“So, is this going to be like going down the bunny slope when skiing?” Ahri asked. Not that she’d ever been. That might be something else to look forward to, skiing in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
“I guess. Hadn’t really thought about it,” Rafe said. “Looks like we’re next.”
Rafe watchedover Ahri while his stepfather kept an eye on Ma. Alex had worked on her for weeks to convince her to come along this year. His mother wanting to include Ahri had been the frosting on the cake as far as Rafe was concerned.
Ahri. That girl got under his skin like no woman he’d known. He hadn’t had such a fun summer in years. Too often he caught himself wanting to take her hand. He’d found it safer to keep his hands in his pockets, so he didn’t forget himself. Now, if he’d just remember to keep them there.
After his stepfather’s comment, Rafe had been haunted by the big question of whether or not she was nice to him only because he was her boss. Alex was right. Rafe needed to make himself scarce for a while.
The ugly little voice in his head whispered that she was only putting up with him because she needed the job, that if she had a choice it wouldn’t be him. Over the years, he’d had several girlfriends, though none of the breakups had scarred him the way the one with Tess had.
Maybe he’d have gotten past it better if his life hadn’t turned upside down with the change in his fortune a few weeks later. At least when he’d dated in high school and college he’d known theywanted him for himself, in spite of being the poor kid. Suddenly he was the face of the Billionaire Boys, and women were throwing themselves at him. Or at his money.
Ahri wasn’t like them. She had a billionaire brother and had refused to take money from him. Rafe needed to stop the self-doubt and enjoy this time with her.
“You ready for this?” he whispered to Ahri.
“Am I ready to leap to my death, you mean?” She did look a little green.
Rafe chuckled. She could give Lessa a run for the crown of martyr queen.
“How shall we do this?” he asked the group.
“Well,I’msure not going first,” Ahri said.
“I will,” Alex said. “Then Francie.”
“Okay.” His mother took a deep breath, and Alex put his arm around her again. He glanced at Rafe and Ahri.
“I’ll go after Ahri,” Rafe said.
“Why?” Ahri looked up at him. “So you can listen to me scream all the way down?”
“Do you scream on roller coasters?”
“Yeah. Why? It’s part of the fun.”
“Then scream to your heart’s content on this. I did—just like a baby the first time I went.”
“Did you really?” Ahri grinned, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. She glanced to where her brother and the other guys were waiting.
“Yes, and they all know it since they were there so don’t think you can use it against me.” Rafe pointed to the launch station. “There goes Alex.”
She let out a little moan and stepped beside his mother. Rafe watched as they clung together. He loved the way Ahri and Ma looked out for each other.
Then it was his mother’s turn. He moved beside Ahri andtogether they offered comforting platitudes. Ma let out one initial scream and then went silent. Hopefully, it was a good sign.
“You ready?” he asked softly.
Ahri looked up at him, her eyes terrified and her hands shaking. “Promise me I won’t die.”
“You won’t die.”
“Lighten up and just enjoy the ride,” Kayn said in his most condescending big-brother tone from behind.
Ahri seemed to steel herself and stepped to the mark. She put her hands on the brake over her head, listening to last-minute instructions from the guide. Then she was off.
Her scream was as much frightened as it was a thrilled whoop. She made him proud with her northern equivalent to a Rebel Yell. He’d make her into a Southerner yet.
