Avalanche

by Cambria Hebert

  Alex slapped me on the shoulder and then went back to the table. As I left, I heard them laugh at something he said, and I grinned.

  Dude was such a player.

  The second I stepped out into the lodge into the quieter tones, I felt some of the tension leave my shoulder blades.

  Maybe I just wanted to be alone tonight.

  To think.

  Coming around the back side of the fireplace, a blur suddenly appeared, and it banged right into me.

  “Whoa,” I exclaimed, automatically reaching out to steady what just bounced off.

  A little gasp stopped my heart.

  I glanced down into blue eyes I honestly thought I’d never see again.

  I blinked, thinking my mind was playing tricks on me. I was only seeing her because she’d been on my mind today.

  As if testing to see if she was real, my fingers flexed where I held her. She didn’t disappear.

  “Bellamy?” Her name ripped out of me like a blast from the past.

  Oh my God.

  It was her.

  Bellamy

  Breathing was something my body forgot how to do. An automatic action that suddenly became something so very complicated.

  “Liam,” I said, the word low and strained. It used up the very last bit of my oxygen.

  His hands flexed again, still holding on to my arms.

  That was the problem. The reason my lungs were burning and my sight was blurred. He was touching me.

  I wrenched away, nearly tripping. He reached to steady me again, but I made a strangled sound, and he stopped.

  The second there was some precious space between us, I sucked in a ragged breath. Then another.

  “You’re here,” he rasped.

  “You weren’t supposed to be.”

  He smiled. Oh, why did he have to do that? The dimple in his chin appeared, and my knees started to shake.

  Eight years. Even after eight years, he still reduced me to putty.

  “Thought about me, did you?”

  Every. Single. Day.

  “Of course not.” I drew myself up, wrapping my arms around my body. Oh God, I looked a mess. I was dressed like a homeless person…

  Oh God, I was a homeless person.

  And I’d come here.

  This was a very, very bad choice.

  He stepped forward, and I took a step back. Liam frowned, and my eyes raked over his face, taking in his features, noting the way he’d changed over the years.

  He was bigger now. So much bigger. His hair wasn’t as long as it used to be. Eight years ago, it was so long he could pull it into a short ponytail at the base of his neck. He said he liked it that way because it drove his father crazy. Now it was shorter on the sides but still long enough to run your fingers through.

  His jaw was more chiseled. Light-colored hair filled it out, defined it even more. And his eyes.

  Oh, his eyes.

  Still the same stormy gray, the same depths I could get lost in for hours. They were wiser now. Almost more hawk-like, as if he could penetrate even my deepest of secrets with that stare.

  The trembling in my knees moved to my hands. I stood there staring at him, unable to speak, looking like a homeless woman and trembling like a mouse caught out in the cold.

  “Is your father with you?” he asked.

  The words were like a knife right to my chest. I actually winced when he said them.

  After my throat worked, I managed to reply. “Um, no. I’m alone.”

  He frowned. He was starting to see something wasn’t right. He would know if I stood in front of him any longer.

  There was something about Liam Mattison that managed to strip me bare.

  I thought it had been because I was sixteen. But here I was at the age of twenty-four, and I knew it hadn’t been my age.

  It was him.

  “Ms. Lane,” the concierge spoke from somewhere behind. “I spoke to the manager, and I’m sorry, but there isn’t anything we can—”

  I spun. “It’s okay!” I cut him off instantly, wishing I could have done it sooner.

  “Manager?” Liam wondered from behind.

  Of course he’d heard.

  The man glanced behind me, his eyes widening a fraction.

  “What’s this about a manager, Kenny?”

  His eyes flickered to me, and I shook my head, begging him to shut up.

  “Who runs this place?” Liam snapped.

  I gasped. “You run BearPaw now?”

  “Yes,” Liam replied with all the confidence in the world.

  “What about your father?” Kenny wondered behind us.

  “Why did you need a manager?” Liam asked, ignoring what he said.

  “I… ah…” I began, then went for my bag I’d dropped on the floor. “I should be going.”

  “Like hell,” Liam growled, grabbing my arm again. His hold was firm, but it didn’t hurt.

  And damn if I stopped breathing again.

  “Please don’t touch me.” I gasped.

  Liam frowned but let go. “Stay,” he ordered.

  Annoyance made me forget the effect he had on me. “Don’t you talk to me like that!”

  The corners of his mouth lifted, but he stared at Kenny. “I asked you a question.”

  “Ms. Lane…”

  “Lane?” Liam echoed, confused. Then this dark look came over his eyes, and he stiffened. His stare snapped away from me back to Kenny.

  “Yes. She was, uh, trying to get a room, but without ID and a credit card…”

  Liam’s brows rose. He looked back at me. “No ID and no credit card?”

  “She lost her wallet,” Kenny put in.

  My, wasn’t Kenny a helpful fellow?

  “I see,” Liam murmured.

  Actually, he didn’t see at all. He couldn’t possibly.

  “Thank you for your time, Kenny,” I told the man. I started to rush away.

  Behind me, Liam cursed, and I knew he was following.

  I’d made it a few steps when suddenly the room began to swim. My feet stuttered, and I felt my entire body wobble.

  Someone called my name, but they were so far away.

  Suddenly, everything went dark.

  Liam

  One minute I was walking out of the Tavern, wanting to be alone, and now I was standing here with a woman, scared as hell she would walk out.

  I chased after her, not understanding anything except I couldn’t let her get away.

  Not this time.

  From just a few steps away, I saw the way her body faltered, how the set of her shoulders sort of slumped. The second she began to sway, I started to run.

  I caught her before she could hit the floor, cradling her body against my chest. My breath was heaving, my heart frantic.

  What is she doing here?

  Something’s wrong.

  “Fuck,” I muttered as I stared down. She’d collapsed right in my arms. Her blond lashes swept against cheeks I realized were far too pale.

  Carrying her over, I laid her on one of the large chairs. Kenny hovered nearby. I wanted to tell him to get the hell away, but I held back. If she needed something, he was going to have to get it. I wasn’t leaving her side.

  Pushing some of the dark-blond hair out of her face, I cupped her cheek. “Bellamy,” I said softly. “Bellamy, wake up.”

  It took a moment, a moment too long, for her to come around. A small sound echoed in her throat, and I leaned closer. “Hey, Bells,” I murmured, stroking her cheek. “Come on. Open your eyes.”

  Her eyes fluttered open. The blue was hazy and a little unfocused, but she smiled.

  My heart turned over.

  “You called me Bells.”

  “Yeah,” I whispered, stroking her hair again.

  “I like it.”

  It was like someone punched through my chest, grabbed my heart, and squeezed as hard as they could. It almost made me double over, but I stayed where I was. I couldn’t look away.

  Awareness cr
ashed over her like a bucket of ice. She sucked in a breath, her eyes cleared, and she bolted up. The sudden movement caused her to sway again, and she groaned.

  “Easy.” I cautioned her. “Just sit back.”

  “I have to go,” she protested.

  I bit back the urge to yell at her. Once I was sure I wouldn’t, I asked, “How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”

  “A few days,” she murmured.

  I jerked up and stared around at Kenny. “Get me a hot chocolate and a couple cookies.”

  He nodded, but didn’t move.

  “Now!”

  He jumped and ran for the table.

  A few moments later, he returned with a paper cup and a napkin with three cookies. Even though I wanted to chew it for her and pour the shit in her mouth, I knew I couldn’t.

  Telling myself to calm the fuck down, I crouched in front of the chair she was sitting in.

  Damn, her feet didn’t even touch the floor.

  “Here,” I said, keeping my voice soft. “Eat something.”

  Bellamy took a cookie off the napkin in my palm and put it between her lips. The way she nibbled it made me anxious. I wanted her to shove it in there and swallow. What the fuck was she thinking starving herself for days?

  Jesus.

  When the cookie was just about gone, I pushed the hot chocolate under her nose. “Drink.”

  “You’re bossy,” she said, stuffing the rest of the cookie into her mouth.

  “All the more reason to do what I say.”

  Her fingers brushed mine when she reached for the cup. I noted the way her breath caught, and her eyes flew up to my face. Keeping myself casual, I surrendered the drink and didn’t react to the way she affected me.

  Bellamy lifted the cup to her mouth and sipped at it. Jolting it away from her lips, she made a face.

  “What?” I asked, standing, ready to fight some battle I didn’t even understand.

  “I burned my tongue,” she said, sheepish.

  I spun on Kenny. “You made it too hot!” I growled. “She fucking burned herself!”

  “I-I’m sorry, Mr. Liam. The water is just in the kettle—”

  “It’s fine.” Bellamy’s voice floated past me. “I shouldn’t have gulped it. Hot chocolate is supposed to be hot.”

  I narrowed my eyes on Kenny, and he grimaced.

  I dropped back in front of her, resisting the urge to stroke her knee.

  “Thank you,” she said after a moment. “I feel better now.”

  There was a slight difference in her color, but not nearly enough to convince me she was better.

  “Book her a room,” I told Kenny. “Under my name. Use my info.”

  “What?” She gasped. “No!”

  I ignored her and stared at Kenny. “Send a burger and fries up and more hot chocolate.”

  Kenny started to walk away, and I remembered something. “No mayo on the burger!”

  I turned back. There was this funny look on her face.

  “What?” I worried.

  “You remembered I don’t like mayo.”

  A million comebacks flitted through my mind.

  Of course I did. You’re the only person on the planet who doesn’t like mayo.

  Only girls don’t like mayo.

  Lucky guess.

  I could never forget.

  I didn’t say any of them.

  “I remembered.”

  We stared at each other for what felt like a mere heartbeat, but then Kenny was behind me, clearing his throat. I glanced around, annoyed, but he held out the keycard to her room.

  I took it and glanced down, noting the room number. “Seriously?” I looked up.

  He grimaced. He knew as well I did what the issue was.

  “It was the room she was trying to reserve.”

  I tossed the card back at him. “Fix it. Now.”

  “Yes, sir.” He rushed off.

  “What was that about?” Bellamy asked, scooting toward the front of the seat, trying to place her feet on the floor.

  God. She was adorable. Just as beautiful as she’d been eight years ago.

  Hell, maybe even more.

  “Careful,” I said, cupping her elbow gently and helping her up.

  “I’m fine.” She began. “About the room…”

  “Don’t argue with me,” I said, mild. “You’re not leaving.”

  Her chin jutted out, but then she dipped her head, looking into the cup. “Just for tonight.”

  I made a sound, but it wasn’t an agreement. Over my dead body would she walk out of here tomorrow.

  I picked up her bag, and she reached for it as if she were worried I was going to take it away. An angry, uncomfortable feeling wormed inside me, twisting and making my fists clench. Inspecting every inch of her, it irritated me that those damn sweats she was wearing covered so much.

  I felt the need to search her for bruises. Someone hurt her. I knew it.

  “Relax,” I said, calm. “I’ll carry it for you. Bring your hot chocolate.”

  I started for the front desk, then stopped. She bounced off my back and made a sound.

  I chuckled.

  She glared.

  “Take a cookie.” I held out the napkin.

  “I don’t—”

  “Bells.” The tone to my voice was not as gentle and cajoling as before.

  She took the cookie, and I went to get the keycard. When I approached, Kenny looked up, his attention divided between me and Bellamy.

  “I gave her a suite on the west side, facing the slopes and your cabin. I hope that’s okay…”

  “Good man.” I took the key. “Send up the food.”

  “Already called room service.”

  “Thanks, Kenny. I’ll remember this.”

  He seemed equal parts glad and horrified by that fact. I took a moment to give him my usual stare, trying to drop some of the intensity I emanated.

  His shoulders relaxed.

  “C’mon,” I said, placing a hand to Bellamy’s waist. She side-stepped the gesture, which only made me want to do it again.

  When the elevator opened, I held the door so she could step inside. We rode up to her floor in silence.

  There were so many things I wanted to say, so many things I wanted to know. Underneath it all was a hard knot of the knowledge I’d gained downstairs.

  Knowledge I didn’t like at all.

  Bellamy

  I shouldn’t be doing this.

  The thought pretty much became my heartbeat as I stepped out of the elevator and followed Liam down the hall.

  Liam!

  I didn’t have a choice. I literally had nowhere else to go tonight. I was exhausted, which I’d just embarrassingly proved by passing out. In his arms.

  It was probably better I didn’t remember being in his arms because that was something that would haunt me for the next eight years.

  I’d be lying if I said staying in the room under his name didn’t make me feel safe. Safer than I’d felt since I fled Chicago. I’d barely slept on the bus ride because I’d been terrified they’d somehow find me and run the bus off the road.

  It wasn’t even that far out of the realm of possibility. I’d seen what they were capable of. More than once.

  I shivered so forcefully my teeth knocked together. Liam glanced over his shoulder at me and frowned. I covered it up by stuffing the cookie into my mouth.

  It was a good cookie. Chocolate chip. My favorite.

  “Here,” he said, stopping toward the end of the hall, scanning the keycard and pushing open the door. I hesitated in the opening, a sudden burst of fear overcoming me.

  Peeking up around my hair, I asked, “Will you go first?”

  He nodded briskly and then went inside. I knew he couldn’t understand, but he moved in a way that reassured me. My stare clung to him as he flipped on the bathroom light on his way past, glanced into the mirrored closet, and went on into the rest of the suite.

  He checked everything, including
behind the curtains.

  “Looks good,” he said.

  The door that adjoined to the room beside me was locked with more than one lock and one of those chains. The sound the chain made the night it was burst through at my father’s ricocheted around my brain.

  Liam stared between me and the door, a frown pulling at his face.

  I yanked my gaze away and tried to smile. I couldn’t. I couldn’t pretend that door didn’t one hundred percent freak me out.

  As if reading my thoughts, Liam dropped my bag and moved. Within seconds, he slid the heavy dresser out from under the flat-screen and dragged it so it was directly in front of the door.

  He wasn’t even breathless when he finished.

  “You’re safe here.” He promised.

  Tears filled my eyes, and I turned away. “Thank you for vouching for me, for the room.”

  His voice was quiet, but it felt like a slap. “You didn’t lose your ID, did you?”

  Without looking back, I shook my head.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Would it be okay if I took a shower?”

  He materialized behind me, gently palming my shoulders and urging me to face him. When I kept my face down, he lifted my chin. “This is your room. You can do whatever you want in here. Okay?”

  I nodded. “I’m going to shower.”

  His gray eyes darkened like the sky just before a downpour. My heart thundered and my fingers itched. Oh, to be in that storm. Oh, to be caught up by him.

  “I can’t shower until you leave.” I pointed out. I was proud my voice sounded normal.

  He chuckled, and a warm rush of shivers went down my spine. Inside my stolen sneakers, my toes curled. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Why not?” I demanded. “You said this was my room.”

  “And it is. But someone has to answer when room service knocks.”

  “Oh.” I hadn’t thought of that.

  “Go.” He stepped back, palmed my bag, and held it between us. “Take a shower. I’ll make sure no one bothers you.”

  “Even you?” I asked.

  He smiled. “Even me.”

  The beckoning of a private bathroom, hot water, and some soap was too great a call to ignore. Even though I shouldn’t, I trusted him. I trusted I could take a shower and Liam wouldn’t bother me.