Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
HARRISON
“ M e?” I called out.
Aaron ignored me, taking off in a sprint.
What the hell kind of game was he playing at? What did I have to do with him and college? We didn’t even know each other back then. His comment made absolutely no sense.
“Aaron!” I yelled again, to no response.
Instead of standing there, blocking the skiers getting off the lift, I took off after him. He wasn’t bullshitting; the man knew how to ski. His turns were smooth, and his balance never wavered. I was staring so long, distracted by the sight, that I nearly ran into a tree. Pretty sure my insurance wouldn’t cover acts of stupidity…
But just when I tried to catch up, he raced off again, and with the heavy fall of snow, it was difficult to see clearly. There weren’t a lot of people heading down the diamond trail and no wonder. The powder was thick and heavy, and the steep drop was challenging, even for an experienced skier like me. Every part of my body strained hard, especially my knees.
Halfway down the mountain, with no sign of Aaron, I skied to the edge of the trail and took a breather. If it had been a clear day, I would’ve pulled my phone out and taken snaps. But, as it was, you could see about three feet in front of you and that was it. The storm they’d been predicting was finally letting loose.
After giving my body a quick break, I slipped down the trail again, going fast but not crazy. I wanted to get to the bottom, to get to Aaron, as soon as possible, but I wanted to arrive in one piece. All the while, my mind was whirling in ten different directions, trying to work out the puzzle that was my boss. Why, if we had met at college, couldn’t I remember him?
The slope began to even off and I knew I was nearing the end of the run. Then I spotted a familiar figure waiting at the base, off to the side. Aaron had his goggles pushed up on his helmet and was staring up at the sky like he was counting snowflakes.
“Hey!” I called out as I skied over to meet him.
“Took you long enough. I win. Again,” Aaron bragged. “Seems you just can’t compete with your boss.”
When his cocky grin appeared, I wanted to taste it. The man was infuriating. And infuriatingly confident. Not to mention, sexy as hell in that ski outfit. My heart was beating out of control, and it didn’t have anything to do with racing down that demanding trail.
“Never mind that, what did you mean up there?” I asked. “I was joking when I said we probably met in college. I’m damn sure I’d remember you.”
“It’s obvious you don’t,” he snapped.
“Enough with the games. Who the hell are you?”
Aaron dug his poles into the snow and pushed off, moving closer to me, until we were standing side by side. Up close, I noticed that his amber eyes weren’t full of humor anymore. The cold, resolute businessman was back.
“I’m the student you humiliated at a party ten years ago.”
“What?” I gasped.
I wracked my brain, but his comment registered…absolutely nothing.
“You really don’t remember, do you?” he whispered.
I shook my head. “There were a lot of house parties, Aaron, and a lot of drinking. I probably don’t remember half the places I went to on college weekends. But I know one thing for sure; I didn’t know you back then and I certainly didn’t humiliate anyone.”
Aaron bit his lower lip.
“The party was held at a house near campus, one with a pool and a trampoline. I didn’t want to go, since I was never big on socializing, but my best friend, Shane, wanted me to come. He kept telling me to make the most out of my freedom while I had it, so I went. And it was a total disaster.”
“I’m sorry, but I still don’t remem?—”
“I looked different back then,” Aaron interrupted. “I was thirty pounds lighter, tall and scrawny, with acne, and glasses.”
The faint echo of a memory flashed in my mind, but it was gone as fast as it came.
“It was at the start of my freshman year,” he continued. “September. I bumped into you by accident after I went to grab beer?—”
A memory sparked. A face that was familiar, but not.
“It was cool that night, but everyone started jumping into the pool. Shane urged me to go for it, but when I did, I lost my underwear in the process. And without my glasses on, I was lost. I tried to get out of the pool quickly, but then you yelled out ‘leave the briefs on next time, water ain’t your dick’s friend’. By the time I found my glasses, and the rest of my clothes, I realized everyone at the party was staring, laughing at me. I ran like hell out of there. The next day, Shane told me to let it go and I was going to do just that, until—” Aaron paused, his eyes never wavering from mine. “Until you posted a picture of me along with that memorable tagline. I was beyond embarrassed. Students in my dorm teased me for months.”
I stared at Aaron, too numb to speak. And no, it wasn’t the icy winter atmosphere that had me frozen in place.
“That wasn’t me,” I started. “I mean, maybe I said that, but no way did I take your picture. I wouldn’t do that.”
“You hid behind an anonymous profile, but it had to be you.”
I broke out in a sweat, shivering despite the layers of clothing.
“No,” I insisted. “I wouldn’t.”
Sure, I had a knack for mouthing off, always had, but I wouldn’t post a pic like that. It wasn’t in me to bully people. Tease, yes, but not anything more. If only I could remember more details from that night. It was so long ago. And if I’d been drinking…
“I don’t believe you,” Aaron scoffed. “And I almost couldn’t believe it when I walked into that boardroom three weeks ago. After ten fucking years, there you were. I knew it was you.”
“Aaron, I swear, I didn’t?—”
“I guess I should be over it by now,” Aaron grumbled. “Like I told you, I escaped to the gym and when my body changed, I did too. I’m not that awkward kid anymore. But you need to know what you did to me. You can’t talk your way out of everything.”
“Look, I’m sorry about what I said. But I swear, I did not ?—”
“Then who?”
“I don’t know! Someone else at the party. Anyone could have taken your picture and posted it.”
Aaron sighed and pursed his lips. This was so fucked up, and I felt like total shit. I couldn’t take back the words. Shit, I couldn’t remember even saying them. If I did, it was just a joke. Only a joke. How was I to know how far someone would take it?
“Whatever,” Aaron snapped. “It’s done.”
“Clearly not.”
Aaron sighed. The sound—and his gaze—was filled with anger and regret.
“I didn’t want to hire you for that very reason. And, because you’re a smug prick. But the board insisted, and I had no choice. I was going to make your life at work a living hell, but once again, you turned the tables on me. And now I’m the one facing humiliation again,” he hissed. “Only it’s far worse. Even if what happened last night was consensual, even if you kissed me first, I’m your boss. If it ever gets out that I messed around with an employee, I’m done.”
Aaron suddenly turned away, digging his poles in the snow, and pushing hard, sliding away.
“Aaron!”
“Don’t,” he paused and looked at me over his shoulder. “Don’t say a goddamn word, Harry.”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“Like I can trust anything you say?”
Aaron started off, but this was not the end of it. I was going to make things right.
I had no idea how, but I always found a way. So, like the stubborn ass that I was, I followed him back to the resort, hot on his heels. Or his skis, to be exact.
When I reached the equipment kiosk, Aaron was standing there, leaning on his poles. I released my skis, yanked off my goggles and my helmet, and stalked up to him.
“I thought I told you to get lost,” Aaron bit out, finally releasing his skis with a snap.
“Actually, you didn’t,” I quipped. “You told me not to say a goddamn word, which, is just not possible for me.”
“Christ.”
“I’m not into prayer, but I do believe in forgiveness. Especially for saying stupid shit when I was young and dumb and full of?—”
“I get it,” Aaron cut me off.
“—beer.”
He yanked off his helmet and ran a hand through his messy, damp waves. His cheeks were flushed from the wind and the cold and I momentarily forgot what I was going to say.
“You won the race, so I owe you a drink,” I admitted, my voice hoarse.
Talking past the sudden lump in my throat wasn’t easy. Apologies weren’t either.
“More than that, I owe you an apology,” I continued. “For what I said at that party.”
“And last night?” Aaron asked, his flush growing darker.
The man was too handsome by far. Handsome, complicated, and off limits. But a drink was just that. We could put all this behind us and move on. Maybe even become friends?
“I’m not going to apologize for that,” I insisted, cocky as ever. “It was too good to regret.”
“Asshole.”
Okay, ‘friends’ was pushing it.
“Aaron.”
“You’re not going to stop hounding me, are you?” he admitted with a sigh.
“Nope.”
“Fine. One drink.”
One was all I needed.