Matchmaker Backfire: An Instalove Possessive Age Gap Romance (A Man Who Knows Who He Wants Book 226)

by Flora Ferrari

  To the point, I think her dad’s even noticed it as much if not more than I have.

  “Uh… Maybe tell us about your plans, Carter. Now that you’ve finished up at the rigs. What do you intend to do with yourself?” Greg asks, wiping his mouth with a napkin, giving Serena a firm look before he looks back to me.

  “Well,” I muse loudly. “I don’t think Wendy and I will settle down anytime soon, if that’s what you mean,” I quip, trying to make light of recent events but see how much it hurts Greg.

  Serena stifles a laugh, pretending to choke a little on her mineral water.

  Greg’s eyes flash to his daughter again, his breath is sharp as he inhales before calming himself.

  Telling himself everything I doubted myself until I had my hands on her.

  Telling himself there’s no way his best friend and only daughter could ever find any real physical interest, let alone love.

  The thought of that word makes me more curious about her, more curious about my own feelings.

  And Greg seems only more determined to make sure we’re never alone again, not even for a minute.

  “How ‘bout we head out for some snow after eating?” he suggests.

  “I brought extra skis, Carter,” he adds, confirming what I know about him too well.

  The man who might not have everything, but he almost does in the huge trunk in his truck.

  Anything and everything for the great outdoors, and in any weather.

  Serena makes a face, saying it’s too cold and maybe she’d prefer to stay in her cabin.

  I shrug, seizing the opportunity to act normal and suggest Greg and I go ski together.

  Serena pouts, but her dad doesn’t notice.

  She suddenly livens up, saying maybe she could manage to go outside, after all, no point being cooped up in her room all alone is there.

  “That’s settled then,” Greg confirms, assuming the role of our tour guide and group leader, which is fine by me.

  I’ve had twenty years of organizing people and now there’s just one other who has my attention.

  Telling myself I have a whole week with Serena, I yield to the concept I might not be holding her in my arms again anytime soon.

  But I also remember what she said. The one word that’s been circling my mind since she said it.

  ‘After.’

  “I’ll go get changed,” she chirps, suddenly more animated than ever and even ignoring the offer for dessert and coffee.

  “I’ll have a cup with you Greg,” I offer once he says he’d prefer it and we both watch Serena disappear through the glass doors, out to her cabin.

  Instinct tells me to follow her. To go with her and protect her.

  Common sense tells me to stay put and act natural, keep her dad happy too.

  If the silver fox is hunting for a hen, his best vantage point is right beside the rooster keeping watch over her.

  “I got skis, like I said, Carter. But man, if you don’t get bigger every time I see you. No snowsuit I have could fit you now. What were you doing on that rig, turning the damned pump wheel with bare hands?” Greg asks, running his eyes across my upper body.

  “I was looking at some snow gear in the shop there,” I chuckle, motioning through the doors with my chin.

  “I left all my snow gear on the rig. Time for a new set I reckon,” I tell him.

  “We good?” he asks me unexpectedly, giving me an equally unexpected stab of guilt in my belly.

  His eyes are clear, friendly, but still searching.

  “We’re good.” I comfort him, gripping his forearm in mine and squeezing it until he winces.

  I can’t hold his gaze though.

  He’s asking me so much in one look and not much of it is about two old friends.

  His biggest question is one unspoken word.

  And it’s not something I want to commit to telling him I’m gonna leave alone.

  Serena.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Serena

  It’s the first thing I want to ask dad once I get changed and join him by our SUV he’s moved up by the cabins.

  But I bite my tongue.

  Where’s Carter?

  I haven’t skied in ages, but I do remember it’s the one sport I’m actually good at and ice skating.

  Graceful almost.

  Almost.

  “Carter’s getting himself some new snow gear, be along soon. I thought we could just unpack these and get ‘em ready, then I’ll go change myself,” dad says, seeming to read my mind as I constantly look up and around, waiting for Carter.

  I try to look like I’m shrugging but I feel a quiet thrill once I know he’ll be joining us again so soon.

  It’s been minutes since lunch but it already feels like forever without him.

  “This weather’s held off a bit,” dad says as he surveys the sky and snow around us.

  “Plenty of pitch on their main run too,” he adds, “so this powder won’t slow us down,” he says smiling to himself.

  I can see his upper body flexing under his clothes, itching to get amongst it.

  “I want you to stay between me and Carter though, Serena,” he says with a note of seriousness, “I don’t want you losing your way if it comes in white like it was on the way up here.”

  I nod in agreement but have already decided I’ll be as close to Carter as I can in any case.

  “I’ll go get changed then, honey. You wanna wait here or catch the last bit of warmth back inside?” he asks, smiling again.

  I can tell how glad he is to be here, on holiday for once and doing what he enjoys.

  “I’ll wait,” I tell him with a shiver that isn’t from the cold.

  And there’s at least one place on me I know could do with something cool on it.

  Or something hotter than it already is to out the flame.

  As soon as dad is out of sight I feel the familiar strong grip around my waist from behind, but I still jump. Gasping.

  I feel fatter than ever in this snowsuit, but Carter’s hands explore just enough so I feel his touch on me through it.

  “Sorry, Serena. Did I startle you?” he asks as I turn around looking up.

  His brilliant smile and dancing eyes make me smile too.

  “I didn’t hear you, that’s all,” I tell him, noticing both my hands on his chest as his still grips my waist.

  He’s keeping an eye out behind me though, I can tell.

  He doesn’t want dad to see him this close to me, but I don’t mind, not at all.

  “C’mon, let’s head up to the ski lift. It looks ancient but it’s running. Will be good until four o’clock,” he says, wanting to take my hand I can tell but fighting that urge.

  “We better wait for dad,” I tell him, surprised at how bored I sound.

  In my mind, it’s like a circus, and my heart is pounding against my ribs so hard I can feel my snowsuit throbbing.

  “Sure,” Carter says, creasing a smile. Looking down at his feet at the mention of my dad.

  “I like your new suit,” I say hurriedly, wanting to keep the conversation going, reaching out to feel it again as an excuse to touch him.

  Catching my breath when I feel his warm hand over mine, pressing it hard into his body.

  “You should have gloves on,” he cautions me as he cocks a brow, then murmurs, “Plus I haven’t forgotten what you said earlier.”

  I feel my heart shift again, and just as I’m about to say something, anything to bring back that moment in his room, I hear dad calling out to both of us.

  “After.” Carter reminds me, giving me a look that tells me it’s up to me what exactly happens after.

  Carter was right about the ancient ski lift, which we can hear long before we see, but it does work.

  We go up single file, with the lift only having a kind of small hooked seat that goes between your legs, using our skis to keep ourselves moving smoothly up the steep slope.

  The place looks empty, with most people here for the s
eclusion and food more than skiing I gather. But who can really tell?

  Dad’s in front, with Carter behind me. Only making me feel more self-conscious as I can feel his eyes moving over me as dad cranes his neck from time to time, asking if we’re there yet.

  Finally, at the top, it feels a lot colder and the snow’s already coming in thicker.

  If I was alone I’d be worried, but between dad’s expert knowledge and Carter’s too, I feel safer up here than anywhere right now.

  Dad’s primed to get going and after explaining to me once again he wants me to stay between him and Carter the whole way down, we can both see how eager he is to get going.

  “I’ll be right behind her,” Carter promises, saluting him as dad slips on his goggles and stabs at the ground with his poles, inching himself closer to the edge of the slope.

  “See you in a few minutes,” he calls out and in a second, he’s gone over the edge.

  I slide up to the edge myself, peering into the thickening snow, only just making out dad’s figure before he disappears.

  “It’s coming down now,” I remark to Carter, feeling him close behind me but not darting to turn around.

  I’m trying to keep my mind on skiing.

  But once I feel his hands on my waist again, I can’t help it.

  “I’m right here behind you, Serena. Always,” he reminds me.

  I don’t know what comes over me, but I turn as fast as I can, lifting myself up until my ski boots snap out of my skis and peck Carter on the cheek.

  He looks shocked for a moment, and with a devilish grin, I feel my heels snap back into place as I shoot over the edge too, noticing straight away how long it’s been since I skied, but dad’s right.

  This slope is so steep, there’s only one thing to do, and that’s ski.

  I feel the rush of frigid air and the thrill of skiing sure, but my heart’s in my mouth as I replay what I just did over and over again.

  I actually kissed Carter!

  Well, sort of. More of a good luck peck, really.

  He couldn’t read too much into that, surely?

  A serious wobble makes me focus on my stance again, making sure I don’t tumble on my first run of the day.

  I think I can see my dad’s fluorescent visor band in the distance, or is it a marker?

  Either way, I decide to follow it, noticing how much heavier the snow is again and just how hard it’s making it to see.

  I turn back, expecting to see Carter not far behind, but I can’t see anything.

  A little panic sets in and I gasp once I can’t see anything apart from white in front of or behind me.

  I can make out the trees on either side, kind of, but once I near the biggest bend I slide to a halt.

  No point skiing at full speed towards something I can’t see.

  I hear my own heart pounding in my ears, but straining them I can’t hear anything else.

  The wind’s starting to howl through the trees, and the snow’s coming in so thick I can’t make out which is up and down the slope until I finally hear Carter, who skids to a halt not far from me.

  “I thought I’d lost you,” he says, full of concern.

  “This isn’t great weather, and those markers are as old as the lifts.”

  We both listen suddenly, hearing a call from what must be the base of the slope.

  “That’s your dad,” Carter sighs, giving me just a reflection of myself in his goggles as I move to get closer to him.

  “We’d better move. I’ll be right next to you, just a little further ahead, I memorized the slope map and we’re not too far. Okay?” he asks, his voice concerned again.

  I nod a few times, telling him I’ll be alright.

  Carter’s suit is a bluish color, easy to see up close, and even when he gets a little further ahead.

  I can see his goggles as he turns every few seconds to make sure I’m keeping up.

  I wonder what took him so long to catch up in the first place. Carter’s more of an athlete than my dad even.

  I tell myself it’s because he was struck dumb by my kiss, but I have a creeping doubt he may have felt just as awkward as I did thrilled by it.

  Dunno.

  Towards the base of the slope, the brewing wind tosses the snow more violently, but it’s easier to see and we’re soon all together again, my dad shaking his head a little.

  “Well, that came outta nowhere, you alright?” he asks us both and I tell him I’m fine.

  Carter takes his goggles off, flushed as he holds a hand to his cheek. The outline of my lips frozen there with my lip gloss.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Carter

  “I guess the weather up here changes quick,” I observe, noting Greg’s disappointed look as he stares at me.

  Why’s he staring at me?

  “Guess so,” he muses dryly, turning to face Serena. “Maybe we should call it a day unless you really wanna stick closer this time?” he asks her, sounding a little more than annoyed.

  “I tried to keep up dad, but the snow… it came in so fast,” she tells him, slipping off her own goggles and pointing to her cheek, telling me I have something on mine.

  I wipe at my cheek, but it’s Greg who corrects me.

  “Other side, slick. What’d you hit a butterfly on the way down?” he asks suspiciously, but forcing himself to laugh once he notices my embarrassment.

  Embarrassed because if I’d known Serena’s kiss had left a mark, I wouldn’t have touched it.

  I would have kept it there all day.

  Greg be damned.

  “Maybe we should call it a day,” he says a little more cheerfully. “Tomorrow, I’ll be sure and check the weather and ask more about those ancient slope markers.”

  If it was just me and Greg, I’d be challenging him to another, more competitive run down the slope, but I can see Serena wouldn’t want me leaving her behind.

  And I won’t put her in any danger by trying to prove anything to her dad.

  “What else is there to do up here?” I hear Serena ask absently.

  I could think of a thousand things, but none of them involve her father.

  “Oh, sweetie. Don’t be so down on it, tomorrow will be clearer I’m sure. We can play board games. They have an indoor pool and hot tub,” Greg continues, stopping himself there and giving me another strange look as he catches me focusing on Serena.

  “Board games sound like fun,” I blurt out. “Or we can just hang out and talk about old times,” I offer, giving Greg a firm look that I hope reminds him and myself, he is still my best friend after all.

  “I guess so,” Serena says, sliding past us both, still on her skis.

  “Oh, Carter?” Greg says suddenly, making me turn to face him, readying myself for anything now that I’m sure he’s sensed the undeniable connection between his daughter and me.

  I raise my brows in silent response.

  “I noticed you took the middle cabin. Can you scoot down one, so I can be in the middle one?” he asks, forcing a smile.

  So I can put myself between you and my only daughter, is what he means.

  I feel my eyes twitch, wanting to narrow in time with my breath, but I fight it.

  “Sure, no sweat,” I shrug.

  Remembering we have a whole week of this.

  Seven days and seven nights.

  Seven long nights if I can figure out a way to somehow get Serena alone for more than thirty seconds.

  I love Greg, I do. But if I’d known things were gonna be this close-knit with all three of us, hell. Maybe I would’ve made my own arrangements to get Serena away.

  Maybe if I’d known how hard I’d fall for her once I saw her again.

  Given her a real first class vacation too, nothing like this place.

  Now, now. Carter. Play nice. Bide your time and just see what happens.

  There’s enough snow for us now over the icy slush to ski all the way back to the cabins, which are already blanketed in heavy snow.

&nbs
p; There’s central heating, but I volunteer to get some wood in each cabin, so we can have a crackling fire.

  “Maybe roast some hotdogs a bit later, the kind I know you would’ve brought,” I quip to Greg who smiles.

  “Got enough food to last us weeks up here, they can keep their buffet,” he says knowingly. “A fire sounds great. I’m gonna grab a shower,” he adds and I watch him go into his cabin, the first of the three in a row.

  I’m in two and Serena’s in three.

  I take my time getting my skis off and stamping my boots at the door I figure now’s as good a time as any to switch rooms.

  May as well give Greg what he wants, if I insist on being right next to Serena, with connecting doors, it’ll just eat him up I know it.

  There’s a healthy stack of dry wood in a hutch on the verandah, but I wanna get out of this suit and boots arrangement first.

  I haven’t skied in ages, and I can already feel a little cramp in my thigh.

  A cramp that spreads once I step inside, hearing the hot water from Greg’s room as well as the room on Serena’s side.

  She’s having a shower too, or maybe running a bath.

  The thought paralyzes me, takes everything I thought I had under control away from me.

  “I should wait until she’s done. Then switch cabin rooms,” I reason to myself, murmuring like a madman as I start to pace, picturing her naked.

  Those hips I held, with sheets of foaming water.

  Her thick chest glistening as she washes…

  I groan loudly, tearing off my ski suit and boots, feeling the thick hardness of my own arousal all over again.

  Needing her more than ever.

  Wanting to see her fine body as it was intended.

  Greg’s awful singing passes through the walls and I remember he likes long showers.

  I wonder if Serena’s the same.

  In seconds I’m at the only door separating her cabin from mine, internal doors in case we get snowed in I guess.

  I raise my knuckles to knock, but hear my other hand trying the handle, hoping she’s left it unlocked.

  The click of the barrel makes me groan louder.

  Good girl.

  My heart is like a dance beat in my chest and I have to fight hard to swallow.