Page 12 of Romanced By the Silver Fox

After all, it’s Christmas. A few days of no-strings-attached pleasure are the perfect gift.

The drive up to Mount Hood is the most fun I’ve ever had in a car. Grant gets lets me DJ — which means 80s and 90’s dance tunes the whole way — and not once does he make fun of my terrible singing voice. When we’re not rocking out to the bands of our youth, we catch up on the last five years.

Grant left Portland and went to a tech firm in Colorado. He stayed there for a couple of years before transferring to the Connecticut office, where he’s been ever since.

As for me, I moved to New York soon after he left. The children’s literacy organization I worked for offered me a role at the head office. I was desperate for something to keep my mind off my broken engagement, and they needed someone with a killer work ethic and no personal life. It was a win-win.

Lately, though, I’ve got itchy feet. I need to take some time and consider my next steps. Although Grant’s offer is tempting, I don’t know if I’m ready for the job at FLB. Professionally, I know I could handle it, but how would it work if I turn him down? Grant says it’s fine to take the role even if things don’t work between the two of us, but can I trust his promises?

When we arrive at Mount Meadows, I realize what it must be like to be a rock star. It’s like magic. Grant has a quick chat with someone at the entrance, and we are whisked away for the VIP treatment.

We get a tour of the facility, and a personal shopper who takes us to the ski shops where we get fitted from head to toe with all brand new outerwear, sunglasses and ski boots. Afterward, two of the instructors meet with us. Grant decides to ski, while I try snowboarding. After choosing the proper equipment, we spend the next few hours in private lessons.

By the end of the session, I’m just about able to make it down the bunny slope without falling over, though I’m lapped several times by a group of giddy ten-year-olds.

The two of us retreat to the restaurant, where we nurse hot toddies and our sore hips.

“That is the most fun I’ve ever had outside,” I say.

“Better than the time we almost got caught messing around in your parents’ backyard?”

“Fair. The best time with my clothes on, then,” I correct.

“That’s more like it.” Grant’s eyes sparkle with laughter. When he leans in to graze my lips with his own, I don’t pull away.

This all feels so easy. Like the years have fallen away, and we were never apart. Like we finally made the time to be together, just the way we always wanted.

I don’t trust that feeling.

And as much as I wish I could, I don’t trust Grant.

CHAPTER6

GRANT

I seethe moment I lose Genie again.

She’s always been easy to read. At least for me. Even when her body language is cool and collected, her eyes always tell me her secrets.

Right now, they’re telling me that bringing up our history is a risk. Because while we have a lot of good memories together, they inevitably lead back to how I broke her heart.

I’m trying my hardest to replace those bad memories with new good ones. I hope it’s enough to earn a second chance.

It has to be.

A dark-haired woman approaches our table. She looks vaguely familiar, although I’m picturing her with a tan instead of the pale, rosy-cheeked thing she’s got going on today. I’m usually good with names, but I’m drawing a blank in her case.

Genie looks over at me, curiosity evident. I stand up when the woman reaches our table.

“You’re Grant Davies, right?” Her smile is tentative.

I hold out my hand. “That’s right. I’m afraid I don’t recall your–”

“We haven’t met yet,” she explains. “Although you’ve probably seen my class picture? We sent it in with our application.”

Yes! The memory snaps into place. This woman sent a proposal to my firm and included a picture of her fourth-grade class.

She turns to Genie. “I’m Violet Glass. I’m a teacher at Swanson Elementary. I think you might have run into some of my students during your snowboarding lesson.”

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