Page 59 of His Ski Resort Overrun for Christmas

The lieutenant caught Ivy staring at him and stopped a couple feet away. He inclined his chin. “Van Udy,” he said. His voice was warm but the military training was obvious. This guy didn’t waste words or his time. He was super attractive, he just wasn’t … Ammon. Ivy had the same thought about men the world over.

Her stomach leapt again. Was she going to see Ammon tonight? How would it go? Would he hate her for leaving for ten years? Had he moved on like she’d asked him to? Would she see that obvious love in his deep-brown eyes? Could she beg him to wait until she completed the assignment in Banida? There’d be something else after that. She would never be done and never come home for good. Her shoulders ached from the burdens she carried.

“Ivy Collier,” she introduced herself.

He looked from her back to Abigail, who hadn’t moved.

“Flirt with my gorgeous cousin, see if I care.” Abigail sang the words out in the happiest tone. It was impossible with that girl to know if she was actually upset or just having fun. She blew Van a kiss then turned and strutted off, aiming for some other target at least ten years older than her.

Van focused immediately back on Ivy. “Cousins?”

She nodded. “Abigail’s a sweetheart and means well,” she tried.

He arched his eyebrows and thumped his closed fist against his leg. Ivy noticed he was only wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and a stocking cap. Wasn’t he cold? The thick muscles in his arms didn’t even have goosebumps on them.

“I don’t want to be … rude but I’m at least a dozen years older than her.”

“I can respect that,” she said, knowing how it felt to get hit on by somebody you didn’t want to offend, but knew you’d never be interested in.

“So Melene Delta is your cousin?”

“Yes! Melene’s the best.”

“Impressive lady,” he said. “I’ve been on missions with Aiden before.”

“Oh … wow. So you’re a Navy SEAL?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He looked down and away, obviously not wanting to talk about himself. “Can I walk you inside?”

“Sure.”

Ivy thought he was a standup guy and she liked that he didn’t seem to be hitting on her, simply talking like adults and making a new acquaintance.

He walked up to her and they slowly walked toward the lodge. He didn’t touch her and she appreciated it. She looked to the tubing hill where children, teenagers, and adults alike were screaming and laughing down the hill. The cocoa and cookie tables were off to the side.

The lights lit up the ski hill. There were numerous skiers waiting at the lift and about a dozen making their way down the slope. The ribbon of snow glistened white in the powerful lights, bordered with thick, almost impenetrable forest lit eerily by the moon.

Suddenly a lone skier came racing down the hill, darting past the other skiers and snowboarders as if they were in slow motion.

“Wait.” Lieutenant Udy held up a hand and stopped, but didn’t move close enough to touch her. “You ever seen Ammon Jardine ski?”

Ivy froze. She indeed had seen Ammon Jardine ski. “It’s been a few years,” she managed.

“Watch this.”

She didn’t need the advice. She couldn’t have torn her gaze away if she wanted to. Ammon’s tall, tough body was encased in a light blue ski jacket with black pants. He had on a black helmet and goggles but she could easily see it was him. Those lips alone. Her lips tingled as if remembering his kiss. Muscle memory or lip memory?

He was beelining down the hill like a rocket and though she knew how impressive his skills were she feared for his safety. One wrong move and he’d be in danger. He turned and shot off to the right, under the lift line. He hit a manmade jump and launched into the air. Her heart seemed to leap higher than his skis. She’d seen too much death and call it PTSD or love or whatever you wanted, but all she could envision was him landing on his head and breaking his neck. No!Please heaven above save him!

“Ammon!” Ivy screamed in horror as he arched and flipped backwards, his skis stuck perfectly together, his long body arcing as if it were effortless. He flipped once and then twice. Her scream increased in volume. He landed easily, soft knees just like he’d taught her, and everybody on the lift and in the line cheered loudly.

Ivy caught a ragged breath, putting her hand to her throat. Her heartbeat didn’t slow down and her fear for him only increased, despite seeing he was safe. Gunshots killing the men and teenage boys, the women of Banida and the teenage girls who hadn’t made it into the crypt with her being hauled off, the children hungry, scared, sobbing for their parents and siblings, and this man … this crazy fool that she loved desperately, safe in happy valley and risking his life for no reason at all. Her breath came in fast pants. How dare he?

Ammon slowed down and lifted a hand of acknowledgment to his admirers. His easy, irresistible grin was displayed on those lips that she used to love.

“You okay?” Van asked.

“No,” she gritted out. “Come on.” She grabbed his arm and tugged him up the hill toward Ammon. The lieutenant didn’t resist her tugging so she released him. Simply breathing and walking took all her energy with how upset she was. Van fell into step with her and they scaled the short hill and approached the line of skiers waiting to go up the lift. Ammon was chatting with some teenage boys.

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