Fierce: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 4) Page 3

  He places his hand on my lower back as we walk up the steps to the restaurant. I could get used to his chivalrous ways. “When is your flight out?”

  “Friday.” The door creaks as it opens, and we’re met with the tantalizing smell of garlic.

  Neal, the owner, greets me by taking my hands and kissing my cheek as I kiss his. An attractive man, he’s in his thirties and quite successful in this town, owning multiple businesses. “Dannika, it’s nice to see you.”

  “It’s nice to see you again too. I have to tell you Tara sent me home with the most wonderful cheese the other day. She’s a great saleswoman.”

  “She must be if she has your approval.”

  “More than that, she has a way of making everyone feel welcome. Don’t lose her.” I say as Christian helps me out of my coat.

  “Neal, this is Christian.” I turn toward Christian, and his eyes dance with laughter. Odd.

  “Christian, this is Neal. Besides being the owner of Stone Soup, he also owns a night club, a bar, and a few retail stores, one of which is the Wine and Cheese Shop where Derrick and I should have a punch card.” I grin as I turn back to Neal. His sexy, heart-shaped lips quickly morph into a smile again, but I could swear he looked angry.

  Neal touches my arm and steps in a little closer. “It was nice to see your name on the reservation list again. It’s been too long.”

  “I know. Since Derrick left, I haven’t had anyone to come out with me.”

  Neal teases. “Gorgeous, if you sat at the bar I would have someone to talk to between tables. Please don’t let being alone stop you ever again.”

  Christian reaches between us with my coat and hands it, along with his, to Neal. “I assume you can hang these for us.”

  Whoa, a little power display? If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s jealous. I flash him a questioning look, and he shrugs with a smile.

  When Neal brings us to a square table that can accommodate four, he sets the menus at two places across from each other. Christian steps in front of Neal to tuck me in and then sits at a seat next to me with a satisfied smirk. If he were a dog he’d probably pee on me too. Boys.

  I cover my mouth with my hand to hide my huge smile. I’m flattered he thinks of Neal as competition.

  Ice cubes clink as a busboy pours water for us. As soon as he leaves, Christian says, “I believe Neal has a thing for you.”

  “He does not. He’s just a delightful host who likes customers that buy expensive wine.”

  Christian tilts his head. “You have no idea, do you?”

  “No idea about what?”

  “About what a charismatic person you are. People like to be with you.”

  What? For the hundredth time today, a flush takes over my face. I wonder if this is how it will always be with Christian. “Thank you.”

  “Nika?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m not just flirting. You’re more than a pretty face. You’re a genuinely nice person, and whoever wins your heart will be a very lucky man.”

  Tears prick at my eyes and surprise me. I’m about to reach for my water, but I’m sure I would only knock it over, considering my flustered state.

  I shake off the feeling and pick up my menu. “You don’t have to have the elk. While it’s my favorite, there are a lot of good choices.”

  The leather of the menu is cool in my hands, and I peer sideways to Christian’s gaze. He smiles and opens up his menu to look. Shit. My face doesn’t hide much, and he probably knows how he affects me. Determined to avoid questions, I say, “Look at the desserts so you’ll save room. I’m going to have the soufflé tonight.”

  “You were right. There are so many great selections here. But I have to have the elk.” He sets his menu down and picks up the wine list. “Red?”

  “Yes, I like rich Merlots.” I wave my hand. “Actually, I like all red wines. Pick whatever you want.” Candlelight flickers, and a fire crackles from across the room.

  When the waiter comes over, we both order the same salad, entrée, and dessert. I joke. “The pressure is on. What if you don’t like your meal?”

  “Then I’ll just drink more wine and embarrass you in front of Neal.” His eyes crinkle in a grin.

  I raise my eyebrows. “Oh, please. You don’t strike me as the type to turn into a drunken fool.”

  He nods. “True, but I just might get too friendly and ruin your chances with him.”

  I shake my head. “I’m not interested in Neal, but thanks for the concern.”

  The waiter arrives with our wine. Our conversation ceases, and I watch as the cork comes out with a small pop. Deep burgundy liquid trickles into a glass, and he hands it to Christian.

  Liquid swirls around the goblet as Christian twirls it and then sniffs. He takes a swallow and lets it sit on his tongue before nodding to the waiter. The waiter then fills our glasses.

  When he’s gone Christian says, “You know, I’m glad Neal doesn’t do it for you.”

  “Really, why’s that?”

  “Because he’s all wrong for you. I’ll bet he would want to take care of you. And while that would be nice for a while, you need someone that teaches you to take some chances.”

  “And how do you know I don’t take chances?”

  He taps his nose. “Because you’re single, blush when I flirt with you, have no idea how amazing you are beyond your beauty, and won’t eat in a restaurant alone.”

  I sit up a little taller, but resist my defensive urge to say he’s wrong. “I’m not sure I like your assessment.”

  Christian’s hand lands on mine and grasps gently. “They aren’t bad things, Nika. But you need more out of life. It’s time for you to live.”

  I lift my glass to my mouth while letting him continue to hold my other hand. Sipping on my wine, I mull over his words. Time for me to live and take chances? A smile forms at the thought.

  I say, “You might be right.”

  Christian lifts my hand and twines his fingers in mine. “I know I am. Maybe you’ll take some of those chances with me.”

  My heart flips as I dip my toe in the water. “Maybe I will.”

  Chapter 6

  The wet nose of Jake in my face wakes me. The aroma of coffee and bacon brings a smile to my face, knowing Christian is in my kitchen. I hop out of bed and pull on sweatpants. We had a wonderful dinner last night and then came back here to sit and talk until the early morning hours. A perfect gentleman, he only hugged me good night. And while part of me wanted to kiss him, another part is happy we won’t have awkward moments today.

  I jog down the stairs to let the dogs out and finger-comb my hair as I kick myself for not taking a moment to brush it.

  Christian calls from the kitchen. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.” The wood floor is cool under my feet as I walk to the kitchen. “You made coffee. Thank you.”

  “Can I make you breakfast now, or do you want to shower first?” His hair is damp, and the faint smell of aftershave floats toward me.

  I shrug. “I’m not much for food in the morning. I’ll just grab a cup of coffee, feed the dogs, and then go get ready for your appointment.”

  “I can let them in and feed them if you want. How much do they get?”

  “Thanks.” I open the pantry door, and the dog food container thuds on the counter when I set it down. “A cup and a half each.”

  Christian hands me a steaming mug, and I say, “I forgot to warn you last night. Did you burn your mouth?” I have my coffeemaker temperature set as high as I can so my cup stays warm longer.

  “Almost. But the bubbles from the boiling clued me in.”

  I snort. “Smart man.” Bright light from the fridge washes over me when I open it, and I splash milk into my mug.

  I head toward the stairs. “I’ll be down in a bit.”

  “No rush. We’ve got an hour before we need to leave.” Dry dog food rumbles as he scoops it out to fill the bowls.

  When I get to my room, plush car
pet is soft under my feet as I pad my way to the bathroom. I flip my showerhead to the gentle rain setting and step under the cascade of water. The warmth envelops me, and I let the excitement of looking at real estate flood through my veins. I hope Christian doesn’t mind if I add a few places to his list once I get a feel for what he wants.

  I dress in jeans and a simple long-sleeve tee. Leaving my hair wet, I know it will air dry in soft waves before it’s time to go. My cowboy boot heels clunk down the stairs as the dogs rush to greet me. Tongues loll as they pant from exercise.

  I say, “You must be fun. I’m surprised they didn’t scratch at my bedroom door to be let in.”

  “I found some balls, and we played fetch for a while.”

  “Ah, their favorite game.” I take in the spotless kitchen. “You cook, clean, and play with my dogs. Would you consider living here this winter?” I flash him my megawatt smile.

  “Wow, I got the model smile. I may have to think this over.”

  I giggle. “I don’t fight fair, just so you know.”

  Christian banters back. “I grew up with Gretchen. I’ve got this covered.”

  He’s wearing faded jeans that look soft as butter and a tight tee that shows off his exercise habits. I think I’d like to see those muscles in action.

  I power up my laptop, and a bar stool scrapes against the wood floor as I sit at the counter. “Do you have a list of the places we’re going to see today?”

  Christian reaches around me from behind with both arms, trapping me as he starts to type on the keyboard. “Let me pull up the site and show you.”

  The heat from his body seeps into me, and I should just hand the computer over, but I don’t and let myself enjoy his touch.

  He murmurs. “You smell good, like a spring day.”

  “You smell good too.” My body hums with desire, and I wish I were brave enough to turn around and kiss him.

  Listings appear on the screen, and he clicks on the first one. Christian steps away and sits on the chair beside me while my body whimpers at the loss. We cruise through his choices, and I pull up a few houses that I recall being similar. When we’re done, it’s time to go.

  I offer to drive, and we back out of the garage into a blue-sky day. Snow is light on the ground but covers the mountains in the distance. I say, “What a gorgeous day for looking at properties. You’ll get a real sense of the views.”

  “I can’t imagine there are many places here that don’t have something beautiful outside the windows.” Christian is in the passenger seat and slides up next to me to take a selfie of us while I drive.

  “True, I think that’s one of the reasons I love living here. Are you texting Gretchen?”

  “I am. I figure I should let her know I’m about to become a ski bum.” His fingers tap on the touch screen of his phone. “Do you plan to make Breckenridge your long-term home?”

  “I’m not sure I think about anything in the long term, but it’s a possibility. There’s a certain peace I feel here.” Evergreen trees frame the road as we make our way into town.

  When I stop at the traffic light, Christian leans in and kisses me on the cheek. His light stubble prickles and shocks me. Blood rushes to my face as he says, “That was from Gretchen.”

  “Oh.” I glance quickly to see his smirk. “You love getting me flustered, don’t you?”

  “I do. You’re cute like this.”

  I shake my head as I pull out to the main road. “I’m going to have to talk to Gretchen and get some ammunition to fight back.”

  “That, or just ask.”

  The real estate office is on the left, and my blinker ticks as I wait to turn. “Okay, how do I tease you back?”

  “I’m ticklish.”

  I pull into the parking lot and turn off the car. I turn to him. “Really?” I reach over and tickle his stomach. He laughs, and it makes me laugh too. He pulls me against his body, and holds my arms to stop me.

  My palms are on his chest and the definition of his muscles ripple beneath them. I catch my breath when Christian takes my face in his hands. His eyes shift back and forth as he studies me. He lets out a sigh. “So not sure it’s a good idea.”

  Why not? My heart sinks and I pull away. “Yeah, we should go inside.” I get out of the car quickly so he can’t open my door.

  By the time we’ve traveled the pavement to the door, I’ve swallowed the rejection and am ready to focus on house hunting. Christian guides me through the door, as usual, with his hand at my lower back, and I do my best not to flinch from his touch.

  A smartly dressed woman greets us. “Hi, I’m Sandy, and you must be Christian. Is this your girlfriend?”

  I snap a response. “No. Just a friend.”

  Christian throws me a scowl, and a wave of nausea passes through me. Shit. My excitement is gone, and now I wish I had a way to get out of this.

  As soon as we get to the first house, my mood softens. It’s a beautiful log-cabin design that’s common for this area, and I begin to enjoy myself as we get the tour.

  Continuing through the morning, I learn a bit more about Christian. He likes open kitchens, hardwood floors, and high-ceiling great rooms in addition to finished basements. Everything my house is.

  By the time we’re ready for lunch, I’m completely over my snit and am even receptive to his flirting again. Only this time I know better, and I don’t read more into it than is really there. I was foolish to think Christian doesn’t do this with all women.

  The afternoon flies by, and we’re done by five. The temperature has dropped, and I huddle in my jacket when we walk to the car. Our breath turns into vapor when we exhale. I say, “We saw so much, but I think you’ve got a lot of good choices for what you like.”

  “I do. What should we do about dinner? Maybe something from town and bring it back?”

  “Sure. How about Thai?” The engine of my Land Rover hums when I start the car.

  “Perfect. And I think we need to stop by that coffee shop where you wanted me to tie you up. I’m craving”—he pauses for effect and then adds—“dessert.”

  I shake my head but don’t flush. Now that I know it’s just a game, I can take it easily.

  I pull into a parking spot a few blocks away that is between the two restaurants. Because the mountain isn’t open yet, cars only dot the sides of the road. I say, “Why don’t you go get the desserts, and I’ll get dinner? We can meet back here.”

  Christian reaches for my arm to stop me from getting out of the car. “Hey.”

  I turn to him and he says, “Look, about earlier. I really did want to kiss you—”

  “Don’t. It’s okay.”

  “No, Nika. I know you were hurt, and that wasn’t my intention. I wasn’t rejecting you.” He strokes my cheek, and I can’t help but feel a wave of heat travel through me. “I’m attracted to you, but I’m not sure getting involved with the sister of my soon-to-be brother-in-law is a good idea.”

  I nod. “You’re right. It’s not a good idea. We’ll have to see each other no matter what, and if things get ugly it will be awkward. I get it.”

  He smiles. “Forgive me if I don’t stop flirting with you. Your charm is hard to resist.”

  I chuckle and say, “Like I could stop you. Somehow I think it just spills out of your mouth.”

  “Nope. Very few people bring out this side of me, I swear.”

  As much as my ego wants to believe that, my head tells me not to be an idiot. I watch his fine male body walk away before turning in the other direction. At least my brother’s wedding will be fun.

  Chapter 7

  Just in from a run with the dogs, I pick up my phone to read a text from Gretchen.

  “You met my brother. He tells me you were quite charming.”

  I text back in a full sentence, the way Gretchen likes. “So was he.”

  Moisture condenses on my glass of cold water, and my hand gets wet when I take a sip. I bend to stretch and hear the hum of a reply text.

  “Tha
nks for letting him stay with you and showing him around Breck. He’s excited to be a ski bum.”

  I tap out a response. “He’s fun. It’ll be nice to have him here.” Christian’s face comes to mind, and a pang of regret tugs at my heart. I wish I’d kissed him anyway.

  I send another text. “I think his idea of ski bumming is like mine. He plans on a wine cellar.”

  As soon as I send it, heat rises to my cheeks. Last winter Gretchen and my brother fooled around in our wine cellar, and I guess she’s remembering it right now. I flash to being close to Christian in that same room, and how flustered he got me when I handed him the champagne bottle. The idea of doing something with Christian in close quarters makes my skin tingle. Great, he makes me blush without even being here.

  Gretchen texts back. “You guys do have similar tastes. He’ll be a fun friend for you.”

  Yeah, as long as I remember he’s just a friend.

  My hamstrings ache as I bend over to stretch them. I had a good run, and it makes me think I can reward myself with cake. I pick up my phone and text my friends Casey, Megan, and Lori to see if they want to meet me for lunch. None of us are employed for a few more days, and I could use some girl time.

  Within a half hour we all have plans to meet at the Baked Bean, the coffee shop where I first met Christian. They have amazing food. Interesting soups, salads, and sandwiches, as well as my favorite carrot cake, all make my stomach growl as I think about them.

  I enter to the scent of onion and butter, making me think I should have a hearty bowl of soup and homemade bread for lunch. I spy Casey already at a table with her food and give her a quick wave. The decor is a version of modern-day hippy, which flows nicely with the organic-themed food.

  When I get in line, Lori and Megan walk in the door together. I say, “Hey. Casey’s already here.” I tilt my head in her direction while the other two girls smile. Casey is always early.

  Lori says, “Something smells good. I think it’s a soup day.”

  “My thoughts exactly. It’s chilly out there.” A warm buzz of conversation floats around us as locals celebrate the new season to come.