“You’re like a local ski legend,” he said. “Very cool surprise. Good to have you here, Mr. Kessler.”
Nicole watched her father wave a hand and brush off the recognition. “Good to be back at DV. I got my ski legs here.”
Cameron beamed. “I used to study your racing tapes when I was attempting a Super-G. Still one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Jack gave a modest shrug, wrapping his arm around Nicole’s shoulders. “That was a long time ago. Now I’m just an old has-been having an easy day with my daughter.”
Cameron smiled again, his eyes lingering on Nicole. “That’s awesome. You’ve got yourself one heck of a teacher, Nicole.”
“Don’t I know it.” She made a face and brushed off her jacket. “Thanks for checking in.”
“Just doing my rounds. It was really nice to meet you both. Stay safe out there on these…harrowing trails.” He gave her a wink.
With a nod to Jack, he pushed off and disappeared.
“Well, he was friendly,” Jack said.
“And a fan of yours, apparently,” she said with a wry smile.
But he didn’t smile back, he just searched her face, no doubt waiting for her to change her mind. She wasn’t going to. She didn’t want to do this.
“It’s okay,” he finally said.
“Is it?”
“You kept your part of the bargain.” He gestured toward her skis and poles. “You’re out here. You tried. You did it. That was all I asked.”
It wasn’t all he’d asked—well, it certainly wasn’t all he wanted. He wanted her to ski…but there were too many memories and the best way to avoid them was to stay off this mountain. Forever.
“Can I have hot chocolate now, Daddy?” she asked, purposely keeping her voice childish and light.
He laughed. “How you end every ski day, Nic. With extra marshmallows.” He gave her a hug. “Absolutely, honey. Whatever you want.”
What she wanted was…to not disappoint Jack Kessler. She wanted to capture this moment and conquer this mountain and ski with her father until he couldn’t ski anymore.
But that, it seemed, was not meant to be.
The morning started like any other at Snowberry Lodge—except, of course, for the part where Cindy’s ex-husband had arrived on the property two days ago and casually strolled into her life again like it hadn’t been a decade since he left.
She sat at the organized chaos that was her desk, peering over a spreadsheet splayed across the computer screen. She clutched a pen in one hand and a coffee cup in the other.
Something was sidetracking her concentration, though. Was it the aroma of MJ’s cinnamon pecan waffles wafting from the kitchen around the corner, or the fact that Jack was back? Both were equally distracting. And…tempting.
Sighing audibly, she leaned back and closed her eyes, letting all the emotions hit her. Jack Kessler—the only man she’d ever really loved, the man she’d married, shared a life with, had a child with, and divorced after twenty years—was currently in Cabin One.
She could hardly believe it, and she had no idea which of her feelings to grab onto and lasso into submission. Shock at the sight of him? Age-old anger at how their marriage crumbled for reasons she could barely remember? Frustration that she needed him to get out of her financial bind?
Nah, none of those really bothered her.
It was a different kind of emotion that gripped her throat and made it hard to swallow coffee…and the truth. The ache in her heart when she looked at him, the memories, the laughter, the nights, and unity that came with sharing a last name and a bed for twenty long years.
The last thing she needed was to fall back in love with Jack. Or acknowledge that she’d never fallen out of love with him, despite telling everyone—including herself—that she had.
But thefirstthing she needed? She squinted at the bottom line on the spreadsheet. December income and, like it or not, Jack could most certainly help with that.
She’d been stunned that Nicole had extended the invitation, but they’d all agreed to do whatever they could to make these numbers work. The idea was brilliant because Jack created magic in the form of Christmas sleigh rides, and those sleigh rides brought in good money, plenty of attention, and booked rooms.
So, Jack? Well, yeah. It was tough, but if it helped with the goal of a solid December, she’d grin and bear it. In fact, she should be as nice to him as possible, considering the magnitude of the favor he was doing for them.
