Snow Crystal Trilogy: Sleigh Bells in the Snow / Suddenly Last Summer / Maybe This Christmas

“How old were you when you first skied down this run. Tell me honestly.”

“Three.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I was a late starter. Tyler was two. I still remember my father yelling at him ‘Turn, turn’ and Tyler whizzing straight down like an arrow from a bow, yelling back, ‘Why?” He just didn’t see the point of turning when he could go straight down.”

Kayla laughed. “Is that true?”

“Yeah, it’s true. Along with a million other stories that would make your hair stand on end.”

“No wonder Jess thinks he’s a hero. It must be cool having him as a dad.” But coolest of all was having a dad who loved his daughter as deeply as Tyler clearly loved Jess.

She thought back to the way Tyler had handled the situation the night before.

Once they’d received confirmation from the lift attendant—a lift attendant who had been too overawed to challenge the daughter of a medal-winning downhill skier—Tyler had sent everyone home except Brenna, who had stayed at the base of the lift in case Jess had started the run before Tyler could reach her.

Jackson lifted his hand and brushed snow off her shoulder. “It was good of you to help us.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You made us all see it from Jess’s point of view.” His voice was rough. “You were right that she was worried he wouldn’t want her here. It didn’t take him long to put her right on that score.”

Kayla felt something squeeze her chest.

This time, it had just been a misunderstanding. A lack of communication.

“Looks like it’s going to be a happy Christmas in the O’Neil household.”

“Seems that way.” He didn’t release her. “So how come you know so much about the feelings of teenagers, Kayla? How old were you when your parents divorced?”

“Thirteen.”

“That must have been tough.”

She’d never talked about it with anyone. “It was hard at the time, but I guess it made me stronger. More independent. Life events shape us, don’t they?” Except in her case she’d ended up misshapen.

She stood still, feeling the cold biting into her cheeks and the solid power of his body between her and the fall of the mountain. “Should I give up? I’m not sure I have an aptitude for skiing.”

“The thing about skiing is that, even if you don’t progress much past beginner status, you’re still out in the fresh air, looking at those mountains and getting some exercise with it.”

“So you’re not big on the gym then?”

“I’ll use the gym when I have to, usually for weights. I spot Tyler a couple of times a week. He does the same for me. But as for cardio—” he shrugged “—I’ve never been one for running without a purpose. Why would I when I have this on my doorstep? There are plenty of other ways to get the heart pumping.” The glitter in his eyes made her heart pound, and she turned her head and focused on the mountains.

“I admit it’s beautiful. I even admit that for thirty whole seconds back there when I was upright, skiing felt like fun. But the rest of the time I’m face-planting in the snow and that doesn’t feel so good.”

“Keep practicing and you’ll face-plant less. Are you always this impatient when you’re learning something new?”

“Yes. If I’m not good at something immediately, I’d rather do something else.”

His eyes were on her mouth. “You got any ideas about what that something else might be? Because I might have some suggestions.”

She felt the chemistry flare, live and dangerous, and this time it wouldn’t be controlled. “Jackson—”

“Yeah, I know.” His voice was husky and hot. “Public and all that. Getting naked on the slopes is still frowned on. Not to mention giving a person hypothermia.” His phone beeped, and he dug the edges of his skis into the snow and reached into his pocket and checked his messages. “Another Christmas tree order. A family would like one by this evening in order to continue a family tradition of putting presents around it.”

“Can’t they buy it from a supermarket?”

“They could, but a tree freshly cut from the forest is the fairy tale—that’s as long as they’re not the ones cutting it.” There was wry humor in his eyes. “Come with me after lunch and you can be part of that fairy tale.”

“I’ve never been a believer in fairy tales.”

“That’s good to hear, because chopping down the tree and hauling it back through the forest when the weather is minus double digits certainly doesn’t count as one. But it’s all part of the fantasy. All part of a Snow Crystal Christmas.”

“In that case, I should be there.”

She told herself if there were one thing guaranteed to kill her libido stone-dead, it would be choosing a Christmas tree for another family.

HE TOOK HER deep into the forest.

The trail was hard-packed and well maintained, and he stopped the snowmobile at the end of a narrow track. Then he helped her fit snowshoes to her boots and they walked the rest of the way, making tracks through fresh snow. Trees reached high above them like tall, white-cloaked sentries.

The frozen air bit through clothing and sank its teeth into skin.

She shivered. “It’s cold.”

“Wicked cold. Typical Vermont winter. There are folks who spend most of it indoors. There are days when I don’t blame them. Are you warm enough?” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. For once she didn’t resist.

“Just toasty.” Her teeth were chattering. “Never been warmer.”

“Did you buy any of that thermal underwear Alice mentioned?”

“Are you asking me about my underwear?” The look she sent him sent lust slamming into him.

“Just looking out for your welfare. Don’t want to send you back to Brett frozen like the ice pack.”

“As long as I’m still able to work, Brett wouldn’t care.”

“Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Why would it bother me? He employs me to do a job for him. It’s perfectly reasonable of him to expect me to do that job.”

Jackson decided not to point out that it was also reasonable to care about the welfare of your employees. “You like him?”

“I respect him.” She peered at some tracks that disappeared into the trees.

“Squirrel.” He answered her question before she asked it. “There are lots of them here. Sometimes you see snowshoe hare, although not so much in this part of the forest. Tell me more about Brett.”

“What do you want to know? Innovation is one of the fastest-growing PR firms in the U.S. and a lot of that is down to him. He’s driven. Focused. Can be visionary and inspirational at times. Drives you mad at others.”

“So you’re planning on staying with them for a while?”

“Yes. I only came over this summer and I’m enjoying the work. I’ll do a couple of years. Then I suppose I’ll move on.”

“Move on to what?”

She shrugged. “Different company. It’s what I do.”

“Ever wanted to do anything else?”

“Like what?”

“If you’re going to work that hard, you could start your own company.”

“I’ve thought about it. I suppose most people do at some point or another. You did.”

“That’s right. I did.”

“It must have felt good—creating something from the ground up. What made you decide to do that and not just work here?”

“Mixture of things.” He hauled her out of range as a branch deposited its mantle of snow on the ground. “Ambition. Curiosity. Ideas. I had so many ideas I didn’t know what to do with them all. There was no space for them here.” Still wasn’t. “Frustration.”

“And rebellion? A desire to show Walter and your father that anything they could do you could do better?”

“Yeah, there was that, too.” He acknowledged it and felt the guilt kick. “I should have come back sooner. Should have asked more questions. My father hated it, you know.”

“Snow Crystal?”

“Not the place. The business. He felt the business stopped him from enjoying the place. He resented the time it took to run it when he could have just been ripping up the slopes.”

“So why didn’t he do something else?”

Jackson had asked himself the same question repeatedly. “Only son. I suppose people just assumed he’d go into the family business. But he spent almost all his time skiing.” Pain punched him beneath the ribs. “He was in New Zealand when he crashed the car. You could ask what he was doing in New Zealand when this place was in so much trouble, but that was my dad. He went where the snow was. I got the call in the middle of the night and flew back as soon as I could. Arrived back in time to collect his body from the airport.” He felt her hand curl into his and squeeze.

“I’m sorry.”

“It was tough. Still is, particularly on my mother. But the cooking was an inspired idea. Just the prospect of it has lifted her mood.”

“I’m pleased.” She tilted her head and looked at the trees. “It’s so beautiful here.” She was wearing the hat he’d given her, but beneath it her hair was loose. He noticed she’d stopped pinning it up. Sleek and smooth had given way to soft waves.

“You’re only a couple of miles from The Long Trail, the oldest hiking trail in the U.S. It follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line all the way to Canada.”

“I’ve always lived in cities. The nearest I got to hiking was walking through Hyde Park in London and Central Park in New York. This is—” She breathed deeply and gasped as the cold air tickled her lungs. “This feels like a snowy wilderness.”

“Not exactly wilderness. Backcountry.” Jackson stopped. “I know you’re not a lover of Christmas trees, but does that one look all right to you?”

She followed his gaze. “Looks fine to me.”

He cut it down, secured it to the sledge and then dragged it home, taking each turn carefully as they followed the trail back to the resort.

A large SUV was parked outside the cabin and several sleds and boots lay abandoned by the entrance.

Jackson untied the tree and dragged it to the door. Then he picked up the chain saw, shaped the trunk and pushed it into a stand.

“Is that ours?” A young girl stood on the doorstep, watching as Jackson and Kayla hefted the tree up the steps.

“Yes. Do you like it?” He rested the tree and glanced at Kayla. Snow and pine needles clung to her hair and her cheeks were rosy from the cold. In his opinion she looked a million times better than she had in her office in New York.

“I love it.” The little girl stared at it in wonder just as the door opened and a young woman appeared, a toddler in her arms.

“Sophie, what—Oh—” She paused, enchanted. “It’s like a fairy tale tree.”

Jackson caught Kayla’s eye. Saw her turn her head away to hide the smile, because it was exactly as he’d predicted. That smile made him want to get the job over and done with as fast as possible.

Dinner, he thought. Only this time not at the Inn, but in his barn. In his large, custom-built kitchen with its views of the lake, and cooked not by Élise, but by himself. It was time to finally use those shiny pans.

And this time they wouldn’t be talking about work.

He took the weight of the tree. “I’ll bring it in for you.”

“Thanks—” Smiling, the woman held the cabin door wide and called over her shoulder. “Todd? Come and see this tree. Better still, come and help carry it.”

Jackson tried not to squash Kayla between the tree and the door but in the process ended up with his thigh jammed against hers.

“We’ll have it in the living room. Sophie—move the Lego so Mr. O’Neil doesn’t tread on it.” Baby on her hip, the woman commanded operations, and Jackson dumped the tree and extracted himself from clinging branches.

“You need to keep it watered.”

Sophie stared at the tree, eyes wide. “We have decorations.”

“Sounds good.” Jackson checked the tree was secure. “Well, I’ll just be—”

“Stay for a drink.” The woman smiled at him. “Todd just opened champagne. It’s one of our traditions the night we get the tree.”

“I’ll take Charlie.” The girl held out her arms for her brother. “See that, Charlie? Your present is going underneath it. And mine. Only four more sleeps until Santa comes.”

Jackson was about to ask what she wanted Santa to bring when he caught sight of Kayla’s face.

The healthy pink in her cheeks had faded and her skin was as white as the snow that clung to the branches.

Too late, he remembered she hated Christmas—and this whole damn place shrieked Christmas.

Damn.

He’d been ticking another job off his list. He hadn’t thought about the implications for Kayla.

As Todd came through the door bearing champagne, she moved to the door. “I have to get back to work. Enjoy your tree and have a happy Christmas.”

Jackson stepped toward her. “Kayla—”

But she was gone, out through the door, as light-footed as one of the white-tailed deer that sometimes ventured close to Snow Crystal.

He wanted to follow her, but a glass of champagne was thrust into his hand and Todd raised his glass.

“To the charms of Snow Crystal. The best-kept secret on earth.”

Hoping that it wouldn’t be a secret for much longer, Jackson drank. By the time he extracted himself from the festive glow radiating from the Waterman family, there was no sign of Kayla.

“ARE YOU SURE about this?” Alice watched as Elizabeth picked up Maple’s bowl and rug. “What are you going to tell her?”

“The truth. That I need to go and help Élise in the kitchen and can’t leave Maple alone for that long.”

“I could watch her.”

“You have your book group.”

“I haven’t even read the book. The print was too small and the first page was depressing. I only go for the cake.” Alice studied her daughter-in-law over the top of her glasses. “You could give Maple to Jackson.”

“I’m giving her to Kayla.”

“She doesn’t seem like a dog person to me.” Alice unraveled a ball of yarn. “Doesn’t know what to do with the puppy. Steps over the animal like a pair of shoes left on the floor. Did you see the way she stroked her? Vertical pats.”

“She’s not used to dogs. She’ll work it out and working it out will be good for her. It’s only for a few hours.”

“You’re interfering.”

“Yes. Have you seen Maple’s toy?” Elizabeth crawled under the table and retrieved the toy bone while Maple wagged her tail happily. “There. You are just what Kayla needs.”

“Jackson may not agree when the animal does her business on his hardwood floors.”

“She’s not going to do that.” Elizabeth scooped Maple up and kissed her. “Tonight you need to be extra cute. I’ve never seen anyone as lonely as that poor girl, and you’re the family member designated to sort it out.”

Alice looked at her. “Jackson could do that.”

“He’s next on my list.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

KAYLA SAT ON the sofa in her robe, an untouched bowl of popcorn on the floor and Maple curled by her feet.

When Elizabeth had arrived at the door and asked her to keep the puppy for a few hours, she’d been horrified, but Jackson’s mother had been so excited at the prospect of helping Élise in the kitchen that Kayla hadn’t been able to find a way of saying no.

“I don’t know anything about dogs.”

“All she wants is company. Wish me luck! Élise can be terrifying when she’s cooking.” Buzzing with excitement, Elizabeth had thrust a few things into her arms and hurried back down the path with a wave, leaving Kayla with Maple and no idea what to do.

She and the puppy had stared at one another and then Maple had settled down on the rug in front of the fire and Kayla had got on with her evening while keeping a cautious eye on the dog.

She’d taken a long, indulgent shower, rinsed away pine needles and bits of the forest that clung to her. Other things hadn’t proved so easy to shift, like her mood. She’d stepped out of the shower lost in thought and almost slipped when she’d felt Maple licking her wet toes.

And now she was on the sofa staring gloomily at the puppy.

“I don’t know why you’re looking so pleased. I’m lousy company. You couldn’t have picked a worse place to spend a few hours.”

Maple rolled onto her back hopefully, and Kayla shook her head.

“I’m not a tactile person. I’m sure someone better qualified will rub your tummy later.”

Huge brown eyes stared at her mournfully.

“Oh, for—” She bent down and rubbed the puppy’s tummy gingerly, her fingers tangling with fur the color of coffee and whipped cream. “Don’t tell anyone how pathetic I am, will you? I’d be fired on the spot.” Tears jammed her throat and she felt a flash of horror and then remembered the only witness was the dog. For once, she didn’t have to hold it back.

“Honestly, it’s just one day of the year. And it always makes me feel this way. It seems as though you’re the only person in the world on your own.” She’d never felt lonelier in her life.

A tear fell and landed on the puppy.

Maple whimpered, rolled onto her front and stood up.

“Sit.” She managed to say the word through her clogged throat. “Sit. Oh, for—” The puppy sprang onto her lap and Kayla pressed herself into the sofa. “Down. Down!”

Maple ignored her and wagged her tail.

The dog felt warm. Solid.

“Honestly, I’m fine—” Kayla kept her hands in the air. “I’ve never been that big on hugs and—Oh—” The puppy snuggled down. “Right. I suppose you can stay there as long as you don’t pee on me. And if you tell them I cried, our relationship is over.” Slowly, gingerly, she lowered her hands to the puppy. The fur under her fingers was soft and springy, the eyes looking at her a warm caramel-brown.

Tears fell, slowly and steadily like the snow outside the window. “I never cry. This is your fault. You shouldn’t be so cute.”

She wished her phone would ring, but for once it was silent, and she knew it was because the people back in the office would be caught up in pre-Christmas madness.

So—” She continued to stroke the puppy. “I can’t work with you sitting there so I suppose this is the perfect time to watch a movie. I hope you like horror because that’s all I brought with me.”

She pressed the remote control and started watching the movie she’d set up earlier while Maple dozed in her lap.

The cabin was in darkness. The only light came from the moon reflecting off the snow and the flicker of the television as she listlessly watched the story unfold.

She was lost in the dark and the horror when she heard a noise.

Her screams mingled with those of the woman on the screen, and Maple sprang from her lap barking. Kayla leaped after her, spilling popcorn.

“Shit—sorry, cover your ears, Maple—”

The door to the cabin opened abruptly. “Kayla?” It was Jackson, concern in his voice as he strode across to her, his feet scrunching on popcorn. Maple was leaping and barking. “Why are you screaming? What the hell has happened? Maple, sit. Sit!”

Maple ignored him.

“You happened—for God’s sake, Jackson—” she put her palm to her chest, feeling her heart pounding “—you scared me half to death and you scared the puppy. I thought you were a-a—”

“A what? All I did was knock on the door—” His gaze slid to the TV and his eyebrows rose. “Seems to me you were scaring yourself to death. The Shining? That makes perfect sense. An acknowledged feel-good Christmas movie. I guess you’re going to follow that with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Every fir tree’s nightmare.”

Hand pressed to her chest, she forced herself to breathe. “I was just in the mood for it, that’s all.” Stooping, she scooped a shivering Maple into her arms and snuggled her close. “Shh. It’s all right. It’s just Jackson, arriving with his chain saw. Nothing to be scared about.”

“I might have to disagree with that.” He picked up the DVD box. “You were in the mood for Ultimate Horror? That must be one hell of a mood you’ve got going on there.”

“It was my Christmas gift to myself. At this time of year the only thing that’s showing on TV is movies with the word miracle in the title.” Her legs still wobbly, she sank back onto the sofa. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you wanted a meeting.”

His gaze drifted to her robe. “Not a meeting. I came to pick up Maple. Thought I’d bring you something to eat at the same time.”

Her heart rate finally slowed. For the first time she noticed the large box by the door. “Pizza?”

“Fully loaded, cooked fresh by Élise, who usually considers pizza beneath her, so you are now among the favored few. I was going to invite you to my barn for the evening but after you vanished I decided I’d bring dinner to you.”

“It was kind of her—of you—” she hugged Maple closer “—but I’m not dressed.”

“You have to be dressed to eat pizza? That’s a new one on me.”

“All right then, I’m not hungry.” Her voice rose. “If you don’t mind, I’d really appreciate an evening by myself. But—you can leave Maple.” She was shocked by how much she didn’t want him to take the puppy.

In usual Jackson style, he didn’t budge. “Why do you want an evening by yourself? So you can cry on your own?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Panic flickered at the edges of her composure. “I’ve had a shower and washed off my makeup. The light in here is just—”

“You’ve been crying, Kayla. What I’d like to know is why. Is it because of that damn family and their Christmas tree? Or something else?”

“I’ll drop Maple round to your mother in the morning.” Putting Maple down on the rug, she walked toward the door, assuming Jackson would follow.

He didn’t.

Jackson O’Neil was about as easy to manipulate as a solid lump of rock.

He strolled across the room and sat down on the sofa. Stretched out those long, muscular legs as if he was settling in for a long evening of entertainment. If he felt at all awkward that he might be intruding, it didn’t show.

Kayla felt a rush of frustration. “Jackson—”

“I’m not leaving.”

“But—”

“I’m partial to the occasional horror movie myself, although I generally prefer psychological thrillers to all that blood and guts and chopping that goes on in some films. So—” he tickled Maple with his toes “—are you going to tell me why you were crying or am I going to have to torture you to get your confession?”

Irritation mingled with something much, much more dangerous. “I found out Santa doesn’t exist.”

“He exists. I know it for sure because his reindeer left a hell of a mess on one of the trails last year. He also knocked a piece out of one of the chimneys. I blame my mother for leaving out too many cinnamon stars. By the time the guy had eaten them he was too fat to get back on his sleigh. Come and sit down and bring the pizza with you. We’ll finish the movie together.”

“I’m not in the mood for company.”

“Too bad, because I am. I’m nervous.” He was all power and strength. The least nervous-looking individual she’d ever encountered. “And given that you’re responsible, the least you can do is make that right.”

“I make you nervous?” She was willing to bet this man had never been nervous of anything in his life.

“You scared me with all that screaming—I need time to get my courage back before I walk home. I can’t be alone right now.”

“Yeah, right—” she eyed the muscles of his shoulders “—because you’re so fragile, obviously.”

“I’m scared of the dark, terrified of loose popcorn and frightened out of my wits by screaming women. Either you put some lights on right now or you’re going to have to hold my hand.” He rose to his feet and she took a step backward wishing, not for the first time, that Jackson O’Neil wasn’t so damn sure of himself.

But he didn’t approach her. Instead he scooped up Maple and the blanket and carried the puppy through to the bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar while Kayla watched in bemusement.