Chapter 3

Keara pulled her face out of the lone textbook she’d been studying—The Gem of the Peak, by W. Adam—and scrambled out of the taxi. She scanned the resort she’d be working at, from one frosty end to the other. The breath stalled in her lungs, the icy air practically taking a layer of cells off her insides.

Oh my gosh. It was stunning. That view. She’d seen it in brochures, but it was nothing like the reality. Nothing.

White-capped mountains in the distance. It felt like if she reached out with her fingers, she could touch them. They were gigantic, sage sentinels, watching over the land. They filled, really, overfilled the vista.

And immediately in front of her? Modern, built-in gleaming wood and oh so sparkling glass, was the ski chalet, set in the shadow of the much closer mountain, Terrence Point. The chalet had multiple levels, and she noted fairy lights strung on it. Bright-parka’d guests were dotted over the landscape, all ages, with skis over their shoulders. The lift was to her right, and there was some kind of pool to her left.

It. Was. Breathtaking.

And over it all, the pristine Western Canadian blue sky stretched. Dazzling rays of sunshine sparkled on the snow, which was everywhere. Snow, snow, snow. That wasn’t in short supply.

“Can I help you, Ma’am?”

Well, she might as well get the official stuff out of the way. She did need to meet up with the Activity Leader—again, the term poor schmuck floated in her forebrain. He had all the official documents for her stay. But as soon as that was done, she could escape to her room, hole up, and start on her project.

She ticked off the necessary items mentally. First order of business was setting up an itinerary for her studies, and what exactly she needed to get done daily. It was going to be a tough schedule. She’d create a list in her bullet journal for each item she needed to address. The research was mostly done, and the reading. It was mainly the writing of the thing.

“I’m looking for a Sven Golden?”

The guy’s face—his badge said Archie—broke out in a smile. “Sven? Oh hey, good stuff. He’s just over there.”

She took a look, and for the second time—but this time, most unexpectedly—the breath stalled in her lungs.

A few yards from her stood a Greek god. One who’d obviously exited Mount Olympus to come down and tease freezing, ice-cold, mortal women with thoughts of all the ways he could heat them up.

Six three, if he was an inch. Blond, his shiny head of hair framing a face that was beautifully sculpted. Handsome. And that body. She gulped. Years of skiing and working out had obviously chiseled the god into an attractive framework of muscles and vibrant health. Raw good looks.

He had it all, in spades.

The Greek god caught sight of Archie pointing to him and nodded. Then he started, with an easy stride, over to them. She saw more of the picture.

A sparkle in his hazel eyes. Boyish charm, along with a boundless energy for life.

And she was going to working for him. With him. Her heart went on a journey of a thousand beats squashed into too few seconds, as anticipation tightened in her belly. Spending time with him, making decisions. Laughing, joking…

Just as quickly, though, reality flooded in on her. She forced the full-scale departure of common sense in her heart and brain down, and away. Reality may bite, she reminded herself not for the first time…but it was reality.

Men like him never went for types like her. Or—more to the point—her. Plus these days, with the extra weight she’d put on?

Ha. She didn’t have a shot. Most men didn’t notice her. Something about a boob to waist ratio. Her hourglass had definitely swollen. The doctors had told her, because of the autoimmune condition she now had, it would be a battle to get it back.

Sure, she had guy friends. Some of the men in her program had even buddied up to her when they realized she was a technological whiz, and someone worth knowing. A couple had become genuine friends—something she treasured.

But most men these days didn’t give her the time of day, romantically. And ones that looked like him?

Never.

She steeled herself. This was a job, and he was just a supervisor. He wasn’t going to fool her, or get her to acquiesce on anything, just to be on the good side of that charm. A man like that, that got everything handed to him on a silver platter—make that a golden damn platter—was not going to overly impact on her life. She’d make sure of it. She forced the swirling feeling away, from long practice, and got ready to meet the man she had to answer to for the next two weeks. And the man she was already filing away into the slot she’d labeled and created, especially for him.

Miscellaneous. Purge violently, when necessary. Until then? Ignore.

* * *

Kelley’s eyes widened, as she noted the curvy woman in the drab khaki parka. “I think that’s your new assistant over there.”

Sven shot a look at the woman who definitely looked like she was out of place at a ski resort. “Why would you say that?”

“Well, she’s staring at you for one thing. And she doesn’t look thrilled.” She grinned. “Looks like a perfect work match to me.”

Dante tightened his hold on Kelley. “Let’s go, babe. I want to get to the hospital to see the kids before noon.”

“Don’t forget, we need to get back in time to take Boo to the vet.” She smiled at Sven, talking about their little ‘kinda like a poodle but not really’ mix, Boo Bear. The dog was totally crazy about Kelley and tagged along with them whenever appropriate. Now Boo had adopted Dante, too. Whole-heartedly.

“Problems?” Sven asked.

Kelley shook her head. “No, just a checkup. We’re thinking of adopting another dog. A rescue.” She grinned up at Dante. “Growing our family. For now? This way.”

The man smiled back at her, clearly dazzled, still. “Yeah, you’re right. But we really need to get to the kids first.”

“Still going strong there?”

Sven was referring to Dante’s work in Vancouver, at Stonewater Memorial Hospital. During Dante’s long illness and subsequent recovery, working with the kids in one particular ward had very literally saved him. When he’d seen what the little ones were going through, with no grounding in life and many with no parents, it had shocked him out of his own self-pity. More, it had ignited in him a desire to give back to the little warriors, and he—and now Kelley—were heavily involved with the kids.

They were loving it, despite the inherent challenges. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses. But he and Kelley were determined to do all the good they could, and change lives for the better.

Dante nodded. “A few new kids have shown up, and they’re pretty much on their own. A couple have lost their parents, and a few others just as well might have. They’ve really taken to Kelley.” His arm tightened around her. “I’m a bit worried about the whole Valentine’s Day thing coming up. We just got over Christmas, and now this. I don’t know how we’re going to make it special for them. They’re not in a situation to give out Valentines to people they care about, you know? They’ve been torn away from everything they know and love.” He shook his head, upset for the kids. “Just not sure what we’re going to do.”

Once again, Sven’s heart squeezed. The ex-hockey brat and panty-melter—the ice had been littered with women’s and men’s thongs when he played—had morphed into a selfless, caring man.

Or maybe that had always been there, underneath. Perhaps it had just taken someone who would stick with him, to coax it out. While she hadn’t exactly waited, Kelley had turned out to be the one, when he finally came to his senses. Then when he’d finally decided he was ready for her, she’d sure made him pony up. Hard. It had been touch and go there for a while. Probably too long, the way Dante told it over a couple of cold frosty ones, when Kelley wasn’t around.

But they’d melded. And thank goodness Dante had had the brains to invest his money before his accident. Now they had the ease to work with his favorite charities and help kids.

That is, the ease if you lived a simple life. Which he and Kelley were happy to do. They were actually looking into forming their own charity soon.

Once again, his heart stuttered, but this time, it wasn’t pleasant. That kind of love, and partnership...was golden. And something he still didn’t have.

“Okay then. Get going, dude. See you later, Sis.”

Kelley smiled at his pet name for her—it all harkening back to that ill-fated kiss they’d shared on Christmas Eve. She bent forward, eyes glowing, and pressed her lips against his cheek with real affection.

“Hey. You’re still my knight in shining armor. I’ll never forget how sweet you were to me at the Christmas Eve party.” She brushed her knuckles against his cheek in an uncharacteristically tender gesture. Sven shot a quick glance at Dante, but the man was cool with it. “I love you.”

Totally embarrassed, Sven stammered. “I love you too, sweetheart. And you too, bro. Like, you know that...”

But Kelley just smiled, put him out of his misery. “And see what you can do with that assistant, okay? Whip her into shape, the Sven Golden way. Then get back to where you’re really wanted. The slopes need you. See you later, Bro.”

And they were off to conquer their own horizons.

Sven right-angled a sharp path past a group of brightly clad skiers to meet the woman who was plainly waiting for him, and who, as he drew closer, appeared impatient. Two large suitcases sat beside her on a trolley, along with assorted bags and a beat-up leather briefcase. All of them, just stood there, figuratively. Waiting.

But there was hot Tasha Tanner, from the reception desk, striding past him. “Tash, could you take Jake for a bit? Cage him at the desk?”

“Sure, Boss.” Clad in a short, thick-knit ivory sweater, jeans and shortie pink boots as she ran out to do a quick errand outside, she took the little dog. She was happy to be part of his training, to help him in getting acclimatized to lots of people.

Sven hurried toward the woman who was…waiting. Most definitely.

“I’m here about the job.” The words dropped from her mouth even before he fully reached her. His eyebrows furrowed quickly. Was that an accusation? Or a complaint?

But no, that was stupid. The woman was just probably cold.

“I was hired by Kade Williams.” She reached her mitten’d hand out to him, decisively. “Keara Linn. Nice to meet you.”

He blinked. “Keara…Lynn?” No. It couldn’t be. Sounded just like… “Keara Lynn?”

Her dark eyes widened, and she looked at him as if he was a bit slow. Possibly needing remedial assistance.

“Yes.” she spoke deliberately. “Keara Linn. Here. Today. About the job?”