Snowbound Read Free

was concerned he was good with the friends and the life he had now, there was no room for love. He’d been there, done that, and wasn’t willing to take the chance again. In his opinion, one should only be allowed so much hurt in a lifetime, and he had gone way beyond that point.
    “...isn’t that right, Daniel?” asked Sandra.
    What? Startled out of his thoughts Daniel wasn’t sure what he was agreeing to. He opened his eyes and stared at her blankly.
    Sandra looked at him for a moment, patted his hand and said, “That’s ok, dear. We’re going to take care of you. I know it’s been a long haul, but you are young. Yes, indeed, we’ll take good care of you.”
    Daniel smiled fondly at her and nodded, with an uncharacteristic lump in his throat. Most days he tried to shove any of his feelings away where they didn’t see the light of day. I’m a man for God’s sake. However, Sandra knew him and had known Natasha. Coming to Snowpeaks Mountain Resort had been a good idea.
     

Chapter Two
     
    Cassidy noticed Rick’s jaw work in his cheek as he waited until they were in their room before starting in at her. She’d watched the muscle twitch in his face all the way up the stairs to the lobby. Then again in the elevator and down the hall. He had a bad habit of grinding his teeth, especially when he was angry. With a heavy sigh she took off her ski jacket and hung it over a chair. Having left her ski boots downstairs in the ski lockup, she was wearing slip on runners that she now kicked off her feet. Cassidy knew she was only delaying the inevitable, so she finally turned around and faced Rick.
    “Tell me again why we’re here?” Rick asked in a nasty voice, but didn’t wait for her to answer. “Oh, yes, because you wanted a real vacation away from home. Somewhere romantic, you said. Then why are you hanging all over some other guy?”
    “What!” Cassidy replied. “What are you talking about?”
    “Oh, come on. I saw you flirting with that Dan guy. You were practically drooling all over him and giggling. Man. Why didn’t you come on your own if that’s what you were looking for?” Rick threw his jacket on the bed.
    “First of all, you were the one who left me up on that last run to come down here and be all warm and cozy. If it hadn’t been for Daniel I might still be up there. You didn’t seem too concerned about where I was until you saw me talking with him. I wonder if you would even have come to find me if I didn’t come back down?”
    “Oh, here we go. Poor Cassidy. Can’t handle a little ski hill. You should have kept up with me. It was bloody cold—I was moving fast to keep warm.”
    She couldn’t believe how he always twisted things when he was mad. Sometimes she got so upset and confused she wondered if he was actually right. “I’m not saying I can’t handle a ski hill. All I wanted to do was ski with you. Common courtesy would have had you waiting for me, your supposed girlfriend, and not running off on your own in the middle of a blizzard!” Her voice caught on the last few words.
    His smile was chilly. “Oh, you gonna cry now? Come on Cass. You don’t always have to be a drama queen. It wasn’t a blizzard.” He moved around the room and grabbed a suitcase and put it on the bed.
    “It was a blizzard! The conditions were horrible and you know it. You were the one who said we had to ski all day in that and then you bailed on me...” She noticed he was throwing his clothes into the suitcase. “What are you doing?” she asked, trying to hold back her tears. He hated it when she got emotional. Suck it up, otherwise it’ll only be worse.
    “Packing. Obviously.” He zipped the case shut.
    “I can see that. I don’t want to leave.”
    He faced her, putting the suitcase on the floor. “You don’t have to. I am. I didn’t want to come here in the first place. I have other things I should be doing so I’m leaving.”
    Stunned, she asked, “So you’re leaving me here? How am I