Page 8 of A Bear Ski Instructor Christmas

“I’m not,” Rachel said, watching the man as he waited to be attended to. “I mean, I don’t think I am. I don’t know. I’m not even sure what he looks like. Who wears goggles in a Starbucks?”

The man gazed around the shop. For a second, he looked in Rachel’s direction, and although she could barely see his face, she could’ve sworn that their eyes met.

Sam got to her feet all of a sudden. “I need to use the bathroom,” she said. “Be right back.”

With that, she turned and disappeared. Rachel reached for her coffee again, bringing the cup to her lips for a long sip. When she set down the cup, there was somebody standing next to the table. She registered a blue two-piece snowsuit and reddish-brown hair dusted with snow, her reflection staring back at her from those dark goggles.

“Oh!” she gasped. “I didn’t see you there.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” said the skier. His voice was deep, yet gentle. Standing over her, he looked even taller. “I saw you from the counter and figured I’d come over and say hi. You’re very pretty.”

Rachel had heard comments like that hundreds of times over the years, but for some reason, hearing this man say it caused heat to flood her cheeks. “Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.”

He chuckled. “But you don’t even know what I look like.”

With that, he reached up and slowly took off his goggles.

A gasp parted her lips. The man’s eyes were metallic grey, his gaze intense and piercing. Looking at him, Rachel could’ve sworn she felt her heart stop. She had to admit that the mere sight of him elicited certain thoughts. Thoughts about what an amazing model this guy would make, and what might happen if they somehow ended up locked in the same room.

She managed to recover her wits before she drooled all over the table. “You’re…you’re alright.”

This time, his laughter seemed to reverberate throughout the coffee shop. “I’m going to assume that’s the highest compliment you’ve ever given anyone.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because you look like you’ve just found yourself face to face with the man of your dreams.”

Rachel’s breathing faltered for a moment. “Looks can be deceptive, you know.”

“How about you give me a chance to prove you wrong?”

“What do you have in mind?”

He cocked his head to one side. “A date, of course.”

Rachel tried to stifle the bubbling sensation filling her chest. “Usually, when guys ask me out on dates, they tell me their names first. Names are important. I need to know who I’m dealing with.”

“Is that so?”

“Uh-huh. For all I know, your last name could be Bundy or Dahmer. I’m not taking that risk.”

He grinned and raised both hands. “Well, I can assure you that I’ 'm safe. My name’s Michael. Michael Malone.”

“Rachel Reeves.”

“Rolls right off the tongue.”

“I could say the same about yours,” she countered.

“You’re an interesting woman, Rachel Reeves,” Michael said. “I get the feeling this is the start of one hell of an adventure for both of us.”

***

Michael.

She awoke with his name in the forefront of her mind, preceding any concerns she had about her well-being. She had no idea where she was or what had happened to her, but the image of Michael’s grinning face and snow-speckled hair filled her consciousness.

“Michael!”

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