“I can explain,” I say, trying and failing to hide my naked body from the three men, who seem to be having way too much fun watching me squirm. In the end, I give up, figuring they’ve seen it all already. “Fuck it,” I murmur under my breath. Deciding I’m likely going home anyway, I walk up the steps totally starkers and grab my towel, wrapping it around me.

All three men are looking at me with their mouths gaping open and I can’t help but feel secretly pleased by their reaction. I’m not normally this confident, but for some reason their arrogance pisses me off. I have these men marked; they love women and I am a woman. In this situation, I feel that my sexuality is the only power I have. Somehow, I know that being coy will give them one over on me and for reasons completely unknown to me, I do not want to give them the satisfaction of making me squirm.

“Perhaps we misjudged you?” Max laughs. “Not so much the Ice Queen now.”

“We didn’t even have to chat you up or buy you a drink to get your clothes off…” Bryce smirks as he swipes a hand through his shoulder length hair, which is now hanging loosely around his face. “Really, there’s no need to leave on our account. We were just about to take a swim, weren’t we, Hudson?”

I gape at Bryce. What a prick. If he thinks I am getting back in the pool with them, he’s got another think coming.

Hudson shakes his head as if coming out of a daze. He looks at me, his green eyes stormy.

“I think you should get some clothes on then meet us back upstairs in the kitchen. We should talk.” With that, he turns to his brothers. “Upstairs, now,” he says, and they file out behind him.

I take a deep shuddering breath. What the actual fuck did I just do? My high quickly comes crashing to the ground when I realise I’ve just stood completely starkers in front of them all. I groan. One word pops into my head. Sacked. My mum will have a field day and Richard… Oh, god, Richard is going to be so disappointed.

Resigned, I go back to my room, pull on my tracksuit, pile my hair up in a messy bun, pack my bag, then head upstairs to face the music.

“What have you got there?” Hudson asks as I walk into the kitchen. There is a pot of coffee percolating on the counter, with four mugs set out beside it. The three brothers are sitting around the kitchen island, apparently waiting for me.

“My suitcase. I’ll arrange for a cab to take me to the airport. I’ll just hang about there until I can get a flight back home,” I say, all fight gone out of me now.

Bryce gets up and walks around the island towards me.

“Give me that,” he says. “You’re not going anywhere. There’s heavy snowfall due. You wouldn’t be able to get a cab now even if you wanted to.” He places my bag back by the stairs, then sits back down on the stool. As he walks past I feel decidedly tiny against his tall frame.

“But, I thought…”

“Look. So you used the pool, big deal,” Max says, shrugging. “Besides, it was quite entertaining,” he adds, giving me a wink. Bryce punches him on the arm.

“Ow, what was that for?” he says, shoving his brother back.

“Pack it in you two,” Hudson says, giving them both a glare. He turns to me. “You’d think that now they’ve reached the grand old age of twenty-five they’d be a bit more sensible. Alas, I think the sight of a hot, naked woman in our pool has sent them spiralling back to puberty again.”

Hot, naked woman? I almost laugh out loud. Did he actually just say that?

“Seems like we’re not the only one whose brain has been affected, or perhaps it’s another part of your anatomy,” Max says, laughing. Hudson ignores him and pulls out a stool.

“Come and join us… we still don’t know what your name is, even though this is the third time we’ve met.”

“Isn’t that usual for you guys? I mean, get a woman naked first, ask names later, if at all?” I swear I have absolutely no clue what has come over me but, clearly, I’m determined to insult these men tonight.

Hudson’s gaze is heated with anger. Still, neither he nor his brothers try to deny it. Only Max has the decency to look a little sheepish. When I look at Bryce, there is a challenge in his hazel eyes, and I am not sure I like it.

“Your name?” Hudson demands. This time the friendly tone is gone. I almost want to lie, but in the end figure it’s pointless.

I take a seat at the island and lay my palms flat on the table. “My name’s Louisa, Louisa Budd. I’m your designated chalet girl.”

“Well, we totally lucked out,” Max says, high-fiving Bryce. He holds his hand up to Hudson, who just rolls his eyes. “Ah, man, don’t keep me hanging.”

I can’t help it, I laugh. Max is clearly the joker of the family. If he wasn’t such an egotistical prick, I could get to like him.

Hudson pours four cups of coffee and hands out one to each of us. “I thought it would help, you know, sober you up,” he says, nodding to the cup.

I frown. He clearly has no idea what pissed looks like. “I don’t need sobering up. I’m not drunk,” I snap, taking a sip of the bitter tasting coffee. I crinkle my nose, then in a saccharine voice say, “Can I have some milk and sugar, please.” I almost flutter my eyelashes at him, but don’t. I’m pushing my luck already.

Hudson is staring at me as though trying to get a grip on how I tick. “Do you usually swim naked then?”

“Oh, yes. I’m well known for it down the local pool.” I smile sweetly and pass him my mug. I don’t know why I feel the urge to needle him but every time I’ve met him, I have this desire to put him in his place. Him and his cocky brothers.

He takes the mug from me with a shake of his head, confusion furrowing his brow. A moment later he gives it back. I take a sip and savour the sweetness. “Hmm, that’s better,” I say, licking my lips. Our eyes meet and there is a flash of desire in his. Although it is entertaining being admired, I feel no pull towards him. Instead, I feel inexplicably angry and I don’t have the faintest idea why.

Max sniggers. “Fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Hudson lost for words. I think you and I are going to get along.”

I turn to Max. His brown eyes are twinkling with mischief. He oozes a boyish charm that I am sure most women lap up, but not me. “So long as you don’t try your chat up lines on me, we’ll get along just fine.”

Max laughs loudly. “It’s a deal,” he says, although there’s something about the way he’s looking at me that gives me the impression he’s a man who doesn’t keep his promises.

“So, you’ve decided to stay then?” Bryce says, brushing a hand over his beard. He twists some of the hair between his thumb and finger as his strange, multifaceted eyes rove over my face.

“I don’t think so,” Hudson says, glancing at me. He’s angry now. “Louisa should go as soon as the snowstorm passes.”

I narrow my eyes at him. I get it, he can’t overpower me with his charm and good looks so now he’s using my one mistake against me. I think about what I have to return home to: a drunken mum and Christmas in A&E. Well, to hell with that. I am staying whether he likes it or not. “Actually, I don’t think I will go.”

Hudson looks at me sharply. I can feel Bryce and Max’s hot stare, but I don’t look at either of them, too busy staring Hudson down. “I’m pretty sure I can use the facilities, so long as the guests agree to it and it doesn’t take from my duties. I had no-one to ask so, technically, I’ve done nothing wrong. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve had a long day and I need to go to sleep.” I slide off the chair and pick up my suitcase, throwing a look over my shoulder. “Breakfast will be ready at eight am sharp.”

With that I head back to my room, hoping I’ve made the right decision, but something deep inside tells me I may be making the biggest mistake of my life.