Maybe Cassie is right; he could do with lightening up, but I’m not the girl for the job. We’re complete opposites … not withstanding our unfortunate first meeting.
Shortly after, when I can no longer hide the yawns due to my way too early start this morning, I excuse myself. Besides, ever since Cassie mentioned Jarrod had been checking me out, I’ve caught him looking my way a couple of times. And I’m starting to find his brooding gaze attractive, which would be a bad idea.
I like to surround myself with a circle of happy people, so when a grumpy man is capturing too much of my attention, it’s time to escape to my bed. Alone.
Cassie and I head up the stairs together, saying goodnight as she goes into her room and I continue along the hallway to mine. Today has been an eventful day, some of which I’d rather forget. And tomorrow is going to be an even bigger one for me.
Everyone can snowboard or ski, except for me. I’m the newbie, snowboard virgin, first timer. I’ve always wanted to learn. After all, it looks like surfing on snow, and I love surfing.
Back when I was in college, Cassie would tell me about her ski trips to Aspen with Jas and their college friend Lily. And I’m ashamed to admit, I was a little envious. With good reason I now realize, having seen how amazing this place is.
Dressed and ready for bed, I climb between the crisp linen sheets and sigh as my head sinks into the softest pillow. These holidays are a turning point for me. After splitting from my ex earlier in the year, I feel like I’m finally getting on with my life.
In high school, I was votedmost likely to travel the world, but Cassie always knew how far from reality that title felt to me. She knew I wanted stability more than anything because growing up, my home life was the furthest thing from it.
So, when most of my friends traveled after college, I returned home with my degree in early childhood education and took a job at the local elementary school that I had attended years before. I’ve been there ever since, living a safe, quiet life.
Something changed on my thirtieth birthday, and I decided safe was not all it was cracked up to be. I went to the Bahamas for Cassie and Luke’s wedding, visited them several times in Manhattan, and finally I broke up with my safe but honestly boring boyfriend. I’m ready to live up to that high school title—Colorado for this vacation, and maybe summer in Europe next. At least safe up to now has given me a nice little nest egg of savings to enjoy.
My mind takes a happy wander through the cities I’d like to visit, and while it might not be counting sheep, it has the same effect, and I’m soon dropping off to sleep.
Chapter 4
Jarrod
Myideaofhellcould be stuck in a chalet surrounded by loved-up couples. Although there is one bright light. The feisty Madison. It’s a shame she went to bed early, as I would have liked to have talked to her some more. Or maybe I should say taunted her, which I gather is how she sees me.
She impressed me when she first came downstairs tonight to join us, her head held high as she strutted into the room. I suspect I was the only one who noticed her misstep as our eyes made contact and then the brief flicker of panic on her face when I stepped toward her with my hand outstretched, daring her to refuse to take it a second time. Challenge accepted; she took it. An apology was on my lips, but with a touch to her shaky hand, I held it back. I didn’t want to embarrass her any more than I already had.
It was fun watching her pretend we’d just met when, all the while, her fiery, amber-colored eyes were shooting daggers at me. The initial anxiety I had seen was quickly brushed aside with a flick of her long, silky dark-brown waves over her shoulder. She was determined to make her disgust for me clear with biting words. I suspect she won’t be forgiving me anytime soon for walking in on her, or maybe it was the fact I couldn’t stop myself from staring.
I thought sitting beside her at the dinner table would give me a more discreet opportunity to apologize, but that idea was firmly shutdown. I tried, I really did, but every attempt to start a conversation was met with disdain or short one- or two-word answers.
I get that our meeting was uniquely awkward for both of us, but we do have to spend the next six days together here with our friends. That’s unavoidable. If this underlying tension between us is going to go unnoticed, we’ll need to make an extra effort to be politely friendly.
Not so easy for me, as my default attitude is anti-social and serious-minded. Jasmine is always telling me to loosen up and not be so intense. I guess now is the time to put that into practice. Not that my attempts over dinner did me a lot of good. Madison was having none of it, polite me or grumpy me.
The slap on my thigh was a clear indication of her frustration. It was surprising and oddly sexual. My cock certainly jerked to attention with the proximity of her hand. That, along with the naked visual I already had imprinted on my memory, turned me on. Maybe I am the sleazy pervert she seems to think I am.
I take another gulp of wine as I stare into the leaping flames in the fireplace. In a trancelike state, images dance in the brilliant light, and I’m reminded of her peachy smooth skin on full display, her dusky nipples pebbled from her shower.
Fuck, her body is gorgeous. I quickly excuse myself from the others and disappear into the downstairs bathroom.
I’ll be the one embarrassed if one of the guys spots my semi-erection. I thought I’d dealt with the inconvenient result of seeing Madison naked when I pumped one out in my shower earlier. In the bathroom, I lean against the vanity and stare at my reflection in the mirror, trying to think of anything other than Madison’s body. Thoughts of the beautifully stunning naked woman are leading me down a dangerous path. I should have turned away, closed my eyes or something, and the fact I didn’t makes me an asshole.
I will my body back under control, and it’s a good five minutes of splashing cold water on my face before I can return to the great room.
On my way back to join the others, I stop at the granite kitchen island to pour myself a final glass of red wine, then take the glass and bottle over to Scott and Jasmine, who are sitting together on the sofa. Blake and Luke are on the sofa opposite them. I place the wine bottle on the large stone coffee table in the center and flop down next to my sister.
With a nudge of my shoulder to hers, I say, “So my little sister is all grown up and married now. I’m happy for you—” I lean around her to look at Scott on her other side. “—and, Scott, I wish you good luck.”
Jasmine jabs me in the ribs. “Hey, that hurt,” I complain. “Of course, what I meant to say was that he’s a lucky guy.”
However, my exaggerated grimace has her laughing and trying to jab me again. But this time, I’m ready for her and able to edge out of the danger zone.
When we’ve finally stopped laughing and jostling each other like we did so many times in our childhood, I recover enough to say, “Seriously, congratulations, and I’m glad my brother-in-law is a good guy.”
Jasmine squeezes Scott’s leg, and he doesn’t even flinch. “Yeah, I know, he’s the best. Just like my big brothers.”
