Page 82 of Seduced By You

“Ready?” Kadon zipped up my ski jacket.

“I suppose so.”

He clipped me under the chin. “Today is the day it’s all going to come together. I guarantee it.”

“With my performance so far, you can’t guarantee anything.”

“Want to bet?” He tapped the side of his nose. “I have a sixth sense for these things. You’re not the first person I’ve taught to ski, and from what I saw on Christmas Eve, you’re right on the cusp of cracking it.”

“More like cracking up,” I muttered.

“Stop being dramatic.” He zipped up his own jacket, and we stepped outside into the crisp air. Kadon grabbed our skis from the outbuilding, carrying mine and his to the slopes, despite my grumbles about capability and not needing anyone to take care of me. Which he ignored. Funny thing was, I liked it when he coddled me. It showed he cared.

The nursery slopes were busier than I’d expected, but Kadon found a quiet spot for me to practice. And, bugger me, I stayed upright, even managing a couple of turns. The more I kept my balance, the greater my confidence grew. An hour passed, and I hadn’t fallen over once.

“See,” Kadon said, not even bothering to hide his smugness. “What did I say? I told you today was the day.”

“No one likes a know-it-all,” I groused.

He smirked. “Want to take the lift up to the next level?”

“Do you think I’m capable?”

“More than capable. Besides, I’ll be there. I won’t let you hurt yourself.” He motioned for me to go first. I set off, digging my poles into the ground and internally high-fiving myself when I steered around a group of teenagers messing about in the snow. We lined up behind several skiers waiting for the next available chair lift. Everyone except me seemed highly capable, hopping onto the moving lift with ease.

“I’m going to make a tit of myself, aren’t I?”

Kadon chuckled. “If you struggle, I’ll pick you up.”

“That won’t be embarrassing at all.”

“You’re far more capable than you give yourself credit for. You’re a few days into your first-ever ski trip. Give yourself a break.”

“You’re too nice to me.” I pulled his mouth down to mine, the kiss all too brief.

“Only because I want to—”

“Annaleesa?”

My eyes ballooned wide.You have got to be kidding me.Pivoting slowly, partly to keep my balance and partly because I didn’t believe the universe could be that shitty. Except it was.

“Benedict. Fenella. What a surprise.”

Kadon took my hand, squeezing it, his presence solid at my back.

“I never took you for a skier, Leesa,” Fenella said.

“I’m not. But I’m learning.” I gazed up at Kadon, who’d moved to my side. “I have the best teacher.”

“I have to say that when you arrived for our wedding, I thought you two were faking it to help you save face, Leesa.” Fenella giggled. “Looks as if I was wrong. You’re a couple of lovebirds.”

Hidden beneath the layers of skiwear, heat crept up my neck. If it edged to my face, the game was up. Fenella would take that blush as evidence of the truth she’d inadvertently stumbled upon. And here I was thinking we’d fooled everyone.

Benedict turned his attention to Kadon and dipped his chin. “Kingcaid.”

Kadon’s eyes flashed, his thoughts about Benedict in plain view. He said nothing. No greeting, no nodding, no acknowledgment that Benedict had uttered a word.

“You left the manor in rather a hurry.” Benedict pulled himself upright. Bless. He kept trying to look like he was a match for Kadon’s superiority. “Running from something?”

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