Spring in Snow Valley

by Cindy Roland Anderson

  Adam didn’t speak for a second, and Chase opened his eyes, seeing that look again. It was the same one Adam had worn when he’d developed that first blitz play that made Chase’s defense fall apart. “Fine.”

  Unable to stop himself, Chase laughed again. He liked seeing his insanely driven brother a bit perplexed. “You may be smarter than most, but we both know I’m more naturally charismatic, and women fall all over themselves for me. You’ll be left in the dust.” He jutted out his chin.

  Adam took his glasses off, pulled the end of his T-shirt out from beneath his flannel shirt, and wiped the lenses clean. “You know, ‘bro’—” He mimicked the same masculine zeal with which Chase had said it. “—you’re right.” He put his glasses on and headed out, leaving Chase with one last comment. “Good thing you’re down for the day.”

  Chapter 14

  Adam parked in front of the Flower Girl shop, not knowing if she would go for this or if he could even make it work. He did know that he had only one real edge … and with that thought in mind, he waited for Destiny’s aunt to park behind him.

  They both got out, and Faith winked at him. “It’ll work.”

  He felt doubt creeping in.

  Faith nodded to the window. “She’s got so much talent. If she’d just try for the art school …”

  “What art school?”

  “Oh, she’s going on an exchange in Paris, and there’s a program that has the best art professors in the world, but she refuses to apply for it.”

  Intrigued, he frowned and followed her into the store. Then he saw Destiny next to the counter, arranging some fresh flowers into a bouquet. By the looks of the other five bouquets sitting on the counter, she was working on the Snow Valley High Tea arrangements.

  She smiled at her aunt, then looked skeptically at him. “H-hey,” she said, obviously confused.

  Adam couldn’t stop himself from sucking in a breath. She wore a black fitted dress with elbow-length sleeves, drawing his eyes to its high neck, then down her body, and finally lingering where it puffed out at the knees. A yellow scarf accented her knee-high boots and matched a headband that held back her curly red hair. Her skin was so clear, he wondered why she hadn’t tried to be some kind of model. Which was ridiculous, because he never thought about that kind of stuff. She wore red lipstick, and her long eyelashes made her eyes seem huge. Beautiful. Breathtaking was the best way to describe her.

  Faith held a plastic bag full of clothes out to Destiny. “Hey, sweetie, you need to go change your clothes. Adam has a computer thing he needs help with for the store.” He could tell she was trying to make it sound official with that last bit.

  Destiny’s face froze in confusion. “What?” She seemed to have forgotten about her fistful of daffodils.

  Faith acted like it was no big deal. “It’s fine. I got things here.” She looked at the bouquets on the counter. “How many of these do you need to make?”

  Adam had no doubt that Faith Haven could run the flower shop for the afternoon. He’d told her they would be back to shut it down by five.

  Destiny didn’t budge, and her eyes flashed to Adam. “How’s Chase?”

  Of course that was the correct thing for her to ask. It still smarted. “He’s good. He’s at home in bed.” Adam mentally noted that Chase had been trying to get out of bed when he’d left, and he’d gone in and given him strict orders to sleep today. He doubted Chase would listen.

  Destiny studied them both for a few seconds. “What’s this about?”

  Trying to act like it was normal, he shrugged. “It’s some signal strength stuff, and the feed for the satellite we use to upload stuff for the store needs to be adjusted.” The answer made no sense, and he hoped she wouldn’t see through him.

  “And you need my help?” She looked doubtful.

  Faith took the flowers out of her hands and gave her a little push. “Yes, he usually has Chase or his parents to help, but Chase is down, and his parents—”

  “Are on a trip. I know.” Destiny still looked doubtful, but she was moving toward the restroom.

  After she shut the door, Adam let out a breath. “Oh my gosh, I am not good at lying.”

  Immediately beginning on the bouquets at hand, Faith grinned at him. “And that’s what I like about you.” She winked. “Just relax, and have a good time. She’ll love it once you get there.”

  Thirty minutes later, Adam pulled up to the side of Snow Mountain where the helicopter pad was. Destiny got out of his Subaru. Destiny’s aunt had made her change into a pair of leggings, a grey MSU T-shirt, and some hiking boots. Destiny looked down at the boots. “Aunt Faith’s boots are just a half an inch too small.”

  Adam hadn’t spoken much on the way up, trying to avoid having to answer too many questions. He’d played his favorite rock music, but he hadn’t played it as loud as he would have normally. “We’re not going far.”

  Looking around, Destiny turned to him. “So where is this antenna or whatever?”

  It was the moment of truth. Hoping to stem her rage before it started, he lifted his hands in a placating gesture. “I lied. There’s no antenna.”

  Frowning, Destiny looked around. “But … why?”

  “I talked your aunt into helping me get you up here.”

  Instantly, Destiny looked uncomfortable and slightly angry. She crossed her arms. “So you could teach me some lesson about the importance of paying attention to the fine print or something?”

  For a few brief moments during the football game last night, when he’d dished her the ball and she’d scored, it was like everything between them had fallen away, and they’d celebrated. He couldn’t get her scent out of his mind all night—fruity like apricots, but better. “No, I’m not trying to teach you anything.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Then what?”

  Without knowing what else to say, he did the only thing he could think of. It was something that he should have done already. “I’m sorry.”

  She sputtered. “What?”

  “I was a jerk.” He let the word hang in the air. “I actually contacted Professor Burton and told him I thought you should be able to do extra credit.”

  She looked confused. “Really?”

  He shrugged.

  She hesitated. “But what about not wanting to babysit?”

  He shrugged again. He’d been thinking about what he wanted to say as he’d attended the cold cloth on Chase’s head. “I admit, as a TA … when you emailed to ask for extra credit and then came to see me, I was a complete jerk. I didn’t listen. I’ve been so focused on getting enough studying in I …” He looked down at his boots. “I guess it’s true what Chase says.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m not ‘personable.’” It was something he had frankly thought was unimportant until now. “So …”

  She didn’t respond for several seconds, seeming to measure his words.

  “So I’ll get you those extra assignments.”

  She let out a breath and looked around. “Hmph …”

  He thought he may as well finish. It surprised him how nervous he was. “And you definitely didn’t deserve what I said the other day when the whole system collapsed, and the babysitting comment was just rude.”

  Scrupulously, she slowly looked him up and down. She cocked an eyebrow and asked, “Why aren’t you wearing your glasses?”

  “What?”

  “Well, I noticed you put them on the sidelines last night. I wasn’t sure if you only need them for up close, and you don’t need them to catch a ball, but why aren’t you wearing them now?”

  “Don’t you want to say something about my apology?” He’d rehearsed the speech all night.

  She cracked a grin. “Fine. I forgive you.”

  A witty retort or wisecrack or out-and-out refusal had been what he’d been expecting. He’d been bracing himself. Now, he relaxed. He couldn’t help smiling. “You do?”

  To his utter amazement, she smiled even wider. “I do.”


  “For what?”

  She grinned. “All of it.”

  Elation swept through him. This was great. Beautiful. Amazing. Perfect.

  Throwing her hands up in the air, she cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Professor, I know you’re in your head, but where are your glasses? And what are we doing up here?”

  Happier and lighter than he’d been in a long time, he rushed to the back of the car to get his equipment. “Hold your horses, Red.”

  “Red?”

  “Your hair and your temper. It seems to fit.”

  She rolled her eyes. “That’s original.”

  He smiled. “Don’t worry, Red. I’ve brought you up here because I’m going to teach you to fly.”

  Chapter 15

  When Destiny had agreed to come to Snow Valley for spring break, fun was not something she imagined having. Not any. At all. In fact, she’d braced herself for a week of drudgery, of just getting through every day.

  Now as she got ready to jump off the top of Snow Peak while strapped to Adam Moon’s chest, every part of her was literally leaping. She’d always wanted to try hang gliding.

  He stood behind her. The smell of his aftershave filled her senses. His strength was reassuring against her back. Her mind flashed back to the night before, when she’d seen him pull off his shirt. He wasn’t pumped up like Chase. No, Adam was long and lean and definitely fit the role of hiker and outdoor enthusiast.

  Putting his arms over hers, he leaned closer to her ear, and when he spoke, his breath tickled her. “You ready, Red?”

  She nodded. “I don’t know why you think this stupid nickname is a cool thing, but yes, I’m ready.”

  He laughed. “Okay, do you have a better nickname?”

  Without thinking, she said, “My uncle has always called me Dez.”

  He paused. “Okay, Dez.”

  It sounded wrong coming from him. “But you can’t.”

  “Too late.” He let out a light laugh.

  She let it go, trying to ignore the hyper butterflies in her gut. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

  “Remember the training.”

  Bits of the last hour and a half of training went through her mind. Truthfully, she didn’t feel like she’d absorbed very much, because she’d been totally distracted by him. Even though she didn’t know if she liked him at this point, she did trust him, which was a big thing for her. He’d explained how he’d gotten his license to be a hang gliding trainer at nineteen, and how he did it every summer because he loved it and not because of the money.

  She nodded. “Let’s do it.”

  “One.” He pulled her hands out with his own, into a superman position. “Two.” She felt him bend his knees.

  The whole valley lay sprawled below them, and every single butterfly now fluttered into her chest. Her heart pounded like she was about to—ironically enough—jump off a cliff.

  “Three!”

  She jumped with him and felt his strength push them until he pressed a button and the power motor started, turning on the propeller that took them up higher. Then the wind took hold of them. For a brief second, she remembered something about how they had to make sure the air current held them and how he’d calculated by their weight and height and the air pressure where they needed to be. Actually, he’d whipped out his computer and punched all the numbers into a spreadsheet he had on file.

  A laugh escaped her—a kid laugh of wonder and happiness.

  He killed the power motor and laughed too. “There we go. I just had to make sure the wind had a chance.”

  It was wonderful. The air was colder up here, and it grew colder still as they seemed to dive down the mountain.

  Adam released her hands and began working the equipment, adjusting the hand controls to the wind. In one big whoop, they were hurled high into the air.

  She let out a scream, not out of fear, but because it was like riding on a roller coaster.

  Adam’s laugh sounded in her ears. “How come I’m not surprised you’re an adrenaline junkie, Red?”

  Then she laughed too. It was a freeing laugh that swept away all the despair and anger and fear she’d felt for the longest time.

  Moisture beaded the corners of her eyes even through the goggles, and she realized she was simultaneously laughing and crying. It was perfect up here … so perfect.

  “What do you think?”

  Trying to turn her head, she caught his eyes, and all she could do was cry and smile. “I love it.”

  He let out another light laugh. “Me too.” He yanked on the hand controls and took them even higher.

  As they glided down the mountains, as she looked out over the valley, she really felt like a bird. She was soaring. It was an experience she would never forget.

  All the doubt and worry and pain of the world melted away. The only thing left was this moment with Adam solidly behind her. It had completely taken her off guard that he’d brought her up here at all.

  As they whooshed down, the blue sky became a part of them. The wind took her breath away, and she knew Adam Moon was not the person she’d thought he was.

  Thirty minutes later, she watched him gather up the hang gliding equipment next to the side of the road. He glanced up at her. “I have some lunch in my pack. We can eat before we hike back up to get the car.”

  Hiking. Right.

  He considered her boots. “Your aunt insisted you could fit into hers.”

  As he walked over, she was simultaneously nervous and a bit weirded out at how quickly they had become friends. He was acting completely normal now, but she’d had him pretty vilified in her mind. He hadn’t turned out to be anything she thought, and she’d forgiven him. Hadn’t she? “It’s fine,” she lied.

  Opening his pack, he pulled out some squished peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches and two waters. He held up a sandwich. “I did ask your aunt if you had a peanut allergy, though. Lucky for me, you didn’t. PB and J is a staple in my life.”

  She took the sandwich and water, still perplexed by his attitude. Yes, he was pragmatic and thorough, but he wasn’t broody and jerky. Then she thought about last night, again remembering the very sporty version of Adam.

  Staring at her, he smiled and motioned to some rocks. “Should we sit for a bit?”

  “Okay.”

  They sat, and she quickly opened the baggie and took a sip of water. She felt too nervous to even talk to him. She’d only ever been upset with him, and now that she wasn’t, she didn’t know what to say.

  He pushed his sunglasses up on his head. Through a bite of his own sandwich, he asked, “So what did you think?”

  The smell of his aftershave and his simple closeness distracted her. She noticed how well she could see his eyes with his hair back; he’d pulled it into a man ponytail. His eyes weren’t just blue, they were what romance novels would describe as piercing blue. Right now, they felt like they were piercing her. It felt like he could see right through her, into her soul. Focusing on how fast her heart was beating and trying to slow it down, she looked at her sandwich and tore off a bit. “I liked it.” She chewed thoughtfully.

  Easily, he used one hand to support himself and leaned back. His clothes were completely geared toward hiking and the outdoors—khaki shorts with all sorts of pockets and climbing clips on the loops. She could tell that in his wool socks and well-worn hiking boots, he was completely comfortable. And she couldn’t help noticing his broad shoulders and the way the black t-shirt outlined his muscles.

  He grinned, and she saw the small dimple in his cheek. “It’s nice to have you look at me like you don’t want to rip my head off, Red.”

  She started, realizing how blatantly she was staring at him. She shook her head and turned away, knowing her face matched her hair. “I wasn’t … I mean …”

  He let out a light laugh. “It’s okay, you don’t have to be embarrassed. You were just totally checking me out.”

  “No, I wasn’t.” She chuckled nervously. Her only option at the momen
t was denial, so as she put her sandwich down and tried to wipe the peanut butter off on the grass, she tried to accuse him: “I thought you were going to call me Dez?”

  At that blatant attempt to change the subject, he laughed even harder. Then he did something totally confusing: he put his hand over hers. “Red fits better.” He pumped his eyebrows.

  Their eyes met, and she felt herself go gooey.

  His dimple was showing again. “Hey, don’t worry about checking me out.” His voice softened. “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that every time I see you … you take my breath away.”

  She’d thought her heart couldn’t beat faster than when they were coming down the mountain, but now it was like she was racing in the Indy 500. Her mouth went dry, and all the butterflies hummed in her lower gut. “I …” She didn’t know what to say. She was distracted by how his hand felt callused and rough on top of hers. It was something else she never would have guessed about the computer geek that she thought he was.

  He leaned closer. All she could see were the deep recesses of his eyes. She wanted to paint them, to use layers of blue. There was a restlessness that was almost palpable, as she looked deeper, though a calm remained on the outer edges. They were like an early morning lake, undisturbed. This guy … this man fascinated her.

  Gently, he lifted his hand and moved a stray strand of hair out of her face, then lightly traced her cheekbone down to her chin. “You’re so beautiful.” He breathed in deeply. “And that fruity apricot smell is killing me.”

  Their eyes held, and she wondered if her heartbeat was audible at this point. Even more, she wondered if he would kiss her.

  She didn’t have to wonder long. Quickly, he pulled his hand back and reached for a water. If she wasn’t mistaken, it seemed like he took in a couple of deep breaths, too.

  “Why did you bring me here?”

  He hesitated before meeting her eyes. “Because I wanted to take you hang gliding.”

  “No, why did you bring me?” It had been on her mind since they’d first gone up in the air.