Rocky Mountain Holiday (To Love Again Book 4) (4 page)

Jenny nodded. “You wouldn’t believe it, Issy. When I saw it was him, I stood there like a clueless school girl with my mouth hanging open. Completely speechless.”

“That doesn’t happen often,” she agreed. Jenny was comfortable with everyone and an accomplished - yet harmless - flirt.

“I hope he’s not married. He didn’t
act
like he’s married. In any case, he’s only here for a couple of weeks and then back to Scotland.”

“He’s Scottish?”

“He’s got the sexiest brogue. You can barely understand what he says. Just listening to him makes me hot.”

Isabel rested her head against the ledge and closed her eyes. “Sounds yummy.”

“You? How did work go?”

“Really productive, except I kept getting side-tracked thinking about Tray.”

“He’s coming tomorrow?”

“No, Tuesday. Which is good, I don’t need the distraction. Another full day and I’ll be almost where I need to be with the book.”

“But you miss him?”

Isabel rolled her head sideways and met her friend’s gaze. “Like crazy. I can’t wait to see him.”

~~~

Tray loved his family and he loved Christmas. And as much as he enjoyed spending time with his mom and sister, his brothers and their wives, his nieces, nephews and the new baby, he was glad it was behind him. At least for another year. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the big celebration or family traditions, it’s only that he found it a little lonely. In recent years, it just reminded him that he hadn’t found his own special someone.

For once he was feeling a little hopeful that things might be different next year. The last few weeks with Isabel had been fantastic. She’d been busy and he’d had exams, so they only managed a date a week. They’d seen each other on Saturdays, and the rest of the time he had to get by with phone calls. In a way, that had worked out really well. It had slowed them down a bit and forced some breathing space between them.

The long calls, late in the evening, had created an intimacy and sharing he’d never experienced with anyone. Ever. They were getting to know one another, for who they were, not who they wanted the other to be. He shared some of his biggest secrets with her and he was confident she’d done the same.

When they did get together on the weekends, it was magic. All the tension and longing built up through the week poured into a few magical hours together. He was falling - fast and hard. She was more woman than he could have dreamed and he could barely believe his good fortune.

He was really looking forward to the holiday time in Banff. To having more time to spend together and some opportunities to go out and play in the mountains. He loved skiing and she did, too. He had also lined up a surprise for her later in the week and was hoping she’d consider bringing her daughters along. They hadn’t discussed how to introduce him yet, and he sensed she wanted to take that part slow. That was fine with him, he wasn’t going anywhere. He had lots of time, as long as he could spend that time close to Isabel.

DECEMBER 27 ~ DAY

Big sloppy flakes of snow smashed into the window, melting on impact. Isabel’s view of the street was obstructed by tiny streams of water sliding down the pane. A chinook wind was moving through, warming things considerably. Last night, she’d seen the tell-tale chinook arch over the horizon, the early predictor for the warm, dry winds that sometimes blew down the eastern slopes of the Rockies.

Before Jenny left for the hill, they’d had breakfast together. She’d been delighted about the warmer temperature - even though the winds and warmer weather could wreak havoc with the snow - and planned to spend the full day skiing. Over croissants and coffee, she’d teased her mercilessly about Kip. It had been a long time since she’d seen Jenny this smitten. Who knows, if Jenny found someone, she might even marry and stay in one place for a while.

Now there was a fantasy. She chuckled as she shuffled the papers on her desk. Monday morning. It was so easy to lose track of time over the holidays. Today her daughters were going to Radium and would stay overnight, Jenny would be gone all day, and Tray was still on the farm and wouldn’t arrive until late tomorrow. She had a lot of time to really get down to things.

She topped up her coffee from the carafe she’d brought up from the breakfast bar and turned on her laptop. The snow swirled outside her window. It mesmerized her, shifting, sometimes providing more of a view, other times just a big block of white in her face.

She closed her eyes. She was stepping into the cave again, out of the driving snow. Suddenly it was dead still. She turned to Tray and he enveloped her in his arms. She clung to him and he pressed himself against her from head to toe. Lifting her chin, he brought his lips down to hers and --

No, no, no!
She had to get some work done today. He’d be here tomorrow and she didn’t want any work hanging over her head. The more she could complete before he arrived, the more free time she’d have. Sometimes she found it easier to concentrate in short bursts of time - a trick she’d learned writing her doctorate - so she set the timer on her cell for 60 minutes, put her head down, and dug into the final chapter she needed to write.

~~~

“Issy?”

Isabel jumped as Jenny touched her shoulder. “Holy …”

“Hey, it’s just me. I knocked, but the music was blaring so I just came in.” Jenny leaned down to hug her. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Shaking her head to re-enter the present, Isabel leaned forward to turn the music down. “I was really focused. What time is it?” Outside the sun had already set and it was almost completely dark.

“Almost five.” Jenny threw herself into the easy chair next to the desk. “I gather you got a lot done.”

“I so did, amazing progress, much better than yesterday. Knowing Tray will be here tomorrow is a real motivator.”

Jenny wiggled her eyebrows.

“I don’t want to have to spend much time working once he arrives.”

“Ah, I see.”

“How were conditions on the hill? The snow this morning didn’t make things sticky?”

“Not at all, conditions were perfect in the morning. Just after lunch they were a little wet, but still good.”

“But who cares about the snow, right? Did you see Kip again? I know you’re dying to tell me.”

Jenny laughed and glanced around. “You have anything to drink?”

“There’s some white wine in the fridge,” she said, motioning with her chin.

“Works for me.” Rising, Jenny pulled the wine from the fridge, grabbed two glasses and came back to the table to pour. Isabel closed her laptop and pushed it, and all her papers and files, to the side.

She raised the glass Jenny passed her. “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” her friend replied, taking a swallow of wine.

“So?”

“He was there. Barry, too. I ran into them on the second run and we skied most of the morning down the back.”

“Isn’t it mostly double diamonds back there? How does a Scotsman learn to ski like that?”

“He’s an amazing skier, you should see him. Apparently, his family used to ski Mont Blanc every Christmas.”

“France? On a regular basis?”

“It’s pretty close to Scotland, when you think about it.”

“That’s true. Still…”

“Switzerland and Italy, too. Barry told me Kip was on the ski team in high school, almost made the cut for the Olympics.”

“Whew,” Isabel whistled. “No wonder he’s so buff.”

“Now he’s a fireman - wait, I told you that last night, right?”

“You did,” she winked at her friend. “But you can tell me again.”

Jenny giggled. “He is adorable, but all man, if you know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean. When are you seeing him again?”

“Tonight.”

“He’s taking you out for dinner?”

“Not exactly. We’re all going to dinner - Barry, Kip, me … and you.”

“Oh. I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” she hedged, glancing over at her files. “I’m on a bit of a roll, I should stay with it.”

“You’ve been working since I left this morning,” she said, gazing at her over the rim of her wine glass.

Isabel shrugged sheepishly.

“You need a break. Come on, the girls are in Radium tonight, right?”

“Yes, but—”

“I really want you to meet Kip. Plus, we’re going to a little restaurant I’ve always wanted to try, but somehow always forget to make reservations.”

“Which one?”

“The one that deejay is always talking about on public radio? It’s supposed to be great, very intimate with an eclectic menu. Barry knows the chef and we have a table for four at eight.”

“I should really … ” Isabel could see she was going to lose this battle.

“You’re coming with us. All work and no play makes Isabel a dull girl. Besides, once Tray arrives I’ll barely see you, so I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Isabel smiled and relented. “Fair enough. But I’ll work another hour until we go, so shoo.” She rose and scooted Jenny to the door that joined their rooms. “How dressy is this place?”

“Apres-ski, but we’ll go for drinks later, so dress
hot
.” She winked as Isabel closed the door behind her. “Be ready at quarter to,” she called through the door.

Grinning, Isabel stretched and settled back in at her desk. She had just over an hour before she needed to shower and get dressed. She had to admit, she was a little curious to meet the man who had her best friend so hot and bothered.

DECEMBER 27 ~ EVENING

When they arrived at the bar, Kip’s sister Valerie already had a table for them near the front. Isabel vaguely remembered her from a huge block party last summer on Jenny’s street. Barry introduced her, there were kisses and hugs all around, and then they shuffled chairs and got settled.

Valerie, also a good friend of the chef and a regular at the restaurant where they’d just finished dinner, wanted all the details about what they ate. In fact, dinner had been divine. Isabel had eaten salmon - done to perfection - and Jenny had a vegetarian enchilada dish prepared with organic goat cheese that she hadn’t been able to resist tasting. The men had tucked into large, perfectly grilled AAA Alberta beef rib eye steaks served with garlic roasted baby red potatoes and gingered carrots.

Isabel leaned closer to catch what Barry was saying. In the background, the music was starting. It wasn’t horrible, she even recognized the song, the melody reminding her of something from years ago. Yes, Simon and Garfunkel. Scarborough Fair. In fact, the music was sounding quite good. She turned slightly in her seat, looking over her left shoulder toward the musician. Her mouth dropped open and she whipped her head back around, seeking out Jenny across the table.

“Surprise.” Jenny shrugged and smiled, catching Barry’s eye as she did. She put her hands up in partial defense.

Turning back to the stage, Isabel took him in, all six feet of him, somehow looking relaxed yet intense at the same time. He was curled over the guitar, almost enveloping it, and working the strings with fingers flying. He kept his head down, crooning into the microphone, eyes mostly closed.

“Tray wanted to surprise you,” Barry explained. “You can hold me responsible for pulling Jenny in on it.”

“That’s great, I thought he wouldn’t be here ‘til late tomorrow.” Isabel was thrilled to see him. It had only been ten days but somehow seemed much longer. She tried hard to follow the conversation, occasionally nodding or interjecting small “oh’s” and “really’s”, all the time wishing that Tray would just finish his set already and come to see her.

His presence permeated the room and her thoughts. When he was singing it was not so bad, but when he spoke between songs - that was another story. Hearing his voice again, she couldn’t help but shiver remembering him whispering in her ear. Telling her, in no uncertain terms, what to do next. What to take off. How to move. The image of him in the mirror, standing over her …

“Issy! Hellooooo, Isabel!” Jenny was kicking at her under the table, trying to get her attention. She pulled her focus back to the table.

“Uh, sorry, thinking of …”

“The book?” laughed Jenny. “I need to make a call, come out to the lobby with me.”

Grateful for an excuse to get up, Isabel grabbed her purse and excused herself, smiling in Tray’s direction as she followed her friend out of the bar.

Jenny settled herself into a chair in the corner of the lobby and motioned for Isabel to do the same.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” laughed Jenny.

Isabel shook her head slowly. “I thought I was getting too old to be surprised by life, but I have to admit, this one is a great surprise.”

“Barry told me this morning. He made me swear not to tell you. I was starting to feel desperate earlier when you kept saying no to dinner.”

“Sorry, I had no idea. Truly, I was so anxious to see him again - I’ve been counting the hours ‘til he gets here.” She lowered her head, feeling more than a little foolish with the confession.