Just Perfect Read Free

words. “I know how to handle the altitude.”
    Yeah, famous last words of lowlanders everywhere
. Before he could question her further, they were at the front of the line and the lift ops were waving them into position. Well, at least if she fainted, he had the training to deal with it.
    The next chair came up behind them, scooped them off the ground, and carried them upward. He was just leaning back, settling in for a nice ride up the mountain on a clear, sunny day when he realized the woman beside him was clutching the armrest and chanting under her breath.
    “Ohgod, ohgod, ohgod.”
    “Hey.” He frowned at her. “You okay?”
    “Actually, no, I’m not.” She turned to him with frantic eyes. “I’ve changed my mind. I really don’t want to do this. Get me off this thing!”
    “There is no getting off once you’re on.”
    “Then put the safety bar down! As in right now!”
    “Okay, okay. Don’t panic.” He lowered the bar, which was a real nuisance with the foot rest banging on their skis, but one he’d gladly put up with if it calmed down the crazy woman. He looked over at her stark-white face. “Don’t you dare pass out on me. Not up here.”
    “Did you have to say ‘up here’?” Gripping the hand bar in front of them, she looked down, then snapped her eyes skyward with a groan. “Why am I doing this?”
    “Good question. I thought you said you’d skied before.”
    “I have. But I gave it up because I hate riding on these stupid things. How can anyone stand this? I swear to God, I’m going to kill Maddy and Amy for making me do this!”
    “Who?”
    “My best friends.
Ex
best friends as of this exact moment.”
    “Look, it’s okay.” He reached over and massaged her shoulder. “You’re not going to fall.”
    “I’m not worried about falling.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m worried about jumping!”
    “Jumping?” He frowned at her. “Why on earth would you even think about jumping? We’re at least fifty feet off the ground. You’d never survive.”
    “I know!”
    “Well, then, don’t do it!”
    “I’m trying not to!”
    “Why would you even want to?” His own panic level increased as he imagined the result.
    “It’s a common compulsion brought on by anxiety,” she said. “The same compulsion that makes people think about driving off bridges, or straight into an oncoming eighteen-wheeler.”
    Holy Jesus, was she serious? “Remind me never to ride in a car with you.”
    “I don’t get it on the highway. Just on ski lifts.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t know!”
    “All right, okay.” He massaged her shoulder harder. “Try not to think about it.”
    The lift stopped, jarring the chair and making it swing. She let out a squeak, and her eyes squeezed shut. “Please don’t let me jump. Please don’t let me jump.”
    “Hey, hey, hey, let’s do this.” His heart hammering, he took hold of her nearest wrist. “Let go of the bar—”
    “
Not on your life
!” She glared at him with murderous intent.
    “Come on, trust me. Let go of the bar and move your hand to the back of the seat.” He guided it for her. “There, like that, so you’re facing me.” He shifted his upper body to face her as well, trying to bang their skis together as little as possible. “Now look at me. Right here.” He pointed to his eyes with two fingers. “You just keep your eyes locked on mine while we breathe. In… out… in… out…” Slowly her breathing steadied, but her grip remained tight on the seat back and safety rail. “Better?”
    She nodded and continued to breathe. A gust of wind blew a spray of snow off the tops of the nearby pine trees, reminding him just how high they were off the ground.
    “So tell me about your friends. Mandy and… ?”
    “Maddy and Amy.” She inhaled. “We have… a challenge going. We each have one year to conquer a fear that’s been keeping us from doing something we’ve always wanted to do.”
    “And conquering your fear of the