PROLOGUE
826 Words
PROLOGUE
Ryland “Ry” Guyer’s head hurt. He squeezed his eyes tightly together, but that didn’t stop him from feeling as if a figure skater were landing a triple axel on his skull, the blade slicing into his brain with talented precision.
How much had he drunk last night?
He rolled over in bed. His bed, he hoped.
Unsure of the time and where he was, Ry forced open his heavy eyelids. The light hurt, a hammer-slamming-against-his-forehead kind of pain, but the ceiling wasn’t spinning. The walls didn’t move, either. Both were good signs. This wouldn’t be a bad hangover.
He smiled. Didn’t hurt. Another plus.
A white sheet covered him. No blankets, but he might have kicked them off. He didn’t remember undressing or going to bed, but he often didn’t after a night of partying.
Ry rose up on his elbows.
Sunlight streamed in through a crack in the curtains. He recognized the hotel room—his. A bag lay on the floor. His US Ski Team jacket hung on a chair.
Satisfaction filled him. He’d earned his place on the team. He was twenty-three with a silver and a bronze medal from the recent Winter Games in Sochi. His parents and their wealth hadn’t made that happen. He had, with sweat, hard work, and a touch of luck. Nothing could take away his accomplishments.
Whoa. He did a double take.
Who was the cute girl asleep in the other chair?
She seemed familiar as did the clothes she wore. He squinted. The long-sleeved T-shirt and sweatpants belonged to him but looked better on her.
Hot.
Too bad he didn’t remember her name or fooling around with her last night.
No problem. He would make up for the lost memories with a not-so-lazy morning in bed. After he brushed his teeth. His mouth tasted like he’d been sucking on a skater’s sweaty foot.
He got out of bed and stretched.
“You’re awake,” a soft, feminine voice said.
Ry faced her. “So are you.”
Her dark-blond hair fell past her shoulders. A charming pink colored her cheeks. Pretty brown eyes stared at him with adoration.
Ry’s chest puffed with pride. He loved being someone’s idol. Not wanting to disappoint her, he flashed a smile, his most charming one. “Good morning.”
“Feel okay?” she asked, sounding concerned.
“Not too worse for the wear.” He’d feel better once she was no longer wearing his clothes and in his bed. “Give me a minute. I’ll be good to go again.”
She stood. “Again?”
She might appear innocent, but she wouldn’t be in his room the next morning if she didn’t know how this worked. His clothes hung on her, but underneath had to be a tight body meant just for him. “You, me, between the sheets.”
Her eyes widened. She took a deep breath, giving him a better view of her chest.
He might have been drunk, but he’d chosen wisely. He tried to remember her name. One popped into his tired brain. “Brittany from the C team, right?”
She shook her head. “Brynn. D team.”
Cool. He’d scored a development babe who could be a future alpine star.
“Sorry. A little hung over. I’m Ry. A team. But you probably know that.” No worries about calling her Brittany. By the time sweet Brynn left his room, she would forget he hadn’t known her name. “While I’m in the bathroom, get out of those clothes and into bed. We can get reacquainted.”
Her mouth parted.
Nice lips. Kissable lips. Ones he wanted to taste and savor since he didn’t remember their kisses from last night. “Be right back, Brynn.”
See, he knew her name.
Damp clothes hung on the shower curtain rod. He and Brynn must have taken a walk or been rolling around in the snow. Not surprising. He breathed easier outside. Didn’t matter if he was sober or drunk. Alone or with a beautiful woman.
On a mountain, Ry knew his purpose. No one was forcing him into a life he didn’t want. He couldn’t say that at his father’s outdoor apparel company.
After Ry finished in the bathroom, he opened the door, eager to join Brynn in bed. “Ready?”
No answer.
“Don’t be shy.”
Silence.
“Brynn?”
He went around the corner. What the…?
The bed was empty. So was the chair.
And the room.
Weird. This wasn’t normal. Usually, he had to kick out women. She must have gotten enough s*x last night. Too bad he didn’t remember because it was the quieter ones who always surprised him.
No big deal. Ry crawled into bed and pulled up the sheet. It was Brynn’s loss for not wanting to go another round with him, but he hoped she returned his clothes and had taken nothing else from his room. He never wanted to find his stuff for sale on eBay again.
He’d learned the hard way that women weren’t interested in love. They wanted a payout and would do anything to get one. Even if it meant lying and stealing and breaking hearts.
His heart.
Never again.
He took what women offered, never looking forward to the future or back into the past. Living in the present was the best way not to get hurt again.
- Writer
