‘If you do that, we’ll never get out of here. And breakfast is due to be served in twenty-two minutes.’
She gave him one last kiss and got out of bed.
‘I’ll go shower next door.’ Luke swung his legs out of bed and stood up, his back to her, and for a distinctly male-objectification moment she took in his lean lines and muscles, powerful shoulders, narrow waist, and rather fine gluteus maximus. God, he really was rather gorgeous – and she needed to stop staring and get on with the day.
Chapter Eighteen
The falling snow changed the dynamic that morning, which was just as well, as Mina struggled to get breakfast out in time. Thankfully, most people decided to take advantage of the white-out to have a lie-in, and very few people emerged before seven-thirty. It took her a while to work out where everything was, which slowed her down a lot; cutlery, plates, tablecloths, and then remembering everything; pickles, boiling the eggs, putting the right knives out. Each omission she added to a list she was creating on a new page in her notebook.
Lists were about to become her best friend. By the time everyone had had breakfast, she was hoping to have created a checklist for the next day, so that tomorrow she would do better. The list was growing rapidly, and as she was adding,heat croissantsandcheck muesli supplies, Johannes stomped into the kitchen in heavy boots. ‘No news from the hospital. Too early to speak to anyone. I’ve filled up the log baskets and I’ve lit the fire.’ The strain around his eyes touched Mina; he didn’t look as if he’d had much sleep. It made her doubly grateful she hadn’t been on her own. The night with Luke had lit a small, warming glow inside her that she carried like her own personal beacon.
‘Thank you. Would you like a coffee?’ That was one thing she had managed to get right this morning. She’d kept the coffee pot full and regularly replenished as everyone seemed quite happy to dally over breakfast. Normally guests would all have been up and off – today Frank and Claudia lingered over three cups of coffee, and the couple who normally skied with Sarah had come back for second and third helpings of breakfast.
‘Yes, please.’ He looked with longing at the coffee pot, and she realised that he’d probably come straight over this morning without stopping for breakfast. She poured him a large mug and put the two sugars in.
His mouth twisted in a wry smile. ‘Thank you. Not good for my waistline, but I can’t drink it without.’ He took a sip and sighed. ‘I think people will be staying inside this morning. Visibility is not good for skiing, although you always get some idiots who think they’re invincible. The steps need clearing.’
‘I can do that,’ said Luke, appearing like some sort of ghost in the doorway. ‘Sorry Mina, I got held up with a couple of phone calls.’ He shot her a bright smile, just that tiny bit too bright. Almost brittle. ‘I’ll get right onto it.’
She turned, her eyes softening at the sight of him. Last night had changed everything. Now she could see a future for them. It didn’t matter that they were so similar. Johannes was right, the nap of their fabric was perfectly aligned, and for the life of her now she couldn’t understand why she’d been fighting it for so long. They were ideally suited. Just looking at him now, broad-shouldered, leaning lazily in the doorway, his blue eyes thoughtful for once, she couldn’t help but sigh, and her heart did another one those funny little bunny hops.
‘Have some coffee first,’ she insisted. ‘And breakfast. You too, Johannes. I bet you haven’t eaten.’ Both of them turned to her with the exact same expression, which she called hopeful dog-eyes.
She grinned. ‘See, I’m stepping into Amelie’s shoes already.’ With that she pulled two plates from the cupboard and put a basket of bread on the table before nipping into the breakfast room, which was now empty, and bringing back the remains of the plates of salami and cheese and the basket of bread and bread rolls.
Both men tucked in with hearty appetites and the sort of single-minded attention to food that didn’t require any kind of verbal communication, which meant she could start looking at the planned menus on the walls as she dried the cutlery from the dishwasher. Thank goodness for Amelie’s superb organisational skills, and that Mina had taken that trip to Brig with her. As a result, she had a good understanding of how Amelie managed her food resources. She knew that for the rest of this week, the food was all planned and had been shopped for. Next week was where it would get interesting. With a sudden start, Mina dropped the spoon she was polishing. Next week.
‘What?’ Luke’s head shot up, immediately studying her face.
‘I’ve just realised. I’m supposed to be back at work next week.’ Funny how things like that faded into insignificance in the face of something really important.
Johannes’s forehead furrowed into one of his stern frowns and Luke stared at her in horror. Now they quivered with worry like dogs whose food bowls could be moved at any second.
‘Don’t worry. I’m not leaving. I’ll just have to tell them I’ve had a family emergency.’ Hopefully, Ian would be understanding. They had policies for that sort of thing, didn’t they?
As soon as they finished eating, Johannes phoned the hospital again for an update on Amelie. This time he was able to speak to a nurse on the ward. Amelie had had a restful night and was stable. They were planning to do the procedure later in the day, at two, and she could have visitors in the late afternoon, although looking at the snow still bucketing down outside the window, Mina wondered if that was possible.
‘What about the weather?’ she asked.
Johannes shrugged. ‘We’ll have to see. The forecast says there will be snow off and on for the next twenty four hours. They’re expecting thirty centimetres. But the snow plough will come through again soon and I can get to Brig later, or I can take the train.’ Mina couldn’t hide her scepticism when she looked out of the window again. At home the whole country ground to a halt if there was so much as an inch of snow. ‘Really?’
A very slight smile lifted his face. ‘This is Switzerland. We are used to snow. Here we get maybe twenty centimetres of snow every couple of days in the winter months. The road will be open.’
Mina looked around the kitchen. What was more important? Seeing Amelie, or ensuring that she didn’t need to worry about the chalet? ‘Do you think we could speak to her?’ Mina frowned, trying to figure out what part of the day she could get away to visit. ‘There are probably things she needs, and she’ll want her mobile.’
‘I’ll call the hospital again and find out,’ said Johannes in his usual gruff manner.
Luke rose, frowning at his phone, which he seemed to be checking every five minutes all of a sudden. ‘I’m going to clear the steps,’ he said, distractedly tugging on his ski jacket.
‘Great.’ Something wasn’t right. Luke had retreated. No one would ever accuse her of being high maintenance or clingy, but there was a slight distance between them that hadn’t been there before – but right now she had other things to worry about. Food. Timings. The comfort of guests. With the snow falling so heavily, it looked as if she was going to have the additional headache of supplying lunch.
A thought struck her. ‘Do you need to do the steps when it’s still snowing?’
‘Yes,’ interjected Johannes. ‘In case any guests do go outside. You don’t want any accidents. There’s a sack of grit in the barn. I’ll show you.’
The men headed for the door, Johannes leading the way.
‘You any good at peeling vegetables?’ she asked Luke, wondering if she was imagining things. As if he read her mind, his face brightened and he strode over and kissed her on the lips, completely ignoring Johannes’s superior smirk.
