Page 9 of Stuck With Mr. Frosty

I bend down to scoop up some snow, packing it into a ball and throwing it for Honey to chase. She takes off with a bark, bounding through the snow. “Don’t know why everyone seems to think that I need to learn how to let loose.”

“Because you walk around with a stick up your ass, and everyone can see it.” Carter smirks and tucks his free hand into his pocket. “I like you, Aiden, but you’re too serious. You need to learn to live a little.”

“I have work to do.”

“And nobody can ever have a bit of fun while they’re working, can they?” The corner of Carter’s mouth tips up. “You spend most of your life moving around from one place to another and never settling down long enough to think if you’re really doing what’s right for you.”

“Settling down is for people who want to do the wife-and-kids thing.”

“And that isn’t you?”

“Not at this point in my life.” I ball up more snow, throwing it far and grinning as Honey sprints after it. “I’m happy with where I’m at.”

“You’re still what, twenty-seven? You might not think that settling down is going to be for you yet — and sure, that looks different for everyone — but sooner or later, you’re going to get tired of traveling from one mountain range to another.”

If I was being honest, I would tell him that I’m already getting tired of it, to some degree. I like the travel, though, and I don’t think that there’s ever going to be a world where I don’t spend time going from country to country.

Carter yawns and checks the time on his watch. “Well, you think about having some fun while you’re here this season. I’m going to go call my wife and the girls, and then I think I’m going to be passing out for the rest of the day.”

“Tell Cassie I say hi. And tell the girls that I better see them on the slopes later this season.”

He nods, already pulling out his phone, pausing long enough to hand me the radio and the keys to the sled.

Since it’s warm out, I set up camp in one of the chairs outside, turning up the radio and listening to the chatter while playing fetch with Honey.

This is the second-best part of my day. Being alone.

But one day it might be nice to have someone to be alone with.

It’s a shame people only love you when they want something from you.

CHAPTER 5

MIA

“We’re late!” Rosie rushes into the living room, hopping around and pulling her ski pants up. “If you don’t get your butt in gear right now, we’re going to be super late!”

I jolt upright from the couch, reaching up and wiping some of the drool from the corner of my mouth. “You’re kidding.”

“No!” Rosie grabs my hand and hauls me up from the couch. “Come on. Skip the shower, you’re just going to get sweaty. Brush your teeth and then let’s roll!”

Scowling, I hurry into the bathroom and strip down, finding a couple minutes for a quick body shower, though my hair is going to have to go untouched until I have time to deal with it later.

I hurry into my room and pull on some fleece-lined leggings and a black quarter-zip before hauling on my ski pants and coat.

“You two are in a hurry.” Ryder leans against the counter, eating a bowl of cereal while Rosie and I stuff our pockets with a couple protein bars.

Rosie glowers at him. “Why didn’t you wake us?”

“Aiden told me not to. Ran into him while he was on his way to the watchtower. Said you two were sleeping and needed your rest.”

I’m going to kill him.

Right now, though, I don’t have time for that. I need to get myself up the mountain and to the first class. When I do find Aiden later, there’s going to be hell to pay. I know it’s not his job to wake us up, but he would’ve seen me on the couch.

He would’ve seen my drool.

Horror fills me as I rip open one of the protein bars and take a large bite. Rosie scowls at Ryder before joining me, hauling on her snow boots and letting out a loud sigh.

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