Audrey saw from Clarke’s quick blink that he recognized the name. He looked back at her, his expression conflicted, but the question in his gaze was clear. Good-looking bachelor. Should I back off?

It was a silent exchange they’d had a million times before, each taking care to know when they should make themselves scarce, or when they were needed to make the unwanted suitor scarce.

This time, there was an extra something in his gaze. A vulnerability along with the question. And Audrey was surprised to realize that she didn’t have an answer for Clarke. Or for herself. The obvious answer, of course, was that now would be a really good time to announce the end of their fake engagement. She was clicking with a very eligible man, and Clarke was clearly enjoying Elizabeth’s company.

And yet, no part of her was eager to take Clarke’s ring off her finger.

For all their recent antagonism, Clarke still knew her better than anyone and read the indecision on her face. “Will you excuse us for a moment?” Clarke asked, glancing down at Jarod.

“Of course,” the billionaire said with a polite smile, already reaching for his laptop.

Clarke extended a hand to Audrey, and she hesitated only a moment before taking it and letting him pull her to her feet.

“I’ll be right back,” she told the server with a smile as he approached with two Irish coffees.

Clarke looked down at the matching drink order, his jaw tightening along with his fingers as he led her around the throng of boisterous skiers.

“Where are we going?” she asked as they stepped into a quieter hallway outside the great room.

He released her hand and turned to face her, arms crossing defensively across his chest. He must have left his jacket with their group because he was wearing only a dark green Henley with his gray ski pants. His hair was wind tossed, his cheeks were slightly red from the cold, and his eyes were unreadable as he looked down at her.

Audrey gave him a pretty, fake smile. “It’s good to see your nose didn’t sunburn. Good old SPF.”

His gaze suddenly became very readable: wary.

Good. He should be.

“Where is Elizabeth?” Audrey asked, leaning forward and pretending to look around. “I’m surprised she let you out of her sight for more than thirty seconds. Wouldn’t want you running off to speak to your fiancée.”

“Looks like my fiancée found someone else to chat up.”

She gave an incredulous laugh. “Seriously? You’re going to give me crap for having a conversation when you ditched me to flirt with Elizabeth?”

“I didn’t ditch you,” he snapped. “We were invited up here to ski, and that’s what I did. Not my fault you prefer to sit around the lodge in your tight pants and bat your eyelashes.”