Weathering the Storm

by Kait Gamble

  That was all Maia needed to hear. Skiing was going to have to wait, apparently.

  It was chaos at the terminal. Inconvenienced travelers always made the worst kind of anarchy. She avoided all the shouting and finger pointing, searching instead for somewhere quiet to try to call and find out if there was any other way of getting to the resort.

  Staring out at the snow, she dialed ahead to the resort but got nothing. Another call to Jo met the same fate. Cursing the god of cell reception, she looked around for an alternative. The few payphones were at the end of long, winding lines that discouraged her from joining.

  She avoided them and headed toward the waiting area but that was filled as well. Maia was about to give up when she spotted the two Aussies from dinner. Looking for a little camaraderie, she headed over.

  She was greeted with broad smiles. “G’day.”

  Maia gave them a small smile. “Not really. It looks like we’re stuck here for a while.”

  They shared a look before they turned back to her. “Actually, we were able to get a helicopter to take us the rest of the way. If you want, we could give you a lift.”

  She looked at the curtain of white falling outside. “What about the weather?”

  “It’s not that bad yet. If we get out of here now, we can beat the worst of it.” The tall one smiled. “Better than spending who knows how long stuck here, isn’t it?”

  It was. Almost anything with a bed would be at this point. “Which way?”

  She received jovial claps on the back as they walked with her to the helipad.

  * * * *

  Maia kept a white-knuckled grip on the handle as the helicopter dipped and plunged as it was buffeted by the wind. Garrett and Dane, her two new friends from the Land Down Under, seemed to find her terror hilarious, like just about everything else. The two thrill seekers loved every moment of it.

  “You have to meet up with us for some skiing. We can make a day of it. Or two!” Dane jostled her shoulder with his, chuckling when she flinched as the helicopter shuddered.

  “If we survive this.” They lurched again, throwing them up in the air for a second before crashing back into their seats.

  That and her comment gained more uproarious laughter.

  Maia ignored them in favor of concentrating her energy on not vomiting, passing out or falling out of the helicopter. The last two weren’t likely, but the first…

  “You guys have to let me pay for this.” Her stomach rolled. Wasn’t she paying for it already?

  “Money is irrelevant. You come skiing with us and we’ll call it even.”

  Maia wasn’t sure if she agreed or not. All she wanted was to be on the ground again.

  She closed her eyes and hung on.

  Luckily the pilot felt the same way about getting to the ground ASAP and they flew to the car-free town in record time. The instant they landed, Garrett helped her out, while Dane took her bags. She must have looked really bad because their jovial mood was subdued as they helped her to the hotel.

  She could only remember thanking them, the receptionist’s concerned smile and a blurred trip to her room before falling face first into the bed.

  First impressions of the place would have to wait until she could see straight.

  * * * *

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Girard. I can’t tell you where Maia is.”

  Alex scrubbed his hand over his face. He’d finally managed to get a hold of Maia’s editor, Jo, but the woman was being less than cooperative. “Please. I’ve been trying to get a hold of her and haven’t been able to. Have you been able to reach her? Have you spoken to her lately? Gotten a text?”

  There was a slight hesitation. “I heard from her a couple of days ago.”

  “But nothing since?” His stomach clenched. “I know she keeps in constant contact with you. The only time she didn’t was when we were stuck in Belize. Are you telling me you aren’t worried about her?”

  “Are you saying you are?” she asked icily.

  Had Maia been sharing with her boss about what was going on with them? “Of course I am. So if you could please tell me where she is—”

  “I’m not going to do that, but when she checks in, I’ll let her know you’re looking for her.”

  He clenched his fist around the phone. It might not have been what he wanted but it was better than nothing.

  Alex managed to grind out a less than pleasant sounding, “Thank you.”

  He hung up and dropped the phone on the table. Well, he’d gone and made a total mess of things. Maia was out there somewhere and he had no clue where. He couldn’t find her. She wasn’t answering his calls or his texts. He wasn’t even sure if she was getting them or if she was ignoring him or had changed her number. Which he wouldn’t blame her if she had done either one.

  Alex could only imagine what she was thinking. What she thought of him. For the second time, he’d disappeared on her. Only this time he’d done exactly what she’d thought he’d done the first time. The irony was almost laughable.

  He had to find her. All he wanted was a chance to explain. And perhaps beg for forgiveness.

  That was if she would even give him the time of day. If he was Maia, he’d have a few choice words for him.

  After his father had left him to think, Alex realized that what he was doing was insane. He had the chance for something new and pure and he had all but thrown it away because of his quest to sate his own desires. Not a thought was given to what Maia wanted or needed.

  Maybe what she needs is someone else?

  The thought of her with anyone other than himself veiled his vision in a red haze. It wasn’t an option. He might not have been reunited with her for very long, but he knew that they belonged together. That he couldn’t be without her.

  An email notification pinged on his phone and Alex took a quick glance, sure that it would be nothing more than junk or status updates on work sites. But he caught Maia’s name just before the screen went black again.

  Snatching it from the table, he tapped the screen until the email opened in full. He had asked all the hotels within their scope to look out for her name and that of the magazine she worked for and even Chloe’s name on the off chance that either of them had checked in. He never expected to see Maia’s name since she seemed to be avoiding him, but there was always the chance. No matter how slim that was.

  And as luck would have it, it had happened. The reservation was under her own name but according to the records, she’d checked out almost as soon as she’d checked in. It didn’t matter. She had been in Zurich a few days ago. He did a quick search for any new resorts in the area and was rewarded with one in Zermatt. She had to be there.

  Triumphant, he saved the information and immediately called his pilot. She was so close. He could be with her again within a few hours. He imagined her glowing and flushed as they made love next to a cozy fire and his body tightened in anticipation.

  He outlined his intention to the pilot, but was surprised by the response.

  “I’m afraid we can’t travel to Zermatt right now, sir.”

  “Why not?” Alex was about ready to strangle the man through the phone. He needed to get to Maia and he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

  There was an audible gulp from the man on the other end of the line. “The weather won’t allow it. I can probably take you to Geneva but that might be as close as we’ll be able to get.”

  Alex’s stomach clenched. Maia was trapped in a storm? “Then Geneva it is. Be ready within the hour.” If that was as close as he could get to her at the moment, he’d take it. There had to be other ways of getting to her and he’d find one once he got there. He would reach her even if the only way to get to her was by dogsled.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Preparations for the trip were made quickly. Once he had told his father his intentions and made a quick stop in the city, Alex boarded the plane. He just hoped Maia was okay and that she would give him another chance.

  Chapter Ni
neteen

  Being cooped up inside the hotel wasn’t as bad as it could have been. The hotel itself was a wonder and gave her plenty to see and do. It was nice not to have to rush from one place to the next for a change. The relaxed pace gave her time to explore the facilities and to write. To generally just unwind. Only, it was harder to do in practice than in theory.

  The suite she had booked into was beautiful. Modern, lots of natural wood and panoramic views of the Matterhorn and the Zermatt Valley. Her favorite feature was the deep wooden bath that she’d already soaked in three times since she’d arrived. But even that hadn’t helped ease the tension from her muscles.

  Fatigue from all the traveling wore at her but sleep was plagued with dreams of Alex. When she woke, she was nauseated and feverish, making work a misery. Maia considered calling him, texting him. They had to talk things out. It was absurd that she’d let this go on as long as she had. She even tried dialing more than once but Mother Nature had won each time. Contacting him would just have to wait until the storm blew over.

  In the meantime, she curled up with her phone to read on the chaise near the fire and willed herself to stop thinking about him.

  After half an hour, Maia put the phone down and wrapped her arms around her head. The dull throbbing at her temple plaguing her the past few days had gotten worse. As had the nausea. She couldn’t even look at the words on the screen any longer without them swimming and making her stomach roll even worse.

  She hated to admit it but whatever this was, it wasn’t going away on its own.

  Maia stumbled over to the bed and dialed the front desk. Time to see if the medical services they offered were as amazing as the rest of the amenities.

  Minutes later, there was a knock at the door. The small team that arrived was quick, polite, professional and gave her a diagnosis she half expected.

  “I suspect you have a case of altitude sickness, Miss Reynolds. Unless you can think of another reason you feel this way?” The doctor smiled encouragingly. As if a smile was all he needed to get her to spill all her secrets.

  Maia didn’t have the strength to add anything. Every evening since she’d arrived at the hotel, Maia had stumbled into her room exhausted, head pounding and a tiny bit nauseated. She’d been at higher altitudes than this before and had been fine. More than fine. She blamed Garrett and Dane, the weather… The helicopter. They had obviously ascended too fast for her to handle. They’d beaten the storm, but at what cost? It probably didn’t help that she hadn’t been sleeping well in the past few weeks.

  She had to do something about that. If she couldn’t get herself back on track by the time she left Zermatt, she would have to get something to help. Maia nodded. “I’m sure that’s what this is. Thank you, Doctor.”

  “You’ll be fine in a few days. I suggest that you take it easy until then.” He took a bemused glance at the snow-filled window. “Not that staying put now will be a problem, but you probably shouldn’t go any higher once the weather clears. If it persists, please contact me immediately.” He pointed at a small packet on the end table. “I’ve left some pamphlets for you to read as well as some tablets and other things you might want to take a look at.”

  “I will.” At the moment, the only thing she wanted to do was get a little something to eat, have a hot bath and get in bed.

  Once he’d gone, she snagged the room service menu off the nightstand and flipped through. Nothing looked appetizing. She dropped the little booklet back. Maia contemplated the bath but the bathroom was just too far away for her to bother. Rolling over, she buried her face in the cool pillows. She’d feel better in the morning.

  Maia yanked her clothes off, leaving only her underwear to separate her from the cool sheets.

  It felt heavenly.

  * * * *

  She must have dozed off, because the next thing she knew, there was a pounding at the door that reverberated through her skull, rattling her brain and making her moan from the resulting pain.

  Maia burrowed deeper and pulled a thick pillow over her head, hoping to block the noise out.

  “Maia!”

  Her stomach flipped. Alex? Was she hallucinating?

  She had to be. Pressing the heels of her hands to her temples, she burrowed back under the pillow only to have the knocking resume harder—louder.

  Grumbling, Maia slid off the bed. Taking the sheets with her, she half shuffled, half stumbled to the door. The instant she unlocked it, it burst open and narrowly missed hitting her as it slammed into the wall.

  Gripping the table next to the entrance, she watched Alex stalk into the room and scan it. He looked rumpled and tired.

  And angry.

  “What took you so long to answer?” he snarled.

  “What?” He wasn’t making any sense. Or was it her head that was muddling things up? Was he really there? Or was he a figment of her imagination? And if he was really there, what was he looking for?

  “I asked you a question.” Alex finally turned to look at her and his eyes widened. He caught her before she hit the ground and cradled her gently.

  “Dieu, Maia! What’s wrong?” He ran his hands over her, as if he was making sure she was whole.

  She groaned when he jostled her. Gripping his arms to make him stop moving, she grunted. “Altitude sickness.”

  Alex muttered something under his breath that could only have been an expletive as he swept her up into his arms then gently placed her on the bed.

  Maia ran her fingers down his cheek. “Are you really here?”

  “I am and a good thing too.” He carefully tucked her in and checked her temperature. “Have you been seen by a doctor yet?”

  It took too much effort to nod. “Yeah.”

  Alex nodded and brushed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Just get some rest. I’ll take care of you.”

  When she heard that, Maia laughed ruefully as her vision dimmed. “Now I know I’m dreaming.”

  Alex didn’t know what to expect when he knocked on her door. All he knew was that she was inside and that it was taking her too long to answer. All kinds of images flashed through his mind. Mostly of Maia naked with someone else and he lost it. If it had taken her a second longer to open the door, he couldn’t say that he wouldn’t have kicked it in.

  But when he saw her looking so pale and obviously ill, everything but the urge to take care of her flew from his mind.

  He sat on the edge of the bed watching over her. She looked frail, tired and definitely thinner than he remembered. Guilt gnawed at him. He’d done this to her. Didn’t she say when he disappeared before she was so upset that she forgot to take care of herself? He just thanked his lucky stars that circumstances weren’t exactly the same this time around. Though imagining her carrying his child made his heart throb a little.

  Rubbing the section of chest over his heart with the heel of his hand, he kicked off his shoes and got undressed. He’d flown into Geneva and had to eventually bribe a vehicle out of a rental service to drive to Martigny. He would have driven the rest of the way to Täsch where he would have had to catch a train to go the rest of the way, but the storm had kept him cooling his heels worrying about her being stuck in the middle of it. The trip up to Zermatt had been the longest in his life. Alex couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept or even had a decent meal. All that mattered had been getting to her.

  He stripped down and slipped in beside Maia, wrapping himself around her. Now that they were together he had no intention of letting her go again.

  Chapter Twenty

  Maia tried to press her hand against her throbbing head, but it was trapped between her and a solid pillow. She leaned into it, enjoying that it was warm and felt like Alex.

  And smelled like Alex…

  Forcing her eyes to open, she found herself in his protective embrace, face against his chest. She let her head fall back so she could look at him. He was actually there! There were dark circles under his eyes and several days’ worth of stubble roughened his jaw
, but he had never looked better to her. What was he doing there?

  He shifted making her aware that he was naked and very aroused. Maia tried to roll back but was trapped and she didn’t have the strength to try any harder. Even that slight movement made her head throb painfully. Her attempt to muffle the groan wasn’t successful.

  Alex opened his eyes and loosened his grip a little, allowing her to move back but not letting go entirely. “Not feeling any better?”

  “Not really.” She took a moment to search his eyes. “What are you doing here?”

  His eyes turned glacial. “Not glad to see me?”

  That was the problem. She was too happy to see him. “Just wondering why you would suddenly show up when you’ve been ignoring me for weeks.”

  Alex sighed. “I’m sorry.” He turned to his side to face her but the rocking of the bed had her dashing to the bathroom, despite her previous lack of energy.

  Retching and hugging the toilet wasn’t exactly how she expected to have that conversation. Maia collapsed against the tub when the heaving finally died down. With nothing to throw up, it had been a painfully fruitless exercise.

  A hand swept her hair out of the way then caressed her back soothingly. “How long has this been going on?”

  Maia’s gaze was drawn to Alex’s feet and traveled slowly upward. Thankfully, he’d put on his jeans but he hadn’t bothered to do them up in his haste to get to her. Her survey of his body stumbled on the way they hung tantalizingly low on his hips. She would have looked farther up his body if she could, but tip her head back any more and she would be flat on her back.

  As if divining that she didn’t have the energy to lift her gaze any higher, he knelt down next to her and handed her a glass of water.

  “It started when I got here.”

  Scowling he asked, “When was the last time you ate anything?”