Page 48 of Finding Love on the Slopes

She enjoyed hearing his laughter and reveled in the fact that the arrogant jerk seemed gone for good, replaced by a jovial man, able to have fun and relax with her.

Enrique slowly made his way to her as the children helping her regained their skis and headed back up the mountain for another run.

“I win!” she announced when he was arm’s length away.

He smiled as he shrugged and brushed flecks of snow from her face and hair with his glove-clad hands. “I can’t be the best at everything, I guess. Claim your prize, woman, before I freeze to death out here.”

“What? I distinctly remember beating you at Go Fish and War. Theonlygame you were better than me at was Blackjack,” she corrected. Staring up into his eyes as he looked into hers. Joy still radiated from both of them. “I claim a date this time. You are going to get to see what my kind of dating looks like.”

“Okay, I can agree to that. But I already called dibs on tonight, so you have to settle for tomorrow.” His voice was soft and gentle as he traced a finger down her cheek. The look in his eyes warned her he may be about to kiss her, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet.

“I’m hungry,” she said abruptly. “Are you hungry? We should go eat.”

Turning, she gathered her abandoned skis and poles, placing them in the rack outside the lodge. They walked hand in hand to the café counter and ordered a light snack, considering it was getting late and they still had a date that evening.

Leighann claimed an empty table as he waited at the counter for their food.

“Smells crazy good,” she said as he sat down and set their meals in front of them.

“It tastes good, too,” he responded after unwrapping his turkey sandwich and taking a large bite while Leighann uncovered her cobb salad.

She stirred chocolate packets into two steaming cups of water and handed him his.

Holding up her cup, she said, “Toast. To a wonderful day of great skiing and memory-making. Cheers.” She grinned, and he smiled a tiny, secretive smile as he tapped his cup with hers.

***

“Remember, this is your second chance, Enrique,” Leighann chuckled as he led her into a room with his hands over her eyes. He walked behind her, guiding her step and grinning as he led her further into the all-season room of the chalet.

After they ended their ski session for the day, they went hiking, enjoying the trails behind the chalet for the rest of the afternoon. Now, after they had freshened up, he told her hewanted to surprise her and started by covering her eyes after she came out of her room.

“I’m well aware, Leighann,” he said against her ear. “I won’t mess this up.” Then, under his breath, he murmured ‘hopefully.’

“Alright,” he said, clearing his throat once they were standing in front of his romantic date set-up. He moved his hands away from her eyes and placed them on her shoulders as she took in the scene before her.

He bit the inside of his cheek nervously as he awaited her reaction.

“Well, what do you think?” he asked when she didn’t say anything for a long moment.

Leighann was struggling to believe her eyes. It was as if he had read her mind. Enrique had managed to arrange the most romantic picnic imaginable. A large, fluffy, ruby-red blanket was laid out on the floor, with a giant pile of throw pillows lined along the back. A low table sat to one side with three large pillar candles illuminating the space with a soft glow just barely enough to see by. Another low table held crystal goblets filled with pink bubbly liquid, and a cart nearby was laden with covered plates of delicious-smelling food.

More candles were placed around the room, lending to the sweet, romantic atmosphere. The glass windows enclosing the room gave them a clear view of the stars. She turned around, and from the blush on her cheeks and the tears flooding her eyes, he knew he had impressed her.

“Who would have thought you could come up with something like this?”

He grinned and shrugged. “I may or may not have had help, but the vision was mine.”

She laughed as they sat down, facing each other. He pulled two wooden trays off the lowest level of the cart to reveal an elegantly set table for one on each. Next came the plates from the middle, revealing a tossed salad and a basket of fresh sourdough rolls with herbed butter.

“Down to the salad?”

“Hey, I was the decorator. I think I deserve some credit.”

“I’m just saying,” she grinned.

He handed her the flute of pink liquid, and she was startled when she took a sip and didn’t get the taste of alcohol. She had assumed champagne was on the menu.

“I know you don’t like drinking. To be honest, I don’t do it often myself. So, we improvised. It’s cranberry Sprite or something like that. It was Mrs. Ellis’ suggestion. She said she did it for her kids every New Year’s Eve so they didn’t feel left out of the toast. As for the food, next time, I promise to prepare at least part of the meal myself,” he smiled, raising his glass to hers. “But for tonight, let’s enjoy Lorenzo’s cooking.”

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