That Snowy Night

2. Alex

Chapter Two

Alex

Delilah Carter eyed me carefully. “That’s a good question,” she finally said.

“I assume you have an answer,” I countered.

Delilah bit the corner of her bottom lip—her tempting, plump lip with a dimple in the center.

“Well, it’s kind of a fluke,” she finally said.

I waited while she stared at me, her green eyes as stunning as I recalled. The lighting in my truck cab might’ve been low, but it was nearly impossible to dim Delilah’s unique, striking beauty.

Uncertainty flickered in her eyes, and she took a deep breath. Letting it out with a gusty sigh, she finally broke away from my gaze as she leaned her head against the seat. “Crazy as it may sound, I’m here for an all-expense-paid ski vacation in Diamond Creek. An old friend gave it to me. It’s a place called Last Frontier Lodge.”

“Seriously?”

She rolled her head to the side, nodding. “Seriously,” she replied, a tinge of pink cresting on her cheeks.

I felt my lips curling into a smile, shaking my head as I absorbed the ramifications of our situation. “Well, I’ll be damned. That’s exactly where I’m going.”

Delilah’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding.”

I shook my head. “Definitely not.”

As we sat there with the wind howling outside my truck and the sound of the snow striking the windshield, sparks filled the air as a humming electricity spun to life around us. It had been just a few kisses years ago.

Yet I’d never forgotten Delilah. I had wanted her so fiercely those hazy weeks one summer when we were both too young, but a memory was a tricky thing. Some things got blown up to cartoonish proportions, and others slid off into nothing. It was hard to trust and know what was accurate.

“I tried to find you,” I said, my words surprising me.

Delilah angled toward me. I wanted to trace along the curve of her cheek and smooth her mussed dark hair, damp from the snow outside. Her brows hitched up at my comment, and her breath came out in a startled little puff.

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip again, nibbling it lightly and drawing my eyes to her mouth. f**k me. She had a mouth made for sin with plump and inviting lips. I could even remember what she tasted like—sweet with a hint of vanilla.

“Oh,” she said softly, her word catching slightly in her throat. She swallowed, the sound audible in the small space.

Before either of us spoke again, a truck passed by, sending a splash of icy slush against mine. The abrupt sound reminded me of where we were.

“We should get going. In this weather, it might take longer than usual to get there. We have at least two more hours of driving.”

Delilah straightened in her seat. “Of course. You’re sure you don’t mind?”

“Giving you a ride?” I asked as I put my truck into gear.

“Yeah. I’m not sure what I’ll do about that SUV. It’s a rental.”

“Well, it’s safe where it is for now,” I said as I slowly pulled off the side of the highway. “In case you didn’t notice, there’s not much traffic. It’s far enough off the road that it should be fine. I suggest you call the rental place and leave a message. They can probably arrange for a tow truck from Anchorage to pick it up tomorrow. You can either get a rental in Diamond Creek, or I’ll give you a ride back.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll call the rental company right now.”

“Go right ahead,” I replied as I slowly picked up speed.

Delilah made the quick call. As expected, they told her to leave the vehicle where it was, and they would arrange for a tow.

After she ended the call, only the sound of the heater blowing at full force filled the truck cab. I drove through the darkness, my body tight and a strange sense falling over me. I didn’t know why Delilah’s path had collided with mine again, but I intended to grab the chance with both hands.

* * *

A few hours later, I rolled to a stop in the parking lot at Last Frontier Lodge, a premier ski resort in Diamond Creek where the feet of the mountains kissed the shoreline of the ocean. For now, the darkness and blowing snow cloaked the spectacular view.

Glancing at Delilah, I said, “Here we are.”

Delilah peered ahead through the windshield at the beckoning lights of the lodge. It was lit up with the ski slopes curving into the darkness and the lights glittering through the snow.

When she turned to me, and her smile stretched wider, my heart gave a funny little tumble. Just like before, Delilah had this strange effect on me, as if she tapped into a part of me only available to her. I recalled wanting to really get to know her that summer and how much we talked and teased. I also recalled being a little mystified by how much I wanted her. But damn, every time I’d kissed her, I felt alive in a way I’d never experienced since.

A gust of wind rattled the windshield, nudging me out of my memories. “Let’s go on in,” I said.

She got a little prickly when I insisted on carrying her bag, but I ignored her. Though she gave off a sense of steely vulnerability, I wanted to know the woman underneath her sharp-edged exterior.

As I pushed through the heavy wooden front door into the lodge, the wind and snow blew in with us, the rushing sound muting once the door fell shut. The enveloping warmth was a relief from the icy temperature outside. Glancing around, I absorbed the space. I’d been to Last Frontier Lodge a number of times. It was an easy getaway for me from Willow Brook, and I had a few friends in Diamond Creek.

Although it was late, the lodge bustled with guests checking in at the reception desk, and the murmur of voices from the restaurant spilled through the archway beyond the reception area.

“There you are!”

I glanced around, my eyes landing on my twin sister standing over to one side with her husband, who also happened to be my best friend. Nate Fox had his arm slung around Holly’s shoulders. Nate almost never had his hands off my sister. It had taken some getting used to, but I’d adjusted to their relationship and was happy for them. They’d gotten married just a few months ago.

“Hey, Holl,” I called as I glanced back at Delilah. “That’s my sister over there. Come on, let me introduce you.”

One of Delilah’s dark brows arched up. “Are you …?”

She stopped her question when I shook my head. “It’s my sister. Trust me, you’re not gonna be able to avoid her.”

Delilah looked uncertain, but she followed along when I began walking over to where Holly and Nate were waiting. I didn’t miss Holly’s curious gaze on Delilah as we approached.

“Alex,” Holly said immediately, brushing her long blond hair off her shoulders. “You’re late.”

“Nice to see you too, Holl,” I countered with a grin.

Nate chuckled, his brown eyes tipping up with his smile. “Holly thought you’d be here this afternoon.”

“The roads are pretty sketchy,” Holly said pointedly.

“I hit the road later than I planned, but I’m here safe and sound. Anyway, this is Delilah,” I said, gesturing to Delilah, who was hanging back slightly.

My twin sister’s sharp brown gaze shifted like a laser to Delilah. I could practically see her trying to X-ray the situation.

“Delilah’s rental car ran off the road, so I picked her up and gave her a ride. Oddly enough, we met once before at that summer camp in Colorado,” I explained.

Holly stepped forward. “Hi, I’m Holly,” she said, offering her hand.

“Delilah, Delilah Carter,” Delilah offered in return.

“What brings you here?” Holly asked. I considered clapping at her restraint. I knew my sister was about to burst with curiosity.

“I would imagine I’m here for the same reason you are,” Delilah replied. “To ski.”

Holly smiled slowly. “I guess that is obvious,” she said after a moment.

Nate caught Delilah’s eyes, casting her an easy smile. “Nice to meet you. Nate Fox.”

“My fiancé,” Holly chimed in.

“Oh, congratulations. When’s the wedding?” Delilah asked.

Holly wrinkled her nose, giving a sheepish smile when Nate rolled his eyes. “She keeps forgetting I’m actually her husband now. We just got married a few months ago.”

Holly poked him in the side with her elbow. “I don’t forget! It’s just you were my fiancé longer than we’ve been married.”

A cluster of guests filed past us, bumping into Delilah and effectively ending our brief conversation with Holly and Nate. “I should go check in. I’ll be right back,” she said.