‘Will you carry me round to the other side if I say no?’ she quipped.
Leo smiled. Whatever else had happened today, things were definitely looking up. He winked at her. ‘Your wish is my command, Ice Princess.’
* * *
Ice Princess? Had he actually just called her Ice Princess?
If she had been feeling herself she’d toss her head and stomp off. Trouble was, she wasn’t feeling herself. She actually felt as if she might be sick all over her ski boots.
As her rescuer disappeared to retrieve her skis and poles, she wondered if maybe it was the shock of the noise of the backfiring car. Maybe it was her current feeling of stupidity for allowing herself to be distracted when she really should know better. Or maybe it was that whole host of memories that had come flooding back as she’d tumbled down the slope, too quickly and completely out of control.
She dug into her ski jacket and pulled out her key. As he returned, leaning her equipment against the SUV, she steeled herself to say words she’d never thought she would. ‘Actually, would you mind? I promise I only live a five-minute drive from here.’
The guy—Leo he’d said he was called—gave a quick nod as she pressed the button to open the doors. ‘Not at all,’ he said graciously.
He was being a gentleman. There was obviously a cheeky demeanour hiding under there, but for now she’d take the gentleman. Anything to get home as soon as possible.
She slid into her seat, suddenly aware she’d been a little rude. ‘And it’s Anissa—not Ice Princess.’
He smiled as he slid into the driver’s seat and pressed the button to start the engine. ‘Anissa.’ He gave a nod of approval. ‘Sounds like a kind of ice princess name to me.’
‘Do you know many ice princesses, Leo?’
He laughed and held out his hand. ‘Leo Baxter. From New York. Just here for a few days on...’ his face gave a little twist ‘...family business.’
She shook his hand. ‘Anissa Lang. And this Ice Princess has the illustrious other titles of part-time ski instructor, part-time chalet maid.’ He smiled. He had a nice smile, dark, curly hair a little longer than average and bright blue eyes that could stop a girl in her tracks. Just as well she was sitting down. She held his gaze just a few seconds longer than she meant to.
He didn’t look away. His grin just got wider and she felt colour rush into her cheeks. What on earth was she doing? She took a deep breath and focused on the view through the windscreen instead. It was safer.
He pulled the car out of the parking lot and stopped at the road junction.
‘Right.’ She pointed.
‘Were you doing a lesson?’ he queried. ‘I didn’t notice any students on the slopes with you.’
She shook her head. ‘Too late for lessons. And students wouldn’t be allowed on that slope. Too dangerous.’
He gave a nod of his head as he continued down the dark road. ‘You don’t say.’
A wave of nausea rushed over her and she put a hand to her mouth. ‘You okay?’ he asked quickly, his cheeky quips instantly replaced by concern.
She swallowed and pointed a little further down the road. ‘Take the next left, please. I’m just at the end of that road.’
She leaned back against the seat and gave a sigh. ‘Maybe I hit my head. I’m feeling a bit queasy.’
His eyes were laced with concern, but he didn’t say anything else until he pulled up outside her staff chalet. A few seconds later he’d stopped the car, jumped out, rounded the car and opened her door. ‘Let’s get you inside. Maybe if you sit down for a few minutes and get some water, you’ll feel a little better. If you don’t, I’m sure I can find a doctor in the resort to check you over.’
She really wanted to argue with him, but getting inside her chalet seemed like the priority right now, so she let him help her out and up the steps to the chalet, not even objecting when he took the key from her slightly shaking hand and opened the door for her. He flicked on her lights and slid his arm around her waist, helping her inside.
She sagged down onto her sofa in relief, unzipping her ski jacket and taking a few deep breaths. When she opened her eyes a few seconds later, Leo had already started the fire.
‘Well, if I’m Ice Princess, you must be Prince Charming.’ She smiled.
It was odd. She didn’t feel threatened by the complete stranger who was currently inside her temporary home and finding his way around. She was actually feeling relieved there was someone else with her right now.
‘Oh,’ she said in surprise as he sat down on the coffee table opposite her and lifted up her ski boot.
Those blue eyes twinkled. ‘Prince Charming? Isn’t that the guy obsessed with shoes? Let’s get these ski boots off and you can see if you’ve done any damage.’ He really was too handsome for his own good.
He undid the clips, loosened the boot then gave it a gentle tug, pulling it off. She clenched her jaw, waiting for wave of pain she’d normally feel if she’d done some damage. There were a few twinges but nothing severe.
He pulled off the other boot, holding her foot for a little longer than necessary. ‘Okay?’ His question seemed sincere, so she nodded as he moved so her feet could rest on the table in front of her. ‘You still look really pale.’ He glanced around the room. ‘How about something medicinal? I think you’re in a bit of shock. Do you have any brandy?’
Her brain really couldn’t think straight. Brandy. Yes. She had some of that. She waved her hand. ‘Cabinet behind you.’
Two minutes later she heard the clink of glasses. She leaned forward and peeled down her socks. No obvious swelling. Thank goodness. She gave both of her feet a cautious circle. Whilst one was definitely sore, it wasn’t as bad as she’d initially feared.
A glass was pressed into her hand and Leo lowered himself into the seat next to her.
She took a sip of the brandy and pulled a face. ‘I’m not sure if giving someone alcohol for shock is really the official treatment.’ She gave her head a shake. ‘You know, St Bernards don’t really have brandy around their necks.’
He smiled and raised his glass. ‘What can I say? I’ve always been one for old wives’ tales.’
She looked at him curiously. His face was a tiny bit flushed in her rapidly warming chalet, but there was no question that this was one of the most handsome guys she’d seen in a while. Mont Coeur was no stranger to numerous jet-set playboy millionaires, but he didn’t seem quite the type. She took another sip of her brandy, which warmed on the way down.
‘I’m not sure I believe you—you don’t look like an old-wives’-tales kind of guy.’ She sighed. ‘But then again, I’m not the type of girl to let a stranger drive her car—or come into her chalet—so I guess it’s just a night of firsts.’
There was a definite twinkle in his eye. She nudged him.
At any other time alarm bells would be going off in her head. But the one thing she instantly felt around this guy was safe. That was it. He had a safe kind of smile. She liked that—that and those bright blue eyes. ‘Want to take that wool coat off before you die from heat exhaustion?’
Her heart skipped a few beats. Had she really just said that? More or less invited him to stay a bit longer?
Deep down something was flickering inside her—and it was nothing to do with the fire. Everything about this was so out of character for her. Under normal circumstances she would probably have tried to hound her rescuer back outside the door. But Leo just seemed...different.
There was something in his eyes that she couldn’t quite figure. He had the tiniest air of mystery around him—that and a whole load of sex appeal. A lethal combination.
He laughed, unfastened the coat and shrugged it off. ‘A night of firsts,’ he repeated. There was a strange kind of look on his face. ‘I guess it’s certainly been one of those.’
There it was—the air of mystery that just s
eemed to reel her in. She turned a little towards him. ‘What do you mean?’
He shook his head. ‘Let’s just say I’m glad of the distraction.’
Now she was definitely curious. ‘Well, from my experience, most people come to Mont Coeur to either ski or...’ she raised her eyebrows ‘...to show off how rich they are. Which category are you in?’
For a second he was silent, then he took a long, slow swig from the brandy glass. ‘I can just about hold my own on a ski slope. But I’ve never skied at Mont Coeur before. I came here at kind of short notice. I didn’t bring any equipment with me.’
‘So you didn’t come here for the skiing?’
He shook his head. He really wasn’t giving much away. But the way that he looked at her through those heavy-lidded eyes, it was making her stomach do a whole lot of flip-flops. Never mind skiing. Right now her stomach thought she was a gymnast.
‘But you were watching tonight?’
He nodded. ‘I’ve only been here a few hours. I haven’t even reached my...’ he put his fingers in the air ‘...“luxury cabin” yet.’
Anissa’s stomach gave a little twist. Please don’t let him be staying in one of the cabins I’m cleaning.
‘So, is it business or pleasure?’ She licked her lips, a little nervous at asking the question. For all she knew, he could actually be here with a wife or fiancée, and really only was being gentlemanly by helping her home. She unintentionally held her breath as she waited for the answer.
‘I imagine some people would expect me to say a bit of both.’ He gave another sigh. ‘But the honest answer is neither. In a lot of ways, I wish I’d never come. There’s nothing I’d like more than to jump back on the soonest flight to New York.’
Her stomach gave a little pang. The first interesting guy she’d met in a long time couldn’t wait to get out of Dodge. Typical.
But it was the way he’d said the words that mattered. As if they made him sad. ‘Then why don’t you?’ she asked quietly.
He met her gaze with his blue eyes. ‘Because I’m a bit in limbo. What I do next could affect other people—whether I like it or not.’
Empathy swelled within her. Connection. Because those words were so familiar to her. What she did wouldn’t affect anyone other than herself. But being in limbo? She raised her glass to him. ‘Limbo. I see your few days’ worth of limbo and raise you a whole year’s worth.’
He turned closer towards her, leaning in and letting her see the shadow on his jawline and the tiny lines around his eyes. That tiny movement made her catch her breath at what might lie ahead. The woody scent of his aftershave filled her senses. She liked it. It had a hint of spice mixed with earthy tones.
He leaned his head on one hand and gave her a sexy kind of smile. ‘How did a gorgeous girl like you end up in limbo in Mont Coeur? Have you always lived here?’
Gorgeous. He’d just called her gorgeous. She could almost hear the echoing voices of approval of her fellow chalet maids at her rapidly rising heart rate. For months they’d been telling her to pay more attention to the guys around her. For months she’d told them she had other priorities and that no one had captured her attention. And they hadn’t. Until now.
She shook her head and tried her best to play it cool. ‘I’m Austrian. But I’ve spent most of my life on skis, no matter where I’ve lived.’ She lifted one hand. ‘This last year? Let’s just say it hasn’t been my best—hasn’t been my favourite. Limbo is exactly the right word to describe the last twelve months of my life.’
It hurt. Every memory about it still hurt. From the physical pain of crashing down a mountainside. To the psychological pain of realising her hopes of winning an international skiing championship gold medal had just been ripped from her grasp. Then there was the emotional trauma of her fiancé and coach, Alain, dumping her.
Leo reached out and grabbed her hand, the touch of his warm skin shooting an instant tingle up her arm. His voice was deep. His other hand reached over and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. It was a personal touch, an intimate touch, and the skin on her face was on fire with it. ‘How about, for one night only, we try and forget about the stuff that’s dragging us down?’
She blinked. Had he actually just said that?
The fire was flickering behind him, sending a warm glow around the room. Her heart missed a few beats.
No way. She wouldn’t. Not ever. She wasn’t that kind of girl.
But...
Somehow, tonight, she wanted to be.
She really, really wanted to be.
She prayed her voice wouldn’t shake as she uttered the words. ‘I could live with forgetting about everything dragging me down.’
He moved closer, his mouth only a few inches from hers, and she licked her lips in anticipation.
She paused for the briefest second. ‘Promise me you have no wife, no fiancée, no girlfriend.’
He gave a flicker of smile. ‘Promise. What about you?’
She smiled too as she leaned in. ‘Oh, I don’t have a wife, a fiancée or a girlfriend.’ This was reaching the teasing stage. Her favourite part.
He smiled back as he reached up and slid his fingers through her hair, anchoring his hand at the back of her head. ‘No significant other?’
She shook her head. ‘No significant other.’
His lips brushed against her ear. ‘Then how about we get ourselves distracted?’
She must be crazy. She must be losing her mind. But for the first time in a year all she could think about was how good it felt to be in the arms of this man she found wildly attractive and how in control she felt. She was making this decision. No one was doing it for her. Leo Baxter was hot.
And he was all hers.
This was one night. Everything else she could worry about tomorrow.
She smiled as she brushed her lips against his. ‘So...distract me.’
CHAPTER TWO
LEO BLINKED AS he heard the faint noise of someone shuffling around. There was only a tiny glimmer of light outside. The bed was uncomfortable and his mind took a few seconds to orientate itself.
Mont Coeur. The will. Sebastian. Noemi.
And then there was last night. Anissa.
He rolled over and leaned on one arm. Sure enough, Anissa was padding around the room, pulling on some kind of uniform.
She looked up. ‘Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you. I have an early shift.’
He wasn’t one for overnight stays and awkward next mornings. Seemed like he’d had more firsts than he’d expected to. The jet lag and emotional trauma of last night had obviously just wiped him out.
He watched as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail. He’d thought she’d looked good last night, but even early in the morning she looked good. Something twinged inside him and his gaze connected with hers.
This was where things got uncomfortable. This was where he had to make a hasty exit and try and find the luxury chalet he’d never made it to last night.
He glanced around the room, trying to find his clothes. Anissa pulled on her jacket and Leo instantly swung his legs from the bed. She had to leave. And she wouldn’t want to leave a stranger in her house.
‘Give me a second to grab my things and I’ll get out of your hair.’
Images of last night flashed through his brain as he pulled on his shirt and trousers. Good images. Great images. And a connection he’d never thought he’d feel.
Anissa was standing at the bedroom door, watching him a little awkwardly. She sucked in a breath. ‘Thanks for helping me last night.’
He pushed his feet into his shoes and moved closer. ‘You’re welcome. How’s your foot this morning?’
She gave it a little stamp. ‘A bit sore, but that’s it.’
Maybe she hadn’t realised it but she was blocking his exit to the door. He stopped in front of her. ‘Last
night was...’ He let his voice tail off, unsure how exactly to end the sentence.
‘The best sex I’ve had in years.’
He blinked, then laughed. It seemed that Anissa had no problem finishing the sentence for him. ‘Okay, then...’ he gave his head a shake at her quick words ‘...I guess I’d have to agree with that.’
Her blue eyes were fixed on his. His stomach gave a twist. Please don’t let this be something it isn’t.
His brain was all over the place right now, as were his emotions. In the space of a few months he’d found his parents, lost his parents, met a brother and sister he’d never known and been blackmailed into taking an interest in the family business. He didn’t have room for anything else right now.
‘I’m not looking for romance.’ Anissa spoke quickly.
‘Neither am I.’ The answer came out automatically, with a sense of relief.
‘And I never usually do anything like this,’ she added. ‘So please don’t think this is normal for me. Last night was just...’ This time it was her that couldn’t find the words to complete the sentence.
‘A one-off,’ he finished for her.
She nodded in agreement. ‘A one-off.’
They were still close. Close enough that he could smell the fruity shampoo from her hair that she’d pulled into a ponytail high on her head.
It would be so easy to lean forward and kiss her. To capture those lips in his again and pull her back down onto the unmade bed.
The truth was Anissa hadn’t been wrong. Last night had unexpectedly been the best night of his life. But in reality he hardly knew her. And his timing was terrible.
She stood back against the door to let him pass. The early morning light was filtering through the windows of the small staff chalet. It was small, neat and functional, with only a few hints of the woman who actually stayed here. A framed photo of her standing in her skis, the two brandy glasses from last night, the ski boots still lying on the living-room floor. He was struck with how much it didn’t really look like a home. The similarities between this place and his own penthouse apartment in New York sent a wash of recognition over him. How long had she said she’d been here? A year?
Cinderella's New York Christmas Page 3
