Deeper (The Real Fling) (11 page)

“No way, the trail is too narrow. Besides I like holding on to you.” She grinned.

Once they were down, they returned everything and said goodbye to Tom. Inside the truck, Val seemed even lighter than he had last night. “Thank you.” His tone was bright. But it was his sparkling eyes that had Adriana’s nerves jingling.

“That was a blast.” Her voice was thick with emotion. Leaving him was going to be impossible. Why had she been rushing home anyway? She was just going to get fired. Ugh. Right now she needed to soak up as much time with Val as possible. He was great for her confidence.

Val edged her chin up and his mouth pressed against hers. “Let’s get lunch. I know a great place.”

He drove back to his home, brought her bag inside, and Adriana put on a pair of dry jeans and a fresh sweater.

“Where are we going?”

Val took her hand. “You will see.” They walked to town and they got on the gondola with a couple of skiers. The restaurant 10
^th
was located in Mid-Vail right next to the gondola.

“I’ve never been on a mountain without my skis. Feels weird.” They entered the restaurant, which was as lovely as the high-end restaurants in the city. Linen table cloths and walls of windows. “This
is
nice.” They took off their jackets and boots and were given loner slippers. “Definitely like this part.” She wiggled her toes in the furry slip-ons.

Val’s hand was on Adriana’s lower back as they were ushered to a table by the windows near the fire. “How are you?” He handed her a menu.

“Couldn’t be better.”

“Funny how that goes.” He drank his water. “What are you in the mood for?”

Giggling, she put her napkin in her lap. “Do you really want me to list them?”

“More?” He ran his hand through his hair.

She looked at him through her lashes. “Yeah.”

“Okay, but we need to eat first.” Shaking his head, his eyes glittered. “I need a steak. Lots of iron.” He winked.

Val ordered Caesar salad for two, a couple of steaks, and a bottle of Cabernet. “How is your shoulder?”

Adriana rolled it gently. “So much better.”

“I told you.”

“Of course, because you’re rarely wrong.” His face lit up like the fourth of July when he smiled, Adriana touched his cheek and inhaled sharply. “You shaved.”

He took her hand and kissed her palm. “You just noticed?”

The server came over with the wine, uncorked it, and poured a little for Val to taste. Val handed the goblet to Adriana, much to the sommelier’s chagrin.

Swirling to aerate it, she slowly brought it to her lips and sipped. “Mmm.” She widened her eyes approvingly at Val. “Good choice. It’s full-bodied and dry with nice peppery notes. It’ll go well with the steak.”

The steward bowed stiffly, poured Val’s glass, and topped Adriana’s off. Val leaned in and clinked glasses to her. “To fate and deeper…” He closed his eyes briefly, “…everything.”

A sharp pain lashed through Adriana’s chest, a small taste of the staggering grief she’d surely experience when she finally had to leave him. She tried to block it out, but it hung over her like heavy smoke, choking her. She avoided his face, paying careful attention to folding her napkin.
I need to keep this light. It’s just a fling.

The waiter cleared his throat and Val sat back, letting him serve their salads.

Adriana did her best to calm her jittery nerves. “Thanks for taking me here.” With nervous hands, she got her phone.

“Any word from the office?”

“No cell service.” Her tone flattened with disappointment. She put her phone away and forked a crinkly green from her salad. “There’s kale in the Caesar.”

“This is Colorado. They have to get it in there somehow.”

“I guess. What are they going to sneak in the middle of the steak, chia seeds?” She bit into it carefully and bobbed her head left and right. “It’s all right, but how bad could it be doused in cheesy dressing?”

Val threw his shoulders back like he was winding up to say something.

Adriana stopped him short. “What’s for dessert?”

“The King’s Sundae.”

“The what? You’ll have to roll me out of here.”

His eyes glowed like the most priceless Sri Lankan sapphires. “It’s peanut butter ice cream, on top of fried banana bread, with crispy bacon praline. Can you imagine?” He rolled his head back in ecstasy. She’d seen the actual expression to know he wasn’t faking. “Topped with Milk. Chocolate. Ganache.” He hit the table with each word as if he was coming in the middle of the restaurant.

“You’re killing me.” She giggled.

“Please do not deny me.”

“Oh yeah, like I’m really good at that.” She lowered her lids. Sex and chocolate. If those were his only two vices she could definitely deal…’til Sunday. She bit her lip.

He held her hand. Adriana’s heart lurched into an excited rhythm as they touched. What those fingers could do to her body, and those eyes did to her soul, a flutter skated over her limbs just thinking about it.

“Cold?” Val rubbed her hand in both of his.

Adriana wet her lips. “Not exactly.”

Val grew still. The waiter took that moment to serve their steaks. The food was good and they’d worked up a serious appetite. A few times Adriana caught Val watching her.

The waiter cleared away their lunch and brought their dessert, and it was every bit the way Val had described it, decadent beyond words. They savored each bite.

“Wish we were alone. I could think of a few things I would like to do with this ganache that doesn’t call for an audience.” He took her hand again.

“Oooh.” She raised her brows. “Is that on your list?”

“Maybe.” He closed his eyes briefly. “Thank you. You brought fun back to me. You do not know how much that means to me.”

Adriana shifted in her seat and drew her hand back. “Doesn’t look like you required any help in that department.”

A frown creased his brow. “You would be very wrong.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Barinov?” A boy, about nine, was standing at their table with a pad and paper. Two of his friends were crowding next to him.

Val startled, his face flaming, his uneasiness palpable. Abruptly he let go of her hand, as he seemed to steel himself.

“May we please have your autograph and can we take a selfie with you?” The child proffered the pad and pen to Val.

Val wouldn’t look at her. “Of course. What are your names?” He picked up the pen. To the outside observer he was calm, but there was no trace of peace in his eyes.

“Alex, sir. This is my friend Scott and my little brother Charlie.”

The other two boys grinned. The youngest was missing a tooth.

Val signed three pieces of paper. “Thank you so much.” Alex jumped and handed Adriana his camera sheepishly. She took their picture while the boy continued talking. “I hope you’ll be back to racing soon. We miss watching you. You’re the best.”

Toothless hopped. “We fight over who’s going to play you when we’re racing each other.” He had a lisp which would probably clear up once the tooth came in.

“Only play yourself.” Val poked him in his chest. He handed the boys the signed papers. “Be the best you that you can be, and you will be great. That is what I do.”

“Thank you.” They called out in unison and ran off giggling.

Val scanned the room warily. The side of his temple throbbed and his eyes lost their luster. The realization that no one else was around seemed to calm him. As his pulse eased, he picked up his wine and drained it.

Tipping her head, she whispered, “Who are you?”

Val twitched as if he’d forgotten she was there, then sighed. “I think you know that by now.” His sudden change of mood was disturbing.

“Yes, of course, but you know that’s not what I meant.”

His hand flexed restlessly on the table. “Valentin Barinov,” he said boldly as if she should know, but she didn’t. “And you?”

“Adriana Gallo.”

“Pleased to meet you.” His raw smile sent an ache through her every muscle and bone.

‡

Valentin Barinov
. The boy said
he was a racer. That made sense, but why didn’t he have the same ski jacket and patches as the others at the table yesterday? Did he have a racing accident and get kicked off the team? Was that what the nightmare was about? But what did his father have to do with it? One thing for sure, this was his home, which meant he wasn’t settling down in Manhattan. As if long-term was ever an option. Her insides knotted.

They took the gondola down and walked around Vail Village, window shopping. Adriana tried to concentrate on the present, and block out the sadness that threatened to drown her, but it kept permeating her thoughts. She’d only known him for a day, but her emotions were overwhelming and each second with him amplified them.

You’re ridiculous, you can’t even do a fling right.

Adriana stopped at the window of a gift store. Val hugged her into him. He nibbled her ear while his arms were wrapped around her waist. “What are you doing?” she chided.

“If you don’t know, I’m not doing it right.” His tongue swept inside of her mouth with slow sweet strokes.

“You do it too right.” Her nerves crackled as a rush of excitement went through her. What she wouldn’t give to have him secret her around the side of the building and take her right there, though they would surely be discovered. A flutter went through her, clenching her core. Adriana softened into him. Her hand was on his waist, yanking him toward her. His scent was intoxicating. Woodsy and warm with a hint of citrus and the ever-present chocolate. She grinned.

“What?” Val tilted his head.

“You smell wickedly sinful. Like I’d gain ten pounds with each sniff and twenty with each taste.” She licked his lips and entered the warm wetness of his insistent mouth. Twining her fingers through his hair, she massaged his scalp enough to elicit a moan from him.

Val stepped back and squeezed his lips with his thumb and forefinger. “If we do not stop, we will get arrested for indecent exposure.”

“I like that idea.”

“I bet you do.” He tugged on his pants leg and arched his brow at her. The bulge was unmistakable.

Adriana giggled. “You aren’t alone. You just can’t see my frustration as clearly as the world can see yours.”

“Great.”

She reached over to a mound of plowed snow, picked up a handful and reached for his waistband. “Put it inside.”

He backed up and shooed her away. “Do not dare.”

She doubled over, laughing. “Silly boy, I’m just trying to help.”

“Help me later.” He wiggled his brows. “Come.” He pulled her into a crowded bar. It was probably jamming because it was Friday. The weekend always brought more people out.
Bummer
. She preferred being alone with Val. Again they sat outside on the heated deck. Val ordered a couple of drinks, and they relaxed and soaked up the atmosphere.

The waitress came back with White Russians and jalapeño poppers. Adriana dipped a popper in the sour cream and took a bite.
Splat
. It burst all over her face. Cheese dripped down her chin.

Laughing, Val mopped it up with his napkin. His thumb skimmed her lips.

“Gross. Sorry. Sometimes those things really do pack a plop. Thank you.” She licked her lips. “Try one, they’re delicious. Messy, but good.”

Val scarfed a couple.

Loud laughter caught their attention, and they both turned toward the bar. One of the men looked like the dark-haired guy from yesterday, and there was a short blonde in the corner who, from the back, resembled Jackie. Adriana’s pulse suddenly went arrhythmic.

“You all right?” Val whispered.

“Just thought…” At second look, the blonde appeared too tall to be Jackie. “It’s nothing.” Adriana tapped his arm.

Someone waved Val over. “Be right back.” He touched her cheek with his lips before he backed away.

Adriana sipped her drink and tried to check her mail, but with a one-bar signal she didn’t get too far. Moments later, he came back with four friends and introduced them to her. They looked familiar, maybe they had been sitting with him yesterday at lunch?

They joined Val and Adriana and helped themselves to the appetizer. They were polite and nice enough, but there was a flash in their eyes and an odd smirk on their lips. Adriana couldn’t shake the feeling that they were sizing her up. They were overly curious about her and seemed…
stunned?
Sort of like Tom was earlier in the day.

Was it so surprising that she and Val connected? Darkness and doubt crawled into her heart. Adriana tried be friendly, but she couldn’t help feeling their reactions were personal, and that she fell short of their expectations.

“Hey, man.” An older guy, who had been passing by, stared at Val. “You look familiar. Do I know you?”

Val stiffened. His friends kept their heads down, but it was clear they were in the know. Pursing his lips, Val shook his head.

“Sorry.” The guy raised his hand and went back toward the bar.

“No trouble.” Val waved at him before he leaned in to Adriana. “This is not how I had planned this.”

Self-conscious of the guys’ stares, Adriana kept her head low. “You had something planned?” Elbow on the table, she rested her chin in her palm, angling away from Val’s friends.