by Sarah Morgan
He wondered how long she could carry on pretending this thing between them wasn’t happening.
“Are you listening to me?” Brenna poked him in the arm.
“What did you say?” He knew he was lousy company.
“I was telling you a story, but somehow I don’t think I have your full attention. In fact I don’t think I have any of your attention. I’m not flattered.” She picked up her glass. “When you took me out to dinner you didn’t look at me like that.”
Jackson dragged his gaze from Kayla to Brenna. “Like what?”
“Like the meal was a formality before you got to the interesting part of the evening.”
He sighed. “Sorry, Bren—”
“Don’t be. You and I never had any chemistry.” She sipped her wine. “I like her, Jackson. She can’t ski to save her life, but she’s genuine.”
“I like her, too.”
“So do you have a plan?”
“Yes.” What he didn’t know was whether it was a good plan.
He was going on a hunch. Trusting his instincts.
“I’d give you advice, but I’m no expert.”
Jackson eyed Tyler across the table. “How are you finding working with him?”
“About as infuriating as growing up with him.”
“That’s what I figured. Is it awkward? Should I be worried?”
“No and no. I won’t be driven from my home and the place I love by a man with the insight of a boulder. He treats me like a little brother.”
“Maybe you should ski naked. Or wear that black dress you wore when we went out to dinner.”
“You wouldn’t fire me if I taught my class naked?”
Jackson reached for his wine, an excellent sauvignon blanc provided by Sean. “I don’t have too many people on my side at the moment. I can’t afford to fire you.”
They talked for the rest of the evening, mostly about the ski program and how they could expand it. And all the time he was aware of Kayla at the far end of the table, chatting with Sean about the differences between New York and London. It didn’t surprise him they were getting on well. What surprised him was how much he minded.
They lingered over the meal and then finally Kayla stood up, thanked his mother and walked across the room to get her coat.
Clearly she thought the evening was over. Right now she was probably congratulating herself on having avoided intimacy.
Then she tilted her head as she heard a noise outside. “What’s that?”
Jackson rose to his feet, hoping this was going to play out the way he wanted it to. “That,” he said, “is your lift home.”
“I can walk.”
So far, so predictable.
“I’ve arranged an alternative mode of transport.”
Frowning at him, she wrapped her scarf around her neck and tugged open the door. Her gasp interrupted conversation. “Dogs?”
“Dogsledding by moonlight. This is one of the oldest forms of winter transportation.”
“Jackson—”
“It’s a tourist favorite,” Elizabeth said happily, walking to the door to wave at Dana. “You can’t go home without trying it, dear. I guarantee you won’t regret it.”
Jackson noticed that this time Kayla didn’t recoil from the dear or from his mother, who now had her arm around her. She stared at the sled and then finally, finally looked at him.
“A sled ride.” Her voice was croaky. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“I don’t know what you mean. This is all part of the Snow Crystal experience.”
* * *
THEY MOVED THROUGH the magical midnight landscape, weaving and winding along well-groomed snowy trails, the peace broken only by the clink of the harness, the panting of the dogs and the soft crunch of the sled running over packed snow.
Stars sparkled in the velvet black sky and the full moon reflected off the snow, spreading silvery light across the silent forest.
The outside temperature was below freezing but Kayla was warm, snuggled inside a large sleeping bag with Jackson.
She was a coward. She knew she was a coward, because she’d dodged conversation about the night before. In her head she’d tried to dismiss it as a one-night stand, but she knew it was more than that and knowing scared her. She knew what to do after a one-night stand. Walk away. This was different.
She’d avoided it, but there was no avoiding it now as he wrapped his arm around her and hauled her close. Whether that was to add to the warmth, the feeling of security or just because of what they’d shared the night before, she didn’t know. And there was no opportunity to explore it, because Dana was behind them, driving the dog team. They surged forward with enthusiasm and excitement. Occasionally she’d call out a command, but otherwise they glided through the moonlight in silence, part of the wilderness, absorbing the unique atmosphere of the forest at night.
It was the most relaxing, magical experience of her life, a million miles away from her job, New York and all the small irritations that punctuated her working day. Here in this snow-covered wonderland there were no complications, no pressures, no decisions to be made. Her whole world was the forest, the silence and the man next to her. It was all about the moment, and she knew it was yet another moment she’d never forget.
The cold stung her cheeks, and she was grateful for the goggles that protected her eyes from snow kicked up by the dogs’ paws.
She sat snuggled against Jackson, until Dana brought the dog team to a halt. The lamp on her head showed they were at the junction with another trail leading deep into the forest.
Jackson levered himself out of their cozy cocoon, spoke to Dana and came back moments later holding snowshoes. “I want to show you the forest at night.”
Kayla wished she could just stay in the sleeping bag pressed against the warmth of him, but that wasn’t an option so she forced herself to wriggle out of the comfort, shivering as the freezing air bit through the warmth of her jacket.
He took a rucksack from Dana. “We’ll be half an hour.”
Dana walked around to tend to the dogs. “No hurry.”
“Half an hour?” Kayla’s teeth were chattering. “How long does it take to freeze out here?”
“Not long if you don’t have the right equipment. Fortunately we do. These help you walk on deep snow without sinking into the powder.” He helped her put on snowshoes and hefted the rucksack onto his back.
“What’s in there?”
“Sustenance, just in case we need it.” He took her hand and led her along the snowy trail, through heavily laden trees and into the depth of the forest until Dana and the sled were no longer visible and the only sound was the occasional howl of the dogs as they waited impatiently to start running again.
Kayla paused, looking through the trees illuminated by moonlight and his head torch. “I’d spook myself if I were on my own.”
“You’re not on your own.” He curved his arm around her and pulled her against him. “Listen.”
It started to snow, big soft flakes drifting down in a steady flow, settling on her hat and her jacket.
“What am I listening for?” She tilted her head. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Exactly. It’s just you, me and the forest. Some of these trees, especially the white pine and the sugar maple, have been standing here for hundreds of years. When I was a kid I used to think that was so cool. I used to wonder who else had walked past and seen these same trees.” He stooped and picked up a beautifully shaped pinecone from the surface of the deep snow. “I was fascinated by how the trees could change with the seasons and yet still be here. In the fall, if you stand up on the ridge where we were skiing this morning, it’s like looking at a sunset. Reds, golds, oranges—all mixed together.”
“It must be spectacular.”
“It is, but this has always been my favorite time of year. Not just winter, but Christmas. When I was a kid I used to come up here with Gramps. We’d haul the sled and choose a tree for the lodge. I co
uld never understand why people wanted to cut them down and put them indoors.” He studied the pinecone in his hand. “I couldn’t understand why folks wanted to spray these silver and put them in a bowl in the center of the dining table with big red bows. A tree belongs in a forest. For me, coming here with Gramps was Christmas. It wasn’t the decorations, lights or turkey. It was everything right here.”
His words made her eyes sting.
“This is real. The rest is all an illusion.”
“It’s time you had some new memories of Christmas, Kayla.” His voice was as soft and gentle as the snow falling around them. “We’re going to make them together so that you have something good to take away with you. That’s my gift to you. Merry Christmas.”
The sting in her throat became a lump as he slid the pinecone into her palm.
“A souvenir from Vermont. Put it on your desk and it will remind you of the forest when you’re back in the craziness of your life.”
Kayla stared at it for a long moment and then tucked the pinecone carefully into her pocket, wondering why the prospect of returning to the craziness of her life didn’t lift her mood.
It was what she did, and she’d done it for so long she didn’t even question whether there might be another way.
Or maybe she was just too afraid to look.
Maybe he was right about that.
Jackson lifted his hand and brushed snow away from her hat. “We should get back.”
The chemistry was a sharp pull in her stomach, a snatch of breath, a pound of her heart—as powerful as ever, drawing them together. She wasn’t a romantic person but there was something about the soft fall of snow and the intense blue of Jackson’s eyes that made it hard to breathe.
And she knew he was going to kiss her, here in this frozen forest, the trees their only witness.
There was an inevitability to it that made her heart kick at her ribs and when his arms came around her and his mouth finally claimed hers, she gave a soft sigh. His lips were cool, the outside temperature below freezing, but the kiss was perfect—lit by stars and moonbeams, the heat and fire cooled by the soft brush of falling snowflakes on her skin, and she knew that, whatever happened, she would go back with new memories of Christmas.
It had to end, of course. It was too cold to allow such a perfect moment to last, but the warmth stayed with her as they walked back through the silent forest to Dana and the waiting husky team.
They snuggled back down in the sleeping bag, drank hot chocolate to warm themselves and then continued on the trail, along the side of the lake and back to Kayla’s cabin.
“Thank you.” Kayla shivered as her boots touched the snow. “That was the best experience of my life.”
“Top that, Jackson.” Dana winked at her cousin. “Want me to run you back to your barn?”
“I do not.” A smile touching his mouth, he strolled over to his cousin and hugged her. “Thanks, Dana.”
Her eyes twinkled. “You could invite me in for a coffee.”
“I could, but I’m not going to.” He strolled away from her and took Kayla’s arm while Dana gave a dreamy sigh.
“Okay, but just remember I do engagements and weddings. Champagne extra.”
Jackson didn’t turn his head.
* * *
SHE WAS SHIVERING, and he realized with a tug of guilt just how wet she was. “We stayed out too long. You’re frozen.”
“I loved it.” Her teeth were chattering. “That’s how I want to commute when I get back to New York. Thank you for arranging it.”
Cursing softly, he tugged off her gloves and warmed her freezing hands. “Stay there and don’t move. I need one minute, that’s all—just one minute.”
He’d been planning it all evening, but hadn’t expected to use it as a first aid technique.
He did what he needed to do and returned to find her standing where he’d left her, the melting snow sliding off her jacket.
“We need to get you out of your clothes—”
“You have to be kidding.” Her hands covered his as he tried to unzip her jacket. “I am not removing a s-single layer. You may be hot, O’Neil, but even you’re not hot enough to make me part with layers.”
“You need to be naked for what I have in mind.”
Her teeth were chattering. “Jackson—”
“Hot tub.” He ignored the grip of her chilled fingers and pulled down the zip. “We need to get you out of this wet clothing and into the warmth.”
“I c-cannot take my c-clothes off.”
“I’ll do that part.”
“You’re all heart, O’Neil.”
“Not true. I have other parts.” He pulled off her fleece top, steadily undressing her. “Parts you’re about to discover.”
“Are those parts frozen?”
“Definitely not. Want me to prove it? I’ll leave you your underwear, Green.”
“Why bother?” She was still shivering but her eyes were dark as she looked at him. “Don’t tell Alice, but my underwear isn’t thermal.”
“In that case it’s serving no purpose and has to come off.” Resisting the temptation to start the warming process right there and then on the hardwood floor, Jackson relieved her of her underwear and wrapped a warm bathrobe around her. “Come with me.”
“I am going to die of hypothermia. Or frostbite—” Her muttered complaints lasted until she slid into the steaming hot tub. “Or maybe I’ll just die of bliss—” She closed her eyes and sank down to her neck. “Oh, this is perfect.”
Jackson slid in next to her, the heat of the water a luxurious contrast to the freezing air.
She leaned her head back against the side of the hot tub. “I want to stay here and never move. I’m going to make Brett install one in the office for lunchtime relaxation sessions.”
“You don’t take lunch and you don’t relax.”
But she was relaxing now, her eyes closed, her long lashes creating a dark shadow against her pale skin. “Now I understand why you installed a hot tub on the deck of each cabin. It’s genius.”
“You’ve never used a hot tub before?”
“Never.” Her eyes opened and she looked at the forest and the frozen surface of the lake that glistened in the moonlight. “I bet there aren’t many hot tubs with a view like this one.”
“I’ve tried to persuade my grandfather to try it.”
She smiled. “I can imagine his response.”
“It wasn’t polite, but the gist of it was that he thinks it’s an unnecessary extravagance.”
“Which probably defines my perfect holiday.”
“You never take holidays.”
“Maybe it’s time I did.”
“Are you telling me you’ve fallen in love with Snow Crystal?”
Her smile faltered. A tiny frown appeared on her forehead.
“Maybe. Does that count as being involved with a client?”
“No. But this does.” He tried to take it slowly, to savor each moment, because the last time had been a desperate blur of hunger and need and he wanted this to be different. He fought the surge of raw primal lust, tensed muscle to prevent himself from hauling her close, tried to ignore the madness, until holding back became the biggest challenge of his life. She was naked, her skin gleaming wet from the snow and the water. He’d never seen a woman more beautiful. Never wanted a woman more.
Her hair was pinned haphazardly on top of her head. Wisps of blond, damp from the steam, clung to the smooth curve of her jaw and neck.
This was a different Kayla Green and this was the woman he wanted.
He might have kept it slow if she hadn’t slid a hand over his thigh and eased herself closer to him in the bubbling water. Might even have held back a little if her mouth hadn’t brushed against his jaw, the lick of her tongue a tease and a temptation. He turned his head, caught her mouth with his and was lost. Her lips were soft, her kisses hot, her body lithe as she moved gracefully through the steaming water and wound her legs around his.
> Her hand cupped him, and Jackson closed his eyes, jaw clenched, brain wiped, reduced to the most basic version of himself. “Kayla—”
“This is your fault—” She nibbled his lip, licked at him, driving him crazy. “I don’t do this, so it has to be your fault.”
But she was doing it now, and he told himself that was all that mattered. They’d work the rest out later. Or maybe they’d let the rest take care of itself. Right now, he didn’t care. All he cared about was not tipping over the edge. Not yet.
Her hands were on his shoulders, on his chest, and she drove him wild with the drag of her nails, the touch of her mouth until he knew he couldn’t trust himself to control the pace unless he was the one in charge.
Fighting for control, he locked his hands on her hips and shifted her so that she straddled him. Eyes wide, she tried to sheathe herself with him, but he held her hard, restricting the movement of her hips, his legs pressing hers apart, exposing her to his touch. And touch he did, with slow gentle strokes, his fingers sliding over her feminine softness until she gasped softly against his mouth.
Around them the forest was silent, sounds muffled by the thick blanket of winter and the steady fall of new snow. Her lips were pressed against his, and he felt each sound she made, tasted and swallowed every moan as he stroked and explored with knowing fingers until he tipped her over the edge.
He felt it happen, felt each ripple and pulse of her body with his fingers and he was so hard, so ready, it took all his willpower not to give in to the writhing of her hips and take what they both wanted right there.
But he wanted more—so much more than a steamy encounter in a hot tub followed by a serving of hypothermia.
“Inside.” He managed one word and she raised her head and looked at him, eyes unfocused, mouth soft and swollen from his kisses.
“Inside?”
“Now.” He’d never been this desperate. Never felt this out of control, not even when he’d hit adolescence and chased everything female. Exercising willpower he didn’t know he had, he eased away from her, reached for her robe and braved the freezing air. “Move.”
