“Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“Well, then, let’s go meet the girls.”

Chapter 14

Lucy

The ride back to the cabin was quiet and Lucy wasn’t sure if she was grateful or disappointed. Were they going to talk about it? At all?

Her hand in his, they’d looked at each other across the table for much longer than would ordinarily be comfortable. But then they finished their drinks and went back to the slopes as though it had never happened.

After skiing two more green runs, Will had tried to convince her to try a blue, but she’d hesitated. “I’ve possibly had the most perfect first day of skiing ever.” She had even mastered the steep part where she’d fallen the first time and had made it all the way to the bottom without falling—twice. “I don’t want it to go all pear-shaped because I got ahead of myself.”

“You’re doing great, though. You could totally handle a blue run. Come on, it’ll be fun.”

Lucy doubted that very much. As far as she was concerned, she had got lucky—perfect conditions and an excellent teacher. It was unlikely the day would be enhanced by snowploughing her way down a terrifying blue run, just to say she’d done it. She’d already overcome a massive fear just by letting Will teach her.

They had “compromised” by doing exactly what Lucy wanted to do—once more down the mountain on a green slope that they hadn’t yet skied, one that wove in and out of the forest. It had been brilliant and her favourite run of the day. There were only a few other skiers about, and it was so peaceful amongst the trees, the sluicing of their skis through the snow the only sound.

She looked across the car, knowing she had to say something. The silence was becoming a thing. “Will?”

“Mmm?” he said, glancing at her.

“Thank you for today.”

“Oh, no problem. I had fun.”

During which part? Lucy wondered. “I did too, actually.”

He chuckled. “You sound surprised.”

“Well, you must have realised I wasn’t particularly keen on going in the first place?” Understatement of the century.

“I thought you were just a little nervous, that’s all.”

“Quite frankly, I was terrified.”

His chuckle turned into a chortle. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I was being polite!” The chortle morphed into a full-blown bellow of a laugh and Lucy joined in at her own expense.

Many moments later, she gasped, “I can’t breathe.” How was Will managing to keep the car on the road? He was laughing so hard he was barely making any noise.

They each regained their composure with a series of audible sighs, Lucy with her hand clutched to her chest, and Will saying, “Oh, my god,” on repeat.

By the time they pulled up at the cabin, they were both breathing normally again. They shared a smile across the car and before she knew what was happening, Will leant across and kissed her on the mouth—hard and fast, a smack of a kiss, almost like he was staking a claim.