“Think you could handle the backwoods now?” he asked, a look on his face that told her he’d never forgotten their night in the woods.

She nodded. “I think more than anything, I just need to learn not to be so stubborn and listen once in a while.” It was the closest thing to an apology/admission of guilt he would get from her.

He seemed to accept it. His warm smile was unlike the grins or smirks he’d cast her way since she’d arrived. This one held sincerity and genuine friendliness and it nearly knocked her on her ass.

Arrogant, annoying Reed was hot enough, she didn’t need him getting all nice on her. If that happened, she’d be dead in the water...or snow, as the case might be.

“I should get going,” she said as Diva tangled her legs in the leash, eager to get back outside where the kids were playing on the snowbanks. After her “nap,” she was once again all energy.

Reed nodded. “Yeah, I have to get some work done here before heading to the bar tonight.”

Whether that was another invite, she couldn’t decipher, but she wasn’t about to read too much into anything. In fact, putting distance between them was what she’d decided was for the best, right? “See you.” She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her.

“Hey, Erika...”

“Yeah?” Turning back, she held her breath.

“If you want to go heli-skiing, I’ll take you. I mean, if you want... I’d be happy to.”

Her heart raced as her thoughts spiraled. She hoped her excitement and turmoil at his offer wasn’t too obvious. “Because you think I need a babysitter?”

“Because I want to.”

Oh God. Her knees felt slightly unsteady beneath her. An hour ago, spending time with him seemed like a mistake...now, as the memory of their night in the woods together returned, it seemed like an even bigger one. Unfortunately, knowing something was a mistake didn’t always prevent people from making it anyway. “When?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Tomorrow morning. I’ll pick you up at 6:00 a.m.”

CHAPTER TEN

REED DIDN’T NEED his alarm. He’d barely slept. Anticipation of the helicopter ride over the adrenaline-junkie ski trails was nothing. It was spending the day with Erika that had him worked up.

He should have let her enjoy her vacation, then wave adios as her curvy ass left town. Putting distance between them was the smart thing to do, especially when the memory of their kiss was driving him crazy. He’d dated a lot of women over the years, but no solitary kiss had played on his mind so much. And it was stupid—they had nothing in common, they argued all the time and she was leaving in ten days, probably not to be seen again for another ten years. Still, he was unable to ignore this magnetic pull to her.

She was different. Beautiful, smart, successful...but also determined and strong-willed. She challenged him and drove him insane, and it only had him wanting more. In all of his previous relationships, things had been easy, comfortable. They lacked a certain intensity. One he felt all the time around Erika.