Page 53 of Wedding Bells in Silverwood

“This seems like a lot of effort,” Jonas complained.

“Stop being a baby. This is for your safety.”

“So you’re saying this is dangerous.” Jonas squinted as he looked up at the mountain. “Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this.”

“I thought you said you’ve been skiing before.”

“I have.” He shrugged. “Once. Admittedly, it was years ago. And now I recall why there wasn’t a second time.”

Viola set his skis straight and tapped his knee, indicating he should stick his boot into the notch. “We’re not going on the expert slope, but still, you don’t want to crush your skull running into a tree or anything.”

“You’re not making me feel better about this.” He lifted his legs to check if his skis were secure.

Viola led the way to the ski lift, breathing in the cool mountain air. Her pulse raced, and she embraced the rush of adrenaline.

They got in line for the lift, and Viola couldn’t help but notice Jonas fidgeting with his ski poles.

“Isn’t there a storm headed this way?” he asked.

“Not anymore. It took an unexpected turn. We’re good to go. Just look at that sky.”

Jonas crinkled his nose as he looked skyward. “Those, uh, lifts seem to be moving pretty fast, don’t you think?”

Viola studied the speed of the seats hanging on the moving cable. “Doesn’t seem to be unusually speedy, no.”

“Are they shaking? I think they might be wobbling or something. When’s the last time they were inspected?”

“Quit playing around. Are you ready?” Viola asked.

Jonas adjusted his gloves, staring at the approaching lift chairs. “Yeah. Sure. Um, Yeah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing?” He blew out a quick breath.

Viola had to smirk. “Are you scared?”

“Me? No. Scared?” He cleared his throat. “How, uh, how safe are those wires? Do you know how often they are tested?”

“Jonas Brickman, are you afraid of heights?”

“Heights?” He forced a chuckle. “No. No. I’m not, uh … It’s not the height. It’s the falling I’m concerned about.”

“You’re not going to fall.”

“You can guarantee that?”

“How about this? Once we’re on the lift, I’ll hold your hand. That way, if you fall, we both fall.”

“Why would you think that would make me feel better?”

“So you don’t want to hold my hand?”

“Well, yeah. I will take you up on that offer. But I still don’t think you understand how gravity works.”

She bit her cheek. “Okay. I’ll distract you with some lovely conversation.”

His gaze was still glued to the moving cable. “I suppose we could give it a try.”

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