Chapter 11

Ry returned to Brynn’s room with two hot chocolates in a drink carrier and a small vase filled with mixed blossoms. The bright colors and sweet fragrance reminded him of Brynn. He hoped she liked them.

Cracking open the door, he didn’t hear her voice, so he peeked inside.

Brynn wasn’t on the phone. She lay in bed with the blanket tucked under her chin. The hot chocolate would warm her up. Other than the bulge underneath from the ice and a pillow, she didn’t appear injured, but she looked so vulnerable and exhausted.

Ry approached the bed. All he wanted was to make things better for her.

“For you.” He set the vase on the bed tray so she could smell the flowers, before removing one of the hot cocoas. When she didn’t reach for the cup, he placed it next to the vase within arm’s reach of her. “I asked for whipped cream and chocolate sauce on top. You deserve a splurge, and they were out of cookie dough.”

“Th-thanks.” Her voice sounded hoarse.

Her face was as white as fresh snow. Her red and puffy eyes suggested she’d been crying. He wanted to kiss away her troubles so a smile lit up her face. Instead, he went to press the call button for the nurse.

She grabbed his hand. “No.”

Her pained expression reminded him of the night she talked about her parents. “Is your mom worried about you?”

“With six athletic kids, she’s used to hospital visits, but that’s not the issue.” Brynn bit her lip. “I—I talked to her about what’s been going on. There was stuff I wasn’t clear about or didn’t know. Now I do.”

The rawness in her voice hurt his heart. Whatever she’d learned had to have been rough. Unsure what to do or say, Ry held her hand.

He wanted to help, but he also didn’t want to interfere. This was her family, not his. Yet seeing her so torn up demanded he do something. He hoped being a supportive friend was enough. “You don’t have to tell me.”

Her lower lip trembled. “I’ve been keeping this secret since December. I need to talk to someone besides my mom because…”

Brynn’s lower lip quivered.

He kissed the top of her hand. “I’m all yours. To listen or do whatever you need.”

The gratitude in her gaze clogged his throat with emotion. She made him feel like the most important guy in the world. Her world. Not because of Guyer Gear or his skiing, but because he was here for her. That meant more than he could imagine.

His heart thudded. “You can trust me.”

“I know.”

Ry’s chest filled with pride and something else. He wanted to be there for Brynn in a way he hadn’t felt before. Confusing, yes, but that wouldn’t stop him. He rubbed her hand with his thumb.

She took a breath and then another.

He tightened his hold on her. “Take your time.”

As Brynn nodded, her lips parted. “In December, I found out that my mom’s husband, Sully, isn’t my birth father. I’d grown up thinking he was. But everything I believed about my family was a lie. Sully cheated on my mom. More than once. They were on the verge of divorcing when she hooked up with an old boyfriend at a wedding and got pregnant with me.”

O-kay. Not the family drama he’d expected to hear. But wow. No wonder Brynn couldn’t focus on her races. “That explains your being distracted.”

Her jaw clenched. “After Lake Louise, Sully said hurtful things. That I’m not part of his family and no longer welcome in his house. He packed up my things and sent them to Jax.”

As Brynn reached for her cocoa, her fingers trembled. He let go of her hand so she could use both to hold the cup. Carefully, she took a sip of her drink. “This is good.”

A dollop of whipped cream was on her upper lip. Now wasn’t the time for fun or flirting or licking it off. He used his finger instead.

She smiled at him.

His stomach fluttered. Needing to touch her, he rested his palm on her shoulder.

“Three months ago, I’d asked my mother to tell me what happened and received the condensed version. I learned my birth father’s name and that my mom hadn’t told him she was pregnant. She asked him not to contact her again so she could save her marriage. My mom begged me not to tell anyone for the sake of our family, so I’ve been keeping her secret.”

Ry’s muscles tensed. “Your mom shouldn’t have put this on you. You’re innocent in all this. What’s going on is between her and her husband.”

Staring into the hot cocoa, Brynn dragged her upper teeth over her lower lip. “I wish that were true, but there’s more.”

Okay, he needed to shut up and let her talk. “Go on.”

“I just found out that my birth father knows about me,” she continued. “He called my mom after I was injured today.”

“He’s here in Sun Valley?” Ry had no idea why she was staring so intently at him. “Brynn?”

“Did you talk to Coach Frederick about me?” There was an urgency to her question.

Coach must know her dad. Ry rubbed his chin, trying to remember when they’d spoken about her. “It was yesterday, after the team meeting. He asked how you were doing.”

She placed her cup on the bed tray. “What did you tell him?”

“That you were dealing with family issues. It was weird, though.”

“Weird, how?”

“I mentioned your brothers. He’d met two and thought that’s all you had.” Ry remembered Coach’s expression. “He didn’t know your dad was a coach and you had five brothers who are all into hockey, but he took off right after that so nothing else was mentioned.”

Not unusual for Frederick, except Brynn’s forehead was creased. She breathed faster.

Wait. That didn’t mean…

No, it couldn’t be. That kind of news would lead to tabloid headlines for the team.

But if it were true, that could explain why Coach hurried away. “Coach Frederick…”

“…is my father.”

“Coach?” Ry let the news sink in. “That’s…”

“Crazy. Insane. And lots of other things.”

Ry scrubbed his hand over his face. “If people find out…”

“They might believe Coach knew all along. He could be accused of things. None of which are true because he’s never played favorites with any of us, and until this year, I’ve always met the selection criteria to be on the team. But some won’t see it that way.”

Careful of her left side, Ry wrapped his arm around her. “I’m so sorry.”

Her eyes gleamed. “I don’t want Coach or the team hit with bad publicity. That’s another reason I haven’t said anything.”

She was protecting her mother, her brothers, Coach Frederick, and the team. But who was watching out for Brynn? No wonder her season had fallen apart.

Ry, however, had added to her troubles. “I’m sorry I mentioned your family to Coach.”

She leaned against him, grimaced, and then straightened. “You have nothing to apologize for. I don’t blame you. You had no idea what was going on. I’m the one who should have kept my mouth shut.”

“I don’t know how you’ve dealt with this secret on your own and raced.”

“I haven’t done a very good job.” She touched the blanket covering her legs “Especially today.”

“You’re lucky you finished some races and only DQ’d from others, not…” Ry stared at her in the hospital bed. Heat flushed through his body. Red, hot, angry heat. His nails dug into his palms. He forced himself to breathe. “You could have killed yourself racing when you were so distracted. Not just today. Any day you were out there.”

“But I didn’t. I’m very much alive.”

“No thanks to your mom or Sully.” The realization of what might have happened to Brynn pummeled Ry. Knees weak, he sat on the edge of her bed. The thought of anything worse happening to her slayed him. His parents had said they would have traded spots with him in the hospital. He’d never understood how they’d felt until now. Or why his mom and dad became so concerned when Ry talked about racing again. “I don’t know if I should be mad at you for continuing to race or kiss you for being so strong.”

“If you kiss me, be gentle.” She sounded lighthearted, but her expression was dark and troubled. “Everything hurts, including my face.”

He brushed his lips over hers with feather-light softness. “Okay?”

She nodded once.

The phone rang, shaking the bed tray with its ring and vibration. He checked at the screen. “The area code is seven zero two.”

“Vermont. My mom.” Brynn grabbed his hand. “Please don’t leave.”

“I won’t.” She needed someone to watch out for her. He would.

“Hello,” she said into his phone. “You told me you wouldn’t be coming, Mom… Yes, that is expensive… No, I’m not alone. A friend is here… Yes, from the team. Okay. I’ll call you after I’m released. Bye.”

“You’re more bummed now.”

Brynn handed him the phone. “I don’t know why my mom called again. She used the cost of the ticket as the reason she’s not flying out even though Jax would pay for it. He has more money than he knows how to spend. I’ve been injured worse, but I would love to have her here for moral support.”

Ry combed his fingers through her hair. “Totally understandable.”

“Sully is the real reason she won’t come. He doesn’t know who my birth father is, but she promised Sully she’d never see Coach again. And she hasn’t. That’s why she doesn’t attend my races if the men and women compete together.”

“I’m sorry.” Ry didn’t know what else to say. He couldn’t imagine being in Brynn’s situation, but the need to protect her became stronger.

“Everything my mom’s doing is for Sully and my brothers. It’s always been that way. But that became clearer today.” Brynn had a faraway expression on her face. “Once, just once, I wish I didn’t feel like an afterthought. I want to come first. That must sound selfish.”

Ry hated thinking how Brynn must have wondered why her mom didn’t attend many races. She must have felt ignored and unloved. Forgotten. “Not at all.”

Brynn sipped her cocoa. “My mom said Coach chose skiing over her once, and she wouldn’t risk him making the same choice again. That’s why she never told him.”

About me was left unspoken.

“Your mom made a choice of her own.”

“She did what was best for my brothers and her marriage. Not once did she consider what was best for me.” As Brynn’s voice faded, hurt slashed through Ry at the heartache in her eyes. “Growing up, I thought Sully didn’t know how to deal with a daughter because he was so distant. My brothers got all the attention. Nothing I did was ever good enough. But my mother let me keep trying and failing. Even though she knew why he felt the way he did. That hurts worse than any bruise or contusion. I was so alone. Still am.”

“You’re not alone.” Ry scooted closer. “I’m here.”

He would do whatever he could to make things better for her. She was giving everything she had, including her skiing career, for her family. But they weren’t doing anything in return.

He’d felt helpless sitting in the waiting room, and again when he’d been in the examining room, but now he knew how to help her. His dad had a jet. If Ry couldn’t get access to that, he had money, and like her brother, more than Ry could ever spend. “I’ll get your mom here.”

“No, this isn’t your problem.”

“You need your mom.” He could do this one small thing.

“If she wanted to be here, she would be on her way. I’ll be okay.” Brynn’s tears hit him like a left hook. She blinked, staring at the ceiling. “You’re here. The team, too.”

That wasn’t enough. Helping Brynn felt natural, right. No matter what she’d said, he wanted to do this for her. At least try.

“Rest.” Ry brushed his lips over her hair. Comforting her was the most natural thing in the world. “You need to heal. Everything else can wait until you feel better.”

The tension seemed to seep out of her body. Her eyelids appeared heavy. “I’m so happy you’re with me.”

She sounded sleepy. The pain medicine must be kicking in. He hoped she napped. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good, because I enjoy having you around.”

Ry felt the same way. He hadn’t come to Sun Valley to find forever, but right now sounded great. He hoped that would be enough.

For both of them.

An hour passed. The hospital bed made for a cozy fit, but Ry didn’t mind. Brynn slept soundly, her breathing more even than before, but he felt an occasional twitch or jerk.

Bad ones, if his own accident was anything to go by.

Ry rubbed her right arm with his free hand, careful not to press so he wouldn’t hurt her. Brynn’s skin was warm and soft. She appeared vulnerable, as fragile as a glass sculpture.

But she wasn’t.

Brynn Windham was a strong, beautiful, sexy woman, who should be on the podium, not in the hospital. He was thankful she hadn’t been injured worse. Today or during one of her earlier races. She’d sacrificed her season and spot on the team to keep her mother’s secret.

That shouldn’t have been her responsibility.

Not fair.

But life wasn’t.

Brynn lay under the covers. Ry was on top of them on purpose.

He hadn’t been this physically close to a woman in over two years, and the gown she wore left little to his imagination. He didn’t want to be the old Ry-Guy, always thinking about what a woman could give him. He wanted to be here for Brynn, to help her, to give to her.

Yes, part of his making amends even though she’d forgiven him. But holding her, watching her sleep, had never made him feel so…so content. He didn’t know how to explain the feeling, so he didn’t try.

The door to the room opened. Dr. Wu had been in and out, as had two nurses.

Ry looked over to see who it was this time. “Coach?”

Mike Frederick entered the room wearing his race day gear—ski pants and an unzipped team jacket. No hat or gloves, but two cinch sacks were on his shoulder. He also carried a bag from the ski resort’s gift shop.

Coach appeared wary, which wasn’t like him, but in a second, his expression hardened. His face reddened. Both were familiar signs of anger from the well-respected leader of the men’s alpine team. “Unless Dr. Wu ordered you to be that close to Brynn, get out of her bed and stay off.”

A throbbing blood vessel appeared as if it might pop on Frederick’s forehead.

Yeah, this wasn’t a normal reaction from the man. Best to do what he wanted.

Ry slid from the bed, careful not to wake Brynn, but not slow enough to piss off Coach more. “Better?”

“Not really.” Coach lowered his voice. The soft volume was the antithesis of how he chastised skiers, but that didn’t stop him from pinning Ry with a glare. “You’re still too close to her.”

Overprotective much? He wished Brynn was awake so she could witness Coach going all father-of-a-daughter on Ry. At least that was what appeared to be happening.

“You don’t have to whisper. We won’t disturb her.” As Ry crossed to the other side of the room to appease the man who held the future of his skiing in the palm of his hand, he glanced at the bed. Brynn hadn’t moved. “She’s exhausted and on pain medication. I doubt she’ll wake up for a while.”

Coach’s nostrils flared. “I asked you to help Brynn, not—”

“I’ve been helping her.” A couple of kisses weren’t anyone’s concern. Ry kept his voice soft. “Nothing else.”

Coach lifted a single brow. “You expect me to believe you?”

“Yes.” Ry didn’t miss a beat. “Brynn’s been dealing with so much on her own. She needed someone, and I was here. Like you asked me to be.”

Coach appeared to want to say more, but his lips pressed together.

Interesting. Frederick was known for speaking his mind and then apologizing later if need be. He approached the side of Brynn’s bed. “How is she?”

“Sore. Sad.” Ry forced himself not to look at her. “Unsure what will happen.”

Coach ran a hand over his messy hair. Brown strands mixed with gray ones stuck up every which way. He blew out a puff of air. “I’m not sure, either.”

The reply shocked Ry. Coach was a living search engine of alpine skiing knowledge, know-how, and wisdom. He exuded strength and confidence, no matter what, and often shared personal tidbits and stories to drive home a point about something he wanted a skier to consider. As long as Ry had known Coach, which had been for over a decade, he’d never seen Mike Frederick uncertain about anything.

Until finding out about Brynn.

Ry didn’t know if Coach was confused or upset or a combination. No matter what the man was feeling, Ry would protect Brynn. She’d lost one family over something completely out of her control. He wouldn’t allow Coach to hurt her, too. Not on Ry’s watch.

“Tonight, she told me about you and her.” Ry glanced at Brynn before focusing on Coach. “She’s been trying to keep who her father is a secret since December. That was when Brynn found out from Sully that he wasn’t her father. Her mother told her the truth, but since then, Brynn has been trying to keep your identity to herself because that’s what her mom wanted. That’s the reason she lost her focus this season, but I had no idea about any of this when I talked to you yesterday.”

A range of emotions—from frustration to embarrassment—crossed Coach’s face. He touched Ry’s shoulder gently, the same way Coach had done when Ry had been in the hospital. “It’s not your fault. You gave me enough information to connect the dots. The truth would have come out, eventually. Keeping that secret was too much for Brynn to handle on her own. She’s lucky she didn’t kill herself skiing with all this in her head.”

“I told her the same thing, but she was protecting her family and the team. She told me you didn’t know.”

“Hadn’t a clue.”

“I won’t tell anyone. This messed up Brynn’s season. I won’t do anything to screw it up more and hurt her. I hope you won’t, either.”

Coach’s gaze narrowed. “I might not have known about her, but now that I do, I… I don’t know what to do, but I won’t hurt her. You have my word.”

“I believe you.”

He stared at her. “She has her mother’s smile. Funny how I never noticed the resemblance to Deanna.”

“Look closer.” Ry took a step toward the bed. “You might find something that reminds you of yourself.”

“Brynn’s a better skier than Deanna and me combined.”

“Mrs. Windham is flying in tomorrow.”

Coach nearly jumped. “Deanna told me she couldn’t come.”

“Change of plans, but Brynn doesn’t know yet. I made the arrangements while she was sleeping.” His father’s plane was being used so an airplane ticket had been purchased, a hotel room reserved, and a ride from the airport booked. “Mrs. Windham arrives in the late afternoon.”

Coach pinched the bridge of his nose as if he were trying to hold himself together. Guess the man was human and had blood running through his veins, not ice as the team believed.

He lowered his hand. “Brynn needs her mom.”

“And her dad.” Ry fought the urge to touch Brynn, but he didn’t want to upset Coach, who fidgeted with the handle on the bag. “She needs a father.”

Coach drew back, his mouth falling open. “She has one. Deanna’s husband.”

“That jerk treated her like an ugly stepchild the entire time she was growing up even though he claimed to be her father. He wasn’t physically abusive from anything she said, but verbally…” Ry’s blood boiled thinking about what she’d been through. “In December, he kicked her to the curb. He won’t let her come home again. Packed her stuff and sent it to one of her brothers.”

As Coach’s brows drew together, he frowned. “Deanna’s allowed that to happen?”

“Sounds like it from what Brynn said. She’s strong, but she’s been through so much.” Too much. That made Ry think of something else he needed to say to Coach. “You need to get along with her mom.”

He flinched. “Get along?”

Ry didn’t understand why Coach sounded so offended. “Yeah. She said you and her mom hooked up at a wedding.”

He shook his head rapidly. “You make it sound like a one-night stand between two strangers. It wasn’t.”

“No?”

“Not at all.” He studied Brynn. “I’ve been in love with her mother for nearly forty years. I lost Deanna the first time because I chose skiing over her. We were young. Too young, I thought. The second time…she never gave me the choice. I was planning on us being together once her divorce was final. I wasn’t sure what kind of stepfather I’d be, but I wasn’t going to lose her again. But then she called and said she was going back to her husband and to not contact her again, so I didn’t. I had no idea she was pregnant. If I’d known, I would have done things differently.”

The regret in his voice matched the sadness in his eyes. Coach Frederick had always been larger than life, but now he seemed exposed…all too human.

“You’ve had a great career, both as a skier and a coach. Now you also have a daughter. She’s been abandoned enough. If you walk out on her—”

“I won’t.” Coach moved toward her bed. “Deanna and I will figure this out and make sure we help our daughter. Brynn won’t be on her own.”

Relief flowed through Ry. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for caring about what happens to Brynn.” Her hair spread across the white pillowcase. With a tentative hand, Coach touched a few strands before jerking away as if he touched a flame. “I wish she came with an instruction manual.”

Ry bit back a laugh. “That would help but give it time. You’ll both need that.”

Nodding, Coach pressed his arms against his sides as if forcing himself not to reach out to her again. “Go, eat dinner. I’ll stay in case she wakes up.”

“Thanks.” Ry moved to the door, trying to reconcile this Coach with the one who demanded one hundred and fifty percent from his skiers. “Do you want anything from the cafeteria?”

“No, thanks.” He moved a chair closer to the bed. “I’ll grab something later.”

Coach sat and stretched his legs out. He reminded Ry of his own father who had done the same during numerous hospital visits. Brynn’s situation made Ry realize how lucky he was to have parents who cared the way his did.

Maybe Ry would call his father after he ate, tell him about Brynn, and see how things were going at home and Guyer Gear. That was the least he could do for the man who had always been there and loved him unconditionally.

Something Brynn hadn’t had from Sully. Maybe she’d have Coach’s support from now on.

Ry sure hoped so.

After all she’d been through, Brynn deserved that kind of love from a parent, if not two of them.