Winter Heat, Part 3

by Larissa Emerald

Jared grabbed the guy by the shirt and hauled him to the door. Mark swung his arms trying to get free. “Don’t be a dickhead. Just leave,” Jared said.

  He heard Kelsey shuffle closer to the bed and check to see if Tiffani was okay. He felt the two women watching him.

  Mark’s steam had dissipated like a helium balloon that had been pricked.

  Jared straightened, saying, “But before you go, explain what happened to Tiffani’s broken ski.”

  Mark’s gaze made a pass over everyone as his lips curled. “I’m not going to tell you shit.”

  Weariness laced Tiffani’s voice. “Please, Mark. Let’s not have it end like this.”

  “I don’t know what happened to them. Both skis were there when I left to call the ski patrol. One of them was in pieces, but you’ll have to ask your girlfriend about that. We rented them from her resort.”

  Kelsey stepped forward. “What about when you went back up the mountain?”

  “Yes, I went back up. But I didn’t do anything with the skis, didn’t even notice them.” The pressure appeared too much for him and he began to break down, his chin wavering. “I goaded her into taking that run. Things were not going as I planned. I wanted to spice things up and when—” He paused. “That didn’t go so well…I was angry.” He poured such sad into the look he gave Tiffani. “I never wanted you to get hurt, though.”

  Jared nodded, and Mark trundled out the door. He almost felt sorry for the guy. Almost. As Mark disappeared down the hall, one thought lingered—perhaps it’s not how long you know someone, but how well you know them that’s important.

  “Are you okay,” he said, facing the women. He walked over to Tiffani and patted her hand.

  “I’m sorry about the whole engagement deal.”

  “I should have ended things with him a long time ago.”

  “Well, I think we can at least rule out the jerk as having anything overt to do with your accident,” Jared said.

  Kelsey shrugged. “Which takes us right back to the resort being at fault.”

  “Maybe not, given the threats you’ve been receiving.” He slipped his hand behind her back. God, it she felt good just to touch her.

  “What threats?” Tiffani questioned.

  “Kelsey, and perhaps the resort, has been targeted with some intimidating notes. I’m returning to Chalet Romance for a while longer to see what I can find out.”

  “Oh,” Kelsey said.

  Tiffani looked between the two.

  “Will you be okay if we leave?” he asked his sister.

  “Of course. I’m on the mend.”

  He leaned down to kiss her forehead. “I think you’ve had enough drama for one day.”

  “Uh, yeah. Definitely.” She smiled at him and then at Kelsey. “You two have fun sluething.”

  He guided Kelsey toward the door. “Hopefully, we’ll figure out what’s going on soon.”

  * * *

  By five o’clock they were half way home, and Jared was in review mode as he followed Kelsey’s SUV. As they got higher in altitude, a light dusting of snow started to fall. It was far too easy for his brain to go off on a detour while he was driving.

  Kelsey’s dad had been in a delightful mood when they’d picked him up. In light of Tiffani’s good news about moving her toes, he knew he should be overjoyed too. And he was for sister.

  But he still had mixed feelings about what was happening at the resort.

  If his sister rented the skis there, then no question, Chalet Romance was definitely liable. Although, now he was thinking more in terms of clearing Kelsey and her father instead of punishing them. His heart sputtered to think of anyone doing her harm, including him.

  He thought back to what she’d told Sheriff Cameron about everything that had been happening at the resort, the other accidents—and the threats. The way the snowmobile had crashed. His hands flexed on the steering wheel. No, the events couldn’t be a coincidence.

  The sound of the tires cutting through the slush on the road was not comforting. Or maybe it was that anything and everything bothered him right now. Where was the clear course in this?

  During his contemplations, his driving had slowed, and Kelsey’s vehicle had pulled considerably ahead of him. He stepped on the gas. Disconcerted, he was trying to figure out their next step. Perhaps the goal should be to concentrate on one of the incidents, figure out the source and then he might figure out all of them. Or should he approach it from the point-of-view of a motive and let that lead him to the culprit?

  What would he do if he were writing the script? He considered a couple of suspense and mystery movies. And each one gave him a sick feeling in his gut when he thought of Kelsey as the star and in this dreadful predicament.

  Before he realized it, they were on the far-side of Breckenridge and driving the final curvy stretch leading up to the resort. Out of nowhere, several rifle shots rang out. Jared scanned the woods. Hunting season was over a couple of months ago, so there should have been none of that. Just as he looked back toward the road, Kelsey’s SUV fishtailed in front of him. His heart slammed into his chest, but he had to hand it to her—she kept control and slowed to a stop.

  Jared pulled up behind her and threw his Escalade quickly into park. With long strides, he hurried toward her vehicle, unsure of what had just happened. Then he realized her right tire was flat.

  She stepped out of her SUV clearly shaken, her face pale. “You did a great job handling that flat tire,” he said.

  Kelsey placed her palm to the chest and breathed. “Is that what happened? All of a sudden I lost control.”

  “Yes. Pop the back and I’ll change it for you.”

  She leaned in the driver’s side and hit the automatic release. He heard her explain to her dad what was going on.

  Back outside, she tugged her jacket tighter and stayed right with him. “Guess it was good to have you along after all.”

  He peered into the woods, and then got the spare, jack, and tools from the back end. Setting everything up, he frowned as he knelt by the rear, side fender. There was a neat hole about four inches back from the wheel-well and another one in the sidewall. He rubbed over it with his finger with a feeling of dread. A bullet hole.

  He straightened and glanced around. Should he tell Kelsey or not?

  “What’s the matter?” she asked.

  “Take a look.” He motioned her closer. “I pretty sure a bullet did this.” He pointed out the holes.

  “You’re kidding?” Her voice shook.

  “I wish I were.”

  She hugged herself, sliding her hands up and down her arms. “Now what?”

  “I think you should wait inside the car. I’ll be done with this in no time,” he said, trying to reassure her.

  She pressed her lips together and nodded. A minute later, he felt the SUV shift slightly as she got in. It appeared they had something else to report to Sheriff Cameron.

  He decided that in the morning he was going to have her practice with that gun the sheriff told him about. He couldn’t be with her all the time. Digging deep within his diaphragm, he sighed.

  What had she gotten herself into? And how was he going to keep her safe?

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “You’ve got to be kidding. You seriously want to take me out to practice shooting?” Kelsey couldn’t believe Jared had suggested such a thing. They were in her kitchen, having just finished another delicious breakfast he’d made.

  Last night, Jared had spent the night at his place. Kelsey knew she had no right to expect otherwise. But her feelings were changing so quickly, she’d noticed his absence. Then he had showed up at her door, early. It had been a great start to her day. Until now.

  “Sheriff Cameron told me you had a gun and that you’d taken the safety course. Under the circumstances, I don’t think it would hurt if you brushed up your skills a bit.”

  Kelsey put her hands on her hips. “I’m not particularly fond of guns. My dad gave it to me, and the only reason I took the co
urse was to appease him.”

  He approached her, then took hold of her shoulders and made her face him. “Then pacify me now,” he said in that voice that turned her to mush.

  When his hands were on her like this, sliding lightly down from shoulders to her elbows and back up, and he looked deeply into her eyes, her heart did a wild flutter, and it was nearly impossible to deny him anything. “Oh, all right.”

  It wasn’t like she was ever going to have to use the thing.

  Kelsey walked to a hutch and opened the bottom cabinet. She pulled out a black, hard case from the bottom shelf.

  “That’s where you keep it?”

  “I told you. I don’t use it.” She pushed the case into his chest.

  He took it and opened it at the counter. The gun and ammunition fit neatly inside the case. He removed the weapon and handled it so carefully. His strong hands ran over the steel with sure precision. She liked watching him even though the fact that it was a gun made her nervous.

  “Nice,” he commented. “A Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38 revolver. Yay, dad. Good choice.” He opened the cylinder to see if it was loaded. It wasn’t.

  Kelsey folded her arms across her chest, her lips pulled to the side, and her eyes boring into him. “I still don’t see the point. You don’t think this nut job is that crazy, do you?”

  “I hope not, but better to be prepared.”

  “Prepared for what? I can’t shoot anyone.”

  He looked her square in the eye, and there was no doubt to his seriousness. “What if someone came into your home? What if he followed you up the stairs? What if you locked yourself in the bathroom and he was beating down your door? What would you do? How would you protect yourself? If nothing else, I want you to scare the shit out him. But if it comes down to it, you shoot the son of a bitch.”

  She slapped her palm over her eyes and dragged it down over her face, trying to wipe away the images he’d put there.

  “Kelsey, the point is, who will look after your father if something happens to you?”

  His words were an arrow to her heart. She stood straighter. “Okay, let’s do this.” She spun on her heel and marched to grab her coat.

  * * *

  They took Jared’s Escalade off the beaten path several miles from the resort, but still on Moore property. He lifted the tailgate and used the cargo compartment as a set-up table to open the case and arrange things. Then he created a mini shooting range of a dozen soda cans lined up on a log.

  Kelsey leaned against the vehicle, only half watching him. She didn’t want to do this—she’d told him so—and her body language showed her unease. She was tense, and she hadn’t smiled once since they’d left the resort.

  “You may not ever have to use this, but if you do, I want the bad guy to think twice about coming after you,” he said, trying to ease her fears.

  “Is this really necessary?” She made a face.

  “I’m not going to be right next door for long.” The thought didn’t make him happy.

  “You seem to handle the gun well,” she admitted as he loaded the cartridges.

  “Thanks.”

  “But what red-blooded man in rural Colorado doesn’t?” she added. “I remember my dad when I was a kid, cleaning his guns. Rifles and shot guns mostly, after he’d gone hunting.”

  He walked away from her. “How long ago was it you took the class Sheriff Cameron told me about?”

  “About two years. I had just graduated from college and was starting out on my own. Dad felt better if I had a gun around to protect myself.”

  Jared nodded, then began giving instructions. “You never put your finger in the trigger until you plan to shoot.” He stood with his feet slightly apart and fired a round of shots at the cans, picking them off. “See. That’s not so bad.” He reloaded the gun and set the targets on the log. “Ready to give it a try?”

  “No.”

  “Come here.” He held out his hand and waited.

  She rolled her eyes, then pushed off the SUV. His heartbeat escalated as she walked over to him. There was a matter of trust in all of this, and even with her reluctance, she got on board.

  When she was close enough, he guided her into position, into a stance in front of him between his arms. “Here. Hold it like this.” He snuggled up to her back, fixed the gun in her hands and raised her arms to shoulder level. “There is a laser on this gun, remember? Just aim it, look down the barrel, and slowly squeeze the trigger. Be prepared for some kickback.” He did it for her once, and a can flew off the log.

  She nodded, and her hair brushed against his face. He smoothed it into place, allowing his fingers to trace her neck, then ran them over the rapidly pulsating spot on her throat. “You try.”

  She took a shot, her arm rising with the kickback, and she missed.

  He stepped away, giving her more room. “That’s all right. It will take some practice. Hold it steady.”

  She fired again and knocked a can off. A hint of a smile lifted the corners of her lips. Then she kept going until the cylinder was empty. She’d managed to hit the target about fifty percent of the time. “Good job,” he said.

  This time her grin widened, and he could appreciate her lovely dimple. Jared had never seen anyone more beautiful than Kelsey when she smiled.

  “How about you try again for good measure?” he asked.

  Her second round of shots, didn’t go quite as well, but he felt confident that if anyone messed with her, she could at least make them run for their life.

  * * *

  Kelsey had to admit, this whole shooting thing wasn’t as bad as she’d thought. An energy ran through her after that first shot. It wasn’t that she was planning on shooting anyone—she honestly doubted she’d be able to do that, whatever the threat—but the notion that she could take care of herself pleased her.

  Jared slid his hand down her arm until he plucked the gun from her hand. Goosebumps flecked her arms beneath the fabric of her soft, leather jacket. She couldn’t take her eyes off him as they headed over to the SUV, where he took care of the gun and stored the weapon in its case.

  “I reloaded it,” he said. He set the case into the backend of the Escalade. “Which, means all you have to do is point and shoot.”

  She nodded. “I understand.”

  He placed his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. Standing so close to him was just adding to her adrenaline high. She leaned into him, wanting whatever this thing was that made her heart race so to happen right then. She could see it in his velvety, warm eyes that he was going to kiss her. And she wanted his kiss.

  His hands felt hot as he cupped her face. “I’m proud of how brave you were. Pushing past your fears is never easy.” His mouth covered hers, not in a fierce kiss as she had imagined, but tenderly, as if he were cherishing the moment. Far sooner than she would have liked, he pulled back. “Thank you for trusting me,” he added.

  She blinked. She did trust him. This hunky, rich man who a few days ago she thought would ruin everything she’d built at Chalet Romance.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Kelsey couldn’t stop thinking about their morning adventure as she showered and changed before lunch. They’d driven back to their chalets and parted after a long, sensual kiss—the sparks between them had practically melted the snow off the trees. Jared was going to catch up on business while she touched bases with Amy.

  The only down turn in her mood had been when Dale had called her to clarify some details about last night’s flat tire. But she’d insisted on handling that responsibility this time. It had been her vehicle with a bullet hole in it, after all. So Sheriff Cameron would be meeting them at one-thirty to look at her SUV.

  Honestly, she didn’t want to seem passive about this lunatic, but she also didn’t see how they were going to catch him, or her. How did you find someone so shifty and contriving? Her mind just didn’t work that way.

  Shaking off her negative thoughts, she considered instead what to have for dinner t
his evening. Jared had agreed to dinner at her place at seven. And she wanted to please him. Oh, how she wanted to please him. Perhaps they should have something they had to eat with their fingers. She recalled the popcorn from their movie night and how she’d watched him take it between his lips.

  She sighed.

  What a perfect day it was going to be. Kelsey felt like singing, but she settled for humming the tune “Blue Skies” in her head as she walked the short trail to her dad’s place. Tinny had been scheduled to leave at noon today. He had a class to attend for his massage study program, so she wanted to make sure her father was all set for lunch.

  She unlocked the door, and there was a ruckus coming from somewhere, raised voices. At first she thought it was from the TV, but a sweep of her gaze around the room found the TV was off and the room was empty. “Dad?” she called.

  The shouting seemed to be coming from outside. She followed the voices, out the French doors, past the landscaped portion of grounds the resort maintained.

  When she encountered the cause of the commotion, she froze.

  Dad’s friend Lyle was yelling in a feverish frenzy as he pushed her father’s wheel chair. “I’ve tried to get you to sell for years. Your place drained business away from mine, and now, you’ve left me no choice. I’m too old to deal with bankruptcy.”

  “W-what do you think gave me a s-stroke…you old coot? I wasn’t any b-better off than you,” her father said in a gruff response.

  Lyle’s lips peeled away from his teeth with a snarl. “No. It’s not the same. You have family.” He forced the wheel chair over snow covered rocks. It tipped from side to side, almost toppling over.

  “Lyle, what are you doing?” Kelsey called.

  And then Lyle pushed Dad’s wheel-chair faster away from the chalet…toward the steep mountain drop. She sprang into action, running over as quickly as she could and tugging on Lyle’s arm. “Stop! I’m taking Dad home.”

  But he threw her to the ground with surprising strength. She tried a second time and landed hard, rocks cutting through her jeans and her leg.