Season of Dreams

by Jenna Mindel

  “We can hit the easy trails first.”

  Eva glanced at her brother, who looked anxious to bomb the black diamond trails. How’d she turn out to be the only kid who played it safe in her family? “I don’t want to hold you guys back. You two go on ahead. I can putter until I get my ski legs.”

  Adam handed Ryan a lift ticket, then turned to her with a grin. “There are some nice, gentle slopes here. And I’ll give you some pointers. You’ll do fine.”

  Great. Peece wasn’t going to be easy to shake loose. She’d been hoping for a little solitude. Time to deal with seeing Todd.

  “Trust me, you’ll enjoy this.” Adam grinned.

  “Right.” Adam had the kind of smile that made her want to believe everything he told her. Not good. She’d believed in Todd once.

  “Come on, the lifts aren’t far from here.” Adam carried his skis tucked under his arm and led the way.

  Ryan walked fast with antsy anticipation. It was all Eva could do to keep up. When they made it to the base of the hill, Eva fiddled with her ancient bindings. If she took too long, maybe they’d go on without her.

  “Need help?” Adam asked.

  “I got it.” Eva finally clicked in.

  “Ready?” Adam asked.

  “Absolutely.” Ryan pushed forward.

  Eva waddled close enough to pull on her brother’s sleeve.

  “What?”

  “Don’t ditch me,” she whispered.

  Ryan looked at her with a blank stare. “Why?”

  She didn’t want to get stuck with Adam, alone. She still felt raw, vulnerable. “Stay close.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You’ll be fine, Eva.”

  At the main chairlift, Eva looked up and really wished she hadn’t agreed to come. The trails looked steep.

  Adam pulled another lift ticket out of his pocket. He slid close and handed it to her. “I know you can do this.”

  How could he know? She tried to force the clip onto her jacket’s zipper, but her mittens made her movements clumsy. “I need easy, remember?”

  “Don’t worry. You’ll ace the green trails in no time.”

  Eva noticed that Adam’s right ski was practically on top of her left. She’d back up but didn’t dare move for fear she’d slip and bring them both down into a heap. His leg brushed hers as he leaned toward her, sending a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

  If Ryan left her, she’d kill him. She looked at Adam. “What are you doing?”

  He grabbed the lift ticket from her fumbling mittened hands and clipped it onto her jacket with a quick snap. “You were bending it.”

  She let out the breath she’d been holding. “Oh.”

  His eyes searched hers. “Relax. This is supposed to be fun.”

  She nodded, but really, how could she relax? Her rich and handsome employer was inches from her face. She could smell his cologne. Nice, woodsy, expensive. Another jolt of awareness raced up her spine. There was no way she’d relax around Adam Peece.

  “Let’s go.” Eva breathed.

  Adam moved away from her with athletic grace. Turning easily on his skis, he led the way.

  Eva jerked along, almost losing her balance twice.

  On the chairlift, Eva was wedged between Adam and her brother. She checked out the view of vast rolling hills of white dotted with evergreens and naked brown hardwoods. And then she scanned the slope. This was a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. Adam included. He definitely belonged here. Several women checked him out with interest. Even with her sitting next to him.

  But then, it must be obvious that they didn’t go together. Adam wore expensive top-of-the-line ski attire and Eva had donned an old pink ski suit complete with a white patch on one elbow. Like a stale marshmallow Peep left over from an Easter basket, she was definitely out of date.

  “When we get off, be sure to veer to the right. Then wait. There are a couple trailheads for this lift. I want to take the right one,” Adam said.

  Getting on a chairlift was one thing, getting off—completely different. The closer the crest loomed, the more the lift creaked, its gears pulling them closer to the launching pad. Eva’s palms felt sweaty inside her mittens. She took a deep breath. “Okay.”

  “Eva, hand me your poles. Ryan, we’d better help her out.”

  Adam took her poles and then her hand. “Ready, step off and veer right. Now.”

  Eva did as instructed. She wobbled, but between Adam’s strong hand and Ryan’s arm looped through hers, she steadied in the nick of time. They paused at the top of the main hill. The view stretched forever with rolling hills and pristine snow dotted with occasional homes peeking out from the forest.

  She let out her breath with a whoop of relief. “That went well.”

  Adam grinned. “See? Nothing to it.”

  Eva laughed, but it sounded more like a strangled giggle. Her nerves were shot and she hadn’t even started down the hill.

  “I’ll meet you guys at the bottom.” Ryan slipped ahead of them and whooshed away.

  “But—” Eva closed her mouth. If she expected to work alone with Adam for a full season, she had better get used to it sooner than later. Ryan wasn’t available to play chaperone every day.

  Adam handed over her poles. “Go ahead of me so I can watch your form.”

  Eva looked up sharply. “What’s that?”

  “Show me how you ski.”

  She pushed off, hoping she didn’t look like a klutz. After a short span of shushing down the gentle slope, Adam passed her and then stopped in front of her with a spray of white snow.

  Showoff was the first thought that came to mind. Instead she asked, “Well? What do you think?”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

  She warmed to the compliment. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re too stiff. Relax, lean forward and enjoy the ride.”

  “Lean forward? I thought I was supposed to bend my knees and lean back.” Eva remembered those long-ago ski lessons her parents made her take.

  Adam moved behind her. He slid one of his skis between her two and settled his hands lightly onto her shoulders. “Lean into the forward motion, and keep your head aligned with or over your feet.”

  Her spine immediately stiffened. That was enough of this lesson! She pushed forward too hard, slipped and fell.

  Adam laughed, but he held out his hand. “Are you all right?”

  Clenching her teeth, she gave him her hand. “Warn me next time you do that.”

  Again he laughed as he pulled her up. “Sorry. I’m used to hands-on lessons when showing someone how to ski better.”

  “What kind of ski lessons did you take?” She could only imagine. Eva leaned on her poles to catch her breath.

  “Contrary to what you might have been taught, the key to flexibility and control is in your neck. Keep your head forward, breathe in deeply to expand your chest and relax your neck. The rest of your body will align.”

  She narrowed her eyes. Was he giving her a line?

  “Watch me.” He sailed effortlessly past her, then stopped and waited. “Give it a try.”

  She pushed off and zoomed forward, trying out what he’d told her. She wasn’t sure if it worked, but it felt better. Adam had been on the up-and-up with his lesson. How paranoid of her to think otherwise.

  “Great. You look great. Ready to take the hill?” Adam asked when she reached him.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Eva had come to ski. She couldn’t get out of it, so she might as well get into it.

  At least it kept her mind occupied. She’d have obsessed at home seeing the image of Todd with a wife and beautiful, blond-haired baby girl. Eva wanted her own babies one day, but how long would it take before she could enjoy a date? At the rate she was going, marriage might as well be Never Never Land.

  She glanced at Adam sailing down the gentle trail ahead of her with surprising speed. Maybe working with a guy like him might actually help her
. The looks he’d received from women of various ages reiterated that Adam could have his pick when it came to ladies. There was no way he’d take an interest in her. All she had to do was take comfort in that knowledge and learn how to relax around him. And maybe, just maybe, she’d learn how to put what happened with Todd behind her and move on.

  Adam enjoyed showing Eva techniques to give her more confidence on the slopes. It was fun watching her work out her stance until she’d mastered keeping her head forward. If one thing could be said about Eva Marsh, it was that she didn’t give up. Her brother teased her the entire time, but eventually, after several runs, even he complimented her skill.

  Eager for speed and a challenge, Adam and Ryan broke away from Eva, leaving her content with staying on the easy green trails. Adam believed she was ready to tackle more difficult runs, but he wasn’t going to push her. Eva might be a decent skier, but she still hesitated whenever she came upon a bunched-up crowd.

  After a couple hours of hitting black diamond trails, Adam waited in the main chairlift line. He spotted a pink ski suit swishing toward them. He waved. “Eva!”

  She looked up.

  “Come with us. We can do a blue run.”

  Eva shook her head. “You guys go ahead.”

  “Come on, Eva,” Ryan said. “You can do it.”

  Eva glanced at Adam.

  “You’re ready for them.”

  He watched her wrestle with the decision, until she finally gave in. “Okay, but I’m not going fast.”

  “Thatta girl.” Ryan slapped his sister on the back, almost knocking her over.

  Her pink fleece hat slipped forward, covering her eyes. She looked adorable in that awful ski suit.

  The three of them took the main lift, settling into the same chair. This time, Eva aced her dismount and arched like a gymnast who’d nailed her landing. She laughed and then looked embarrassed as if she’d forgotten he was there. Her performance had been for her brother’s benefit.

  Ryan palmed his sister’s shoulder and gave her a teasing shove. “Good job.”

  Eva laughed again, and Adam relished the sound. He admired the way Eva tackled whatever intimidated her. “Ready?”

  “Let’s see if she can keep up,” her brother challenged.

  Eva’s brow furrowed. “Forget it, Ryan. I’m not racing.”

  “We’ll meet you at the bottom,” Adam told Ryan. He’d had his fill of speeding down runs. He waited for Eva, watching her brother tear down the trail until he was out of sight.

  She waved him on. “Go ahead. I’m going to take my time on this one and get the feel of it.”

  He didn’t mind going slow to ski beside her, but the glint in her eyes told him she’d rather do this on her own. Alone.

  “I’ll wait at the bottom then.” He pushed off. Loving the warmth of the February sun shining on his face, Adam leaned low and picked up speed. In no time, he passed Ryan.

  At the bottom, he cut to a stop and turned to watch Ryan, who wasn’t far behind. The guy bombed the hill with about as much grace as a farm tractor. Adam scanned the hill for a pink ski suit. Eva made her way at a decent pace. More cautious than her brother’s reckless abandon, Eva took her time. Her hair danced beneath her pink hat. She didn’t wear sunglasses or goggles to mar her fresh face. Definitely farm-girl pretty.

  “How’s she doing?” Ryan had pulled up next to him.

  Adam cleared his throat. “Good.”

  “Thanks, Adam. Thanks for inviting us here.”

  “No problem.” Adam realized he needed this. Spending casual time with Eva might soften the edges a little. Somewhere on the slopes today, she’d stopped looking at him like the enemy.

  “I see a guy I work with. I’ll be back.” Ryan skied toward the lodge.

  Adam nodded and waited for Eva.

  She picked up speed toward the base of the hill. Weaving around a group of kids who had suddenly stopped in her path, Eva’s balance bobbled off kilter. With a squeal, she swooped toward him, coming in too fast.

  “Whoa…” He skied toward her, ready to break her fall, when she plowed into him. He wasn’t prepared for the force of her impact and slipped. They both went down.

  Eva lay sprawled on top of him, laughing. “Sorry.”

  Adam forced his hands to remain on the ground instead of circling her tiny waist like he wanted. Letting loose a groan, he realized she’d taken him completely out. He’d landed hard on his tailbone.

  “I don’t weigh that much.”

  “Wanna bet?” He grinned when her eyes widened.

  She was even more appealing close up. That pink hat rode low over her eyebrows, and her nose and cheeks were rosy with sunburn. He couldn’t look away. He didn’t want to.

  “Come on, Peece. You must have girls falling on you all the time.”

  “Doesn’t mean it’s all good. There are a lot of gold-digging snits out there. A guy’s got to be careful.”

  Those chocolate-colored eyes of hers widened even more and then she scrambled off him, grazing his shin with her ski.

  “Ow. I wasn’t calling you one.” But the glare in her gaze returned. Just when they’d come to a friendly, comfortable place, Adam had to blow it. Miss Prickly Prim reared her pretty head and looked ready to take a bite.

  Just then Ryan approached. “Nice move, Eva, taking out our host. I wanna come back, you know.”

  “Oh, put a sock in it, Ryan,” Eva said as she wobbled to her feet.

  He laughed at his sister’s retort.

  Adam also got up. His shin and his backside had taken a beating, but there was still prime skiing to be had. “How about a couple more runs and then dinner at my place?”

  Ryan nodded. “Absolutely.”

  Eva’s brow furrowed. “Skiing’s one thing, but we don’t expect you to feed us, too. Besides, it’s getting late.”

  “Come on, Eva. I’m hungry.”

  Adam knew Eva’s desire to leave had nothing to do with time and everything to do with his perceived insult. “I have steak that needs to be grilled. You’d be doing me a favor so it won’t go to waste.”

  The pleading look Ryan gave Eva reminded Adam of his own sister and the tug-of-war they’d had over the years. Adam knew how to get his way, as did Ryan. He could see Eva’s resolve weaken by the way she chewed her bottom lip.

  “Fine. Another run and dinner, but then we’ve got to go.”

  Eva shrugged out of her pink ski suit and handed it to Adam. His fingers touched hers and Eva quickly pulled back. She wouldn’t give him any excuse to think she was coming on to him. Not after what he’d said when she fell on him.

  Bending down to remove her boots, Eva took her time with the buckles. She didn’t want Adam Peece’s money. She wanted her orchard back. Wanted to keep it safe and sound. How to do that escaped her.

  “Come on, Eva, move it.” Ryan was behind her.

  She straightened with a huff and kicked off her boots, leaving them in a heap near the coat hooks where Adam had hung their stuff. Walking into the living room, Eva took in the neutral colors and casual fabrics. Furniture covered in denim and leather. Expensive-looking, yet comfortable. Two adjectives she’d never expected to go together.

  Padding into Adam’s kitchen, she took a deep breath. She’d conquered the mountain today, she could face the man in his den. “Need help?”

  “I’ve got this. Go enjoy the fire.” Adam barely looked at her and exited onto the deck through a sliding glass door in the dining room. A huge covered grill area gleamed in stainless steel at the end of the deck. It looked like something from a garden show on TV.

  Eva went into the living room and slumped onto the couch while Ryan built a fire in the hearth. She scanned the coffee table. Motorcycles, race cars, farm machinery and ski magazines littered the top.

  “Ryan, did you see these?” Eva flipped through an issue about modern farming techniques. She’d have thought Adam would browse men’s fashion or sports magazines.

  Ryan held up a glossy motorcycl
e issue. “Gear-head stuff. Pretty funny, huh?”

  “You’re not kidding.” Eva leaned against the pillows and closed her eyes, letting the heat of the fire blanket her. She suddenly felt bone-tired. Her eyelids grew heavy, so she closed her eyes.

  She heard Adam come and go through the sliding glass door a couple of times. He asked Ryan how they liked their steaks. The sound of the two of them talking in low tones from the kitchen felt oddly comforting…

  “Eva, wake up. Dinner’s ready.” Ryan jostled her shoulder.

  She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Where’s the bathroom?”

  “Down the hall,” Adam said from the dining room while he set the table.

  Eva’s stomach rumbled in response to the aroma of Adam’s food. From the wonderful smells, she’d guess the guy could cook. And he read grease-monkey magazines. Definitely not what she expected from a pampered green bean heir. “I’ll just be a minute.”

  Adam’s hallway looked like a portrait gallery. Family pictures hung everywhere. Eva stopped to inspect a photo that caught her eye. It was Adam as a little boy looking very unhappy about getting his picture taken. He was easy to spot, his brilliant blue eyes gave him away. They were the same shade as a beautiful redhead that stood beside a dark-haired, dark-eyed man who resembled Adam. His parents made a handsome couple.

  Then she noticed that several children had their own section of pictures, but Eva zeroed in on Adam’s area. His photos captured him engaged in his interests. On a farm tractor as a child, motocross as a teenager, several ski competitions, and even a race-car driving photo mixed in with pictures of Adam atop a big black motorcycle. Adam Peece had done it all.

  She quickly found her way to the restroom and returned to sit next to Ryan at the table, putting her across from Adam. “Thank you for dinner. This looks like you know what you’re doing.”

  “It’s not rocket science.” Adam winked at her.

  Once seated, Adam offered up a simple prayer of thanks and Eva was grateful he hadn’t asked to hold hands. Her parents still demanded that at mealtime.

  One bite of the angel hair pasta in a white wine sauce and Eva was floored by how good it was. And she was ravenous. The three of them ate quickly and quietly. By the time dinner was over, Eva rose to gather plates.