Chilled by Death (9 page)

Christ. She was a hundred percent in everything she did. It was damn irritating when she turned that concentration into ignoring him but when she’d turned it on him that weekend…well, she’d blown every other relationship out of his reality and he finally found what he’d been missing all his life.

Her.

Now she was here. He wondered. Should he bring up their history? Say something about their future – not that they had one together, but if things went well, they could have something to work towards. He hated the gauche feeling of being a teenager again. Worrying about what to say. Worrying about every nuance on her face when she looked at him. Worrying about making the correct interpretation from everything she said.

But they were alone.

So it was a good time to talk. To ask what he’d done that had sent her in hiding and that whatever it was, he wished he’d known. Because he was damn sorry about it.

He opened his mouth and said, “I’m so—”

And heard sounds of the crew laughing outside.

Stacy shot him a disconcerted look. “Did you say something?”

“No.” He shook his head. “At least, nothing important.”

T
he group was
loud and raucous when they came in the front door, bringing freezing cold air and lots of laughter with them. George stomped the snow from his feet and took his boots off. “It’s a gorgeous day out there. We will have some awesome runs today.”

Royce grinned. “Glad to hear that. Did you go up Robber’s Trail or over to Sycamouse Trail?”

“Both – well, almost both. We went to the base of Robber’s Trail then took the Green Trail over to the other one. Both were great.”

He walked over to the fireplace and held out his hands. He was joined by the others all huddling around the flames.

“Something smells great,” Stevie said, his head tilting up for a bigger sniff. “Toast.” He sniffed again. “Stacy, did you make breakfast?”

She shot him a look at the disbelief in his voice. “I do cook, you know. But Royce did most of the work.” She turned around and grabbed the platter of toast she’d made and held it out. “However, I did make these.”

“Yes,” he crowed, “Toasted on an open fire.”

“That’s the best kind.”

“Hey, pass it over here.”

Within seconds, the platter had been reduced to several of the smallest pieces. She grinned and placed it down on the small coffee table.

“Stacy?”

She turned around. Royce was motioning toward her. “I’m serving. Can I get you to deliver?”

And with that, she had a plate for everyone. Some of them stood in front of the fire, others sat on the couch, and several took their plates over to the small table.

George motioned at Stacy with his fork. “Where’s yours?”

“Ha, I ate first.” If she hadn’t been looking at him, she’d have missed the narrow-eyed look he tossed at Royce. As she was turning away from him, she also caught Royce’s nod in response. Really? She wondered about making an issue of it but decided that it was just her brother trying to be sure she was looking after herself. He’d need to see for himself that she was okay.

She couldn’t blame him for worrying. If their positions were reversed, she’d do the same thing.

She loved him.

He loved her.

That’s what caring was all about.

While the others ate, she and Royce washed the dishes in companionable silence. She put on a second pot of coffee while the group discussed where they were going. Given it was just day one, several people were determined to make the most of their time. Others were more concerned about overdoing it on the first day.

She knew she’d be asked about her plans soon. She had no idea. Then she realized that the one group was going to the runs by the frozen waterfall. That was where she wanted to go. With the blue sky and sun, she’d be sure to get amazing photos.

She walked up to her loft room and dug around for her gear. She put on different socks, her thermals, and her outer layer. That was the easy decision. Now what did she want to take for camera equipment? She pored over her lenses. She didn’t want to pack anything unnecessary, however, any camera buff would be in the same boat – they’d want to take it all with them. Just in case.

In the end, she cut her choice down to the basics then headed back down the stairs. She caught George’s surprised look. She shrugged. “I thought I’d come and see what the light is like.”

“There are three groups going out right now,” Royce stated, his gaze penetrating. “Where are you planning to go?”

“To the waterfalls,” she said lightly. “Unless anyone objects?”

“Glad to hear you’re coming,” Stevie said, a big smile on his face. “Make sure you catch my good side.”

That brought the insults flying as they teased him. Stacy just smiled and sat down to put on her ski boots. The others were in various states of dress as they all got ready to go back out. George sat beside Stacy, and she looked at him. “Anyone staying here to keep the fire going?”

George shook his head. “No, it will hold fine.”

She smiled. “I’ll only be out for a few hours.”

“Good. Don’t overdo it.”

“I won’t.”

“When you’re ready,” Royce said, “someone will come back with you.”

“No need,” she said smoothly. “I’m an old hand at this, remember?”

“Safety first, remember?” Royce said. “I’ll be making sure you get there and back.” His tone brooked no argument. If anything, he shot her a hard look as if to remind her who was the boss, then he grabbed his jacket and walked out.

She made a face. And here she’d thought she’d just have big brother worrying about her. Still, this wasn’t a small resort. It was dense with hundreds of runs, and people were often only found missing when, hours later, they didn’t show up. Often no one could say exactly where to look. After the avalanche that had ripped their lives apart, the group had adopted a few rules. Never alone. Always let someone know where they were going to be at all times and to not do anything stupid.

*

Royce stood on
the closed-in porch and breathed deeply. The bite of the cold helped stabilize his mood. It had been a great morning with just the two of them. Friendly. Companionable even. As if the years between them had never been. Actually, he paused to consider. It was as if the years including that weekend had never existed. He’d been friends with George since Stacy had been in pigtails. He wasn’t sure exactly when that was, or when it happened, but somewhere along the way he’d started to care for her more than he should for his best friend’s kid sister. George hadn’t been the one to warn him off. Stacy’s father had. And in no uncertain terms. Stacy was going on to university and getting a real education. She didn’t need a bad boy jock giving her the eye.

He’d hated that meeting. But he’d respected the man. And the lecture. He’d backed off and had stayed well back. He’d stepped forward after she lost her friends and she’d had these massive walls up, keeping him firmly on the other side. He’d given her space. Then about three months afterwards, when he’d tried again, he had been rebuffed in no uncertain terms.

It had surprised the hell out of him when she’d come to him many months later, but he was no fool and from the first touch, they’d gone up in flames.

And damn if, immediately afterward, she hadn’t given him the deep freeze of all deep freezes. He’d backed off, giving her space, thinking to come back in a few months. It hadn’t worked out that way. She’d shut and locked that door.

She’d stayed behind that icy wall since. He’d hoped she’d drop it one day, but he hadn’t waited. He’d gone on with his life. Somewhat.

He had no idea when she would ever warm up enough to let someone join her in her icy prison. Even better, to let her heart open up and let that icy exterior melt forever.

God, he hoped he was there when it happened.

“You okay?” George stood beside him, reading his reactions. George knew him well. And knew how he felt about Stacy. How he’d always felt about her. He shrugged. “I’m fine. It’s just weird.”

“Yeah, it would be. I’m hoping it’s all good.”

Shit. This was his garbage. Not George’s. “It’s all good. It’s great to see her here.” He grabbed his board. “Now if only we can get her through the week.”

He glanced over at Stacy, satisfaction rippling through him as he watched her settle in. All through the drive yesterday, she’d been an outsider. Although sitting in the vehicle
with
them, she hadn’t been one
of
them. Even last evening, she’d been uncomfortable with George bringing up her photography. Particularly the controversial ones. Her Eternal series.

Her room choice for sleeping had also been indicative of how she felt. She’d chosen the loft. Maybe for the reason she had voiced, but also so she didn’t have to share a room with anyone, again keeping herself separate. He’d planned to go up to the loft with her, needing to be close. Not too close, but close enough to keep an eye on her. So she would know she wasn’t alone. He’d actually hoped that she’d be waiting and watching to see if he was sharing a room with Yvonne. Instead, by the time everyone had crashed, well after she’d left, she’d been sound asleep.

He should know. He’d crept up the stairs intent on putting his bedroll up there as well.

Instead, he’d decided she’d slept so well, he’d stay down by the fire and let her have her space.

That might have been the right thing to do as she’d slept soundly. He’d shushed the second group as they left to avoid waking her. And it had worked. She’d slept though the ruckus. Now she was comfortably in the middle of the group, as if she’d never been so separate. A little too comfortable with Geoffrey though.

“Hmmm…” George said in a low voice. “She’s not interested in him, you know?”

Heat washed up Royce’s neck. Damn. He’d hoped George hadn’t noticed. She was always so relaxed, so playful with Stevie and Mark that he couldn’t help but wonder about her closer connection to Geoffrey.

“They’re just friends.”

Royce pulled his belt on and slammed it home, checking his buckles.

“I’m sure they are.” He knew that, it’s just that he didn’t want them to become anything more.

“Good.” Sounds of more clicks and snaps said George had put his helmet on. “Are you good?”

“Yeah.” And he was. He always was. Like he and George had discussed, they’d do everything they could to look after Stacy and see that she enjoyed her first holiday since that fateful time.

Then maybe they could coax her out of her shell again.

*

Bitch.

That was the nicest thing he could say about her. She’d slipped into place with the group, and damn if he didn’t feel like he’d been ousted to make room for her.

Stupid bitch. There, that was better.

Maybe he’d do a series of portraits too. Her face in stupid positions so that everyone could see her true colors.

The thoughts only festered in his mind. He’d tried to clear them out. And failed.

She was like mold. Insidious and all encompassing. Everything she touched succumbed to her will.

Like hell.

If anyone was the ruler in that department, it was him.

And she’d learn that lesson soon enough.