Page 24 of A Bear Ski Instructor Christmas

“Oh, look—he’s here.” Reba’s voice slowly pulled her out of the depths of her memory.

Rachel followed her gaze—and her eyes widened.

Oh, God.

Sure enough, Michael was decked out in a Santa suit, no doubt the same one he’d been wearing the day she’d lost him. Time hadn’t been so kind to the costume; it was frayed at the hems and had lost some of its color, so it looked pink instead of red. But it was him, alright. Underneath that old hat, behind that scanty white beard, his grey eyes shone brightly.

“Ho, ho, ho!” he exclaimed.

The villagers in the street cheered excitedly. Rachel could see what Reba was talking about. It didn’t matter whether they knew who he really was or not. The sight of Santa walking through the village was enough to inspire joy in the hearts of everyone. He was a symbol to these people—not a relic in the Museum of Lost Things, but something more…alive.

Looking at him, Rachel could feel her heart warming. Despite the circumstances that had brought them all to this cold, dreadful mountain and left them trapped, he was constantly working hard to bring as much joy as possible to the people of Melinor. Santa or not, she’d seen how people behaved around him. He was capable of turning even the deepest frown upside down with nothing but a wisecrack and a twinkle in those gorgeous eyes of his.

No wonder it had been so easy for her to fall hopelessly head over heels in love with him.

“Ho, ho, ho!” Michael said again.

And then his eyes met hers, and Rachel’s breath caught in her throat. For a second, his step faltered, then he turned toward afew kids, waving at them. Adults and children alike were thrilled to see him. It was almost ironic. Back on Earth, she didn’t know any adults who believed in Santa Claus. Here, he seemed to be one of the few things that kept the villagers going. Rachel found herself wondering what Melinor must have been like before Michael showed up.

She’d been pondering that for a moment when Reba said, “Looks like your lover’s headed our way.”

Rachel blinked and clutched at her pendant. Michaelwasstriding toward them, his gaze locked on hers. She stared back, unsure whether to go to him or remain where she stood. Before she could reach a decision, he before her, those grey eyes searching her face.

“Hey,” he said.

“H-hi,” she stammered, setting her hands down at her sides.

It was a little strange, seeing him standing before her in the same clothes he’d been wearing when he’d disappeared. A flutter arose in Rachel’s stomach, and she sucked in a breath. Of course, he didn’t even remember that day.

“You look…great,” she managed to say. “You make a handsome Santa.”

“Why, thank you.” He shot her a seductive grin. “Do you think you’ll be on my naughty or nice list?”

She stared, open-mouthed, at him until Reba cleared her throat.

“I should get going,” she said. “I have some, ah, matters to attend to.”

With that, she turned and walked off, leaving Rachel and Michael standing in awkward silence.

Well, it was awkward only for Rachel. Michael still had that grin on his face. God, how she wished she could wipe it off. Preferably with her own lips…

“So you’re the village Santa,” she said, unsure what else was appropriate at the moment. “Sounds like a rather lucrative business.”

He chuckled at her quip. “I was wearing this costume when I appeared on Frost Mountain. Can you imagine that? I must’ve been skiing in this suit when I went through that portal. Isn’t that funny?”

Rachel couldn’t answer. The reality of Reba’s words had struck her with the force of a sledgehammer. Michael had no idea what had happened the day he disappeared, and what were the odds he would ever remember? It was just like Reba said:There’s a chance that Michael will never get those memories of you back…

“I guess it is,” she said finally with a strained laugh. “Anyway, the costume looks great on you. I’ve got to go, too. Talk to you later?”

Before he could respond, she stepped around him and walked off, her face burning despite the cold. No doubt Michael was wondering what the heck had just happened. But his confusion was nothing compared to what she was feeling right now, which was that she needed some space for herself. Hopefully, Maria’s cabin was still empty. A warm bath and some rest should ease the dread that had settled in her chest…

It was almost amusing how much her life had changed over the course of a few weeks. Barely a month ago, she’d been a fashion model, worrying about a casting call, and now? Well, unless they held annual runway shows here in Melinor, that was the least of her concerns. Was this how quickly a person’s life could turn upside down? Or was it right side up? Her world had been chaos after Michael disappeared. She’d barely managed to adapt to his absence. Finding him here on Frost Mountain, she’d been ecstatic, but this place wasn’t exactly Disneyland. She’dfound the love of her life, but now they were both stranded on a mountain that shouldn’t even exist.

Rachel ignored the excited villagers as she made her way through the streets, heading for Maria’s cabin. The trip took no more than a few minutes, and she kept her eyes cast down at the snow as she walked. She’d almost reached the cabin when she realized someone was standing outside it on the porch steps. And it wasn’t Maria.

“Finally, you’re here,” the woman remarked. “I was starting to wonder whether you’d run away from Melinor or something.”

She stood with her hands in her pockets, wearing the same faded Chanel sweater she’d had on the first time Rachel saw her. As Rachel drew nearer, the woman scowled.

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