Chapter 12 - Paisley #2
“That was hard work,” he said with a grin.
“You might have survived, but you’re going to be sore tomorrow,” I told him.
“Worth it,” he answered. “Seriously, don’t let Alina see you do some of those jumps. She’ll be trying them and Katie will have a heart attack.”
“If Alina stays interested, she could actually be quite good,” I said. “Your whole family seems pretty naturally athletic.”
He shrugged. “Well, we have to stay in shape,” he said, trailing off and drawing his brows together.
I still didn’t know exactly what they did to be so filthy rich, but I didn’t expect it would be anything physical.
I was about to ask if they were in construction and still liked to get in there and build, but he asked me what kind of competitions I’d been in.
He looked so genuinely interested, I found myself opening up about something I normally found a bit painful to talk about.
“And then you just decided being a nanny would be more fun than that?” he asked after I told him I’d been on the verge of snagging a spot on the national team and headed to the Olympics.
The question jarred me, making me recall the ruse. I couldn’t risk hurting the reputation of my best friend’s agency by admitting I was a last minute replacement and I normally hated talking about the accident.
“I love working with kids,” I said, which wasn’t exactly a lie.
I had babysat before and I was enjoying taking care of his cousins’ kids. I could have ended it there, but there was something about the sincere curiosity on Dan’s face. He hadn’t cracked a single joke at my expense since we headed down the mountain and I found myself enjoying his easy company.
“Yeah, but giving up the Olympics? Even if you didn’t make it all the way, why just quit altogether?”
I rubbed my knee, the sound of the bones cracking still reverberating in my memory years later.
“There was an accident,” I said. “Sixteen surgeries, a year of rehab. I knew I’d never return to that elite level again.
I did think about becoming an instructor, but acc—professional nannying pays more and it’s more stable. ”
The same note of defensiveness crept into my voice as I barely caught my mistake in time.
I’d had to make this same argument to my parents.
No one could understand why I’d turn my back on my dream.
No one understood the pain of having to let go of something I could never get back. Not to the level I’d once wanted.
“I get that,” he said.
“You do?”
“Sure. If something’s over, it’s over. You moved on and didn’t get mired in living in the past.”
“Not for too long, anyway,” I admitted. “I was definitely disappointed.”
Crushed, more like. He reached across and patted my hand. The touch inflamed me even though it was only meant in a friendly way. Dan Fokin being friendly? I didn’t hate it, and found myself smiling as I took in his words. Was I finally going to get one over on him?
“You could do the same, you know.” I looked meaningfully at his hand, still resting on mine. “Know when something’s over.”
I was mostly teasing, trying to tell him to knock it off with the innuendoes and accept we were only ever going to be that one night stand. But our eyes locked, and then he lowered his gaze to my lips while a small smile played out on his.
He leaned closer across the tiny table between us. “But it’s not over, Paisley.” I could feel his warmth, his mouth only an inch from mine. The certainty in his voice rattled me.
Then he was kissing me, his hand sliding up my arm to come to rest at the back of my head, his fingers tightening in my hair.
It was tender, but blazing hot, his tongue darting out to sweep between my lips.
A thrill washed over me. I was powerless to pull away.
Didn’t want to. He understood me, he wanted me.
That was headier than speeding down the mountain, as free as an eagle.
I leaned closer, letting it happen, loving every second of it as if I’d never been the least bit annoyed by his constant stream of wisecracks since he arrived at the lodge.
He pulled away first, causing me to drag open my eyes, a protest on the tip of my tongue. Don’t stop.
But he was grinning at me from across the table, his arms crossed over his chest. The smile was much too wide, too full of victory.
Just a few nights ago he’d said he would succeed in getting me back into bed with him.
Everything since then was just part of that plan, even his kindness and understanding.
And I had fallen right into his trap. Another second of that sizzling kiss and I would have been reaching for him, completely forgetting we were out in public where any one of my employers could wander past and see me acting unprofessional.
He wasn’t just playing with my emotions, he was messing with my safety. I could not lose this job and this place to hide. I flung myself backwards and grabbed my board from its resting place, slamming out the door and toward the car. If he followed me, I was fully prepared to run him over.
Thankfully he stayed behind, and was probably still grinning in triumph as he arranged another ride back to the lodge.