Chapter 6 #2
“Mom!” At the sound of Haley’s voice—fainter this time—I tear my gaze from the phone and look in her direction. She’s at the top of the slope now, with Ronan hovering close beside her. “I’m going down!” she calls. “My first time!”
Forcing back my anger, I smile and wave as I call back, “You’re going to do great, Hale!”
Just as I’m about to open the photo app to take a video of Haley’s first descent, because there’s no way I’m letting Justin ruin this, my phone buzzes with another text.
Adrenaline surges. Is he seriously texting me again? What does he think? I’m just going to drop everything to respond to him after—
But it’s not from Justin. The text is from Ronan.
Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to her. She’s doing great.
Then he sends another message.
You look really pretty today. I didn’t want to say it before. But you do.
Oh.
My heart goes all mushy.
Maybe I really did find a good one this time.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything else to eat?”
Ronan nods at my basket of fries. “That’s not really a lunch,” he adds. “It’s more of a snack.” Then he angles his chin at his tray, which contains a half-eaten burger, an order of fries, and a plate of chicken tenders. “This is lunch.”
“But you worked up an appetite,” I reply. “With all the skiing. All I did was stand around and take pictures.”
He pops a fry into his mouth. Once he’s swallowed it, he says, “I wouldn’t exactly consider what I did a workout.”
“More than I did,” I point out.
“Still.” He nudges his tray towards me. “It’s after one o’clock. Well past lunchtime. You should have more than a few fries.”
When I hesitate, he adds in a low, earnest tone, “I just don’t want you to be hungry.
Or to feel uncomfortable ordering what you want.
I told you I get a discount here. So if there’s anything you’d like, whether it’s food or a lift ticket or a new hat”—he flicks the fuzzy pompom of my knit cap— “just tell me. I’m happy to get it for you. ”
I don’t doubt what he’s saying. Ronan is one of the most generous people I’ve ever met.
It’s not just how he’s offered to help me.
It’s at the very core of him. It’s in his years of service and now his work for GMG.
It’s the way he helps everyone in town without hesitation, whether it’s shoveling Mrs. Adamson’s driveway after her usual plow guy flaked out or offering to man the first aid tent at one of the many local events.
But that doesn’t mean I want to take him up on everything he offers. I don’t want Ronan thinking that I only like spending time with him because of what he does for me. I want it to be a two-way street. I want to do nice things for him, just like he’s done for me.
Still, I don’t want to be rude. So I take a chicken tender and transfer it to my plate.
“Thanks.” As I begin cutting it into pieces—yes, I’m weird and like to eat most of my food with a knife and fork, a fact Haley never ceases to be amazed by—I add, “And thank you for the lesson. Truly. Haley’s just beyond excited about it. ”
In unison, we both look at Haley, sitting two tables over with three of her friends. We ran into them when we got to the lodge, and Haley begged to sit with them so she could tell them all about her thrilling ski lesson with one of the Guardians.
“He’s one of the Green Mountain Guardians,” she bragged. “The most important one, since he’s a medic. So he protects people and he heals them. And he’s teaching me to ski. That’s way better than regular lessons.”
“She did really well,” Ronan replies. “She listened to all my instructions, paid attention to her surroundings, had good control over her skis… I think she’ll be ready for one of the green trails the next time.”
Unease niggles at me. Ronan offered to teach Haley to ski, but he never specified what that meant. One lesson? Two? Enough for her to be able to join ski club? Or just enough to learn the basics? I’m hesitant to ask since he’s doing me a favor, but I also need to know.
“Is there going to be another lesson?” My cheeks heat. “Sorry. That came out weird. I just… I wasn’t sure what you were thinking. And I don’t want to assume…”
Ronan glances at Haley again. She’s chattering away with her friends and paying zero attention to us. “I thought there would be,” he says. “So she can join ski club. Unless you don’t want—”
“I do. I mean. If you’re sure you have the time.”
“Angel.” Ronan takes my hand. “I said I’d teach Haley to ski. I don’t go back on my promises.” His gaze dips to the table before returning to mine. “But.”
“But?”
“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t because I want to see you, as well.”
My heart leaps. “Really?”
He squeezes my hand. “Yes.” Then he grabs his soda and takes a long sip. “I was thinking we could do another lesson next Saturday, if that works for you.”
I nod, feeling flutters of anticipation already.
It’s not a date, but it’s something. And he just said he wants to see me.
Some of the tension I’ve been carrying since Justin’s text slips away. It’s not completely gone—I’m not sure that will happen even after I call the lawyer I can’t really afford—but I feel much lighter than I did before.
“Saturday sounds good,” I reply. “Haley will be really excited about it. And… so am I.”
Ronan smiles. “Good.” He takes another sip of soda and says, “Also. I’ve been thinking about your house.”
“My house?”
“Well, the security at your house. You have one of those video doorbells, but I’d like to put up some cameras outside. Just for some added security.”
“Why?” I ask. “I have deadbolts, and it’s not like I have anything to steal.” Belatedly, I realize how that sounded. “I mean, I do. I guess. But there are a lot of houses in Bliss with much more valuable stuff than me.”
A serious expression moves across Ronan’s face.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say that. But you’d be surprised.
The estates, the mansions—they have extensive security systems that criminals don’t want to mess with.
They’d rather try breaking into a house with minimal security because it lowers the risk of being caught. ”
“Oh.” I shiver instinctively. “I didn’t think about that.”
His thumb strokes across the back of my hand. “I’m sorry, Angel. I’m not trying to scare you. I just want you to be safe. And with Phil out on bail—”
“Do you think he’d try something? He seemed really sorry once he sobered up.”
Sorry is an understatement. By the time the police marched him off to jail, Phil was sobbing and begging Frank to give him another chance.
But Frank wasn’t having it. “I’ve known you since you were toddling around in diapers,” Frank told him sternly, “and I’ve given you more than enough chances because I respect your parents.
But today? Assaulting one of my employees?
You went too far. And I’m very disappointed in you. ”
“I don’t think he will,” Ronan replies. “But in my line of work, we always say better safe than sorry. And once you have the cameras, you’ll feel safer.”
I thread my fingers between his. Then I steal a guilty look in Haley’s direction, but she’s still deep in conversation. “I’m not sure I can afford cameras, Ronan. I hate saying that, but it’s true. Maybe I could find the money for one, but—”
“We have extras. A lot of them. At GMG, that is. The guys won’t care if I install a few at your house. You know they won’t.”
No, they probably wouldn’t.
“If I mention to Hazel that I’m worried about your security,” Ronan continues, “what do you think she’ll say?”
He’s got me there. “She would have Alec come over to install them. And nag me incessantly until I agree to it.”
He flashes me a triumphant smile. “She would. So it would be easier, really, if I just did it.”
“But Ronan.” I hold his gaze. “I don’t want…”
Concern creases his forehead. “Don’t want what?”
Do I say it?
“I don’t want you to feel like you always have to help me,” I blurt. “I appreciate it. I really do. But I don’t want you to think I expect it.”
Hurt flashes in his eyes. “I don’t think that. At all.”
“I’m not explaining it right,” I say. “I just… I want to do nice things for you, too.”
“You do. The cookies and the hot chocolate—”
“That doesn’t count. I already had those.”
His gaze softens. “It counts to me.”
I know I should drop this before I make things awkward. Casting about for a solution, I ask, “What if I make you dinner? A nice one? As a thanks for the lights and mini Mount Nilsson and the ski lessons? I’m a pretty good cook. Or at least, that’s what people tell me.”
Ronan gives me a long look. “You don’t have to do that, Angel.”
“But I want to.” And suddenly, I really do.
I want to make my mom’s famous chicken carbonara with Caesar salad and garlic bread on the side.
And for dessert, I’ll make the chocolate pudding cake Haley always asks for on her birthday.
I want to do something special for Ronan not just to thank him, but to make him happy.
“Okay.” Ronan turns my hand over and rubs his thumb in a small circle over my palm. “I have heard that you’re a good cook, as a matter of fact. If you’re sure you wouldn’t mind—”
“I don’t mind. I’ll make you dinner whenever you want.”
Ronan thinks for a second. “What about tonight? If you don’t have plans?
We could go over to my place to eat, so Haley could meet Murphy.
She’s been asking about him. And I just renovated my kitchen a few months ago, so all the appliances are new.
” He grins. “Honestly, I’ve barely used it.
I’m not even sure how the stovetop works. ”
As he waits for my response, I hold a quick inner debate. I’d love to see Ronan’s house after hearing him talk about all the renovations he’s done on it. And I’d love to spend more time with him.
But what about Haley? Would it be confusing to her? Would it make her think there’s more to my relationship with Ronan than there is?
And what about Justin? His text was a bitter reminder of why I swore off dating for so long.
“If you’d rather not,” Ronan says, “that’s okay. If you think Haley would be more comfortable at your house, I understand.”
As I look at Ronan, I catch a hint of vulnerability in his eyes.
My heart squeezes.
I want this.
I want him.
I want to see if my what-if could become real.
“I would love to,” I tell him, and as the words come out, they feel right. “Haley would love to meet Murphy. And I’d love to see your house.”
Ronan stares at me for a second, almost as if he’s waiting for me to change my mind.
But when I don’t, his eyes brighten, and his lips curve into a broad smile. “That’s good.” Beneath the table, his leg brushes against mine. “I can’t wait.”