. The sleigh pulled up, a massive thing drawn by four enormous horses. An attendant opened the gate to let them through.
The driver called, “Uh, Jamie, can you count, son?”
“Huh?” the attendant answered. “There’s six.”
“And the sleigh holds five. Two on the front bench, three in back.”
Zoey’s stomach sank. They couldn’t all fit. “And this is the last ride of the night?”
“Yes,” the disgruntled helper said.
The family had already hopped into the sleigh. The mom caught her eye, gave her a knowing smile, and told the kids to come sit in the back. “My little one can ride on my lap.”
Zoey shot her a wordless look of gratitude, but Parker upped the ante. “Or Zoey could ride on mine.”
Her heart shot into her throat. His expression was perfectly calm, like it was no big deal…and it wasn’t. She sat on his lap all the time, usually before wrestling him for the last package of Skittles. Tonight the thought made her chest ache, and not unpleasantly.
The mom in the back of the sleigh had to look away, but Zoey caught the smile behind the fingers pressed to the woman’s mouth. The older child, a girl about eight, took that to mean she could sit up front again. She hopped out of the sleigh and back into the front seat.
“I don’t mind sharing,” she declared. “If you don’t mind sitting in a boy’s lap.” She lowered her voice and put a hand to her mouth like she was telling a secret. “Hopefully he doesn’t have cooties.”
The mom’s shoulders shook with laughter, and Parker laughed, too. “I’m cootie-free, thank you very much.” He looked back at Zoey, a dare in his eyes. “Will the horses mind another person?”
“Aw, tiny thing like her? They won’t even notice,” the driver said. “You’ll have to hang on tight, but it’s all right by me.”
Parker climbed into the sleigh and held out his arms. Wondering what the hell she was doing, Zoey slipped onto his lap and settled herself. His arms came around her at once, and the driver whistled at the horses. The sleigh started with a lurc
h, pressing her against Parker’s chest.
Breathe. In and out. Just breathe.
His hand roamed up her back. “You comfortable?”
She held very still. “I’m fine. You’re keeping me nice and warm.”
Which was true. In fact, he was keeping her a little too warm.
He’s your best friend.
I know.
So, don’t let this go too far, idiot. Remember, you have the hots for Luke, so don’t confuse things.
But, but…
No, buts. It will ruin everything. Slow it down.
Tell that to her pulse, which raced ahead of her good sense.
The horses plodded through the snow, pulling the sleigh like it weighed nothing. The breeze had quieted, adding to the hush that only the horses’ bridle bells broke.
Parker’s hand slid up her back. She could feel its warmth through her coat, which made her shiver again.
“You cold?” he whispered.
She shook her head. His face was so close…his lips were so close. If the sleigh hit a bump, they’d collide in a firm kiss. Which wasn’t the worst thought she’d ever had…
God, what she was doing? He was her friend, and there were rules, boundaries. She knew all this, and understood the perils of having a guy best friend. You had to stay neutral, one of the boys, or things went topsy-turvy fast.
So what had she done? Volunteered to ride sitting in his lap. Self-control, thou art worthless.
She leaned against him while her thoughts tumbled about in her head. She was warm, cozy, and held tight by a boy she’d trust with her life. At home, she never felt like this. She always had to be on her guard, always the one people watched and looked to for cues. Here she could let all that go and enjoy a silly sleigh ride, even though most of her so-called friends at Alderwood would declare it a lame way to spend an evening.
And yet, she wasn’t sure she should be letting it happen. She wasn’t even sure why it was happening.
“Enjoying this?”
Parker’s whisper tickled her ear, sending an ache through her belly. She turned slightly to find his lips an inch from hers again. She didn’t want to hurt him, or lead him on. But, right now, he was looking at her in a way she couldn’t decipher. Something that made her want to cling to him and explore his mouth with hers.
What was wrong with her?
“I was thinking,” he whispered, “that maybe I should kiss you.”
She could only goggle at him…had he read her mind? She needed to stop, think, but her body didn’t care for that idea, and she didn’t move away. “You were?”
“Yes, but only if you want me to.” The corner of his mouth turned up and her eyes followed the movement. “Do you?”
Her pulse had already kicked up ten or a hundred beats a minute…but the fact that he asked. Most guys forgot that part. They just swooped in, and you either had to dodge or endure. “I…I don’t know.”
He smiled and reached up to cup her cheek. “Fair enough. Just stop me whenever.”
They leaned toward each other and Zoey let her eyes flutter shut…right as the sleigh hit an icy patch, jolting everyone. Her eyes flew open just in time for Parker’s nose to ram into her cheek. She yelped, and the mom in the backseat let out a little huff of disappointment.
Oh, Lord, they’d been in-sleigh entertainment, and she hadn’t even noticed.
“You okay?” Parker’s expression made her think of someone surfacing from deep water. His blinks were too slow, his breaths too fast.
“Yeah.”
The sleigh came to a halt. “We’re back,” the driver said. “Thank y’all for coming out.”
The family climbed out of the sleigh, the mom murmuring something like, “Darn it. I thought they—”
The eight-year-old tugged Zoey’s sleeve, frowning. “You know, there are rules about keeping your hands to yourself in public.”
“Marnie!” her mom said, looking mortified at Zoey. “Sorry. She’s a little bossy these days.”
She took the little girl by the hand and marched her away. Zoey looked at Parker, and they both cracked up. “We’re bad influences.”
He touched his nose to hers. “Looks like it. I’m kind of proud of us.”
Zoey disentangled herself from him and climbed out of the sleigh. Parker didn’t let her stand alone for long, though, and he kept a hand on her back the whole way to his Land Rover. During the ride home, neither of them spoke. There was something sacred and full about their silence. She didn’t want to break whatever spell had been cast around them, even if she knew she’d pay for it later. This was the kind of thing that killed friendships, but she couldn’t tell herself to stop letting it happen.
They pulled up to her house. All the lights were on next door, a warm yellow glow spilling through the glass onto the snow. The windows at her place were dark. The parents must still be playing bridge. “So,” she said, suddenly nervous about spending time alone with Parker. Each decision she made from here on out had to be perfect, or she might ruin everything between them, and she couldn’t bear it if she lost him. “What now?”
Parker took her hand. “Follow me.”
Wondering what he was up to, she let him lead her into her backyard. A quarter-acre of unbroken snow glistened like a thousand tiny sparklers in the moonlight. His smile was sweet and boyish as he walked to the middle of the yard, then flopped down on his back to make a snow angel.
Laughing, Zoey hurried to join him. The snow soaked through her jeans and her cap but the stars were so beautiful overhead, a whirling infinity she wanted to capture, that it was worth damp clothes. At some point, Parker’s hand touched hers, and she stopped working on her angel.
“Now the angels are holding hands,” he said.
“Like they should be,” she murmured. “You really are my best friend.”
He stood, then pulled her up so that she faced him. “You’re my best friend, too. But…what if…”
She held very still half-hoping, half-fearing what he had to say. “What if what?”
He gave her a wry smile. “Never mind. You’re shaking—we need to get inside so you can warm up.”
She let him take her inside, but she couldn’t help feeling disappointed—and maybe a little relieved—that he never finished that sentence.
Chapter Thirteen
Parker
Too many near misses tonight. Parker had almost blurted out how he wanted to be more than friends, and for a second, Zoey had looked interested in what he had to say. Then he saw that tiny spark of fear in her eyes, and decided to back off. He had time. The way she’d melted against him in the sleigh gave him hope.
So he had time.
He trudged through the snow. He knew he was doing the right thing, but what if he was misreading her cues? Losing her friendship would be the worst, so maybe he should suck it up and pretend nothing was happening. But his heart felt like it would explode soon, and what then?
No, the risk was worth it, knowing she fit against his side like they were made for each other. And they’d almost kissed. He was sure she wouldn’t have stopped him, if the sleigh hadn’t bounced them around.
The thought of her face so close to his sent shudders down his spine. Yeah, the risk was worth it. He also probably needed a five-mile run to cool off his overheated nerves.
He went in the front door and ran into Zoey’s parents putting on their coats. His mom asked, “You’re back already?”
“Yeah, we went for a sleigh ride, then watched some TV. Nothing special.” Nothing he’d admit to anyway. “’Night.”
Their voices faded as he climbed the stairs. Maybe a good night’s sleep would give him time to think of ways to make this right. And if it didn’t, he’d keep trying.
By the time he got in bed, the house had quieted down, but the window across from his next door was still lit. That was Zoey’s room. Knowing she was still awake made it hard for him to settle down. What was she thinking about? Him? Them?
Or was she
thinking about Luke? Had his brother made any moves? His moody bullshit on the mountain today made it seem like he hadn’t, but Zoey had still asked about him, so he wasn’t out of her mind completely.
Which sucked. He had to find a way to obliterate her interest in his brother, and soon.
Parker punched his pillow and rolled over so he wouldn’t have to see her bedroom light anymore.
By the time he woke up—with a headache, no less—the sun cut a blinding beam across his bedroom floor. Groaning, Parker checked the clock.
Ten-thirty.
Crap, he was supposed to take Zoey to the terrain park this morning. He launched himself from bed, landing with a thud in his bare feet that earned a yelled, “Is there an elephant upstairs?” from Mom in the kitchen.
He flung open his door. “Sorry. Just realized I’m late.”
A two-minute shower would be enough, right? He checked his phone. Huh, no texts. Patience wasn’t Zoey’s strong suit, but maybe she’d needed a sleep-in day, too.
Or maybe she was ignoring him. Could she have woken up this morning, wondering what the hell happened last night? Regretting it?
A cold weight settled in his stomach. What if she did regret it? Funny things happened when two people sat together under a starry sky. Maybe she was chalking it up as crazy hormones, or as a moment gone too far.
He could see her: It was the moon, Parker. Full, you know? We’re so close, this kind of slip was bound to happen. It didn’t mean anything, right?
And he’d smile, nod like he was relieved, then go home and punch the wall until his knuckles bled.
No. He wasn’t going to give up, or let doubt take all this away from him. Today they were headed to his castle, a gauntlet made out of steel bars and sculpted snow. And that, more than anything else, would get her attention.
Nodding, he climbed into the shower. He’d make sure she understood last night was no slip, and certainly no offer for friends with benefits. He was in it for the long haul.
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