Читать книгу Season of Dreams - Jenna Mindel - Страница 12

Ryan pulled in behind Adam’s Jeep parked in the last driveway at the end of a row of large but unpretentious-looking town houses. Eva changed into her ski boots and then slipped out of her brother’s truck to look around. Adam’s place was tucked into the woods at the base of a hill. A stream wound its way through the complex that bespoke quiet living.

“Nice.” Ryan gave a low whistle. “This guy has some cash.”

“It belongs to his family.” Pampered. That was what came to Eva’s mind. Ski slopes and beach resorts were no doubt Peece family destinations. It was no wonder he could buy Marsh Orchards and give her folks the means to retire early.

Feeling out of place, Eva scanned the snowy trails that led toward the ski resort. Why’d she come? The question rang through her brain again when Ryan handed her the skis she last used as a teenager. Hoisting them onto her shoulder, Eva wasn’t sure joining Adam and Ryan had been such a good idea.

“You okay?” Adam had quickly changed into a trendy black ski jacket with matching black-and-red checked pants. She shook herself out of her daze. “It’s been a long time since I’ve done this.”

“We can hit the easy trails first.”

Eva glanced at her brother, who looked anxious to bomb the black diamond trails. How’d she turn out to be the only kid who played it safe in her family? “I don’t want to hold you guys back. You two go on ahead. I can putter until I get my ski legs.”

Adam handed Ryan a lift ticket, then turned to her with a grin. “There are some nice, gentle slopes here. And I’ll give you some pointers. You’ll do fine.”

Great. Peece wasn’t going to be easy to shake loose. She’d been hoping for a little solitude. Time to deal with seeing Todd.

“Trust me, you’ll enjoy this.” Adam grinned.

“Right.” Adam had the kind of smile that made her want to believe everything he told her. Not good. She’d believed in Todd once.

“Come on, the lifts aren’t far from here.” Adam carried his skis tucked under his arm and led the way.

Ryan walked fast with antsy anticipation. It was all Eva could do to keep up. When they made it to the base of the hill, Eva fiddled with her ancient bindings. If she took too long, maybe they’d go on without her.

“Need help?” Adam asked.

“I got it.” Eva finally clicked in.

“Ready?” Adam asked.

“Absolutely.” Ryan pushed forward.

Eva waddled close enough to pull on her brother’s sleeve.

“What?”

“Don’t ditch me,” she whispered.

Ryan looked at her with a blank stare. “Why?”

She didn’t want to get stuck with Adam, alone. She still felt raw, vulnerable. “Stay close.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’ll be fine, Eva.”

At the main chairlift, Eva looked up and really wished she hadn’t agreed to come. The trails looked steep.

Adam pulled another lift ticket out of his pocket. He slid close and handed it to her. “I know you can do this.”

How could he know? She tried to force the clip onto her jacket’s zipper, but her mittens made her movements clumsy. “I need easy, remember?”

“Don’t worry. You’ll ace the green trails in no time.”

Eva noticed that Adam’s right ski was practically on top of her left. She’d back up but didn’t dare move for fear she’d slip and bring them both down into a heap. His leg brushed hers as he leaned toward her, sending a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

If Ryan left her, she’d kill him. She looked at Adam. “What are you doing?”

He grabbed the lift ticket from her fumbling mittened hands and clipped it onto her jacket with a quick snap. “You were bending it.”

She let out the breath she’d been holding. “Oh.”

His eyes searched hers. “Relax. This is supposed to be fun.”

She nodded, but really, how could she relax? Her rich and handsome employer was inches from her face. She could smell his cologne. Nice, woodsy, expensive. Another jolt of awareness raced up her spine. There was no way she’d relax around Adam Peece.

“Let’s go.” Eva breathed.

Adam moved away from her with athletic grace. Turning easily on his skis, he led the way.

Eva jerked along, almost losing her balance twice.

On the chairlift, Eva was wedged between Adam and her brother. She checked out the view of vast rolling hills of white dotted with evergreens and naked brown hardwoods. And then she scanned the slope. This was a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. Adam included. He definitely belonged here. Several women checked him out with interest. Even with her sitting next to him.

But then, it must be obvious that they didn’t go together. Adam wore expensive top-of-the-line ski attire and Eva had donned an old pink ski suit complete with a white patch on one elbow. Like a stale marshmallow Peep left over from an Easter basket, she was definitely out of date.

“When we get off, be sure to veer to the right. Then wait. There are a couple trailheads for this lift. I want to take the right one,” Adam said.

Getting on a chairlift was one thing, getting off—completely different. The closer the crest loomed, the more the lift creaked, its gears pulling them closer to the launching pad. Eva’s palms felt sweaty inside her mittens. She took a deep breath. “Okay.”

“Eva, hand me your poles. Ryan, we’d better help her out.”

Adam took her poles and then her hand. “Ready, step off and veer right. Now.”