On the way downstairs to wait for him, she was surprised by a flutter of nerves. This definitely felt like a first date, even though they’d been together for weeks. He came in a short time later and ran for the shower, calling out that he’d be quick.

While she waited, she walked over to the window. Aidan’s house was built on one of the hills that formed the base of Mount Mansfield. The rising moon cast a silvery glow upon the village of Stowe below. She must have been daydreaming, because he was back before she knew it.

“Hey,” he said from behind her. “Are you ready?”

She turned to him, and all the blood rushed from her head when she saw him in a dark suit over a light blue shirt and tie. “Oh, boy, look at you.” She closed the distance between them, and slid her hands inside his suit coat.

“Look at you. I love your hair.” He kissed her, and the fire between them ignited.

After several minutes spent wondering why they were bothering to go anywhere in the first place, Clare came up for air. “We’d better go before we forget we’re going somewhere.”

“I’ve already forgotten.”

“You’re not getting out of this, O’Malley.”

He groaned. “You’ve got me all worked up.”

“I’m starting to wonder if you’re ever not worked up.”

“Not when you’re around,” he whispered in her ear.

She pulled away from him. “I’m putting my foot down. This time you’re buying me dinner first.”

He laughed. “All right, if you’re going to be that way about it. Let’s go.”

“Where’re we going?”

He held her coat for her. “You’ll have to wait and see. Let’s take your car. The truck is dirty.”

Clare handed him the keys, and he opened the car door for her. She liked how he did that even when they weren’t on an official date.

He drove them to the base of the mountain, where the parking lot was full of cars belonging to nighttime skiers.

She glanced at him with a quizzical expression.

He took her hand to lead her inside. “Don’t give me that look.”

“I’ve never skied in heels before.”

“There’s that smart mouth again.”

They walked up the stairs to the gondola station.

“Evening, Mr. O’Malley.”

“Hi, John. Thanks for staying late.”

John opened the door to a large gondola for them. “No problem.”

Aidan helped her into the heated car and sat close to her as John sent them on their way. The moment they left the station, Aidan pulled her close enough to kiss.

“Where are we going?”

“Up,” he said, running a hand up her leg. He sucked in a sharp breath when he encountered the lacy top of hose that ended abruptly at mid-thigh. “Oh, Jesus, I’ll be thinking about that all night.”