A Love Worth Waiting For and Heaven Knows (7 page)

“No, no. I'm sure you said you were paying.” She was laughing as she reached in her coat pocket. She sauntered up to the counter and called to the young woman behind the counter. “Michelle, I'll have a special, please.”

A little white eraser board was propped up behind the cash register. Apple Pie Latte, 2.00, it said in curly handwriting. “Sounds good,” he added. “Make it two.”

Julie unsnapped her wallet.

He tugged a bill from his pocket and laid it on the counter. “My treat. I mean it. You've done enough for me. It's time I started doing something for you.”

“We're even, Noah.” Her hand brushed his forearm with the gentlest of touches. “Let's find a table.”

He dropped another bill in the tip jar as Julie wove through the nearly empty room, calling out a hello to a group of women in the corner.

What would it be like to know everyone in the coffee shop by name? It was an alien concept.

Julie chose a table along the long wall of windows. “How about this?”

“Looks good.” He could see the main street, cloaked in peaceful snow. Couldn't be more than four blocks to the town. It looked like something out of a Western movie. “What do you people do here? There's no sports arena. No museums—”

“Hey, we have the historical museum directly across the street. Except it's closed today.”

“I must have missed seeing the sign on the way in to town.”

“It happens.” Julie shrugged out of her coat. “For your information, buster, there are a lot of things to do here. Wonderful, exciting things you can't find in your basic major city.”

“And that would be…”

She rose to the challenge, all fire and life. “Aside from our historical museum, you mean? Well, there is every winter sport you can think of.”

“The luge? Bobsled? Curling?”

She gave him her schoolteacher look. “I expect you to behave, Mr. Ashton, and stop thinking you're so smart. I'm talking about cross-country skiing. Downhill skiing. Snowshoeing. Snowmobiling. There's the weekend high school basketball game, but it was away this week.”

“You're living the high life, Julie.” Noah slung his coat over the back of his chair. “I'm not sure I can keep up with you.”

“Is that a challenge?” She lifted her chin, as if she wasn't afraid of him. Not one bit.

“Sure. Exactly what are you challenging me to? A wild walk down Main Street?”

Her schoolteacher look darkened. “I think you definitely need to be taught a lesson, Mr. Ashton. Do you ski at all?”

“Downhill, but I haven't been in years. I never have the time to fly to Colorado for the weekend.”

“Well, I'm one up on you. I don't have to fly anywhere for the best skiing I've ever found.”

He couldn't resist asking. “Have you ever been out of Montana?”

“Once, when I went to Yellowstone Park, which is about a hundred miles south of here. It's in Wyoming.” Her eyes sparkled at him, full of mirth and humor and real friendship.

That was something he didn't get often. “The best skiing, huh? I'm there.”

“Great. I'll take you home with me. You can borrow Granddad's skis. You two are about the same height.”

“You live with your grandfather?”

“Near him.” Julie turned to talk to the waitress who brought their coffee in tall white paper cups.

“Thanks for the great tip, Mr. Ashton.” The waitress was probably just out of college. She looked so young.

His ten-year college reunion had been a few summers ago. Over a dozen years had passed since he was that age. Where had the time gone? Noah
didn't know. His life had become a blur of work, meetings and loneliness.

It felt pretty great sitting here with Julie. She chatted with the waitress a few minutes. He didn't notice what she was saying. Only the friendly way she treated everyone. It was the same way she treated him, and he liked it.

Noah popped the top off the cup and tossed the slim red straws onto a napkin. He drank from the brim. The sweet, apple-and-cinnamon-flavored coffee was different. He always ordered his latte without flavoring. Change was nice, he decided. Different, but nice.

“Okay, your time off for good behavior is up.” They were alone, and Julie swirled the plastic straws around in her drink. “Confess.”

“Maybe I don't want to.”

“Then I'll have to torture it out of you.” She looked angelic in a soft cable-knit sweater. Her dark hair was drawn back into a bouncy ponytail, leaving airy wisps to frame her heart-shaped face. “Don't smirk at me like that. I'm tough enough to get the truth out of you, mister.”

“I'm sure you are.” Noah tried not to laugh. She was a pushover—anyone could see that—and in the nicest way. He liked that about her, too. “I'm not smirking. I'm trembling with fear. Don't torture me. I'll tell you anything you want to know.”

“I thought so. When my kids misbehave, they
have to put their heads down on their desks until I say they can get up.”

“Brutal. I wouldn't want that happening to me.” Noah winked at her, more charming than any man had the right to be. Then his cell phone rang and he reached into his coat pocket for the phone. “Wait—it's not the doctor. I'll let the voice mail get it.”

“They didn't give you any hint about what was going on?”

He shook his head. Dark shocks of hair tumbled over his brow as he leaned forward to tuck the small phone into his coat pocket. “They didn't say anything, and I'm a pretty persuasive guy.”

Julie could hear the low, quiet tone of fear in his voice. The humor on his face had drained away, leaving lines around his eyes and mouth, and showing how pale he was. “Are you still in pain?”

“Not much. It's down to a low throb. I keep telling myself it's just an attack of some kind. Like heartburn or something, but…” He shrugged, falling silent. What he didn't say rang loud and clear between them.

He was afraid. She understood. “If you need anything, ask.”

“I appreciate that.” He swirled the foam around in his cup. “Do you know what I need?”

“I'm clueless. What?”

“To get my mind off this.” He squared his wide shoulders. “Want to teach me how to cross-country ski?”

“It's going to cost you. Big.”

“How big?”

“Huge. Enormous. I'm a teacher, sure, but right now I'm off-hours. I don't just teach anyone anything for free.”

“How about another cup of coffee to go?”

“You're on.” Julie reached for her coat. “But first, prepare yourself. You're in for the time of your life.”

J
ulie wasn't kidding. Noah stopped at a turnout on the path between tall, snow-bound firs. His breath rose in great clouds in the cold air as he trekked close to the edge.

Wow. Those were some of the best views he'd ever seen. Mountain peaks close enough to touch rose straight up into the clouds. Snow fell in a misty curtain from sky to valley floor, far below, draping endless stands of trees. He breathed in the cold air and felt peace.

Out here, there were no demands. No deadlines. No pressure. Nothing. Just God's beauty.

Julie glided up next to him, stopping expertly with a slight turn. “How are you holding up?”

“Great.” Better than great. “I know this pain attack I had is just stress. I get away from my
problems for an hour, and every bit of pain is gone.”

“I'm glad.” Julie knocked snow off her cap. “Can I make a suggestion? Get rid of your stress.”

“I'll take that under consideration.” He couldn't get enough of this view. Of this peace shifting over him like the snow. Or maybe it was because of Julie. He couldn't tell. He only knew that he felt as light as the snow tumbling from the sky when she smiled at him.

“Are you ready to go? Or do you need more rest, city boy?”

“This city boy can beat you any day of the week.” Noah wasn't sure about that, but he liked the way challenge gleamed in Julie's eyes as she tugged her cap lower over her ears.

“You're on. I'll race you over to that meadow down there. See? The one
waaay
down there?” She pointed with her mittened hand, leaning close.

His chest tightened, quick and hard, like a punch to his midsection. For a split second he thought the pain was coming back, faster than before. But it wasn't pain. It was something else.

“Come on. I'll give you a head start.” Julie trudged back to the trail, leading the way. Pine boughs rocked, heavy with snow, in her wake and knocked against him.

“I'm such a fantastic skier,
you're
the one who's going to need a head start.” He winked, and she laughed.

“Right. Fine. We start together, but you're going to be sorry, Mr. Billionaire. C'mon. Line up.” She motioned him close, digging in at an imaginary starting line. “Ready?”

“Ready.” He dug in beside her.

And they were off at the same moment, shoulder to shoulder. The silence shattered as they crashed along the tree-lined path, knocking limbs. Snow tumbled to the ground. Noah tried to cut over, but he couldn't. Julie was right there, arm braced to keep him right where she wanted him.

She was pulling ahead! “You come back here.” He caught her by the back of the jacket and stopped her just enough to take the lead.

“Cheater!” She was laughing.

A snowball pelted him in the middle of the back. “Good aim.”

“That was a warm-up, so watch out.” She was behind him, skiing hard. One pole was tucked under her arm because there was another snowball in her hand.

He recognized the look in her eye. Okay, he hadn't grabbed her to cheat. He just wanted to grab her. Now he was going to pay for it. “I'm in trouble.”

“You bet your bootstraps, buster.” She took aim like a major-league pitcher with the bases loaded. Total concentration. Complete confidence.

There was nothing he could do but take the hit like a man. The snowball caught him square in the
back of the knee. He went down in an instant, skis flying into the trees, rolling in the snow. He didn't mind the cold creeping down the back of his collar as he climbed onto his feet.

Julie dug in and stopped. “Cheaters never prosper.”

“I wasn't cheating.” The snow gathered naturally in the palm of his hand. As if it was meant to be. It sailed in a perfect arch, as if he were meant to throw that snowball at this exact moment in time. At this one woman.

The snow broke apart in midair, showering her before impact. Icy crystals rained over her head and knocked her cap off to the side.

“You want trouble? You just got it.” She tossed her poles and filled her gloves with snow.

He was on his feet, but it wasn't fast enough. Cold powder hit him square in the face.

“Oops. I didn't mean—” She shrieked as he took off after her.

She was quick, but he was faster. He tackled her from behind, bringing her down in the soft snow. Powder flew as they hit. Her skis shot into the trees as they rolled to a stop.

She landed beside him, laughing. “No fair. You can't tackle me to keep me from winning. Just because you were clumsy and fell down—”

“Clumsy, huh?” He didn't feel like teasing her back. His heart was thundering, he was breathing hard, exhilarated from the cold and the exercise. He
reached out and brushed snow from her face with his thumb.

Warmth filled him. Tenderness burned in his chest so hard it almost hurt. It was great being here with her. Having fun. Letting go of his troubles and his responsibilities. And it was because of Julie. He felt real with her. He felt as though she saw the real Noah, when no one else did.

“I'm glad we're friends.” He meant it. Down deep. Because he felt a connection to her, he stroked his hand over the curve of her face.

“Me, too.” He couldn't interpret the gleam of emotion in her eyes. She climbed to her feet and brushed at the snow caked to her jacket. “As my friend, you'll help me find my skis. Right?”

“Don't be too sure about that.” Because one of her skis wasn't that far away from him, he snagged it before she could circle around him. “We're still racing. I intend to win.”

“What are you going to do? Hold my ski hostage?”

“Knowing you, it wouldn't stop you. You can probably take this hill on one ski.” He handed the thing to her, as he'd planned to do all along.

It was incredible, this way he felt inside. And the scenery… The wind ebbed away, leaving silence in its wake. It was like finding a corner of heaven, new and beautiful and untouched. So far from every unhappiness he felt in his life. So close to the nicest woman he'd ever known.

Noah believed that everything happened for God's reason. The Lord had given him this day, so what was He trying to say?

Noah thought that maybe he already knew.

He caught Julie before she could climb into the thick stand of trees to retrieve her other ski. “Let me. I have a way with firs.”

“Those are pines.”

He liked that she didn't have a problem putting him in his place. “Fine. I have a way with trees. Stand aside.”

Snow-laden boughs slapped him in the face and beat him in the arm as he climbed deeper into the forest. But seizing the lone ski made it all worthwhile. Even more rewarding was the feel of Julie's touch on his arm. It was a real connection. She was a real friend.

He hadn't had one of those in a long time.

He found his skis while Julie waited, and then they were off together, battling it down the mountainside. The wind buffeted him and the cold stung his eyes. It was like flying, wild and fast and thrilling. He fought hard, but at the bottom of the steep hill, Julie inched ahead of him for the win.

Losing had never felt better.

 

As they skied back to the road, through the forest that edged her property, Julie could still feel the brush of Noah's thumb on her cheek and the touch
of his glove to her face. The cold air may have numbed her skin, but that didn't seem to matter. She tried to think of a dozen different things. That didn't help, either. She could remember the look in his eyes.
I'm glad we're friends,
he'd said.

Friends.
Yep, that's what they were. Friends. She wouldn't deny it. Didn't expect anything else. But why did men always have to emphasize it, as if she wasn't good enough or attractive enough or special enough to be anything else?

She'd been around the romantic block too many times to mistake friendship for romance. So why were her feelings hurt? Why was she yearning for tenderness from him? It made no sense. It wasn't as if Noah was going to fall for her. He was a billionaire. She was a small-town girl. A few hours of recreation did not make a romance.

Still, disappointment washed over her when she glided across a knoll and the road came into view. Their excursion was over.

He puffed, a little out of breath. “You're slowing down.”

So she was. It had been a fun day, and she hated to have it end. The sun was beginning to sink into the western mountains. “Every time I'm out here, I'm never ready for it to end.”

Yep, that was it. She just loved skiing so much. It had nothing to do with Noah.

“You were right. This is the best skiing I've
ever found.” Noah tossed her that grin of his, the one that could make a woman forget every word she'd ever learned. “I can't remember when I've had a better day.”

“If that's true, you need to get out more.”

“What do you mean
if?
This is pretty special, what you have here. It's amazing. If I want to ski, I have to fly there first.”

Julie rolled her eyes. “I hate it when I have to fuel up the Learjet just to go skiing.”

“There you go, teasing me again. I don't deserve it.”

“That's one theory.” She glided around their vehicles parked in her driveway and kept going.

“Just because I have my own jet, doesn't mean I'm a bad guy.” He followed her. “Hey, where are you going?”

“That's my house.” She took the snow-covered driveway at a fast pace, the wind whistling past her ears.

“
Your
house? Not your grandfather's?”

“I know what you're thinking.” She wedge-turned onto the front lawn and circled the house. “How can a kindergarten teacher afford this on her salary?”

“Something like that.” It was a little different skiing right through her yard as if it were a trail, but the snow was thick and perfect, leading them to her wood deck in the back.

Julie knelt to release her bindings, and her dark ponytail brushed over her shoulder to touch her face. Her skin was pink from the cold, and Noah had never seen a woman so beautiful. His chest tightened in that strange way again, and he felt…

He didn't know how he felt. He only knew that he liked her.

She straightened, hauling her skis up the steps and leaning them against the side of her house. “A few years ago, Granddad gifted land to each of his grandkids and built us each a house of our choice. This cabin and the eighty acres we just skied on are mine.”

“He did what?” Noah leaned the borrowed skis next to Julie's. “He gifted this to you?”

“I know. Pretty great, isn't he?” There was no mistaking the affection in her voice. “He wanted to give us all a better start in life than he had. His ranch is just up the road. You probably saw the house when you drove out here.”

Noah hadn't noticed. He was too busy looking around at the incredible view. What she called a cabin was really a two-story log house. Not extravagant, but nice. Very nice. And the land, why, it had to be seriously valuable. Something a man just didn't give away…. “I see where you're going with this. You must have heard Harold and I didn't exactly become best friends.”

“I did hear a version of that.” She opened one of
the glass doors—no keys, she must have left it unlocked—and stomped the snow off her boots. “You could keep an open mind the next time you meet him. Give him half a chance.”

“Yeah, yeah. If I wanted a lecture, I could have let Nanna do it.” With a wink, he followed Julie inside.

“I'm not lecturing, and
you
asked about the house. What do you think?” She held her arms wide, gesturing to the home she was obviously proud of.

“What's not to like?” He took in the golden honey floors and walls. The open beam ceilings that made the kitchen and eating nook feel spacious. Glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling, showcasing the perfect view of shrouded forest and mountains. “I wouldn't mind looking out at this every day when I come home from work.”

“It's great stress reduction. I put up my feet, look out the window and every trouble melts away.” She put cups of water in the microwave. “Want to try it? The recliner in the living room is to die for. Once you get in it, it will take an act of Congress to get you out.”

In the living room, a gray striped cat took one look at him and raced up the stairs in a blur. He should have figured Julie for a pet person. A blanket was folded on the couch cushion, with telltale cat hair on it. It wasn't too hard to imagine her curled up on the couch watching television at night, with the cat at her side.

It was a pretty big place for one person. He could see his reflection in the living room windows as the sun peeked out, streaking through the glass. The view was even better from here. A man who'd given this to his granddaughter probably wasn't short on cash.

“How many grandkids are there?”

“Ten of us.” Julie sounded pleased with herself.

She ought to be. He'd been determined to find out Harold's true motives. True love was possible, but there were other more likely reasons.

Greed. He saw every day what people would do for the almighty dollar, as if that was what truly mattered. Women he'd dated and he'd thought he'd been in love with. Friends that wound up betraying him. Even his family. Whenever Mom or Dad gave him a call, as rare as that was, it was because they needed a few hundred grand to get them by.

“I hope you like hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows.” Julie breezed into the room in her stocking feet, the hem of her jeans wet with snow. She carried two brimming mugs and thrust one at him. “You don't look like a marshmallow kind of guy, but too bad. You're getting them anyway.”

“What does that mean? I am a marshmallow kind of guy.” The cup was hot against his fingers, the chocolate aroma rich and sweet. The marshmallows melted into a foamy froth. “As sweet as can be.”