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She could clearly read him like a book because she immediately veered off to the right, no questions asked, making it into the trees before even turning her head to look at the burgeoning tumble of snow behind them.

He stayed behind her to ensure she got to safety first, and they both came to an abrupt stop.

Maya grabbed hold of a tree trunk, flashing him an urgent look. “Sam! Grab a tree.”

He wasn’t taking any chances. Not where Maya was concerned. Rather than grabbing his own tree, he positioned himself behind her, covering her with his body and taking hold of the tree above her head, shielding her face with his arm.

The rumble became louder, and the tumble appeared in his eyeline, about a hundred yards away to the right, where they’d been skiing a few moments before.

“Sam,” Maya gasped, concern in her voice. She tried to move her arm to take hold of his, as if she wanted to secure his safety.

“Don’t,” he told her, speaking into her ear as he pressed her against the tree. “Hold on to the tree. I’ve got you.” She halted her movements, but he felt the touch of her fingers on the underside of his arm.

They both fell silent, closing their mouths in case any snow veered off the slope and into the trees toward them. Sam watched the snow tumble, then slow, and then settle, creating a loose surface over the off-piste area nearby but not coming toward the cover of the trees.

For a couple more seconds, he held her there, absorbing the rise and fall of her shoulders against his chest as she breathed deeply. Relief that she was safe mixed with the white-hot heat of holding her close.

Eventually, Maya loosened her grip on the tree, and he eased back a couple of feet to let her turn to face him. Shoving her goggles up onto her helmet, she slid forward on the snow to wrap her arms around his waist and press her face into his chest. “I don’t know whether to thank you or punch you in the face.”

Sam held her tightly. “Hmm. I’d probably prefer the first option.” He flashed her a smile as she lifted her head to look at him.

“You should’ve grabbed your own tree,” she told him, her tone accusatory as she searched his eyes. “It would’ve been safer for you.”

“Yeah, well. Yours was closer,” he said with a shrug, lifting up his goggles and trying to keep his gaze off the neighboring tree that he’d skied past in order to get to hers.

“Thanks for the heads-up,” she said, her voice softening again. “I didn’t hear it until after you told me to get in here.” She winced. “Bit too focused on winning.”

“Really?” he said, raising his eyebrows. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

Maya punched his arm. “Shut it. You’re just as competitive.”

Yeah. Except, apparently, when it comes to simping over you. Then I’d lose any race, anytime.

“No problem,” he said, trying not to imagine what might’ve happened if he hadn’t followed her and the unlikely scenario that she didn’t realize the avalanche was coming in time to avoid it.

She eyed him curiously. “How come you were following me anyway? I thought I saw you heading toward the other side of the slope.”

Ah shit. He glanced away. “Just trying to be sneaky.” He brought his eyes back to hers. “Like you in that pizza and chips race with the kids.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Very underhand, Leonard.”

Sam shot her a grin. “I learned from the best.”

Maya smiled warmly, before the expression suddenly fell from her features. “Shit! Rowan and Aileen are going to win.” She hurriedly pulled her goggles onto her face. “Come on!” She turned and skied off through the trees onto the black slope.

Sam followed her down, a solitary pairing on the run as they carved their way toward the finish line, and he felt as if they were the only two people in the world. By the end, he’d almost forgotten that it was a race because he’d been enjoying himself so much in the moment. The two of them skied off the end of the run toward the terrace simultaneously, and he got the sense that Maya had felt the same.

Aileen was there already, arms folded and wearing a smug smile. Sam spotted Rowan approaching at speed from the opposite direction, determined to get second place. Maya shot him a look, and both of them pushed off faster, each grabbing at the other one’s arm in an attempt to gain advantage and achieve second place.

Just as it looked as if they might claim joint second, Maya gave him an overenthusiastic tug to the sleeve, and her ski accidentally caught with his, causing them both to slow and her to tip sideways, where he caught hold of her.

Both of them laughing at their schoolkid antics, he steadied her as she came about to face him, and he absorbed the beautiful way her laughter lit up her face. Over her head, he saw Rowan joining Aileen at the terrace in second place, and the pair high-fiving.

“I hate to tell you this,” he said, grinning. “But we’re joint last.”

Maya smiled. “I’m standing in front of you, so I’m kind of third and you’re last.”

He rolled his eyes. “Typical.”