Suite Embrace (11 page)

Once again, Skylar did as he ordered, content to study the play of muscles in his shoulders and the cocky, but adorable, way he held his head to one side as they trudged off through the snow.

D
eena stood at her bedroom window and stared into the white swirl that was raging outside, realizing that the weatherman's prediction of light snow flurries had been way off track. More than a foot of snow had fallen since midafternoon and a rainy sleet had begun to come down, coating everything in ice. It was only five o'clock in the evening, but it was already dark outside, and she knew that the road from town would soon be impassable and access to the outlying cabins on the property could be cut off. She turned on the television in time to hear the weatherman issue a severe winter storm warning. Things did not look good for the Roaring Fork Valley area.

A bus load of rowdy college students from Denver had arrived late in the afternoon, just as the storm descended with a fury, and they had been very unhappy to find the lifts closed and all guests confined to the lodge or their cabin suites until the extreme weather alert was lifted. The restless students had taken over the lounge and were still at the bar, drinking and singing and shouting and generally raising hell. Dealing with them, as well as an overly nervous couple who had been adamant about leaving for the airport, had exhausted Deena completely.

A heavy dump of powder might be great for skiers, but a total snow-in was never good for business. Arriving guests could be stranded at the airport for days, and those currently staying at the resort might have to cancel excursions and outdoor activities. She sighed, uneasy about going through the storm without Jerome. She longed for his patient reassurance and strength as she prepared for a long, tense night of watching and waiting to see how bad the storm would become. She knew how to start the backup generators if the power should go out, and the staff stood ready with flashlights, oil lamps and candles if required. But Mark, who was in charge of snow-removal had not yet returned from his outing with Skylar, and Deena prayed that they were okay.

Picking up the phone she dialed the number to the ski school office, anxious to know if anyone had heard from Mark. John, the assistant director, picked up.

“No, Deena. He's not here, but I do know he got off the lift with Skylar near Brookman Mill.”

“Really? Well, that's pretty far out. They'd have to walk back to the lodge in this weather,” Deena remarked, wondering why Mark hadn't used his handheld two-way to call into his office to tell John where he was.

“Don't worry,” John said. “I'm sure they'll be along any minute.”

“I hope so,” Deena said. Then she added, “Ask Paul to go ahead and start checking the snow removal equipment, as well as our supply of rock salt so he and Mark can get out early in the morning to get this icy situation under control.”

“Will do,” John agreed, clicking off.

The phone rang as soon as Deena replaced the receiver. She snatched it up, hoping it would be Mark or Skylar, but was equally relieved to hear Jerome's voice on the other end of the line.

“I've been watching the Weather Channel. How's it going out there?” he asked.

“Terrible,” Deena replied. “Nearly a foot of new snow since two o'clock and it's sleeting now. There's a winter storm warning out. By morning, things could be real bad. We closed the lifts early and made sure everyone was off the mountainside, but Mark and Skylar are still out.”

“Mark and Skylar?” Jerome repeated. “Uh…where are they?”

Deena went on to tell Jerome about Skylar's ski lesson, including the fact that it was obvious that Mark had more than a casual interest in her sister.

“They'd make a nice couple,” Jerome casually commented. “After Skylar's disaster with that guy in Tampa, Mark Jorgen might just be the kind of man she needs. He's mature, stable and a good-looking guy. Skylar could do worse.”

“That's exactly what I told her,” Deena said. “However, she's being very stubborn. Swears she's through with men, but I know her. She's not as tough as she wants me to think she is. Nothing to do but let her handle things her way.”

“I hear you,” Jerome replied. “Well, don't worry. I'm sure they'll be in soon. Mark knows his way around the property. He'll take good care of his boss's sister.”

“I hope you're right,” Deena replied. “Now, if I can just keep the guests calm.”

“Open a few bottles of champagne and give them complimentary drinks. That'll keep their minds off the weather,” Jerome told Deena.

“Good idea,” Deena agreed. “No one's complaining…yet.” A short pause. “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.”

“How's your dad?” The silence that followed told Deena that the situation was not good.

“He's alert. Talking,” was all Jerome could offer.

“What do his doctors say?”

Another long pause. “That he has a few good weeks left,” Jerome managed in a voice rough with pain. “They've done all they can. It's just a matter of time.”

Deena swallowed back the sob that crowded her throat and inhaled sharply, feeling the distress in Jerome's voice. “You're staying, of course?”

“Yeah. Until the end. I can't do anything else.”

“I know. I know,” Deena said in a comforting tone. “As soon as things here become a bit more stable and the weather breaks, I'll be there.”

“Deena…you don't have to…” he started.

“Yes, I do. This place can manage itself while I'm gone. The staff knows what needs to be done. And besides, I'll have Skylar here to watch over everything, and she's doing a heck of a job.”

 

Exhausted, and nearly frozen, yet flushed with delight after her exciting day with Mark, Skylar literally collapsed when she returned to her room. After giving Deena a quick call to let her know that she was safely back at the lodge, Skylar stripped off her wet clothing, pulled on her robe and stretched out on her bed to let the strain of the day drain away.

Following in Mark's footsteps, she had hiked to Brookman Mill and tromped around outside the rustic landmark with him while listening to the story of the original settlers, now thought to be a ghostly presence that watched over the mill. Taking shelter inside, they had found a cozy, sun-warmed spot beneath a huge paned window to sit and talk, learning more about each other.

Mark had told her about his childhood, his early years as a competitive skier and how close he had been with his mother. Though he was glad to be managing his own life now, Skylar sensed that he was infused with guilt over the professional and personal break he'd created with his mom, and remained conflicted about their relationship. He spoke openly and honestly about past romantic entanglements, of which there had been many, though none, he swore, had been serious enough to consider making a trip to the altar.

“When I look back,” he had admitted, “that time in my life blends into one long blur of too much liquor, too little commitment and very little conversation. I never took the time to get to know any of the women I dated, and they really weren't interested in knowing me. Life was one big party.”

“Then life at Scenic Ridge must be a bore,” Skylar had commented.

“Not at all,” he'd said, leaning over to give her a soft kiss. He'd held on to her chin with two fingers as he'd watched for her reaction. “This is exactly where I want to be, and with no one else but you.”

She had removed his hand from her chin, slid it around her waist and turned around to settle her back against his chest. Sitting in his arms, she told him about her family; her childhood and what growing up in a seaside city like Tampa had been like; and how she'd thought her sister had lost her mind when she left Florida to live in the Colorado mountains. She had told him nearly everything about herself, except the fact that she was a multi-millionaire and that she was, most likely, unable to have children. However, she did admit that her career as a paralegal had begun to grow predictable and stifling and that working as a concierge was much more exciting.

“You said there had been a special man in your life back in Tampa,” he had prompted.

“Yes, there was,” Skylar had confessed, now ready to go on and tell Mark all about Lewis. “And as I told you, our relationship ended abruptly when I found out he was cheating on me. It hurt to know that the man I'd trusted with my heart could be unfaithful.”

“I'm sorry you had to go through that,” Mark had replied, massaging her back. “Is that why you wanted to leave Tampa? To forget about him?”

“One of the reasons,” Skylar had replied.

“Do you still love him?”

She had shrugged off answering and slipped out of Mark's arms, then, standing as she told him, “I'd rather not talk about love. Who knows what it is, what it means? I just know that I never want to feel as disappointed in a man as I did about Lewis.”

“Fine,” Mark agreed, rising. “And as far as I'm concerned, you never will again.” He'd kissed her on her neck and held her close, as if infusing his promise into her soul. “Do you believe me?” he'd asked.

Turning to face him, she'd told him, “I think I do.”

“Good,” Mark had replied, a touch of relief in his voice. “And now that that is settled, we'd really better start back.”

“Yes, it's snowing pretty hard,” Skylar agreed.

The wind had picked up and the snow flurries had turned into blinding sheets of white by the time they arrived at the trail leading back. Mark convinced her to follow him on skis down a hill that brought them to the service road, and setting off, she had been terrified. But she kept her focus on Mark and stayed with him, proudly congratulating herself when she reached the bottom of the hill, still upright. From there, they had plodded through intense snow, freezing wind and stinging sleet to make their way back to the lodge on foot.

Now, Skylar placed her fingertips to the side of her mouth where Mark had planted a quick kiss before hurrying off to see what needed to be done before the full impact of the snowstorm hit. She grinned, reveling in the sensation of pleasure that slid through her body like warm honey. All she wanted to do was lie on her back and relive every moment of her day with Mark, to taste his kisses again, feel his embraces, hear his voice whispering in her ear. And, as much as she hated to admit it, she was helplessly under his spell and hoped to stay there forever.

After a short rest, Skylar pushed herself off the bed and made it into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the shower, feeling refreshed and renewed. After drying off, she pulled on her bright yellow terrycloth robe, put on her fluffy Big Bird slippers. She went to her closet and took out a pair of red wool slacks, a black sweater and her black flats, preparing to go downstairs to dinner. Being snowbound was really not so bad. With everyone crowded into the dining rooms and the lounges, it would be like one big family party.

Just as she was about to plug in her hair dryer, a clap of thunder split the air and everything went dark.

“Damn!” she blurted out, shocked at having been plunged into sudden darkness so quickly. “This sucks,” she muttered, knotting the belt to her robe a bit tighter. In pitch-black darkness, Skylar groped her way from the bathroom into the kitchenette where she kept a flashlight next to the microwave oven. She flipped it on. Nothing happened.

“Dead batteries,” she muttered, reaching into the cabinet over the stove to pull out the candles and matches she kept inside for just such an emergency. She quickly lit several candles. Moving through her suite she placed them in the bathroom, the bedroom and the sitting area, bathing the rooms in soft yellow light.

“So much for drying my hair,” she remarked as she removed the towel and began to hand-dry her locks. With a touch of gel and a finger comb, she knew she could pull herself together enough to be presentable. She had to get dressed and downstairs right away, to be available for the guests, who were probably panicking about being in the dark. Deena was going to need all of her staff to be alert and on the job in order to deal with this situation.

Just as Skylar was about to tackle her hair, there was a tapping sound at her door. Taking a candle with her she went to look through the peephole.

“Mark!” she said aloud, blinking at the distorted image in the small round hole. He was holding several flashlights and still wearing his red parka.

“Yes, it's me,” he called back. “Thought I'd bring up an extra light, if you need it.”

“Oh, right,” Skylar blew the words out on the edge of a sigh. Damn. She was a mess. Her hair was tangled and wet, her face was scrubbed bare of makeup and she was naked underneath her robe. “Just a minute,” she yelled back, adjusting her robe. No time to put on anything else. Cracking the door, she leaned into the narrow opening. “You didn't have to bother,” she began.

“No problem,” Mark replied, staring at her, taken by her natural beauty. She looked young, fresh and warm and he knew she was probably wearing very little under that robe. Their day together was still fresh in his mind, her kisses still lingering on his lips. Clamping down with his jaw, and determined not to show his reaction in a way that might prove embarrassing, he jammed his hands into the pockets of his parka and took a deep breath. “Paul said to check the window in your bathroom. He said the glass is loose and I need to tape it up. We're expecting some pretty fierce winds tonight.”