I managed to survive it all, she reminded herself now. Staring into Aidan’s melted chocolate eyes, she repeated in her head, The past belongs in the past, the past belongs in the past … Still holding Aidan’s gaze, she revved the engine—her car engine, not her internal engine, because that part of her wasn’t going to rev for him ever again.

Nope, never. She simply couldn’t live with herself if she fell for him again.

With that same small smile still playing on his mouth, Aidan lifted his hands in a stance of mock surrender and took a step back.

Which meant she couldn’t very well run him over now. Instead she let her tires chirp as she accelerated out of the parking lot like the hounds of hell were on her heels.

Because in a way, they were.

Chapter 4

Aidan stood watching Lily spin out of the parking lot in a little Honda, as usual leaving chaos in her wake.

And in his gut.

And maybe also in his heart, something he’d admit never. There’d been a time when he would’ve smiled at just the sight of her, and as she was the daughter of the former manager at a neighboring resort, Aidan had seen her a lot.

She’d been quiet but not shy, smart but a lousy student. Her mountain skills rivaled his. She’d earned them working hard for her dad, very hard.

She’d never complained.

He’d loved that about her.

She’d been a bundle of contradictions, and he’d loved that too. He’d also loved how much she’d given to her family, not to mention how tough she was, both mentally and physically.

Her sister, Ashley, had been only a year younger, and they’d pushed each other hard, competing over everything. Ashley had been the outgoing, vocal one, but Lily’s charms had been more internal, an inner warmth behind her adventurous spirit that Aidan had been inexplicably drawn to.

He hadn’t seen a glimpse of that adventurous spirit or warmth just now.

Nope, the only emotion coming from those light green eyes of hers had been temper and lots of it—aimed at him. He had no idea what she had to be so pissy about. Ten years ago he’d been the one she’d left in her dust, his heart ripped to shreds.

He felt stupid remembering it now, but he felt like they had some kind of connection there on the mountain, in a way he’d never connected with any other girl before.

Or since.