Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“What plan? For what?”
“For what we’re going to do once we go back to our suite,” I reply, my tone dropping by a few degrees. It’s enough to make her cheeks bloom red once more. I enjoy making her blush, more than I ever imagined I would.
I dismount and turn around to help her. She tumbles into my arms and we laugh it off. It feels good not to hold back anymore. It’s downright liberating.
“Look, you can see the hotel from here,” she says, pointing down at the valley. “It looks so small.”
“Everything looks small from up here,” I observe.
“Even our problems, right?”
“Especially those.”
We wait until Kellan and Alex catch up and then glide over to the beginner’s trail. I’m anxious to see how Makayla does.
At the top of the bunny slope, we all take a moment to appreciate the drop. It’s gentle and wandering, with no trees or craggy rocks to interfere. I can imagine it still looks daunting to someone who’s never participated in the sport before.
“You’ve got this,” Kellan assures her.
She winks at us, putting on a most confident smile. “I know.”
Alex’s eyes flash wide, and he looks from me to her. I give him a slight shake of the head, just enough for him to understand that I’m done fighting this. He takes a deep breath, eager and struggling to contain his own relief.
“Don’t cut this short,” I warn him.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he swears, putting a hand on his heart.
“Here goes nothing,” Makayla whispers.
“Just turn your skis slightly inward,” Kellan says. “That way you’ll go slower.”
“I’ll go out in front,” I offer, slipping past all of them to descend in front in case Makayla needs a hand.
I pull up after only a few yards. Looking up at the three of them, I’m struck by their coordination. Makayla may not be a proficient skier, but she follows my brothers’ lead. She lets them guide her and she syncs her movements to theirs. It speaks volumes to her character and femininity, interestingly enough.
Makayla leans on her poles and pushes off. She screams with delight as gravity takes over, pulling her toward me much quicker than she anticipated. I spring into action, easing over to meet her as she barrels past me. Kellan and Alex join us, bringing up the rear.
We make it about halfway down the slope before Makayla loses control. I can see it happening in real time, but I can’t stop her from falling. She face-plants into the powder, one ski popping loose and sliding down the trail. Immediately, I swoop in to help her up while Alex and Kellan converge on us from above.
“Are you okay?” Alex asks.
“I’m fine,” Makayla insists, coming up on her hands and knees, struggling to right herself.
The position gives me a stunning view, her glimmering suit stretched tight across her backside. I almost reach out to touch it. My fingers tingle with anticipation, my mind cursing at the fabric.
“Come on, let’s get you back up and running,” I say, then stoop down and take her by the elbow, bearing her weight as she finally stands up straight.
Alex peels off to chase the missing ski, and we all rendezvous in the same place.
“This is harder than it looks,” Makayla quips.
“Here you go,” Alex says, plopping the ski back on the ground in front of her.
She shakes her head, her hat covered in snow.
“You’re ridiculously cute with snow in your hair.” I chuckle softly and brush the flakes away. Makayla gives me a sweet look.
“Help me out?” she asks. I gladly oblige.
Holding my hand, she steps back into the boot lock and we’re ready to try again.
This time, Kellan goes out front. I stay behind to make sure she doesn’t fall again. We start down again, but halfway through Makayla wobbles and lands square on her backside. Alex and I help her up, one on either side.
She’s not discouraged. We get down to the bottom and she looks at me with the kind of joy that’s infectious. I can’t help but laugh.
“Let’s go again!” she cries.
My brothers and I exchange a look that says everything. All of us are wondering how many times we have to come down the mountain before we’re tired of this. Most importantly, we want to move on to the main event.
But Makayla is calling the shots.
“We agreed,” I remind my brothers. “Kay leads the way.”
“Let’s go again, then,” Kellan laughs.
13
MAKAYLA
I’m thrilled that Oscar and I managed to smooth things over. But now that everything’s out in the open and we’re all on the same page, I’m beginning to have second thoughts. What if I can’t handle all three at once? It’s a giant leap for a woman whose wildest escapade was getting bent over in what technically counts as a public space.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” I say as they help me up from where I’ve fallen halfway down the slope.