Snowy Encounters

by Clarissa Yip

  She’d been had.

  Chapter Eight

  Cole frowned as he watched Maddy laugh with Ben, one of the ski instructors, who’d volunteered to help his ex-wife around the lodge. After their little shopping expedition, she’d turned to stone. He hadn’t expected her to fall for his plan, but when they were at the store shopping, he knew she was appalled at his decisions and he couldn’t help teasing her. Maddy hated his lack of fashion sense and party planning. He didn’t mind having pigs in a blanket and plastic cups at parties, but he’d picked those up to irritate her more than anything. After she’d agreed to help him plan the party, they’d barely spoken a word if it didn’t concern decorating the lodge. She’d started work the moment they arrived.

  His heart beat a mile a minute when he’d walked her to the front entrance of Tall Oaks. The moment he’d opened the door for her, he’d waited for her to praise him.

  Instead, he’d only received an indifferent shrug of her shoulders, and she’d started to assess where the ornaments and trees would go.

  It irked him. All the hard work he’d put into his businesses, he expected a compliment or some kind of acknowledgement of his accomplishments. While everyone else in town noticed, she’d acted like the lodge wasn’t anything special.

  Why did he really care? No matter what he did, she’d never approve. It wasn’t as if she’d change her mind and want to be with him again once she’d saw how well he was doing. His mother, on the other hand, would have run back to his father in a heartbeat.

  Now Maddy stood, flirting with Ben. He’d fire the man’s ass if he wasn’t such a good instructor and one whom the guests loved. But Cole couldn’t stop the possessive anger running through him. Everyone had been surprised at her appearance, but accepted her like she’d never left.

  Whirling around from the window to the door, he passed groups of guests, lounging around the fireplace, trying to warm up after a day of skiing. He pulled his winter jacket off the coat rack, and shrugged into it. Jerking the door open, he trudged outside.

  Snow fell like white glitter onto the already white terrain. He was used to the stormy cold weather in Five Oaks. As he rounded the corner of the lodge, he strode past a group of kids, throwing snowballs at each other. Ben spotted him as he approached, tipped his head and moved away.

  Maddy saw him and frowned.

  Why did she have to be so beautiful?

  He took in her black winter jacket, Eskimo hood around her head, covering her dark hair, and snow boots. Tiny, petite and perfect. Once he stood in front of her, he glared. “Stop distracting my employees.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. Her foot tapped the snow. “Ben was helping me earlier. His shift ended two hours ago.”

  He knew that, but he wasn’t going to admit it. A surge of jealously struck his chest. At Stumps, he’d reveled in the fire flashing in her eyes, but after she’d returned from the restroom, he found ice in her expression as if she’d blocked out all emotions. She became all business, the professional event planner that she was, reminding him of how much more her career meant to her rather than the life he could have provided. “Well, how are the decorations coming along?”

  “What’s got you in a snit? I haven’t set any fires,” Maddy muttered. “Follow me.”

  Cole grunted and trailed behind her. She moved with a light bounce in her steps, arms swinging side to side. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Maddy was home here. Since she’d arrived, she’d taken to his staff right away, catching up with people who’d been at their wedding, even helping a few of the guests with directions when no one was around to direct them. He’d been amazed at how much his ex-wife had grown into a business woman from the young town bumpkin he’d known, when she’d pulled out her cell phone and ordered up a storm. The New Year’s party was set with food scheduled to be delivered and she’d even found a place that rented out glassware since his shipments weren’t coming in until after New Year’s. Before he had been ready to call it a day the night before, he’d found her tubing down the bunny hill with a bunch of little kids, and an ache had formed in his chest. He’d quickly walked off, needing to get away from her.

  They were supposed to have kids he could teach to ski, while she would kiss every boo-boo away when they fell. The more he thought about her, the more he couldn’t help stripping her in his mind, remembering the many times they’d made love in front of the fireplace in the home they were supposed to fill up with their own children. His gaze zeroed in on the perfect fit of her jeans. The denim hugged her like skin. His groin tightened as he watched the shift of her ass with each move. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and have her submit to him, bury himself deep within her. Then she would admit to how wrong she’d been in giving up on their marriage, in wanting more than him alone. Maybe in a dream world. She was too stubborn to give in.

  Maddy stopped, and whirled around. “Are you ready?”

  He frowned. “Ready for what?”

  She sighed then reached for his hand. “I have a surprise for you.”

  Cole gave her a wary look. The last time she’d given him a surprise, he’d found himself rolling down a slope with a broken leg. “Does it involve an ambulance?”

  “I’m not going to push you down a cliff or something.” She paused. “Even though the thought does have merit. You’ve been cranky since I got here.”

  I wonder why… He squeezed her fingers through her glove. “I have a business to run. I don’t have time for you to be flirting with ski instructors.”

  She threw his hand off. “I worked. And I was doing you a favor.” She gestured toward the lodge. “All those lights and decorations didn’t hang themselves.”

  He stared up at the lodge. Strings of lights lined every pillar, every edge and roof of the building. The wretched plastic reindeers and Santa with his sleigh sat on the rooftop. She’d somehow made it look magical. The guests watched Maddy work and direct the staff, and some had even helped with the interior decorations. A buzz had swept through the place. Everyone seemed to have gotten their holiday cheer. Except him.

  As much as he didn’t mind the holidays, having her in close proximity and knowing she was here because of her mother put a damper on his hohoho spirit. His own mother had left around this time of the year, but he’d gotten used to that fact. He had his brother and father, but it wasn’t the same.

  “If you’re going to be in a bad mood, then you better tell me so I can hide.”

  He stilled at her teasing. Instead of the look of indifference he expected, a mischievous smile played her face. “What’s gotten into you?”

  Her eyes widened, blinking against a gust of cold wind. She dropped her arm to her side, releasing him as if she’d been caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to. “Oh.”

  She walked off.

  Cole growled, hit with sudden guilt. He couldn’t help it. While she was happy, frolicking around the lodge, he’d been feeling the opposite. He wanted her to laugh with him, her to talk and tease him, but most of all, he wanted to hold her and never let her leave again.

  But who was he kidding? She wasn’t going to stay. Her life was in the city.

  He went after her. “Maddy!”

  Chapter Nine

  Kill joy, that’s what he is.

  Maddy lengthened her strides, pushing against the strong wind. Irritation bit her insides. Obviously, she’d been having too much fun and that was a crime around here. Damn him. Why did she care if he was miserable and cranky? Since she’d arrived, they’d done nothing but annoy the hell out of each other. He’d left her alone to do her job, but every time she’d run into him, he’d either been glaring at her or giving her attitude about something.

  And his need to show off his success exasperated her.

  She hated it. It may work with other women, but not her.

  The lodge’s business had picked up ten-fold since she’d moved out of town, and she was impressed with what he’d done with the place, but that didn�
�t mean she had to like it. A part of her blamed the lodge for their divorce, but the holiday cheer and spirit made her forget everything, and she’d fallen into a familiar routine, helping around the lodge. While she received some disapproving looks from some of the town folk, probably for her return and being seen with Cole at the diner, the older staff had sought her out to talk and filled her in on what Cole had been doing since she’d been gone.

  Work. Work. Work.

  She wasn’t surprised. They practically thought of him as a god for breathing life back into the town with the amount of tourists the lodge brought in, and now that he was opening up another, they all expected Cole to bring Five Oaks out of the slumps.

  “Maddy!”

  She ignored him, shoving her hands in her pockets. All she wanted to do was show him something, and he’d just had to go and ruin her mood. As much as she hated the place, she’d been pleased with the outcome. The guests were excited about the changes and geared for Christmas, and that excitement had been contagious. And in comes irate Cole who was such a buzz kill. An ingrate. She should have stuck with her plan to ignore him. But old habits die hard. She’d almost forgotten her irritation with him from Stumps and the waitress.

  “Stop.” Cole latched onto her elbow.

  Maddy stared. “What?” She couldn’t keep the anger out of her voice.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah.” She started to walk, but he pulled her back.

  “Stand still. Where are you going?”

  “Home.”

  “You’re dad’s not here to pick you up.”

  She frowned. She should have called her father to come get her when she’d finished up everything, but she’d chosen to hang around the lodge a little longer. Stupid, stupid, stupid. “I can find a ride.”

  “I thought you were going to show me something.”

  Maddy jerked her elbow out of his grasp. “Too late. You can find it yourself.”

  Cole growled and ran his hand through his hair. Snowflakes caught the thick strands, giving him a white halo. She shivered as her eyes took in the shift of his jacket. The thing was big and loose enough to cover him and keep him warm, but watching him strut around the lodge in his white T-shirt and tight jeans didn’t help the fact she was still attracted to him. The years apart had done him good. He was more lean, more built, and definitely hotter. Damn him.

  “All right. If you show me, I’ll let you push me down a slope.”

  She flinched and bit her lip to keep from laughing at his outrageous suggestion. “Are you crazy?”

  His eyes sparkled with mischief and humor. “Awww, come on, Maddy, you know you want to. I annoy you just as much as you still annoy me.”

  Just like that, her anger dissipated and mood lightened. She blinked against the snow swirling past them. “Fine. I get to pick the slope and then if you’re hurt, it’s not my fault.”

  Cole grinned. “You wouldn’t, would you?”

  “You’ll find out when I bring you to Death’s Peak.” She swiveled around and started walking. She kept her smile to herself. Death’s Peak was the steepest slope around, and he’d fallen down one too many times when they’d gone skiing together. Because she’d been clumsy with her skis, it wasn’t her fault that he was always the injured party.

  The ring of Cole’s laughter brought warmth to her heart. He caught up with her and took her hand in his. She didn’t pull away as she led him to the back of the courtyard of the lodge where his surprise sat.

  Her legs were getting tired from trudging through the thickening snow, but she was glad she’d still had winter clothes at her mother’s. Otherwise, she would have been in big trouble with her stiletto boots and thin jacket. As they reached the courtyard, Cole’s steps slowed.

  She turned to study his reaction.

  “Wow.”

  Maddy grinned with pride.

  The tall Christmas tree in the center loomed over them. The angel on top reached for the never-ending sky. Shiny bright lights, garland and ornaments of every kind lit the yard. It was the best tree she’d ever worked on. Even though, it had taken three guys on ladders to hang the decorations to her liking.

  “What do you think?”

  Cole looked down at her. His hand lifted and slid into the hood of her jacket, cupping her cheek.

  Her breath hitched at the sudden intensity of his stare. His gaze dropped to her mouth and her lips parted. She should move away, walk off, but her feet froze to the ground. Longing washed over her. It’d been so long since he’d kissed her. The kiss they’d shared two days ago had only opened another wound, reminding her how much she craved his touch even though she chose to deny it. Cole lowered his head, and she found herself rising on tiptoe.

  “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  His words cloaked her in warmth as his mouth covered hers.

  Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she pressed up into him. Everything else faded, blending in with the whiteness around them. The wind blew hard, picking up speed, but she ignored it. As if they were the only two people on the planet, Maddy allowed her guard down, releasing the desire she’d held at bay. She poured every frustration, every pain, every ounce of need into the kiss. She never wanted it to end.

  His tongue teased hers and she whimpered, loving his masculine taste of coffee and mint. She’d missed him over the years. Her fingers slid to his nape, latching onto his hair. She nipped at his bottom lip, and a growl of irritation erupted from her chest. She wanted to be closer, wanted to feel his skin against hers. The thick folds of their jackets made it impossible.

  Cole abruptly pulled away, and she cried out. Her hands dropped to her side at the angry clench of his jaw. He hesitated then tugged her back into his arms, forehead resting against hers. His breathing labored, and it made her feel a little better, knowing the kiss bothered him as much as it did her. His nose rubbed against hers, and she closed her eyes. A wave of melancholy rushed through her.

  “Oh, Maddy. How am I going to let you go this time?”

  The walls around her heart cracked open.

  Chapter Ten

  Maddy sat quietly in the passenger seat of Cole’s truck. The snow fell harder all around them. Night started to descend upon them as the landscape thickened with its white blanket.

  “How much more decorations need to be put up?”

  She drew her eyes away from the window to Cole, who focused on the road ahead. Her gaze trailed over the softness of his dark hair, highlights blended under the light. She wished she could reach up and brush away the strand over his forehead but she slid her hands under her thighs, sitting on them, before she decided to do more. She scoffed to herself. “I just have to finish up the upstairs waiting room.”

  He flicked a glance in her direction. She watched his fingers tighten around the steering wheel. “Thanks for helping me out. The lodge looks great.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “The town needs a decorator and event planner. The closest person is in Pentonville, but obviously she’s not dependable.”

  Maddy leaned into her seat. The idea was tempting, but she couldn’t bring herself to move back. The town disliked her since she’d divorced their hero and it would mean running into Cole. With what her mother had told her, he was bound to get married again. No way could she watch him with another woman. His words from earlier rang into her mind. Oh, Maddy. How am I going to let you go this time?

  Her throat constricted involuntarily. What did he mean by “this time”? She left, and he’d never contested. “I’m sure with the town growing, someone will open an event planning business out here soon.”

  They sat in silence as Cole maneuvered the truck down their street.

  “When are you leaving?”

  “Mom wanted me to stay for the grand opening but I need to get back to work on a new contract we’d received.”

  “And your job is important to you?”

  Maddy shrugged. “Sure, I love my job, but it’s a job. It’s not going to
…” Her voice trailed off. She thought about her lonely apartment in the city, devoid of warmth and family.

  “It’s not going to what?” he asked, as they neared her parent’s house.

  She swallowed. “It’s not going to bring my baby back. It’s not going to stop reminding me of how much I miss everyone here.” Especially you.

  The truck jerked to a stop. His one hand gripped the clutch, knuckles whitening. “I miss the baby, too.”

  Her eyes pricked with tears. She took in a deep breath. “It wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”

  “I wanted the baby more than anything.”

  Her head jerked toward him. She recalled how he’d had started to work more once they’d found out she was pregnant. She wanted to believe him, but she couldn’t and their marriage hadn’t worked out anyway. “It’s so long ago, Cole. It doesn’t matter. I’m just kind of glad I came home for the holidays. The city gets old after a while.”

  “Don’t you love the city?”

  He wouldn’t look at her, and she was glad, aware of the exhaustion taking a toll on her body and mind fighting Cole all the time. “I do love the city. It has its perks, but so does Five Oaks.”

  “Then why have you avoided the place in the past three years?”

  Sadness pierced her. She could continue to tell him she loved holidays in New York, needed the big city and all its excitement, but deep down, she was still a small town girl. Spending time at the lodge had reminded her of how much she enjoyed the town folk—when they weren’t glaring at her with disapproval—and watching the tourists’ delight at the quaintness of the town and its offerings. Her heart belonged to the town as much as his did. So, she told him the truth as she pushed the door open.

  “You loved the lodge more than you loved me.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Disbelief and shock slammed into him. He shook his head to clear his mind. Anger melted him into action. Pushing the door open, he hopped down from the cab of his truck just as Maddy let herself into the house.