This place reeked of drama and he intended to figure out if any mischief had contributed to his sister’s accident or affected her rescue. And what was up with Kelsey’s reaction when he’d met her father? He sensed she didn’t want him talking to her dad. Why? A hidden agenda? Embarrassment? Or because her father was ill when his sister’s accident occurred?
She dabbed a napkin at the corners of her smile. “You know, you’re really wasting your time. Wouldn’t your energy be better served conferring with your doctor friends?”
“I’ve already done that. I have to figure this out. She was an accomplished skier.” Freaky things happen sometimes—but not to his family.
“That’s why they call it an accident.”
“Yes, indeed.”
Draining the rest of her tea, she left the cup on the table and stood. “Okay, then let’s do this. We’ll take the snowmobiles.”
“Lead the way.” He swigged the last of his strong coffee, stood, and followed her.
Walking behind her had its benefits, he decided, as he allowed for a little distance between them. Watching the rhythmic swing of her backside wasn’t a hardship. Not at all.
On the way out of the restaurant, Kelsey efficiently gave instructions to a resort employee, a chubby fellow with an acne-marked face. The guy quickly took off for the kitchen.
Jared stepped in front of her and opened the door.
“Hold on a minute,” she said.
It struck him then that the answer to the problem that had been nagging him since he’d met her father.
Kelsey managed the resort now, not Mr. Moore. Perhaps his sister’s accident had just been bad timing, the unfortunate result of an administration change. Could Kelsey be covering something up?
A few minutes later, the employee reappeared with a black thermal satchel which he handed off to Kelsey. “Thermoses of hot chocolate, in case we need to warm up,” she explained.
Yes, hot chocolate would be good, though he could think of a dozen more interesting ways they could stay warm. Whatever she was hiding, he promised himself he’d find out. But—
Was he a big enough SOB to go after a man and his family weathering the abject circumstances the Moore’s were experiencing? He wasn’t sure.
* * *
Jared waited in front of the equipment barn, near the double-wide garage doors, while Kelsey went inside. He toed a pile of snow, then scanned the landscape. What the hell was he doing?
She’s getting to you, man. Which wasn’t part of the plan. What he wanted more than anything was a chance to get to know Kelsey Moore without the black cloud of his sister’s accident hanging over him. Reality sucked.
Hmph. He let loose a harsh chuckle, unwrapped a piece of gum and popped it in his mouth. Maybe his need for escapism was the reason he’d bolted from medicine into movie-land. He folded the wrapper into a very tiny square and slipped it in his pocket. He filled his lungs with winter air and then, pushed out a puff of moisture in a frustrated sigh. Since when did he balk at changing the script? Just retool.
Trees swayed in the distance with a gust of wind, and glistened and winked with icicles. The late-morning sun warmed the air, though, chasing away the harsh winter’s bite and making the weather cheery. Like her.
He gave his head a shake in an effort to switch his thoughts.
The grumble of snowmobile engines and the sound of crunching snow came from the side of the building. Jared turned to see Kelsey and a man—sixtyish with silver-streaked hair—round the corner, each guiding a snowmobile. The man’s name was Rob, Jared learned after introductions. Her employees certainly seemed to like her.
Kelsey flashed a dimpled smile. Every thought of keeping her at a distance vanished.
Rob perused Jared with a bushy-eyed, measuring look as he got off and handed over the Polaris snowmobile. “Here you go, son.”
“Thanks,” Jared said, then swung a leg over, mounting the sled.
Rob took several steps back and shoved his bare hands deep into the pockets of his work pants. “You know how to drive one of these?”
Jared chuckled. “Yes, sir. I’m Colorado homegrown.”
Rob nodded. “We’ve had sixteen inches of snow this last week. Plus, the fresh powder last night and this morning should make for an excellent ride.”
Jared mentally labeled the man “Columbo” because of his drawn out phrases and thoughtful pauses—the guy was definitely more than the humble mountain man he appeared.
“Thanks for your help,” Kelsey said to Rob and then cuffed the elder’s upper arm good-naturedly as he passed her. “I heard you have a secret,” she whispered to the man, not quietly enough for Jared not to hear, though.
“Could be.” He winked. “You have your radio?”
“Ooh, you’re being a devil. And yeah, I have it.” Kelsey patted the two-way radio clipped to her waist. “Don’t work too hard.”
“Okay. See you kids later,” Rob said before disappearing into the building.
Kelsey rocked her hips as she shifted her weight, settling more comfortably on the heated seat.
Jared caught an instinctive groan in his throat. Thinking of that most sensitive part of her anatomy straddling warm pleather—well, his whole body reacted, tightening and straining. Some places more than others.
She slipped a helmet from the handlebar, unbuckled it, and put it on, squashing her lovely curls. Gloves and goggles were next.
Jared forced his gaze from her as he duplicated her actions. He was in about the most uncomfortable position a man with a serious hard-on could be in. He lifted his gaze thinking that perhaps if she’d worn a longer jacket instead of that spiffy short one she had on then maybe the garment might have hidden her lush curves and sexy ass.
“Ready to go,” he forced himself to say evenly.
Kelsey gently rolled her hips once more.
God, she was killing him.
He grabbed the throttle and revved the engine.
Kelsey twisted to peer at him over her shoulder. “You want the nickel tour or the whole shebang?”
“Show me everything you’ve got.” And not just the property. He stifled a groan.
Minutes later, they were rumbling over pristine snow. They followed a path that seemed to lead them away from everything, but Jared noticed one thing right away. The resort was a small enough operation that it left plenty of opportunity for privacy. Perfect for the love-inspired theme it promoted. They passed a few couples now and then, but the atmosphere was secluded and private. And the farther he moved from the chalets, the more he felt driven to escape life in general.
Kelsey came to a crest, stopped her sled, and motioned for Jared to pull up beside her. They were at the top of the mountain, where the chairlift let off passengers. More people were up here, ready to head down the west slopes. Jared followed Kelsey’s lead as she parked her snowmobile and slipped off her helmet, hanging it over the handlebar. She strolled over to a large wood-carved map of the trails and area.
His shoulder brushed hers as she explained it. “My dad owns a little over twenty-two hundred acres. And the resort came about little by little over the years. We have seventy-eight acres of trails. Enough to run nine slopes, five lifts, and plenty of room to spare. Two slopes run at night, three slopes are reserved for chalet guests only. We also have a six-thousand-square-foot outdoor ice rink for skating. During the summer, the southern edge of the property becomes a golf course.” Pulling off one glove, she traced her finger over the lines of the map as she pointed out each spot. “This area turns into more or less a cross-country course during the winter.”
Jared watched, holding back the question as long as he could. “And where was it Tiffani went down?”
Kelsey paused. It was obvious that neither of them was comfortable with the subject. Her throat worked as she focused on the map. “That’s the one your sister was injured on. Eternity. It’s a narrow, curvy slope banked by dense forest on both sides. It’s considered an advanced run, and it’s very is
olated compared to the rest. Which is the reason some guests like it.”
Jared examined the map, thinking—
She tapped his shoulder. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
A bit later, after another breathtaking ride, they parked again, this time in an oval-shaped clearing. Clouds were moving in and the ground cover lost its crisp sheen. Kelsey tromped around the snowmobiles, her feet sinking calf-deep in the snow.
She stopped abruptly. “Yes, this is it. But on the day of Tiffani’s accident, the snow wasn’t nearly as deep. And a fairly large tree limb was lying near where she fell, so we thought maybe that had something to do with her plunge.” Examining the tree-line, she lifted one shoulder. “Her fiancé was an absolute toad. No help at all. I didn’t really like the guy.”
“Me neither.” Jared noted a bend in the path ahead where a clump of trees encroached heavily on the trail. An experienced skier would have no problem navigating the turn. But if someone were distracted? Well, he could see the danger.
“Who reported the accident?”
“Mr. Oh-My-Goodness continued down the slope and called the ski patrol. We called—”
“Tiffani’s fiancé?”
“Yes, like I said, pretty useless otherwise. He’s the only one who knows for sure what happened.” She paused. “The ski patrol responded immediately, and the paramedics were here within twenty minutes.”
“You were here, too?”
“Yes. I arrived moments before the paramedics. Taylor—you met him last night when you checked in—escorted them right to the spot.”
“And then?”
“I don’t know. They stabilized her, I guess. I stayed out of the way. But because she was unconscious they had her air lifted to the hospital.”
What she said made sense. And he wasn’t surprised by her vague details. He didn’t expect her to be familiar with the medical end of the rescue procedures.
“I’ll need to speak with the medics,” he said. Until he did so, he still didn’t know much, other than that the resort team seemed to have a system well in place. But his gut told him something wasn’t right.
“Looks like I don’t know much more than I did earlier,” he acknowledged with a teasing smile. A breeze whipped around a strand of her golden hair, plastering it across her cheek and into the corner of her mouth. He wanted to move it away, feel her soft skin beneath his fingers.
Her lips parted, her breath hesitated. “What do you mean? Doesn’t seeing the course help?”
“I guess I don’t understand why Tiffani lost control. Although, at first glance, it seems you have your procedures in order.”
“Thanks.” Her dimple winked and vanished, eyes narrowing slightly. “Wait a minute. What do you mean ‘at first glance’?”
It began to snow as she looked at him, and flakes began to dot her hair and cheeks. And all his determination to keep this trip strictly about Tiffani threatened to dissolve like the melted snow on her soft, warm skin.
He forced his attention to the white landscape. “Maybe the question is, whether Tiffani realized the nature of this slope. If this was her first time down this run, perhaps not.” He needed to double-check the literature and postings about the run. Had the resort adequately advertised the advanced nature of the trail?
“I wonder if she chose this trail or was it her fiancé?” she questioned.
He shrugged. “He’s a piece of work.”
Her eyes met his, and he detected they were in agreement. Again, his fingers literally itched to touch her face and brush away the moist snowflakes. Instead he settled for middle ground, stepping closer to her side and placing a gloved palm between her shoulder-blades, sliding up and down. “I appreciate all that you did for Tiffani. I’ll speak with the paramedics this afternoon or tomorrow.” And check the literature. He kept that last part to himself.
* * *
She nodded, unable to think properly with his hand on her back like that. He knew it; she knew it. Even though she pretended she was unaware of the warmth that passed between them. She tried to blame the feeling on nervousness. But even through the thick layer of winter clothing, her body was responding to the pressure, urging her to slip closer for more intimate contact.
“Ready to ride?” she asked, trying for a light tone. Her senses were assaulted further when he changed the motion of his palm to slow circles. She pulled away from him.
He stepped back. “Sure.”
Kelsey hated the anxious knot that had formed in her stomach. It wasn’t fear—which would actually be far easier to deal with—in fact she lived with fear every day to some degree—simply pushing through her worries. No, this was desire, a needy emotion, and she had to depend on and trust someone else for gratification. And like the blush that warmed her face, it was so uncontrollable.
Oh yes, she thought as—an old adage danced in her skull—ready, willing, and able. “Okay, after you.” Then she rethought it. “Better yet, I’ll race you.”
“No way,” he said as she climbed onto her snowmobile. But it was too late. She was already into game mode. It took her only a moment to get set with helmet and gloves.
Jared uttered a curse, then laughed.
She liked the rich sound of his voice. Keeping her eyes on Jared, she twisted the handle to make the engine purr faster, then took off.
A zing of excitement jetted through her when he began chasing her, the feeling almost as good as sex. Which she admitted was what she really wanted from him. Too bad the stars weren’t aligned for them.
After a few minutes, Jared’s sled surged forward nose to nose with hers. “You’re a little devil,” he yelled.
“Who me?” she hollered back, teasingly.
Then he gave his snowmobile full throttle. Kelsey grinned appreciatively at his stuntman-worthy handling, as he purposely hit snowbanks that sent him airborne into small jumps.
Two could play that game.
Not wanting to be outdone, she hit a few bumps of her own. The snow started to fall like a white sheet on the mountain. He seemed to realize, as she did, the need to slow down. She matched him when he decelerated. His laughter echoed in the forest, then he exclaimed, “Damn, you’re good.”
Before she could answer, one ski of her snowmobile caught, on what she couldn’t tell. The right side dug deep into the snow and veered sideways. The abrupt direction change propelled her into an uncontrolled flight.
Kelsey soared off the seat, tumbling across the fresh snow. It all happened so quickly that when it was over, she felt stunned disbelief as she pushed to a sitting position. What happened? Shock was followed by embarrassment at not handling the snowmobile better. She glanced to the left. The sled had skidded onto its side and stopped several yards away.
From behind, Jared called her name.
She stood as soon as her equilibrium steadied and ditched her helmet. She was dazed but unhurt. Although, she did feel pretty stupid.
The next thing she knew Jared was beside her, holding her against his chest. His warm breath caressed her cheek. He smelled of cinnamon—his gum.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
He set her at arm’s length and searched her eyes, then ran his hands down her biceps, pausing on her elbows to inspect her body for broken bones and injuries. “What about your head and neck?”
“A-Okay.” She needed to get away from his not-so-clinical scrutiny. Away from his warm breath. Away from his gentle touch. His intense dark-brown gaze made her tummy do a flip-flop that had nothing to do with the tumble she just took.
“I’m fine,” she repeated and stepped away from him and toward her machine. “What about the snowmobile?”
Passing her, he righted the sled, looked it over. “No wonder you crashed. One of the damn skis snapped off.”
Jared knelt, angling his head and body to get a closer look at the broken parts.
She leaned over his arm for a better look. Sure enough, only one ski angled from beneath the hood. She shi
vered. The strangest sensation came over her at the idea that she had an accident not far from where his sister was seriously hurt. “This is too bizarre. Rob is meticulous about checking these.”
When Jared stood and faced her, his features were bunched with concern. “Is this your personal machine or a rental?”
“Mine. We have certain ones we don’t rent out. That way they’re available if we need them.”
“Interesting.” He crossed his arms, dipping his chin to chest in a thoughtful manner.
Did he recognize something she didn’t?
The radio at her waist beeped and she answered, “Kelsey here.”
“Hey. Just wanted to let you know I’m shutting down the trails until this lets up,” Taylor reported.
“Good idea. Thanks.”
Jared stood facing down the slope, his attention fixed on either the weather or their location. An increasing amount of snow gathered in his hair and on his shoulders. Her gaze drifted to the play of muscles at his jaw as he worked his gum. That might be her favorite kissable spot. To feather her tongue along that strong line and up to the corner of his mouth—
“Maybe we should take a cue from your friend and wait this out in the trees over there.” He tilted his head toward a stand of pines. “How about some of that hot chocolate, eh?”
* * *
Minutes later, after transferring her belongings plus the thermal drink satchel to his sled, they rode in a slow, easy jaunt on the one good snowmobile. They took shelter from the storm under the protection of some dense evergreens. Kelsey got busy getting the drinks while Jared stored the helmets and gloves at the rear of the sled. The scent of pine mingled with the aroma of hot chocolate as she poured him a cup and handed it over.
Jared observed each move Kelsey made, watching for any sign of injury. Man, he was so into her. He wanted to grab her wrist and haul her against him. But he remained where he was, seated sideways on the rear of the sled with his boots stretched out in front of him. The trail beyond the trees took on the appearance of a snow-globe. Kelsey mimicked his actions down to the cool reserve she wrapped herself in.
This was not the woman he walked in on yesterday while she was painting and singing.
Winter Heat, Part 2 Page 2