Читать книгу Wilde Thing - Jannine Gallant - Страница 10

“You’re going out to dinner? With Hannah?”

Tripp slid the razor across his foam-covered jaw with one hand while he held the phone to his ear with the other. “That’s what I said. Uh, is this going to take long? I’m trying to shave, and I don’t want to be late.”

His sister was silent on the other end of the line for a long moment. “Why?”

Deciding she was obviously in no rush to get off the line, he engaged the speaker and set the phone on the bathroom counter. “What do you mean, why? Because it’s rude to pick up your date late.”

“Why are you taking her out? I know you flirted with her a little last fall at Griff’s engagement party, but I thought that was your usual knee-jerk reaction to the nearest available female.” Eden’s voice dripped sarcasm. “Anyway, Hannah basically ignored you.”

Tripp scowled then swore when he nicked himself. “She can’t ignore me now since we see each other pretty much every day for my therapy sessions.” He pressed a piece of tissue to the cut. “I like her. She keeps me on my toes.”

“She’s not your usual ski groupie.”

“You think I don’t know that? I’m not stupid.” He finished shaving and wiped the last of the foam from his face with a wet washcloth. “Did you call to wish me a happy birthday or to insult me?”

“I can do both. I’m excellent at multitasking.”

Tripp choked with laughter. “Well, you don’t have to worry because Hannah is fully capable of taking care of herself. For now, we’re just friends.”

“For now?” Eden’s voice rose.

“Hey, you never know about these things.”

“If you hurt her, I’ll personally drive down to Tahoe to kick your ass.”

Giving his still damp head a shake, he dropping the towel tied around his waist on the tile floor then pulled on a clean pair of boxers. “Why would I hurt her?” He carried the phone into the closet and came out with a button-down green dress shirt and a pair of slacks. “As I mentioned before, I like Hannah.”

“Because I know how you operate. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Walking into the bedroom, he dropped the phone on the tangle of sheets then jerked the pants up his legs.

“She kind of had a thing for you when we were in college.”

His hand stilled on the zipper. “She did?”

“Yes.” His sister let out a sigh. “We were both at the ranch for summer break, and your friend, Danny, asked me out. I didn’t want to ditch Hannah for a movie date, and she didn’t want to be a third wheel. Then you offered to go along with us as a foursome.”

He shrugged on his shirt, taking care to ease it over his injured shoulder. “Why don’t I remember any of this?”

“Probably because you bailed at the last minute when Wendy called you.”

“Wendy Obermeyer?” An image of the curvy brunette flashed through his mind. “I was what, twenty-two or -three? Wendy put out. Back then, I did most of my thinking with my…uh, never mind.”

“You’re disgusting.”

He let out a sigh. “Despite what you may believe, I’ve grown up since then.”

“That’s not what I’ve heard. Anyway, you left Hannah high and dry and dateless that night. Not to mention you really hurt her feelings.”

Guilt niggled as he buttoned his shirt. “I didn’t know. She never said anything about it to me at the time.”

“Of course she didn’t. We both agreed you were a huge jerk and she should get over you. Except I’m not sure she did. Not that summer, anyway. Hannah always kept her emotions all bottled up behind a cheerful smile, so it was hard to tell sometimes.”

The guilt dug a little deeper. “I really have to go, Eden. Hannah isn’t the quiet little mouse I remember from way back then. Now, she speaks her mind and isn’t shy about putting me in my place. Anyway, it’s just one dinner.”

“Fine. Sorry I yelled at you. Have a happy birthday.”

“I will. See you, Eden.” He pushed the disconnect button and scooped up the phone then grabbed his keys and wallet off the dresser. Shoving everything in his pockets, he headed toward the back door, pausing only to pull a leather jacket off the coat rack before he entered the garage. By rote, he started the engine, raised the double door and backed out onto the street. His mind was fully occupied with his sister’s surprising revelation.

Not the fact that he’d been a huge asshole. That wasn’t exactly a newsflash.

He never would have guessed Hannah had the hots for him all those years ago. She sure hadn’t acted like she was interested. Not in the way good old Wendy had made her feelings abundantly clear. Maybe that was the reason Hannah seemed so determined to keep him at arm’s length now. He’d blown it with her the first time, though he hadn’t been aware of it, and he knew her well enough to figure she wasn’t big on second chances.

Maybe I should apologize. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. Or not. It wasn’t hard to imagine how awkward that conversation would be. Best to pretend the heart-to-heart with his sister had never happened. Bottom line, he’d keep things low-key with Hannah. For now. Problem was every time he saw her, he couldn’t help wanting more than a friendship. Good thing she was a whole lot smarter than he was and had made it clear romance was out of the question.

By the time he had that settled in his mind, he was parked in her driveway and halfway up the snow-packed path to her door. When she opened it at his knock, his jaw sagged…and every good intention he’d struggled with disappeared on the stiff breeze.

Her wide smile shook him, but not as much as the figure-hugging royal blue dress that displayed mile-long legs and enough cleavage to make him want to see a whole lot more. Her hair was pulled up into some kind of knot with a few strands escaping to caress her soft neck. At least her skin looked as delicate to the touch as the cream-colored roses in his mother’s garden back home. Tripp’s fingers twitched, just itching to find out. He stuffed them in his pockets.

“Right on time. Let me get my coat.”

He bent to pet Winnie when the dog sat at his feet and gave him a demanding look that even a moron couldn’t misinterpret. When Hannah returned with a short, black jacket, he took it from her and held it as she slid bare arms through the sleeves.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. No, you aren’t coming with us.” She pushed the dog back inside with the toe of her knee-high boot then shut and locked the door.

“Careful. It’s slippery.” Taking her arm, he held tight all the way down the ice-slicked path, even though she was probably perfectly capable of walking on her own. When they reached his truck, he opened her door, shut it after she was seated, then ran around to the driver’s side.

Hannah glanced over as he fastened his seatbelt before putting the pickup in reverse. “You’re quite the gentleman this evening.”

“Overkill?”

Her smile was just visible in the gleam of the porch light. “No, but not your usual style.”

“In other words, I’m generally a complete boor.”

She pressed a hand to her lips, but a soft laugh escaped. “You treat me like I’m a capable adult. Nothing wrong with that. Still, it’s nice to feel like a lady once in a while.”

“You’re always a lady. The more time I spend with you, the more amazed I am some guy hasn’t already scooped you up.”

“Probably because I’m too big.”

He gave her a sharp glance. “Damn it, Hannah, don’t put yourself down. You’re gorgeous, and I don’t understand why you don’t know that.”

“I was being literal.” Her quiet voice took on an edge. “I’m five-foot-ten. In heels, I tower over most of the men I’ve dated. Yes, you’re what, four inches taller than me? Still, I doubt you could carry me very far.”

He snorted. “Wanna bet?”

She flashed another smile. “What are we, twelve?”

“Maybe.” He grinned back. “I told Eden earlier that you keep me on my toes.”

“Did she call to wish you a happy birthday?”

“Among other things. I don’t want to discuss my sister tonight. I want to get to know you better in a non-therapy setting.” He slowed then turned into the parking lot of the Moonlight Inn. “But that can wait until we get inside.”

After he handed over the keys to the parking valet, they headed into the restaurant.

“This place is pretty fancy.” Hannah spoke softly as they followed the hostess down the shallow steps to a table for two with an incredible view of Lake Tahoe. “Not to mention huge. There seem to be a lot of empty tables.”

“It’s definitely high-end.” Tripp took the menu from the hostess, smiled his thanks and waited until the woman left to continue. “I wonder if they’ll be able to stay in business if the conference center deal falls through. I heard there’s some trouble with the financing for the hotel complex they planned to build on the adjacent property.”

Hannah leaned back in her chair and opened the menu on the ivory tablecloth. “Interesting.”

“A bunch of people, from the owners to the marketing team to the construction company they already hired, are going to lose a huge chunk of change if the deal collapses at this stage. At least that’s what I heard when I was standing in line at the grocery store. You’ve got to love small-town gossip.”

“Sounds like my stepfather will take it in the shorts if that happens.”

He stared at her over the delicate blue taper, flickering on the table between them. “Your stepfather?”

She nodded. “He’s half-owner of this place.”

“Which husband was he?”

“Number two. My mother married him when I was four and ditched him when I was ten. They’d been talking adoption, and he asked for joint custody of me in the settlement.”

“Did she agree?”

“Nope. Mother was pretty vindictive during each divorce, and she had an excellent attorney. She didn’t give her exes anything more than she had to.”

“Hannah?”

She glanced up from the menu. “Hmm?”

He clenched the artfully folded napkin tight in his fist before spreading it on his lap. “I don’t think I like your mother very much.”

“Most of the time, I don’t either, but I don’t remember missing Luther after he was gone. Honestly, I can’t remember much at all from those years. I liked husband number three well enough. Brad was around through most of middle school and part of high school. He used to take me skiing and mountain biking. We were buddies.”

“I’m glad.” Tripp let out a harsh breath. “I need a drink.”

She reached across the table to lay a hand on his arm. “You don’t have to pity me. I was smart and driven—still am. I channeled any underlying frustrations into my studies and got accepted into one of the top colleges in the country.” She pulled her hand back as their server approached. “I wasn’t scarred for life or anything.”

“Good to know.”

The young man dressed in black slacks and a white shirt stopped beside their table and smiled. “Can I get you folks something to drink this evening?”

Tripp gave a quick nod. “I’ll have a vodka tonic. Make it a double. Hannah?”

“Your house chardonnay, please.”

“Would you like to order appetizers?”

Tripp glanced down at the menu. “We haven’t had a chance to make any decisions yet.”

“No problem. Take your time.” The man glided away.

“That’s probably way more about my past than you wanted to know. It’s your birthday. No more gloomy talk.” Hannah pointed at the menu. “I’m having salmon. What looks good to you?”

She did. Her positive attitude was incredibly refreshing. He should take lessons. “Prime rib. How about the tomatoes with mozzarella to start? I love those things.”

Her eyes brightened. “Me, too.”

Conversation flowed easily between them throughout the meal. They’d moved from a discussion of travel and all the unique corners of the world he’d skied, to some of Hannah’s more colorful clients as they drank coffee and shared a piece of the richest chocolate cake he’d ever eaten.

“Okay, who was the biggest idiot?” He held up the hand clutching his fork. “Don’t say me.”

“A football player for the Raiders. I’m not naming names because the jerk would probably sue me.”

“Hmm, I could try to guess, but I won’t. How about the nicest?”

“That’s easy. I worked with the sweetest little ice skater after she sustained a bad knee injury. The girl was desperate to get back on her training schedule since she hopes for a shot at the next Olympics. She never argued with me once.”

“Unlike me.” Tripp grinned. “Coolest dude. Present company excluded, of course.”

“Has to be Parnell Jones.”

“The Lakers’ superstar?”

“Yep. He gets the most handsome prize, too.”

“Damn. Good thing I took myself out of the contest. Did you know Griff and Ainslee met him while they were on that crazy treasure hunt?”

“Eden mentioned it once. I…” Her gaze slid upward. “Luther. How are you?”

Tripp turned to glance over his shoulder.

A stocky man with a full head of gray hair approached. He stopped beside their table and squeezed Hannah’s shoulder. “I’m fine, just fine. You look spectacular.”

“Thanks. Tripp Wilde, meet my former stepfather, Luther Vandenberg.”

Tripp shook the outstretched hand. “Nice place. This is my first time eating here.”

“I hope you were impressed with the food and service. I comped your drinks, by the way. The least I could do for my Hannah girl.” He flashed a broad smile.

“Generous of you.” Her tone was cool. “The meal was excellent.”

“I’ll be sure to tell my chef. Tripp, I was sorry to hear your ski season was cut short by that avalanche.”

“With Hannah’s help, I’m still hoping to get back out there before the final competitions.” He frowned. “I don’t think we’ve met before, but you look familiar.”

“Probably from the TV ad campaign marketing set up when we had our grand opening for the restaurant.”

Tripp snapped his fingers. “That’s right. You cruise up to the dock outside in a beautiful, old woody. Are you making any progress getting the hotel and convention center underway?”

“Thank God, yes. We recently cleared the last financial roadblock and will be breaking ground as soon as the snow melts.”

Hannah cradled her coffee cup in her hands then bent to take a sip. “That’s great news.”

“My partner and I are relieved. Anything new with you, Hannah? I heard a few rumors around town…”

Tripp let out a sigh. “What, that we were making up horror stories out on the mountain?”

“Something like that. Did you really see someone pushed off a chairlift?”

“Since no one believes us, we aren’t discussing what we saw.” Hannah’s lips pinched tight. “At least not right now.”

Tripp snorted. “Maybe the authorities will take us more seriously if a body shows up in the spring. I’m sure they’ll want to hear what we have to say then.”

Luther stepped back from the table. “Well, I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of your dessert. Have a nice evening.”

Tripp polished off the last few bites of cake since Hannah seemed to have lost interest. He noted her hunched shoulders and frowned. “You give off a weird vibe around him.”

She shrugged. “I can’t help it. I always feel awkward.” The coffee cup clattered against the saucer when she set it down. “Bitter doesn’t begin to describe Luther’s feelings toward my mother. She did pretty well in that divorce—at his expense. So, even though he’s always nice to me, I can’t help having some sort of strange guilt complex. For that reason, I tend to stay clear of him.”

“Why didn’t you say something earlier? We could have gone to a different restaurant.”

“It’s no big deal. I can handle casual meetings, but I don’t want to spend holidays with the man or pretend we’re still family. Anyway, dinner was truly excellent.”

“Right down to the birthday cake.” He smiled then pulled out his wallet when the server stopped by to clear their plates and leave a check.

The man took the card he placed on the tray. “Be right back.”

Hannah sipped the last of her coffee and seemed to shake off her glum mood. “I enjoyed the evening. You’re an entertaining companion.”

“That doesn’t sound very sexy—more like an eccentric uncle, the kind with too many stories to tell and a comfortable paunch hanging over his belt.”

She laughed out loud, turning the heads of the other diners. “See, funny. Definitely no paunch.”

When their server returned, Tripp signed the slip then stood to pull back her chair. “Let’s get out of here.”

She nodded and walked beside him to the entrance, then slipped on her coat while they waited for the valet to bring the truck around.

“Chilly evening but beautifully clear.”

He wrapped an arm around her and squeezed. “Are you cold?”

“Just a little.” For a moment, she leaned against him then pulled away when headlights flashed as the valet returned.

After they were settled inside, Tripp turned to face her. “It’s still early. Want to take a drive?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“I thought we’d cruise down to Emerald Bay. The moon is full tonight.”

“Sounds lovely. Tripp?”

He turned out of the parking lot then leaned back against the seat to enjoy the drive. “Yes?”

“Why did you want to spend your birthday with me? I’m sure you have plenty of friends to hang out with who would have made your evening far more exciting.”

“I wasn’t looking for excitement.”

“What are you looking for?”

He glanced her way, taking a moment to study her profile in the light from a passing car before returning his attention to the road. “I’m not sure. Maybe someone familiar and comfortable. With you, I can completely relax. I don’t feel like I have to be the Wilde Thing the ski crowd expects when I’m out on the town.”

“So, I’m like the old pair of slippers under your bed?”

He grinned. “I don’t think I own any slippers. How about the ski boots I’ve broken in until they’re molded to a perfect fit.”

“Why in the world would you think we fit well together? We’re opposites in almost every way imaginable. You have celebrity status on and off the mountain, and I’m most at home…well, at home, curled up on the couch with a book and my dog.”

“Hey, you’re pretty damn well-known in your own line of work. If Parnell Jones looks you up when he needs PT—”

“Exactly. I might work with sports celebrities, but I’m not one. I’m about as normal and ho-hum as they come.”

“You used to be quiet and unassuming, but that was years ago. Now, I find you intriguing and stimulating…not to mention hot.”

“I’m still not sleeping with you.” Her tone was laced with humor. “If that’s what this is about.”

“Sex hasn’t crossed my mind once in the last, uh, minute or two. Honest.”

A giggle escaped before she slapped a hand over her mouth. “You crack me up. Points for that.”

“Maybe after enough points, you’ll cave in and change your mind about dating a client. At least this particular client.”

“Stranger things have happened, I suppose, since this evening has felt awfully date-like.”

They rode in silence for the next few miles.

“Not to change the subject, but are you still upset by what we saw on the mountain Friday?”

“I try not to think about it. Hard not to, though, when people like Luther bring up the subject.”

“Sorry. I should have let the matter drop, but I could see you were bothered when he mentioned the rumors.”

“Maybe I’ll actually start believing we saw a bag fall if I think it enough times. I guess we’ll never know what really happened, so I shouldn’t stress over it.”

“Probably best, at least for tonight. I call this perfect timing.” He turned into the parking lot above Emerald Bay and turned off the engine. “Check out the moon rising up over the mountains on the other side of the lake. Want to walk out to the viewpoint?”

“Sure. At least I have on boots, even if they aren’t designed for trekking through snow.”

He got out of the cab and met her at the front bumper. “I could always use this opportunity to prove I’m capable of carrying you.”

“Let’s wait until your shoulder is fully healed for you to show off your strength. I wouldn’t turn down an arm, however. The snow is iced over on the path.”

Tucking her hand through the crook of his elbow, he headed down to the viewpoint then drew in a breath. “Lord, we live in a beautiful place.”

The rising moon shed a silver light across the lake, illuminating the dark waters of Emerald Bay with its tiny island in the center. Even the stone walls of the ruined Tea House were visible against the night sky. Glimmering snow frosted the thick forest surrounding the bay.

She sighed. “I love this place. Thanks for suggesting we come.”

“Seemed like a perfect way to end the evening…if you’re still determined it has to end.”

“Tripp.” Her quiet voice held a warning note.

He ignored it and turned her to face him. In the moonlight, her beautiful eyes shone with a hint of uncertainty.

“Surely a birthday kiss in such a beautiful setting isn’t too much to ask?”

He cupped her cheek, stroking his thumb along her jaw. The skin was as soft as he’d known it would be.

A breath escaped, and her golden eyes gleamed in the moonlight. “Why not? Live dangerously, right? Isn’t that your motto?”

“You bet.” His heartbeat quickened as he pulled her close. His lips closed over hers in a kiss that stretched as the seconds ticked by. Warm and tantalizing, she trailed her fingers up the back of his neck to burrow into the hair brushing his collar. Tripp savored a kiss that left him wanting so much more. But, he wouldn’t push her. Still…

She was breathless when he finally pulled back, any emotion in her eyes hidden by the darkness.

The kiss had definitely been worth the wait. “That was the best present I had all day.”

She smiled up at him, and her voice was unsteady. “Happy birthday, Tripp.”