The wind swirled, sending a fresh spray of snow and ice crashing against our faces. It was past dusk now, and getting dark. The lift lines were empty, except for a few stragglers trying to eke out one last run.
“We’ll settle up at the house,” said Carter, gazing into the sky. “Once we grab some food, and get the fire going again.”
My stomach growled. A warm feeling stole over me at the very idea, as the boys stepped out of their skis, picked up my board, and began stomping back to the lodge. I couldn’t help but notice they looked even more beautiful; in the day’s dying light.
And that’s when I realized — wounded pride aside — that granting a trio of wishes to three hot guys might not be such a bad deal after all.
~ 10 ~
CARTER
“I still don’t know why you showered, Angel. You didn’t need to.”
Sawyer’s sly wink should’ve been hint enough; maybe even more so when he peeled his shirt off and stepped out the back door in a pair of shorts. I watched those pretty hazel eyes follow him out, shifting up and down his shirtless form. A sharp pang of jealousy stung me like a wasp.
“Where in the hell is he going?” Hayden asked incredulously.
“Outside,” I smiled, grabbing the hem of my own shirt. “Like the rest of us.”
“But—”
She stopped as I lifted the garment over my head, and set it right down on the kitchen counter beside Bodie’s and Sawyer’s pile. Bare-chested and grinning, I set my hands on my hips.
“You coming with?”
It was adorable, how cute she could be when she didn’t know something. I wanted to kiss that little crease of confusion that was forming between her eyes.
“No, I’m not coming with!” she cried in exasperation. “I just finished getting warm.”
“Ah,” I smiled. “Too bad.”
She bit her lip, and that was even more adorable.
“This isn’t some polar bear plunge thing, into the snow, is it?”
“Nope.”
“Then what’s out there besides snow?” she demanded. “And sub-zero temperatures. And pitch darkness. And—”
“Come on,” I said, grabbing her wrist. “Find out.”
I half pulled, half dragged Hayden into the cold, where she started shivering almost immediately. The back patio had been shoveled off, the snow cleared while she’d been in the shower. She took two steps, then covered her mouth with both hands.
“Holy shit!” she practically screamed. “A hot tub!?”
Hot steam billowed from the rolling, heated water, that had been going all day. Bobbing just above the surface, Bodie and Sawyer nodded their heads.
“You have ahot tub?” she gasped again.
“No,” I corrected her glibly. “Wehave a hot tub.”
I pointed with my finger in a slow circle, indicating all four of us. Then I hopped over the side, and slid in. The bubbling, hundred-degree water enveloped my tired body immediately. I sank all the way down to my neck and let out a long, blissful sigh.
“Come on,” urged Sawyer. “Get your ass in here.”
I glanced back; to where she was already shivering. Her hair was still wet from her shower.
“There’s plenty of room,” I smiled.
