Page 81 of Forbidden Flame

But it felt a little too real. Like it could be our life.

When I got home, I carried Izzy’s deadweight into the cottage and up the stairs to her bedroom. I tucked her in and kissed her forehead.

At the end of the night, it was just her and me.

I went into the bedroom and got into pajamas before falling into bed. As soon as I propped up the pillows so I could read, my phone was buzzing.

“Cole?” I answered.

“You didn’t text.” His voice was tight.

Regret filled my chest. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“I was worried about you.” His words melted my resolve even more.

“We’re home safe and sound. Izzy fell asleep on the way home before we even left the farm.”

“We tuckered her out.”

I loved that he’d said we. “Thanks for a fun night. I think you made Izzy’s year.”

“Well, that’s just sad. We’ll have to top it.”

I laughed, my stomach fluttering with excitement. “How will we do that?”

“I don’t know. I’ll have to think on it. This is kind of crazy, but Talon paid for the family to go skiing. We kept putting it off, and now the only time we can go is a weekend in November. Can you believe that? It will be right before we open to sell trees.”

“That’s not horrible timing. You get a nice break before things get crazy. My family always goes on vacation during that time.”

“Where do you go?”

“Wilde Ski Resort. They’ve been going since Teddy went to college with one of the Wildes. He gives us a good discount. This is the first year that we’re going too. Izzy’s finally old enough to ski.”

The line got quiet, and finally, Cole said. “You’re never going to believe this but I’m pretty sure we’re going to a resort with a similar name. Is it in Telluride, Colorado?”

“You’re kidding.” My heart picked up as my brain told me this could be a problem.

“Hold on. Let me look at the text chain.” A few seconds later, he read from it. “Wilde Ski Resort. It’s the weekend before Thanksgiving.”

“That’s the same time we go.” My heart sped up.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Then my heart sank. “We’ll be there at the same time, but we can’t spend it together. Both of our families will be there.”

“I was hoping we could spend time together.”

“It’s a few weeks away yet. Why don’t we think about how we should handle it?”

“That’s fair. But I know I want to see you again.”

“I want to see you too.” I felt almost giddy with anticipation.

I lay back on the pillows, and we talked about Izzy, school, my hopes for my business, and our childhoods. We talked late into the night. When we finally hung up, I felt closer to Cole than I ever had.

There was something about just talking to someone that was nice.

It was the perfect way to get to know each other. And then there was the matter of our vacations. Would it be a good way to see each other? Will we be able to sneak around undetected, or would everything come crashing down?

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