Mistletoe Magic by Fern Michaels (33)

Angelica pulled off to the side of the road, allowing a semi-truck to get in front of her. It had been virtually blinding her, its glowing headlights shining in her rearview mirror. Pulling back onto the winding road, she crept up the mountain, careful to keep her speed low in case she hit a patch of ice. Though the SUV had four-wheel drive, she was not anxious to use it. No, she would take her time. It wasn’t as if she had a schedule to keep. She glanced at the clock on the dash. Almost one in the morning. Smiling, Angelica mused that if she were in the city, she would be going out for breakfast with friends right now. They’d be lucky to get to bed before sunrise. She’d kept up this routine for so many years, she wondered if she would be able to adjust her internal clock. Given the time difference, it shouldn’t be too hard, but again, she had no curtain call, no one to make any demands on her time. She was totally on her own, without responsibilities, for the first time in her adult life.

Grinning, she shifted the SUV into low gear. She could get used to this, but if anything, despite her chosen career, Angelica was a realist. Being an adult in and of itself was a responsibility. A couple of weeks of snow and fun was her due. She’d worked hard. At thirty-two, she wasn’t about to shuck all responsibilities and give up completely. Give up her career? She might not have a choice. Youth was everything in her business, but there were other areas in her profession to explore.

She adjusted her rearview mirror and focused her attention on the road. It wasn’t the time to mull over her professional life. The satellite radio station she’d been listening to since she’d left the airport turned to static. “You’d think the reception would be better at this elevation,” she observed out loud. Adjusting the dial to another station, she turned up the volume, singing along as Bing Crosby crooned “White Christmas.” It was her all-time favorite Christmas song.

A flash of light coming from behind made her take a glance in her rearview mirror. Whoever was behind her had the bright lights on. “Idiot,” she muttered before tapping on her brakes several times in a row, hoping the driver would notice and realize that the lights were blinding her. Careful to watch the road ahead but aware of the vehicle trailing her, she slowed down. Then she realized the car was stopping when she saw the driver pull to the side of the road. Whoever it was flashed the bright lights several times.

Not wanting to, but fearing the passenger or passengers in the vehicle might be a mother with children, or someone with a health issue, Angelica did what anyone else in her position would do. She stopped, made a three-point turn, then pulled alongside the other vehicle but kept her cell phone in her hand and did not put the SUV into park. If she had to hightail it back to the registration office, at least she would be heading in the right direction. She hit the button to lower the window.

When she realized that this was the same old beat-up pickup truck she’d encountered in the parking lot, she wasn’t sure if she should be happy that at least the man wasn’t a total stranger to her. He had prevented her from smacking the asphalt and injuring herself after being startled by that noisy cat of his.

Angelica watched as he struggled to lower the driver’s window. What she knew about trucks could fill a thimble, but it was enough to judge that this one was probably close to her age. Poor guy, she thought, it must be all he can afford.

“Hi,” was all she could come up with when she saw his face. She was glad for the darkness.

“Yeah, hi. I’m thinking this old gal just decided to take a rest. Could you give me a lift to the office?” He smiled at her, and Angelica’s heart rate quickened.

I’ll take you anywhere, she thought, then mentally smacked herself.

“Sure, I’d be happy to, but I don’t know if it will do you any good. That old guy in the office wasn’t too thrilled when I took him away from his social networking.” She smiled, hoping she’d licked all the chocolate from her teeth. She had a sweet tooth and rarely went anywhere without a few chocolate bites. Lucky for her, it didn’t take much to satisfy her craving.

“I think he enjoys every minute of his job; he’s just slightly embarrassed by his name,” Parker informed her.

Angelica realized the old guy had never told her his name. “And what would that be?” she asked, still allowing the blistering cold air inside.

“Nicholas Star.”

Laughing, she understood. “He does look somewhat like the man in red, with that white beard and big belly,” she said. “Do you work here?” she asked brazenly. What else would he be doing out this early in this kind of weather?

“No, I’m here to ski for a couple of weeks,” he said. “It’s not getting any warmer inside this old gal, so how about I lock up, and you can drive me down the mountain? I’m sure they have one of those all-night towing services in a place like this.”

Angelica was surprised that he was a guest but didn’t say so to him. He’d probably scrimped and saved all year for this trip. “If you’re sure that’s what you want. I could drive you to wherever you’re staying and bring you back in the morning.” Before the words were out of her mouth, she regretted saying them. She didn’t know this guy, didn’t know if he was a weirdo or what, though she had to admit he appeared normal and was certainly easy on the eyes.

“That’s probably a good idea. I’ll just leave a note on the windshield and call Max first thing in the morning. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

She wanted to ask who Max was, but by that time she was so cold, her teeth were chattering, and she really didn’t need to know. “Okay, let me turn this vehicle around while you lock up and write your note, but hey,” she called out before rolling up her window, “you didn’t tell me your name.”

“Oh, sure. Parker North.” He nodded, gave a brief, sexy smile, then removed his personal items from his truck, along with the whiny cat inside its carrier. “Mind taking him? He hates the cold.”

“Angelica Shepard, nice to meet you, Mr. North,” she said, as he walked around to the driver’s side of the SUV, opened the rear door and placed the carrier on the seat. As an extra precaution, he adjusted the seat belt so that the carrier wouldn’t fall off the seat. One never knew in this kind of weather.

She settled back in her seat before turning the heat to the highest setting. It was bitterly cold that night.

Angelica suddenly remembered how snippy and rude she’d been to him after he’d referred to her as rough, but it wasn’t the most flattering comment she’d ever received. It wasn’t a compliment at all, she reminded herself.

She watched as he pulled the old rattletrap as far off the narrow mountain road as possible, grabbed an outdated suitcase, an ancient pair of skis and ski boots, and what must have been a litter box. He waited next to the old truck. She hit the electric button to open the hatch. He tossed his things in the back before coming around to the passenger side. Angelica hit the automatic lock, praying she wasn’t making a mistake by allowing a complete stranger to accompany her on a deserted mountain road in the wee hours of the morning. If her mother were still alive, she could just imagine what she would say to her. But she had lived in New York City for most of her life and was a fairly good judge of character. Though he appeared to be a bit unrefined, that didn’t make him a bad person.

He slid into the passenger seat and held his hands against the heater vents. “It’s much colder at this high elevation,” he said before turning around to check on Leon. His accent remained neutral, giving no indication about what part of the country he was from. And she wasn’t going to ask either.

Angelica put the SUV in low gear and slowly retraced the short distance she’d made before turning around. “I’m staying at Gracie’s Way—that’s what they’re calling my cabin. How about you? Does your place have a name?”

Parker North seemed to be contemplating her question. “No, I don’t believe there was a name. It’s the penthouse apartment at the main condos mid-mountain.”

Her surprise must’ve been obvious because Mr. North apparently felt the need to explain. “I went to college with Max Jorgensen. He owns Maximum Glide. He won several gold medals in the Olympics several years ago. He invited me for a complimentary stay, and I decided to take him up on his offer.”

College? With the owner of the resort? Wow. Of course she’d heard of Max Jorgensen. Who hadn’t? She had to admit, she was a wee bit impressed.

He produced the same map Mr. Nicholas Star had given her. Removing a penlight from his pocket, he shined it across the map. “According to the map, we’re about four miles from our turnoff.”

“Okay, I’ll watch for the turn, but I don’t want to drive too fast. I’m not used to driving.” She felt the need to explain her reason for barely going thirty miles per hour.

“Would you feel more comfortable if I were to drive?” he asked. “I’ve lived in the area most of my life, and I’m used to driving in snow and ice. Actually, I can drive in just about any condition.”

Wondering why he was so experienced, it occurred to her that he probably worked on one of Colorado’s road crews. He said he’d gone to college with the owner, but it didn’t appear that he was as successful as his friend.

“No, but thanks, I’m fine as long as I focus my attention on my driving,” she explained.

“Well, if you’re sure,” he said.

This insignificant conversation could go on and on. Angelica just wanted to make it to her cabin, take a long, hot bath, and spend the day on the slopes.

“Thanks, but I can handle it. I need the practice. Just relax. You look like you could use a nap.”

He didn’t really, but she had to say something to his remark that she looked rough.

“Thanks, I think I will do just that.” He closed his eyes and leaned back against the headrest.

Angelica was more curious about her passenger now than ever. He seemed to be capable of relaxing at a moment’s notice.

Fifteen minutes later, she made the turn as indicated on the map. She saw the lights from the high-rise and knew it was her passenger’s destination. Not bothering to wake him just yet, she drove through the parking lot to an underground garage. She’d give him a few more minutes to rest. He certainly appeared to be sound asleep.

When she found a parking spot, she turned off the engine, which immediately awakened her passenger.

“That was fast,” he said. “Thanks for the lift.”

She hit the electronic switch to open the hatch. A burst of frigid air filled the vehicle.

He removed his skis and suitcase, then came around to her side of the SUV for Leon. “Again, Leon and I appreciate the ride. I really am tired and want to call it a night.”

Angelica gave him her best smile. “Anytime. Maybe we’ll bump into one another on the slopes.”

“Just so you know, I didn’t come here to make friends.” A sudden chill hung on the edge of his words.

Glad of the semidarkness that hid the flush in her cheeks, she punched the electronic window, raising it as fast as she could. With nothing but glass and harsh words between them, not to mention her humiliation at his total rebuff when she mentioned meeting on the slopes, Angelica had nothing more to say. This guy was an ass. Before she changed her mind, she lowered the window once again. “For the record, I didn’t either. I felt sorry for you and was just trying to be polite. I wouldn’t ski with you if my life depended on it.”

Before he had another chance to humiliate her, she tromped down on the accelerator, hoping the ice and snow that blew in her wake smacked him right upside the head.