Green Mountain Collection 1 by Marie Force (15)

Will put his arm around her and kept her close until they reached the door. Inside, the dogs provided a welcome distraction of sloppy kisses and excited barking before Will let them out. While they were outside, Will refilled their food and water bowls. Then he came over to stoke up the fire.

“Want a drink?”

“Sure. What’re you having?”

“How does red wine sound?”

“Perfect.” She was relieved that they’d be taking things slowly rather than jumping each other the second they walked in the door—not that she would’ve objected to that, but this was better. Forcing herself to relax and stop overthinking everything, she kicked off her boots and curled her feet under her. The fire was hypnotic, and it chased the cold from her bones.

Will let the dogs in and brought two glasses of wine to the sofa. He sat to remove his boots and propped his long legs on the coffee table. “Come on over here.”

Cameron snuggled under his outstretched arm, enjoying being close to him while drinking her wine and watching the fire.

“I like having you here,” he said, his lips skimming over her forehead.

“I like being here.”

“Do you really? It’s a lot less than you’re used to.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

His free hand slid through her hair, making her scalp tingle. “What do you mean?”

“It’s true that my life in the city is different, but different isn’t always better. I’ve never lived anywhere other than the city. After only a few days here, I can see the appeal of your simpler life.”

“I liked seeing you with my family tonight. You fit right in like we’ve known you for years rather than days.”

“I hope they don’t think I’m a weirdo because I’m so fascinated by them. Like Hunter and Hannah … When Nolan asked her to dance, the first thing she did was look to Hunter for guidance. He didn’t say a word, but he urged her to say yes. I can’t imagine having that kind of connection with someone.”

“You don’t miss much do you, Cameron Murphy?”

“I told you, I’m captivated by the Abbotts. I’m also an avid people watcher. That’s one of my favorite aspects of city life. No shortage of subjects.” She rested her head against his arm and looked up at him. “Do you think I’m a weirdo because I’m so obsessed with your family?”

“Nah, I think it’s sweet. We’ve had totally opposite lives in many ways. You were an only child. I was one of ten. You grew up in the city. I grew up in the mountains. You’re tied to your cell phone. I don’t own one. I guess it stands to reason we’re each intrigued by the things that make us different.”

“When you make a list like that, it makes me wonder what we’re doing here together.”

He took her wineglass and put it next to his on the table. With his hand on her face, he compelled her to look at him. “Are you really still wondering what we’re doing?”

She shook her head. “Even though you might turn out to be the biggest mistake I ever made—and I mean that as a compliment, strange as it may sound—that doesn’t seem to matter.”

“I won’t be the biggest mistake you ever made. I promise. I’ll be the best mistake you ever made.”

Smiling at his sweet words, Cameron decided to have faith. She decided to trust him when he told her she’d be safe with him. Reaching for him, she brought him with her when she reclined on the sofa.

He stretched out on top of her, gazing down at her with those beautiful golden eyes that were full of affection and desire and admiration—all of it directed at her. It was almost too much to take in. “Is this okay?”

“Mmm,” she said, loving the feel of his body pressed against hers. “So okay.”

He bent his head to kiss her neck. “How about this?”

“Also okay.”

She felt his lips curve against her sensitive skin. “You smell so good. That was the first thing about you that turned me on, you know that?”

“Really?”

“That first night, after I left you at the inn, I got back in my truck, and it smelled like you. I was all wound up about my dad bringing you here, but even so, I couldn’t get enough of that scent.” He took tiny nibbles of her neck, not hard enough to leave marks, but more than enough to set her on fire. “I still can’t get enough of it.”

She ran her hands over his back to the hem of his shirt. “Can we take this off?”

He propped himself up on one arm and had the dress shirt up and over his head in a split second.

She tugged on the T-shirt he wore underneath. “And this?”

That, too, disappeared in a matter of seconds, revealing the truly magnificent chest she’d thought about far too often since the night before.

Cameron licked lips that had gone dry. She looked up to find him fixated on her mouth.

And then he stood and held out a hand to her. “Let’s take this somewhere more comfortable.”

She took his hand and let him help her up. “Just for the record, I was pretty comfortable there.”

“I can do better,” he said with the smile that undid her. He led her into his bedroom, holding up a hand to stop the dogs, who had followed them. “Go to sleep, boys.”

Resigned, they returned to their beds by the fire, and Will closed the bedroom door.

She watched, rapt as he turned down the covers and lit three candles on the bedside table before extinguishing the light. That he had prepared for this thoroughly charmed her. And when he turned to her, the raw need she saw in his eyes completely disarmed her.

Even knowing that she was giving him the power to break her heart, she couldn’t resist him when he looked at her that way.

He undressed her slowly, reverently, taking his own sweet time.

Cameron tried to quell the trembling that began in her legs. By the time she was down to the sexy black bra and thong she’d worn with him in mind, she could barely remain standing.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, his arm around her waist and his other hand grasping her hair. “Sexy as all hell, funny, thoughtful, sweet, kind … all in one package. How did I get so lucky to find you?”

His softly spoken words had choked her up. No one had ever said such things to her. “I believe you’ll have to thank Fred for that.”

“Remind me to thank him the next time we see him.” With his hands now on her face, he kissed her softly.

She loved how he held her face when he kissed her. It made her feel so cherished. She also loved the way he kept his eyes open as his lips moved over hers. She loved the groan that came from deep inside him when she slid her tongue over his lower lip. And she absolutely loved, loved, loved that he cupped her bottom and lifted her into his embrace before lowering her to his bed.

As he came down on top of her the kiss became urgent and frantic and so hot. The friction of his erection and the rub of his pants against her tender flesh had her on the verge of explosive release and they’d barely started.

He shifted his attention from her mouth to her neck and then moved down to nuzzle her breasts, which were achy and tight with need. Through the silky fabric of her bra, he licked and tugged at her nipples.

Cameron had such a tight hold on his hair that she was certain she had to be hurting him. “Will … God.” She arched her back, trying to get closer to him as he released the front clasp of her bra, baring her breasts to his hungry stare.

The heat of his mouth on her sensitive skin was almost more than she could take as he drew her left nipple into his mouth, running his tongue back and forth over the tip. “So sweet,” he whispered as he shifted his attention to her other breast. By the time he moved lower, kissing and teasing and nibbling gently, Cameron was more than ready to move things along.

“Will …”

“Hmm?” His lips vibrated against her hip bone. Who knew that hip bones were sexy?

“I want you. Now.”

“Not yet.”

Her hands fell to her sides on the bed, surrendering to him as he moved even farther down, until he was kneeling on the floor.

“Come closer to the edge,” he whispered, his voice sexy and gruff.

“You don’t have to—”

“I want to. You have no idea how badly I want to taste you.”

Her heart beat so hard she wondered if it would burst as she let him arrange her the way he wanted her, with her bottom at the edge of the mattress and her legs open to him. Gazing up at the wood-beam ceiling, she found a focal point to keep her grounded. She had a feeling she was going to need it.

He nuzzled her through the silky scrap of underwear that covered her, teasing and arousing her with his fingers and tongue.

Cameron fisted the down comforter under her, holding on for dear life when he moved her underwear aside and ran his tongue over the place that throbbed for him. She came instantly, crying out from the nearly painful pleasure that rocketed through her. As she descended from the incredible high, she was aware of him removing her panties and stroking her with his fingers, triggering a second wave that brought tears to her eyes.

He moved quickly to remove his pants, revealing green plaid boxer shorts that barely contained his straining erection.

She wanted to see him and feel him and give him the same pleasure he’d given her, so she sat up and put her arms around his waist, rubbing her nose back and forth over his belly.

He gasped and his fingers dug into her shoulders. “Cam, honey, let me—”

“No, let me.” Her hands moved up his back, coasting over well-defined muscles, before coming back down to squeeze his backside.

His sharp inhale let her know that he liked what she was doing, so she did it again, this time tucking her hands inside his underwear. Impatiently, he pushed the boxers down over his hips, freeing an erection that stretched up toward his navel.

She wrapped her hand around him, learning his considerable length and width.

“Cameron …” The warning in his tone wasn’t lost on her, but it didn’t stop her from stroking him or bending her head to run her tongue over the wide crown. He shuddered and groaned and gripped her hair so tightly it should’ve hurt, but the bite of pain only added to the erotically charged moment.

She took him into her mouth in slow increments while continuing to stroke him. The thought of his long, thick penis inside her sent desire flooding through her, making her squirm with need, as if she hadn’t been recently satisfied.

“Baby, that’s so good.” His fingers were buried in her hair, guiding her as she took him deeper, using her tongue to heighten his arousal. He got even harder before he abruptly withdrew from her mouth. “Condom. Now.” Fumbling around in his bedside table he found a condom and had it on before she could offer to help.

Next time, she thought, smiling at his haste.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“You are.”

He came down on top of her, and Cameron welcomed him into her embrace with her arms around him and her legs hugging his hips. “Tell me why I’m so funny before I’m forced to tickle it out of you.”

“You wouldn’t …”

“You don’t think so?” His raised brow indicated she probably shouldn’t risk it.

Since Cameron hated to be tickled, she said, “You got that condom on awfully fast.”

“I’m in a big rush,” he said, kissing her as his chest hair abraded her painfully aroused nipples. “I haven’t done this in a while, so I apologize in advance for the first time.”

“Something tells me you won’t have anything to apologize for,” she said, feeling breathless as the moment was upon them.

He took himself in hand and entered her slowly, giving her time to adjust before he drew back and went deeper the second time. All the while he kept his gaze locked on her face, as if recording her every reaction and emotion, and there had to be a lot for him to see. “Are you okay?”

She nodded and moved her hands over his back, arching into him as he stroked into her.

“Look at me,” he said gruffly.

She forced her eyes to open, to meet his gaze, which widened when he gave her his full length.

“You feel so good,” he whispered against her lips.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and lost herself in the kiss.

He reached under her, gripping her bottom with one big hand as he picked up the pace. And still he kissed her with deep, sweeping strokes of his tongue, overwhelming her senses and driving her to an explosive release that had her crying out from the sheer power of it.

His fingers dug into her bottom and her shoulder as he followed her, surging into her one last time before he collapsed on top of her. “Am I too heavy?” he asked after a full minute of silence, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing.

“No.” She loved the way he surrounded her and filled her as they trembled with aftershocks.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Of course not.” She caressed his back in small, soothing circles.

“I was kind of rough.”

He sounded regretful, which made her want to reassure him. “I loved it. It was amazing.”

“I had a feeling it would be.” He cupped her breast and toyed with her nipple until it was hard and tight again. “Look at that. So pretty.” Deep inside her, she felt him harden.

“You recover almost as quickly as you suit up.”

Chuckling softly, he continued to play with her nipple until she was equally aroused. He withdrew from her only long enough to put on a new condom.

“On your back,” she said, pushing his shoulder to direct him.

Her bossiness made his eyes go dark with desire as she straddled him. His fingers dug into her hips when she teased him before taking him in as slowly as she possibly could. She loved watching his jaw clench with tension and the muscles in his neck and shoulders straining as he tried to move things along.

But Cameron wouldn’t be rushed. Sensitive from the first time, she eased herself down on him. He felt even bigger this time, which made her wonder how that was possible. She reached behind her to prop her hands on his thighs. His hands moved from her hips to her breasts, cupping and squeezing and rolling her nipples between his fingers.

Cameron had never felt so consumed during sex, but this went beyond mere sex to something else altogether. The sense of connection and the intimate way he watched her took it to another level, a level that scared her and thrilled her at the same time.

“Cam …”

She sat up straighter and moved her hands to his chest.

“Need you to move.”

Smiling at the urgency she heard in his voice, she tilted her hips, riding him slowly but deliberately and loving the way he tossed his head back and groaned. He was the nicest, sweetest, sexiest guy she’d ever known, and in that moment she knew she was ruined for all others. There would never be another quite like Will Abbott, and the thought of leaving here and never seeing him again broke something in her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You just looked really sad.” Without losing their connection, he sat up and arranged her legs around his hips. The new position pressed her breasts against his chest and perfectly aligned their mouths. “Are you sad, Cam?”

“Not at all,” she said, giving him a smile that she hoped would reassure him. This wasn’t the time or the place to be worried about what would happen after him. This was the time to enjoy the here and now. Later would take care of itself, or so she hoped.

“Does it feel as good for you as it does for me?”

“Nothing has ever felt better.”

“For me either.”

She brushed the hair back from his forehead and took advantage of his close proximity to kiss him. His mouth opened under hers, and somehow she ended up on her back again, as the kiss became urgent and desperate. Grasping her hips, he took them higher and higher, until she was sweating and clinging to him as his release triggered hers.

He brought her with him when he withdrew from her and turned onto his back, her head on his chest and his arms tight around her. His lips moved softly on her forehead as his hand slid over her hair.

The tenderness after explosive lovemaking was her final undoing. When tears pooled in her eyes, she closed them, not wanting to ruin this lovely moment. She’d gone into this knowing it was a temporary interlude, but she already ached at the thought of having to leave him to go back to her real life.

Will held her close and breathed in the bewitching scent he’d always associate with her. Bewitched was a good word for how he felt after making love with her. That and a bit despondent knowing they would go their separate ways before too much longer. He’d spent three days with Cameron, and he already knew it would hurt worse to lose her than it had to lose Lisa after three years together.

Maybe he didn’t have to lose her. Maybe there was some way they could make this work. But as he thought of the logistics of a long-distance relationship, he knew that wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted her here with him, sleeping next to him every night, working with him, making love with him, playing with his dogs and spending time with his family.

She fit so well in his life that after only a few days he already felt like she’d been here forever. Did she feel that way, too? Even a little? It wasn’t like he could come right out and ask her that without seeming like he was getting way too far ahead of himself.

As he ran his fingers through her long hair, he felt her relax into sleep and drew the comforter up and over her shoulders.

They had two weeks. Perhaps that would be enough time to show her how well she fit into his no-tech world. Now that he’d found her, he’d do whatever it took to keep her.

Cameron dreamed about the luge. She raced down the icy slope going far too fast. Under her, the sled shifted back and forth as if trying to dislodge her. The motion and the fear combined to make her stomach ache. And she was cold—really, really cold. Was she naked on the sled? Careening along at lightning speed, she clutched the sled with both hands, as if that would somehow make a difference when she crashed.

How far was it to the end? What would happen when she got there? Would she end up bruised and broken, or would she find a safe place to land? The terror of the unknown made her scream as the sled pitched hard to the left. If she fell off, she’d never survive. That much she knew for certain.

Someone was shaking her gently. “Cameron. Sweetheart, wake up. You’re dreaming.”

She opened her eyes, and Will was there, looking down at her with concern etched into his face. He’d turned on the bedside lamp.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded but realized she was freezing. “Cold.”

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry. I’m used to it, but you’re not.” Still naked, he scrambled out of bed and went to the bedroom door, opening it to let in the heat from the fire.

Despite the lingering nausea from the dream, the sight of his spectacular backside mesmerized her as he moved through the dimly lit house to stoke the fire.

He returned to find her sitting up to better enjoy the scenery, which was just as spectacular from the front. “How about we sleep by the fire?”

She kept the comforter around her shoulders to ward off the chill. “That sounds good, but I’d like to use the bathroom first.”

“Hang on just a second.” He went to the closet and found a red flannel robe that he held for her while she stood, wrapping it around her and tying the belt at her waist. “Very cute,” he said as he scooped her hair from inside the robe.

“There’s room for two of me in here.”

Smiling, he said, “Bathroom is right in there.”

“I’ll be just a second.”

“I’ll get us set up in the living room.”

After she took care of business, she stood at the sink for a minute, hoping her hands would stop shaking. The dream had been so vivid and so real and had demonstrated her vulnerability in this situation, which she’d walked into with her eyes wide open.

Because he was waiting for her, she splashed water on her face and took a couple of deep breaths before she joined him in the living room, where he’d created a little nest for them on the floor in front of the fire.

“Is this okay?” he asked, holding up the top blanket to invite her to join him.

“Looks very cozy.” She debated whether she should remove the robe or leave it on, but memories of the dream had her tightening the belt.

Once she was settled under the covers, Will propped himself up on one arm and looked down at her. “You want to talk about the dream?”

The fire crackled and hissed behind him.

She shook her head. “No, thanks.” The metaphor of racing toward certain disaster wouldn’t be lost on him, so she chose not to share it.

With his free hand, he corralled a stray lock of her hair and moved it off her face. “I’m sorry you were cold. I’ll get a space heater for the bedroom for when you’re here.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want you comfortable when you’re with me.”

“That’s very sweet of you.”

He shrugged off the compliment.

“What time is it?” she asked, yawning. In the city, the first thing she would’ve done upon waking was check her phone for the time and anything she might’ve missed while sleeping. She’d been here for hours and hadn’t once checked her phone, which was all but unprecedented for her.

“Four thirty.”

“Sorry I woke you.”

“I’m sorry you had a scary dream.” He dropped onto his pillow, lying on his side so he was facing her.

When he covered her hand with his much bigger one and squeezed reassuringly, Cameron lost another tiny piece of her heart. If he continued to take such lovely care of her, there wouldn’t be much left to take home with her.

“Will?”

“Hmm?”

“Would you hold me?”

“I’d love to. Come here.”

She turned toward him, and he wrapped his arms around her, snuggling her in close to his chest. “Mmm, that’s much better. Thanks.”

“Go back to sleep, baby. I’ve got you. Everything will be okay.”

Of course he had no way to know that for sure, but Cameron chose to believe him for now and drifted into dreamless sleep.

Will woke up with a plan. Recalling Cameron’s website proposal, he thought of Hunter’s question about maintaining the site after it was built. Someone had to do it. Why couldn’t that someone be Cameron? And why couldn’t she work in Vermont? The idea filled him with elation and hope as he watched her sleep.

He knew it was crazy to be making long-term plans for them on this, the fourth day he’d known her, but after last night, he couldn’t imagine ever letting her go.

She was perfect for him in all the ways that mattered most. He’d suspected she was special almost immediately, but now he knew for sure.

Her eyes opened to find him watching her. She smiled hesitantly, as if embarrassed. “Have you been awake for long?”

“A little while. You’re cute when you sleep. Your lips move.” He demonstrated with his own lips, which brought out her full smile.

“My dad used to say I talked twenty-four-seven, even when I was asleep.” She glanced up at him. “I haven’t thought about that in a long time.”

“You were a little chatterbox?”

“Only with him. I was always so happy to see him when he came home that I’m sure I talked his ear off.”

“Was he gone for long periods of time?”

“He traveled—a lot. He was always in the Orient or Europe or South America. His life seemed very glamorous to me.”

Will curled a lock of her hair around his finger. “Why didn’t he take you with him? A guy of his means could certainly afford tutors.”

“He said his world was no place for a little girl, and I was better off at home.” She shrugged, as if that edict hadn’t broken her heart. “I suppose he knew what was best.”

She didn’t say how lonely she’d been without him, but he could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice. Will wanted to ensure that she was never lonely again, that she’d always have him to talk to. If she wanted to talk to him twenty-four-seven, he’d be fine with that. He suspected he’d never get tired of listening to her.

“I think,” he said, continuing to play with her hair, “that leaving you at home was his loss.”

“Maybe,” she said, as if it didn’t matter, but how could it not?

The overwhelming need to give her everything she’d been denied took hold of him. Once again, he had to remind himself it was far, far too soon to be having such thoughts. But he was also painfully aware of their limited time. “Could I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“I know you just moved in with Hannah, and I’d love it if you could continue to spend time with her. But … Would you consider staying here with me for the rest of your time in town?”

“I … What will Hannah think of that?”

“She’ll be happy for us.”

“What about your parents?”

“What about them?”

“Wouldn’t it be weird for them to know I’m staying here with you while working on a project for the store?”

“Your personal life is no business of theirs, and neither is mine. Nothing shocks them, and besides, they’re all focused on Max and Chloe. They probably won’t even notice.”

“They’ll notice.”

“Who cares? We have thirteen days before you have to go home. I want to spend as much of that time together as we can. Don’t you?”

“You know I do.”

“But?”

She rolled her lower lip between her teeth as she pondered his offer.

“I want this time with you.”

She was on the verge of caving when he unleashed that potent smile.

“Please?”

“Okay.”

“Yes! It’ll be so fun. I promise.”

“I have no doubt it’ll be fun.”

“Another question for you. Have you ever been skiing?”

She knit her brows at the sudden change of subject and said, “I tried it once a long time ago in St. Moritz.”

“You’ve skied in Switzerland?”

“What I did in Switzerland wouldn’t be considered skiing by anyone.”

“You haven’t lived until you’ve skied in Vermont.”

“Is that right?”

“Uh-huh. And lucky for you, you’re sleeping with a world-class skier, former instructor, past Olympic contender … extraordinaire.”

“You just had to add that last part, huh?”

“I thought it summed things up nicely. So what do you say? Do you want to go skiing with me?”

“Will you still like me if I totally suck at it?”

“You won’t totally suck,” he said, kissing her nose. “And I’ll still like you. I suspect I’m going to like you for a really long time.”

She reached up to caress his face, and he turned to press a kiss to her palm.

“I don’t have anything to wear for skiing.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll fix you right up.”

“Will there be coffee before the skiing?”

“Absolutely.”

Cameron totally sucked at skiing. No matter how hard she tried to follow his precise instructions, her skis still crossed, and she ended up on her backside—over and over and over again, until her poor, abused bottom couldn’t take it anymore.

“Uncle,” she said, laughing as she looked up at him while flat on her back in the snow. She wore Hannah’s snow pants and parka and was using her downhill skis. Although Hannah would probably cry sacrilege if she could see her skis being so badly abused.

Will tried but failed to hide his exasperation when he reached down to give her a hand up—again. “I’ve heard it told that every instructor eventually encounters a student who can’t be taught. You’re not really going to ruin my perfect record, are you?”

“I’m afraid so. My bum can’t take any more.”

“I’ll give you a massage when we get back to my place. We’ll work out all the kinks.”

“As appealing as that sounds, it may be time to declare this outing the disaster it is before you forget you promised to still like me even if I sucked at it.”

He curled his arm around her neck and brought her in for a lingering kiss. “I remember.”

Cameron lost herself to the kiss and forgot she was on skis, which sent her flying once again, this time taking Will with her. They landed hard in a pile of limbs and skis and poles.

Even though everything she had hurt, especially after acting as a landing pad for him, Cameron busted up laughing. She laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face. The glower he directed her way only made her laugh harder.

“I have a reputation to maintain around here, you know.”

When she tried to reply to that, she cracked up again.

“That’s it,” he said. “I give up. You, Cameron Murphy, suck at skiing.”

With her arms stretched out at her sides, she howled with laughter. “I tried to tell you I would, but noooo,” she said when she could speak again. “You’re a former instructor, Olympic contender, state champ, extraordinaire and all that business.” She wiped the tears from her frozen cheeks.

“I hope you know that the scene you’re making here is going to get even bigger play in town than your encounter with Fred.”

“Nice try, but it’s still hilarious.”

“I’m glad the ruination of my reputation as the best skier in this valley is entertaining to you.”

That sparked another round of hysterical laughter. She laughed so hard her ribs began to ache almost as much as her rear end did.

And then he smiled at her and shook his head, clearly amused even if he’d die before he admitted it.

“So, Mr. Olympic Contender Extraordinaire, how do you propose to get me down off this mountain you insisted on taking me to?”

“This,” he said disdainfully, “is a bunny slope. That, over there, is a mountain.”

“Bunny slope, mountain, they all look the same from my point of view. How about I make a sled out of the skis and go down that way?”

“How about not?” He reached over to unbuckle her skis, leaving her in the rigid boots that snapped into the skis. “You’re lucky we’re due at my mom’s for dinner, or I might have to take you home and spank your sore butt for knocking me over and then laughing at me on my mountain.”

Cameron sputtered with outrage that quickly morphed into something else altogether when she caught a glimpse of the teasing glimmer in his eyes. “You mean your bunny slope, don’t you? And, PS, if you get to spank me, I get to spank you right back for not listening to me when I told you this was a bad idea.”

“Don’t get me all hot and bothered when I’m trying to be pissed with you.”

She smiled angelically at him as he helped her up once again.

“Do. Not. Move. Got me?”

“Yes, your extraordinary-ness.”

“Smart-ass.” He gathered up her skis and poles and maneuvered so he was in front of her. “Hop on.”

“You gotta be freaking kidding me.”

The look he tossed her over his shoulder told her he was dead serious.

“I don’t know about this, Will.” Bunny slope or not, it was still a long way to the bottom. “Can’t I just walk down?”

“No, you can’t walk down. Do you trust me?”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts. Jump on and hold on. Remember when I told you you’ll always be safe with me?”

“This is what you meant?”

“I meant always. Now, are you coming with me, or are you going to subject me to the further humiliation of sending the snow patrol after my girlfriend?”

She stared at him, stunned. “I’m your girlfriend?”

“Well, yeah. What did you think you are to me after last night?”

“I didn’t really know.”

“Now you do. So are you going to trust me or what?”

Because she did trust him and didn’t want him to doubt that, she scampered onto his back and curled her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

“You’ve got to do all the holding on because I’m carrying your skis, okay?”

She tightened her hold on his neck to an official death grip. “Um, okay,” she said, even though it was totally not okay.

Over his shoulder she watched him arrange her skis and poles and his poles into a bundle that he held against his chest with both arms. “Here we go.” He turned the tips of his skis toward the incline, and they took off like they’d been shot out of a cannon.

“No screaming,” he said before Cameron could do just that. “And you might want to close your eyes.”

As visions of the luge in her dream came back to haunt her, she closed her eyes and buried her face in his shoulder while trying very, very hard not to scream as they flew down the slope. Holding on as tightly as she could, she felt the play of his muscles as he navigated the hill using only the skis and his body. Despite her fear, it was sort of cool to experience how naturally skiing came to him.

He snowplowed to a stop at the bottom of the hill. “You can let go now, sweetheart.”

Cameron’s entire body was aching from falling a hundred times and from holding on for dear life. Her legs didn’t seem to want to work when she landed, and she nearly fell—again. Thankfully, she was able to maintain her balance.

Adrenaline pumped through her system, making her feel breathless. She wasn’t sure what had been more exciting—flying down the hill on his back or having him refer to her as his girlfriend. The latter, definitely.

“Hey, Abbott, did you finally get a student who couldn’t be taught?” a guy skiing past them asked.

“Bite me, Kyle.”

Kyle skied off, laughing as he went.

“Sorry,” Cameron muttered.

“Don’t be. He’s a dickhead. I don’t care what he says.” He leaned in and kissed her nose and then her lips. “You’re awfully cute in that getup.”

“So you don’t see your sister when you look at me in all her stuff?”

“I definitely do not see my sister when I look at you.”

Cameron felt a shiver go through her that once again had nothing at all to do with the cold.

“Let’s get a move on so we’re not late to my mom’s. Dinner is at three every Sunday year-round.”

“That’s a really nice tradition,” she said as she followed him into the lodge where they’d left their belongings.

“Her mother did it before her, and when my grandmother died, my mom continued the tradition without missing a week.”

“How long ago did your grandmother die?”

“Nine years. That was a tough one. She was like our second mother. My mom would tell you she never would’ve survived having ten kids if her mom hadn’t been there to help out. She was a big part of our lives and our cousins’ lives. That was the first really big loss for all of us. And then Caleb … That was something else altogether.”

“I can’t even imagine.”

“Horrible. Worst thing ever.”

Cameron sat on a wooden bench, and he knelt in front of her to help her out of the ski boots. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair but refrained since they were in public.

“Losing my grandmother was rough, but she’d been sick awhile, so we knew it was coming. She told us not to cry for her. She’d lived a good, long life and had no complaints.”

“She sounds like a wonderful person.” Cameron slid her feet into the welcoming comfort of the boots he’d given her.

“She was. I miss her a lot.” He looked up at her. “She would’ve liked you.”

Cameron smiled at him, warmed by the compliment.

“Caleb, on the other hand … That was so shocking, you know?” With her boots removed he joined her on the bench to take his off. “I mean we all knew it was possible when he went to Iraq, but he was so tough and almost invincible that I don’t think anyone thought it would actually happen. Especially Hannah. It was a nightmare. Worst day of my life.”

Cameron rested her hand on his back, wishing she could say or do something to offer comfort.

He glanced at her. “What you did last night, getting her to go to the dance, that was a big deal to all of us. So thanks.”

“I was glad to see her having a good time. I wonder what happened with Nolan.”

“If I know Hannah, I’m sure she danced with him and then gave him the polite brush-off, but dancing with him was progress.” He stood and picked up the duffel containing their ski boots and held out a hand to her. “Let’s go find out what happened.”

“Thanks for trying to teach me to ski.”

“We’ll try again. I’m not ready to give up on you yet.”

“You’re a glutton for punishment, and besides, I don’t think my poor, injured bum could take any more.”

He released her hand to pat her bottom. “I’ll take care of your poor, injured bum when we get home.”

Intrigued and aroused, she let out a groan when her bottom made contact with the seat in the truck. “How long do we have to stay at dinner?”

“Long enough to eat and run.” He leaned in to kiss her. “And then it’s home for a massage followed by some hot-tub time.”

“You have a hot tub?”

“Yep.”

Cameron moaned with anticipation. “I think I just died and went straight to heaven.”

“Not yet you haven’t, but you will later.” After another quick kiss, he closed the passenger door and walked around to the front of the truck.

Watching him, Cameron was elated and giddy and happy. For the first time in her entire life, she was honestly and truly happy. “Oh God,” she whispered in the seconds before he opened the driver door to join her. “I’m in love with him.”