Page 27 of A Bear Ski Instructor Christmas

“But you know what you want, don’t you?”

He didn’t answer. As much as he wanted to believe he did, it was hard to tell himself that he really did know what he wanted, especially since he couldn’t even remember the woman he wanted.

And the way things were going, he was starting to wonder if he ever would.

Chapter Eleven

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Time was an interesting concept on Frost Mountain, Rachel thought, especially considering there was no way to accurately tell what time it was. She’d lost count of how many days had passed since Flight 18 crashed on the mountain. But that didn’t seem to matter to the people of Melinor. With everyone convinced that Christmas Eve was only a few days away, it was safe to say that time here was nothing more than a collective agreement.

That idea was hard to argue with, considering all the snow.

She couldn’t help wondering what was going on back on Earth. Ithadbeen weeks since the plane crashed. Were people still wondering what had happened? Were attempts still being made to find the plane? When Michael disappeared, it had taken some time before the police gave up on trying to find him. This was different. An entire plane had mysteriously vanished mid-flight. The entire United States must be in chaos right now.

Rachel had to admit that she missed her old life. She missed wondering about her next modeling gig, trying on new clothes before her mirror, and arguing with Sam about what to have for dinner.

Sam, oh, Sam.

She must be torn even now, wondering what in the world had happened to her best friend. Rachel had felt that way about Michael for months.

Maybe someday, just as she had, Sam would find her way onto Frost Mountain and—

No.

She dismissed the thought as suddenly as it arrived. No matter how badly she missed Sam, Frost Mountain wasn’t a fate she would wish on anyone. Sure, Melinor was great, and Rachelconsidered herself lucky to have ended up in this village instead of at the bottom of some lake, but this washermisfortune, not anyone else’s. She and Sam would never see each other again, and they’d both have to make their peace with that.

Christmas Eve arrived, and Rachel found herself hanging around Reba again, keeping the village chief company as she attended to some business around the village. The woman had grown somewhat fond of her, Rachel realized, although she wasn’t about to ask why. She’d already explored all of Melinor, but that didn’t stop Reba from offering to show her around from time to time.

Not that Rachel minded one bit. As long as they avoided bumping into Elena—who, for some reason, looked rather upset about something these days—she was fine. Rachel couldn’t count the number of times she’d caught the chief’s daughter staring at her from the side of a building. If looks could kill, she’d be a freezing corpse buried six feet under the snow by now. Rachel suspected Reba knew what was going on, although the woman had said nothing to indicate such, which was just as well.

The sun was hiding behind grey clouds when Rachel and Reba left the cabin of one of Reba’s friends that afternoon. The village looked pretty much the same these days, only jollier. There were no strings of blinking lights or holly decorations. No caroling or Christmas trees either. Apart from the snow and Michael’s Santa Claus act the other day, there wasn’t much that reminded her of Christmas. Rachel wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. After Michael disappeared, she’d pretty much turned into the Grinch, except she didn’t try to ruin Christmas for anyone else—she’d simply endured the season for the last couple of years.

Reba suggested that they head for the village entrance. It wasn’t until they’d reached the low fence that Rachel realized why: Some of the villagers were speeding down the hill onskis while others watched, cheering them on. And among the onlookers was none other than—

“Rachel?” Michael’s handsome face split into a grin as he drew nearer, leaping over the fence with the agility of a teenager. He had on a large, puffy jacket that made him look a little like the Michelin man. “It’s good to see you here again. Hello, Reba.”

“Michael.” Reba’s lips twitched. “I…suppose I should get going. I have some other business to attend to.”

And she left without another word. Rachel stared after the woman until she was out of sight.

“I’m starting to think she does that on purpose.”

She jumped as his warm breath caressed her ear. “Me, too.”

His grin broadened, awakening her insides. “Why don’t you join us? I could teach you a thing or two about skiing. You look like you’ve never touched a ski before.”

She glanced past him at the villagers cheering the skiers on and shook her head. “I have, actually. Just not in a long time…”

He lifted an eyebrow. “What changed?”

“You disappeared.” Rachel wondered momentarily whether she should offer more information but refrained from doing so. The memory of her conversation with Elena resurfaced in her mind, and she felt herself stiffen. Perhaps she should ask him whether there was something between the two of them…

Michael’s lips rounded into anO. An awkward silence filled the air between them for the next few seconds.

“I’m sorry about that,” he said quietly. “Would you like to try again?”

“Try…again?” Her breathing nearly stopped at his words.

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