He climbed the hill quickly to get to the top at the same time as the rest.
“Momma, don’t worry,” Parker was saying pulling the string from the edge of the ski up to the steering wheel so it wouldn’t tangle on the way down. “We’ve done this before, remember?” And he was off down the hill, the red pom-pom on his hat bobbing with each groove and bump.
Sophia turned to him still wearing her pink balaclava covering all except the end of her blond hair, blue eyes, rosy nose and mouth. “Come on Uncle Marcus!” She yelled and she was off laughing in delight chasing her brother down the hill.
“Alright,” he said lining his rider between his sister’s. “The kids might not be allowed to race down at the same time.” He slanted his worried sister a glance. Violet was surveying her children’s safe arrival with her mother stare. She looked over and wrinkled her nose at him. “But, the three of us should race to the bottom.” He glanced at Emma, bundled up in green looking like a Christmas tree. “Ready?” She nodded. Then he glanced to Violet. “Ready?” She nodded eagerly leaning forward. “Ready, set...go!”
The skis sliced through the light snow sending it billowing in the air and across their faces as they steered safely to the bottom of the hill bouncing up and down without any warning where the bumps and grooves were.
Emma jumped of her racer arriving at the bottom first. “Ah hah! Take that you bunch of slackers! See what happens when you take an office job.” She yelled at Marc.
“You guys raced,” Parker accused pouting back up the hill. “Not fair.”
“You crashed into your sister last time!” Violet yelled back at him.
“Not on purpose!”
“That’s what he claims,” she said for only the adults. They all laughed.
He caught Emma walking by Kate, who was still at the bottom of the hill. Emma pulled the sleeve of her jacket. “Come on Kate, let’s not race,” she said putting up air quotes for the word not.
For the first time ever, he watched his sister and Kate share a real smile before starting up the hill. Violet hit his arm and flashed him a, what just happened? Her eyes just as surprised as the rest of them at Emma’s hospitality.
“Did you threaten her?” he teased walking beside her up the hill.
“No, I swear. It must have been your outburst at supper a few weeks ago.” Possibly, but who knew. He was almost glad to see it, but what did it really matter, him and Kate were faking this engagement to the end.
Soon they were all smiling, laughing and teasing. and travelling down the hill. He even let the betrayal feeling slip away here and there. But it always crept back reminding him not to get attached. It was clear after her admission that she had chosen money over him. He couldn’t understand why. He had tried as she assumed he was. But knowing she knew he would have the money to support them while she ventured out wherever the world took her made him come to the conclusion she didn’t love him like he loved her. Had loved her...had!
About an hour in, Emma grabbed the old fashioned wood toboggan and dragged it up the hill. She dropped it at the top and said, “Everyone on.”
Marc stared at the size of the long contraption. “We are not all going to fit on that.”
“We did when we were young.”
“There were less of us and we were also half the size.”
Emma was waving everyone on. “Come on leg over legs,” she insisted positioning the kids at the front folding Parker’s legs in front of him then draping Sophia’s around instructing her to squeeze. Marc stood back and watched with a grin as they all managed to snuggle close enough leaving just enough room for him to squeeze in on the back. Behind Kate.
“Maybe I will catch the next round.”
Emma whipped around and glanced down. “Lots of room, brother. Climb on and grab onto Kate like you do behind closed doors.”
“Emma!” Violet scolded.
“Oh, I mean like when...you know...” She shrugged. “I got nothing, just get on.”
“Ya Uncle Marc,” she yelled even though she couldn’t turn back to look.
“The train is leaving, all aboard!” Parker called in a low manly tone followed by train sound everyone copied.
Marc rolled his eyes and climbed on forced to wrap his legs up and around Kate.
“Is everyone ready?” Emma called. Everyone yelled they were and Marc pushed them off as Kate reached for his arms pulling them around her waist. She didn’t resume position around Violet’s waist and put all her trust in squeezing Marc’s arms. Her head leaned against the side of his shoulder, the curls escaping under her hat tickling the side of his face. Instead of moving away, like he should have, he pressed his lower face against her upper. “Here we go!” He announced and they were off. The long piece of wood cutting through fresh snow, and already trailed snow, marking its long path down. Screams of delight trailed behind them. Halfway down the death trap hit a bump and turned sideways first throwing Kate and Marc off then Violet and Emma rolling across the snow together.
They landed on their sides, just as they had at the cabin laughing and screaming in surprise, only they continued rolling like unravelling mummy’s. Marc tried to hold Kate but she split away, the fluffy snow grasping at their faces and hair. Marc dug his hands in the snow and stopped first. Kate hit his side and was rolling straight over top of him when he grabbed her and stopped her. Directly on top of him, padded snow jackets, and stomach against stomach. Echoes of laughter filled the inches between their faces and she was still laughing until her eyes found him staring at her. Her face solemned immediately followed by a quick apology from her cold pink lips. But, she didn’t move and he didn’t move. With one hand, he reached up and pushed the wet hair away from her cheek. How was he going to survive weeks...months of this torture? This was why he had stayed away from her all week because no matter what was between them he always found himself wanting to kiss those lips. And now the discovery that she didn’t want him too was painful.
“Oh kiss her!” Sofia said as if reading his mind and she passed them on her way back up the hill.
“Gross don’t do it Uncle Marc. Yuck,” Parker said not far behind.
How long had they been lying there? She sat straight up straddling him and he groaned. Then because they were out in public and knowing his sisters, especially Emma would be watching, he sat up and grabbed the front of her jacket pulling her lips against his and unnecessarily dipped in for a taste. He couldn’t resist.
He heard Parker make a fuss and Sophia cheer him on. Whenever it came to Kate’s lips he was with Sophia one hundred percent.
When he let go he asked, “Was that convincing enough for everyone?”
Her tongue ran across her lips and she looked at him with that just kissed dazed love look before slowly nodding. “Perfect.”
That was the last time he went up that hill when that bloody spin contraption was dragged up the hill claiming he was too old. Really, he just feared not being able to help but kiss Kate again.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kate couldn’t believe how much fun she had tobogganing with Marc and his family. Even Emma had warmed up to her. If she really was Marc’s fiancée today would have been the perfect day; bonding with Parker, Sophia and even Emma plus that tongue twisting kiss he had planted on her would have landed them both together tumbling around in the sheets. If she was really his fiancée.
She’d also observed how wonderful Marc was with his niece and nephew. He joked, and teased and played with them like a fantastic uncle would. She couldn’t help feel a pang of sadness at the realization, although she always knew, what a good father he would be. She was sad they never had that opportunity because she left him.
After supper, Marc had gone back to the office. To hide. Big surprise.
When she found herself staring at the ceiling replaying the kiss over and making it hard for her believe she had convinced him she wasn’t worth his thoughts, she decided to take a midnight dip.
It was very dim in the pool
room with soft lights twinkling like stars in the sky lights above, a couple street lights, and a soft glow alongside the stone edge of the pool reflecting into the water. Each suite had lights outside the entrance and she noticed some of the curtains were drawn and others left open. But all of them remained dim.
She tossed her towel on a lounger and walked toward the shallow end. Laps in the pool, that’s what she was sticking to. No more saunas because they only got her into trouble.
His family was all crazy busy with the December bustle and into the New Year. Not only was the Snowflake Ball a huge event but Violet, told her for New Year’s Eve they would open the four ballrooms into separate parties and each were already booked to capacity. Most generally booked almost a year in advance. Up to the very last weekend before New Year’s every ballroom was booked for catered work parties.
She stepped into the heated pool where rounded stairs descended to the pool floor. She saw a ripple across the water not triggered by her feet and found Marc treading in the shadows.
“Oh, I thought you were in your office.” Had he been watching her quietly the whole time?
“I wanted a swim.” So had she. Alone and no doubt just like him.
She retracted her foot. “I can come back,” she said. “I didn’t mean to barge in.”
He swam to the edge of the pool and grabbed the side wiping the water away from his face as he surfaced. “It’s alright. There’s lots of room.”
She wasn’t sure about that, but didn’t argue. When her feet touched the floor of the pool, she dived in and swam to the deep end. She pulled herself to the edge not far from him and dunked her head backwards to straighten out her hair. “Do you sneak in here a lot?” she asked.
“Every night.” That distant look was in his eyes, like a lone wolf watching his prey before attacking. It made her shudder.
“I didn’t know.”
“You’re usually asleep by now.”
She moved away from the edge treading and he did the same. “Wanna race?” The challenge was out of her mouth quicker than a popping bubble. He didn’t want to play games with her, he could hardly stand her.
“Alright.” Alright? The late hour must have him more exhausted then he knew. If he was in his right state of mind he wouldn’t have swum to the side of the pool with her.
“There and back.”
He nodded. She counted down and they set off, the heated water splashing against their faces as they dipped their heads into the water, out for a breath, arms moving rhythmically, slicing into the calm water and making rippling effects through the pool. Touching the other side then flipping over and using her feet to push away, he still beat her to the other side. Without gloating. Too much. A small smile that lightened her heart crossed his lips.
He surprised her by asking. “Have you tried the slide?”
She glanced behind her at the towering slide built into the rock hill looking more like a fair ride. She shook her head. “First time in the pool,” she confessed.
“You have to try it.” He swam past her to the ladder beside the bottom of the slide. She stayed against the wall completely not noticing when he climbed out of the pool the way the water stuck his swim shorts against his lower body or that the chest she couldn’t resist in the sauna was now dripping wet like a well-oiled yummy pastry. He looked at her. “Come on.”
Reluctantly she swam to the ladder and he offered her his hand. Seriously! Back up man before I jump you like an alley cat!
She slipped her hand in his and he practically pulled her out of the water and onto the platform. This was no better than the sauna. No more evening pool dips for her. At this rate she wouldn’t be leaving the suite.
She followed him up to the slide and he hit a button that produced water flowing onto the slide. He stepped back. “You first,” he insisted.
She glanced down. The slide twirled around and into the rock mountain disappearing before reappearing and ending in the pool.
“Chicken?” he asked.
She sucked in a deep breath. “Of course not.” It wasn’t going down the slide that was jumping her nerves, it was him.
“If it’s too much adventure for you...”
She pushed him away, immediately regretting the contact and forgetting they weren’t those two same people anymore. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said casually trying to cover up her discomfort. She climbed on the slide and held the sides to keep her from going then glanced back at him. “If anyone was chicken here, it would be you,” she added.
He grinned down at her. Grinned. Those striking eyes lighting up. At her! It tickled her insides. “I didn’t tell you how we are going down.” We?
Before she could ask he grabbed the rock above them, lifting up from his feet and landing his legs on the outside of hers leaving her sandwiched twice in one day. She was favoring the second sandwich. His torso pushed flat against her back, his hands slipped around her waist and he pushed them off. She yelled his name as the water caught them and curved them from side to side like a frying crepe ready to flip over the edge. Her hands gripped his and they flew out the bottom and crashed into the water. Exhilarated, Kate let her body sink as far as it would go, and then used her hands to guide her to the surface. She broke the water laughing. Marc swam to her and she splashed water at him. “That was sneaky,” she called, then reached for his shoulder to try and dunk him under. He was too strong and she ended up sliding down his side...again...then treading beside him.
“Want to go again?”
Her eyes widened. “Yes!” This time she took off without waiting for him and climbed to the top of the slide. “Too slow Caliendo!” she called, but not too loud to wake his family, before taking off down the slide. She could hear him calling after her and she was twisting to find him while the slide pulled her in the water. This time she didn’t allow herself to sink as deep and raced to the surface just as the water swallowed him erupting waves around her as he disappeared below. She wiped the hair from her forehead and blinked her eyes. She felt his fingers around her ankle then he pulled her below dunking her head back under the water before letting go. She gasped holding her breath until she reached the surface and caught sight of his. She smacked him. “Jerk.”
He caught her hand. “Who’s too slow now?”
She laughed, but it quickly died as the atmosphere around them swallowed them up with desire. Bobbing in the water less than an arm’s length away Marc was still holding her wrist.
“It’s like we are back in the sauna.” She hadn’t realized she said it until it was out of her mouth.
They were floating closer to each other only one movement from touching body against body. “Tell me you scraped your knee on the slide.” It sounded like a plea from his lips. He wanted her to stop this because if she said it he would. But what if she didn’t want too?
“I didn’t.” It came out in a whisper.
“Kate.” A low masculine fighting moan.
She bit her lower lip. What game was she playing here? She told him the truth to deter him and the moment he needed her to say the words to end this, she couldn’t find them. “Marc.” Her low tone was full of lust and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself against him. What was she doing!
She could see his eyes fighting and she felt her own fight wash away into the pool around them.
“I think I scraped me knee.” He removed her arms and left her in the middle of the pool, alone. Alone. She always ended up alone.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Marc’s family climbed into the vehicle with them the night of the beach tree lighting and Kate ended up sandwiched in the back between Parker and Sophia.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Violet asked from her single bucket seat in the middle. Her hair was let down but hidden under her knitted black fur lined hat.
Eliza occupied the other seat looking pleasantly cozy in her floor length pea coat and red knitted scarf wrapped around her neck.
Kate yanked her own
wool coat from under Sophia’s leg and pulled a handful of hair stuck between Parker’s shoulder and her arm.
“One of them can jump in the other vehicle.” Kate looked through the window watching Abby, Emma and Melissa climb into the little sports car. It was either her suffer with these well-behaved mini Caliendo’s or suffer in the company of Melissa...who they were acquainted with better than they were with her...not that it mattered. This isn’t permanent.
“I’m fine,” she said between bouncing and wiggling.
She caught a quick glimpse of Marc grinning at her from the driver’s seat, but he quickly shut it down. Just like he did in the pool the evening before.
As they drove to the main strip, Parker and Sophia were ranting on about Christmas break at the end of the month and the new electronics they wanted for Christmas.
The glow of old fashioned black lantern street lights on the main strip of Willow Valley appeared. The local businesses that stayed open year around were open late advertising incredible deals to pull in people. The streets were filled with people all bundled in their warm winter gear gathering on the beach where the band stand stage was shovelled off and lit up for the lighting of the beach. Free cocoa and popcorn stands were put on by the local business association and Parker and Sophia screamed delights on either side of her begging to stop by there first.
They parked both vehicles behind the soap shop in their designated spots, thankful for them with every spot on the main street taken. Her sisters offered to park at Gran’s for them. Gran loved this event, and she even left the warmth of Mrs. Calvert’s bakery for the countdown.
Lakeshore Secrets: The McAdams Sisters - Kate McAdams (By The Lake Series Book 1) Page 18
