by Cat Schield
After what felt like an endless climb, the plane leveled off. Hadley freed Maggie from her car seat so she could burp her. Peering out the window, she saw nothing but clouds below them. With Liam occupied in the cockpit and Maggie falling asleep in her arms, Hadley let her thoughts roam free.
* * *
Several hours later, after Liam landed the plane at a small airport outside Vail, their rental car sped toward their destination. When she’d stepped off the plane, Hadley had been disappointed to discover that very little snow covered the ground. She’d imagined that in the middle of January there would be piles and piles of the white stuff everywhere she looked. But now, as they neared the mountains, her excitement began to build once more.
Framed against an ice-blue sky, the snow-covered peaks surrounding the town of Vail seemed impossibly high. But she could see the ski runs that started near the summit and carved through the pine-covered face of each mountain. Liam drove the winding roads without checking the navigation, obviously knowing where he was headed.
“What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Wait until you see the views from the house. They’re incredible.”
“Do you rent this house every year?”
“A longtime friend of my grandfather owns it.”
“I didn’t realize you like to ski.”
“I had a lot more free time when I was younger, but these days I try to get out a couple times a year. I go to New Mexico when I can get away for a weekend because it’s close.”
“It must be nice having your own plane so you can take off whenever you want.”
“I’m afraid it’s been pretty idle lately. I’ve spent almost ninety percent of my time at the ranch this year.”
And the other ten percent meeting Maggie’s mother and spending the night with her. Hadley glanced into the backseat where the baby was batting at one of the toys clipped to her car seat.
“You said that’s been good for your business,” Hadley said, “but don’t you miss showing?”
“All the time.”
“So why’d you give it up?” From the way Liam’s expression turned to stone, she could tell her question had touched on something distasteful. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. Forget I said anything.”
“No, it’s okay. A lot of people have asked me that question. I’ll tell you what I tell them. After my grandfather died, I discovered how much time it takes to run Wade Ranch.”
She suspected that was only half of the reason, but she didn’t pry anymore. “Any chance your brother, Kyle, will come back to Texas to help you?”
“No.” Liam’s answer was a clipped single syllable and discouraged further questions. “I’m finding a balance between ranch business as a whole and the horse side that I love. Last summer I hired a sales manager for the cattle division. I think you met Emma Jane. She’s been a terrific asset.”
She had terrific assets, Hadley thought wryly. The beautiful blonde was memorable for many reasons, not the least of which was the way her eyes and her body language communicated her interest in Liam. That he’d seemed oblivious had surprised Hadley. Since when did a man who enjoyed having beautiful women around not notice one right beneath his nose?
Maybe becoming a father had affected him more than Hadley had given him credit for.
Liam continued, “But it’s not like having someone I could put in charge of the entire operation.”
Obviously Liam was stretched thin. Maybe that’s why he’d been looking so lighthearted these last few days. The break from responsibility would do him good.
Forty minutes after they’d left the airport, Liam drove up a steep driveway and approached a sprawling home right at the base of the mountain.
“We’re staying here?” Hadley gawked at the enormous house.
“I told you there was enough room for you and Maggie.” He stopped the SUV beside a truck and shot her a broad smile. “Let’s get settled in and then head into town for dinner. It’s a quarter mile walk if you think Maggie would be okay.”
“We can bundle her up. The fresh air sounds lovely.” The temperature hovered just above freezing, but it was sunny and there wasn’t any wind, so Hadley was comfortable in her brand-new ski jacket and winter boots.
A tall man in his midsixties with an athletic bounce to his stride emerged from the house and headed straight for Liam. “Mr. Wade, how good to have you with us again.”
“Hello, Ben.” The two men shook hands, and Liam turned to gesture to Hadley, who’d unfastened Maggie from her car seat and now walked around to the driver’s side. “This is Ms. Stratton and Maggie.”
“Ivy mentioned you were bringing family with you this year. How nice.”
The vague reference to family disturbed Hadley. Why couldn’t Liam just admit that he had a daughter? He obviously loved Maggie. What blocked him from acknowledging her as his? This flaw in his character bothered Hadley more than it should. But it was none of her business. And it wasn’t fair that she expected more of him. Liam was her employer. She had no right to judge.
“Nice to meet you, Ben,” she said.
While Liam and Ben emptied the SUV of luggage and ski equipment, Hadley carried Maggie inside and passed through the two-story foyer to the large living room. The whole front of the house that faced the mountain was made up of tall windows.
“There’s a nice room upstairs for you and Maggie.” Liam came over to where she stood staring at the mountain range. “Ben said he was able to get a crib set up in there.”
Hadley followed Liam up a broad staircase. At the top he turned right. The home sprawled across the hillside, providing each bedroom with a fantastic view. The room Hadley and Maggie were to share was at the back of the house and looked west, offering views of both mountains and the town. At four in the afternoon, the sun was sliding toward the horizon, gilding the snow.
“Is this okay?”
“It’s amazing.” The room was large by Hadley’s standards, but she guessed it was probably the smallest the house offered. Still, it boasted a queen-size bed, plush seating for two before the enormous picture window and a stone fireplace that took up most of the wall the bed faced. The crib had been set up in the corner nearest to the door that led to the hall.
“I’m next door in case you need me.”
Her nerves trumpeted a warning at his proximity. Not that there was any cause for alarm. She and Liam had been sleeping down the hall from each other for almost two weeks.
Plus, it wasn’t as though they would be alone. Tomorrow, five others would be joining them, and from the way Liam described past years, the men would be occupied with cards, drinking and conversation late into the night.
“What time should I be ready to leave for dinner?”
“I think we won’t want to have Maggie out late. What if we leave here in an hour?”
“I’ll have both of us ready.”
* * *
With Maggie snug in her new winter clothes and Hadley dressed for the cold night air in a turtleneck sweater and black cords, they came downstairs to find Liam waiting in the entry. He held Hadley’s insulated jacket while she slid her feet into warm boots and then helped her into the coat. The brush of his knuckles against her shoulders caused butterflies to dance in her stomach. The longing to lean backward against his strong chest was so poignant, Hadley stopped breathing.
Because she’d had her back to him, Liam had no idea how the simple act of chivalry had rocked her equilibrium. Thank goodness she’d learned to master her facial expressions during her last five years of being a nanny. By the time Liam picked up Maggie’s carrier, set his hand on the front door latch and turned an expectant gaze upon her, she was ready to offer him a polite smile.
Liam closed and locked the door behind them and then offered his arm to h
elp Hadley negotiate the driveway’s steep slope.
“You have Maggie,” she told him, considering how lovely it would be to snuggle against his side during the half-mile walk. “Don’t worry about me.” She might have convinced him if her boots hadn’t picked that second to skid on an icy patch.
“I think I can handle a girl on each arm,” he said, his voice rich with laughter.
Hadley slipped her arm through Liam’s and let him draw her close. The supporting strength of his muscular arm was supposed to steady her, not weaken her knees, but Hadley couldn’t prevent her body from reveling in her escort’s irresistible masculinity.
At the bottom of the driveway, Hadley expected Liam to release her, but he showed no inclination to set her free. Their boots crunched against the snow-covered pavement as they headed toward town. Sunset was still a little ways off, but clouds had moved in to blanket the sky and speed up the shift to evening. With her heart hammering a distracting tattoo against Hadley’s breastbone, she was at a loss for conversation. Liam seemed okay with the silence as he walked beside her.
The restaurant Liam chose was a cute bistro in the heart of Vail Village. “It’s my favorite place to eat when I come here,” he explained, holding open the door and gesturing her inside.
The early hour meant the tables were only a third full. The hostess led them to a cozy corner table beside the windows that ran along the street front and offered a wonderful view of the trees adorned with white lights. Above their heads, small halogen lights hung from a rustic beam ceiling. A double-sided stone fireplace split the large room into two cozy spaces. White table linens, candlelight and crystal goblets etched with the restaurant’s logo added to the romantic ambience.
“I hope the food is half as good as the decor,” Hadley commented, bending over Maggie’s carrier to remove the infant from her warm nest before she overheated.
“I assure you it’s much better. Chef Mongillo is a culinary genius.”
Since becoming Maggie’s nanny, Hadley had grown accustomed to the rugged rancher Liam was at home and forgot that his alter ego was sophisticated and well traveled. And by extension, his preferred choice of female companionship was worldly and stylish. This abrupt return to reality jarred her out of her dreamy mood, and she chastised herself for forgetting her role in Liam’s life.
Taking refuge behind the tall menu, she scanned the delicious selection of entrees and settled on an ahi tuna dish with artichoke, black radish and egg confit potato. The description made her mouth water. Liam suggested the blue crab appetizer and ordered a bottle of sauvignon blanc to accompany it.
She considered the wisdom of drinking while on duty, but deliberated only a few seconds before her first sip. The crisp white burst on her taste buds and her gaze sought Liam. The glint lighting his eyes was a cross between amusement and appreciation. Heat collected in her cheeks and spread downward.
She spoke to distract herself from the longing his scrutiny awakened. “This is delicious.”
“Glad you like it.” His deep voice pierced her chest and spurred her heart to race. “I’m really glad you were willing to come along this weekend.”
This is not a date.
“Are you kidding? You had me at snow.” She tried to sound lighthearted and casual, but ended up coming across breathless and silly. Embarrassed, she glanced away. The view out the window seemed the best place for her attention. What she saw made her catch her breath. “And speaking of snow...”
Enormous white flakes drifted past the window. It was so thick that it was almost impossible to see the storefronts across the cobblestoned street.
“It’s really beautiful. I can see why you come here.”
“I arranged the weather just for you.” As lines went, it wasn’t original, but it made her laugh.
Hadley slanted a wry glance his way. “That was very nice of you.”
“And I’m sure the guys will be happy to have fresh powder to ski.”
When the waiter brought their appetizer, Liam asked about the weather. “How many inches are you expecting?”
“I’ve heard anywhere from eight to twelve inches here. More elsewhere. It’s a pretty huge system moving across the Midwest.”
“That’s not going to be good for people trying to get in or out of here.”
“No. From what I’ve heard, the Denver airport is expecting to cancel most if not all of their flights tomorrow. I don’t know about Eagle County.” Which was where they’d landed a few hours earlier.
“Sounds like we’re going to be snowed in,” Liam said, not appearing particularly concerned.
Hadley didn’t share his nonchalance. “What does that mean for your guests?”
“I’ll have to check in with them tonight. They might be delayed for a couple days or decide to cancel altogether depending on how long the storm persists.”
“But...” What did she plan to say? If the storm moving in made inbound travel impossible, they certainly couldn’t fly out. Which meant she, Maggie and Liam were going to be stuck in Vail for the foreseeable future. Alone.
Hadley focused on the food in front of her, annoyed by her heart’s irregular beat. What did she think was going to happen in the next few days? Obviously her hormones thought she and Liam would engage in some sort of passionate affair.
The idiocy of the notion made her smile.
Seven
Liam knew he’d concealed his delight at being snowed in with Hadley, so why was she so distracted all of a sudden? And what was with the smile that curved her luscious lips?
He cleared his throat to alleviate the sudden tightness. “I take it you like blue crab?”
Hadley glanced up, and her eyes widened as she met his gaze. “Yes. It’s delicious.” Her attention strayed toward the window and the swiftly falling flakes. “It’s really magical.”
Her dreamy expression startled him. He’d become accustomed to her practicality and was excited that her professional mask might be slipping.
With the snow piling up outside, they didn’t linger over dinner. As much as Liam would have enjoyed several more hours of gazing into her eyes and telling stories that made her laugh, they needed to get Maggie home and tucked in for the night. His disappointment faded as he considered that they could continue the conversation side by side on the living room sofa. Without the barrier of a table between them, things could get interesting.
“Ready?” he asked, as he settled the check and stood.
“Sure.”
Helping her into her coat gave him the excuse to move close enough to inhale her scent and give her shoulders a friendly squeeze. He hoped he hadn’t imagined the slight hitch of her breath as he touched her.
Liam gestured for Hadley to go ahead of him out of the restaurant. They retraced their steps through town, navigating the slippery sidewalk past trees strung with white lights and shop windows displaying their wares. Liam insisted Hadley take his arm. He’d enjoyed the feel of her snuggled against him during the walk into town.
Once the commercial center of the town was behind them, the mountain once again dominated the view. As they strolled along, boots sinking into an inch of fresh snow, Liam was convinced he couldn’t have planned a more romantic walk home. The gently falling snow captured them in a world all their own, isolating them from obligations and interruptions.
Hadley laughed in delight as fat flakes melted on her cheeks and eyelashes. He wanted to kiss each one away and had a hard time resisting the urge to take her in his arms to do just that. If not for the weight of Maggie’s carrier in his hand, he doubted if he could have resisted.
The strength of his desire for Hadley gave him pause. It wasn’t just sexual attraction, although heaven knew his lust flared every time she came within arm’s reach. No, it was something more profound that made him want her. The way she took care of M
aggie, not as if she was being paid to look after her but with affection and genuine concern for her welfare.
He could picture them as partners in the ranch. She had a great eye when it came to seeing the potential in horses, and he had no doubt if she would just remember how much she enjoyed her days of showing that she would relish being involved with the ranch’s future.
Yet she’d demonstrated complete disinterest in the horses, and he had yet to figure out why, when it was obviously something she’d been passionate about ten years earlier. Maybe he should accept that she was planning to leave Royal after she graduated. Plus, she’d invested five years getting a graduate degree in guidance counseling. Would she be willing to put that aside?
“You’re awfully quiet all of a sudden,” Hadley commented. “Cat got your tongue?”
He snorted at her. “I was just thinking about the girl I met ten years ago.”
“Which one? There must have been hundreds.” An undercurrent of insecurity ran beneath her teasing.
Liam decided to play it straight. “The only one that got away.”
His declaration was met with silence, and for a moment the companionable mood between them grew taut with anticipation. He walked on, curious how she’d respond.
“You can’t really mean me,” she said at last. “You must have met dozens of girls who interested you where the circumstances or the timing weren’t right.”
“Probably. But only one sticks out in my mind. You. I truly regret never getting a chance to know you better.”
While she absorbed this, they reached the driveway of the house where they were staying and began to climb. In minutes he was going to lose her to Maggie’s bedtime ritual.
“Why did you sell Lolita and disappear?”
She tensed at his question. “You asked me before why I was no longer interested in horses. It’s the same reason I stopped showing. At that sweepstakes show, my best friend fell during her run. She wanted really badly to beat me, so she pushed too hard and her horse lost his footing. He went down with her under him. She broke her back and was paralyzed.”
