Just say it! He’s leaning!
Ash yelled. I whipped my head around to make sure she hadn’t fallen off the bed or anything. How could I have forgotten about her? What waswrongwith me? My niece was now my responsibility until she turned eighteen and left my house but never my heart.
I grabbed her off the bed, thankful she hadn’t decided to roll off or attempt a vault landing. She’d simply been frustrated trying to grab hold of her sock. Keeping the baby between us, I looked at Chris, who now stood straight. Guess the moment was over.
That’s a good thing. You don’t want to tell him on vacation anyway.
Only the disappointed feeling in my gut said otherwise.
“How about something in the resort so that we don’t have to leave?” I suggested, getting us back on normal footing.
“Sounds good to me. Let’s go find everyone else and see if they came to the same conclusion.”
We said nothing as we walked down the hall to Lamont’s suite. Just like we never spoke about the moment at the Garden of the Gods or all the countless times I thought my feelings could possibly be reciprocated. Was the timing simply not right?
Chris knocked on the door, and Lamont quickly opened it.
“Come on in. So far the vote is eating in the lodge restaurant. How do you two feel about that?” he asked.
“That’s what we were thinking, so sounds perfect,” Chris said.
“Great. Do you need to grab anything for the kids?” Lamont asked me.
I pointed to the strap on my shoulder. “Already got the diaper bag.”
“Great. Let’s go eat.”
We walked down the hall toward the elevator. We had no problem getting on or arriving at the restaurant without a wave of visitors. Soon we were seated in the back, after the staff pushed multiple tables together. I got a highchair for Ash, who sat happily at the end, playing with the puff snack I’d taken out of the diaper bag. Our server placed fresh breadand butter at the table for a complimentary appetizer. Chris sat across from me, and it took all my strength not to stare into his gorgeous eyes.
“So we hit the slopes tomorrow?” Lamont asked.
He and Nevaeh sat at the end, but across from each other so that our table was naturally boys across from girls.So grade school.
“Nah,” Tuck said. “I’ll be hanging in the lodge in front of the fireplace.”
“Come on, man.” Chris looked at his friend. “You can ride a jumping horse but can’t go down a hill in some skis?”
“Some things were not meant for man to try.”
Nevaeh snorted. “I never thought I’d agree with you about something like this, but you are so correct. There’s no way I’m sliding down a hill willingly.”
“Babe, it’ll be fun.” Lamont smoldered at his fiancée.
Smoldered! Did that work?Judging from the demure expression on Nevaeh’s face as her eyes practically shot out hearts, it did.
“Okay. I’ll try it once.”
“Yes.” He placed a kiss on the back of her fingers. Then Lamont remembered the rest of us were at the table. “Piper, you going?”
“I’ll try once like Nevaeh.”
All heads swiveled to me. “I think I’m with Tuck on this one.”
“Oh no.” Piper shook her head. “Tuck is coming whether he realizes it or not.”
I hid a smirk while Chris made a whipping noise. I bit down on my lip, trying to keep silent, but Lamont laughed with abandon.
Chris met my gaze. “Piper and Tuck have been friends since they were about Cheye’s age. He’ll do anything for her.”
