Mills and Boon Christmas Joy Collection. Liz Fielding

have much in common with her skiing life but actually did.

      He took a card and got a nine. “I’ll stay. What have you got, gorgeous?”

      She flipped up her cards. “Seventeen.”

      “Aw, that might be enough to beat me if I didn’t have...”

      He flipped his card over. An eight.

       An eight!

      “Looks like I win.”

      “Looks like you do,” she agreed. “What are you going to ask me?”

      He leaned forward, that blue-gray gaze of his intense—so intense she couldn’t look away—as he took her hand in his. “Will you give me a shot, or is this just a one-night stand?”

      * * *

      HE HADN’T MEANT to ask her that, but now that he had, he knew that was exactly the only thing he wanted an answer for. Today had been one of the best of his life. But there was a part of him that realized she had pegged him into the casual category and he knew he wanted more.

      He had to know what he was up against. Just like each time he stood at the lip of the half-pipe and took a breath before taking his run. Each half-pipe was different. Each run unique. And he prepared for the different mountains and the different events as if he’d never taken a run at it before.

      Lindsey was like an unfamiliar run. This was his first time with a woman who mattered. She mattered. The words echoed around in his brain as he sat at the table trying to be cool. Or as cool as a guy could be wearing just his underwear while playing cards.

      It had felt right until this moment when he’d laid everything out in front of her. He saw in her eyes the moment she thought she’d come up with an answer. She tipped her head to the side and gave him that smile he’d seen on her face in photographs a million times.

      “What kind of shot?” she asked coyly.

      “One where you don’t wear a fake smile,” he said.

      Sure, he loved games, but not with her. Or at least not with her at this moment.

      “I honestly don’t know what to say.” She released a breath. “I think it’s a bad idea to take this any further. Because like I already told you when I left your hotel room this morning, I’m dealing with some stuff. It’s not fair to get involved with anyone at this moment.”

      He nodded and leaned back in his chair. “Fair enough.” He wanted to argue but he knew that he wasn’t going to change her mind. Not right now anyway.

      “That’s it? I was expecting an argument or some passionate plea to give you a shot,” she said.

      “Do I look like I have to beg a woman to be with me?” he asked. But that was pride making him stupid. He shouldn’t have said it and knew it the moment the words had left his mouth.

      “No, you look like a guy who has too many women saying yes... I think I’ve had enough of games for today. Why don’t we call it a night?”

      Damn. He should say something—apologize—but she’d slammed him hard in the ego and he wasn’t ready to let her know that. Doubted he ever truly would be.

      “Good idea,” he said.

      Carter left her kitchen and went to the hallway, where his clothes sat in a pile, and got dressed. He’d pushed too hard, he knew it, but could see no way to back out of this without admitting he was an ass.

      He heard her in the hallway and looked up to see her hovering in the doorway. The expression on her face was unreadable, and he wondered if there was anything he could say. He wished he was better at interacting with people, would give up his ability to do a 360 for the chance to make this right.

      “I— Thank you, for today,” she said quietly. “Thanks for the fun in the snow and...everything else. I needed it. You’ve helped me kick off this year with a great start.”

      She was classy. He had to admit even when showing him the door, she did it in such a way that he almost didn’t mind. He had sensed from the first moment they’d met that there was something different about her and now he knew what it was.

      She had a kind, beautiful heart.

      Lindsey had that innate goodness that he’d never been able to find. Even when he wanted to be nice, it usually came off as self-serving. He’d tried, but around her it was easy to see that he would continue to fail.

      “What can I say? It’s all a part of the Carter Shaw package.” He bent to tie his boots, and then straightened to face her.

      “Don’t do that,” she said.

      “Do what?”

      “Make it sound like you don’t feel things like I do.” Their gazes met and held, and he could see a depth of emotion glimmering in her beautiful brown eyes.

      “What makes you believe that I could?”

      “I spent the day with you, Carter. I saw a side of you that few people ever do, and I’m so glad I did.” She reached up and gently squeezed his biceps. “I like you.”

      But she was still kicking him out. “Gosh, thanks.”

      “Stop it. You know what I mean. I had no idea that behind that big braggart and awesome talent was a man who could see past his own ego and help me try to conquer my fears. I really can’t thank you enough.”

      His jaw flexed and he swallowed hard. That was nothing. He hated that he might be even the tiniest bit responsible for her not skiing anymore, and he didn’t want to think of the winter sports without her. For him the two things were inexorably tied together. So even his unselfish move of trying to get her back on skis had turned out to be for him.

      “You’re welcome,” he said at last, because he really didn’t know what else to say. There was a part of him that knew if he was an eloquent man, maybe more like his old man, he’d come up with just the right sentiment to express.

      But he wasn’t that guy.

      He was a tattooed snowboarder who’d been searching all his life for the next big thrill. The next adrenaline-fueled high he could find. He’d never have guessed that he’d find it in this cool Nordic blond, Alpine Super G skier who always seemed to look right through him.

      “Goodbye,” he said.

      He turned, opened the door and forced himself to walk away without looking back. But he wanted to see if she watched him as he left. Wanted to know if he’d had an impact on her the way she had him. But was afraid to see the truth: that he might need her more than she wanted him.

      * * *

      LINDSEY STEPPED INTO the boardroom at the Lars Usten lodge with more than a little trepidation. It had been two weeks since she’d sent Carter away, and she wasn’t sure if he’d be at this meeting or not. She’d been back to that little snow mound three more times.

      The first time she hadn’t been able to go down the hill on her sled. The second time she’d gotten mad, climbed to the top and stood there shaking until she’d forced herself to slide down. It had been hard, but she’d forced herself to do it three more times before going home, and then yesterday she’d gone and just did it. The fear was still there, but she was finding her strength again.

      This weekend she hoped to get back on her skis and actually go down one of the easier runs in the Wasatch Range. But today she had to get through a corporate meeting.

      She just didn’t like having to dress up and sit in a stuffy boardroom. The lodge itself was rustic and homey. First-class luxury. She loved the large patios that overlooked the picturesque mountain vistas and the pristine ski trails.

      “You’re one of the first to arrive,” Elizabeth Anders said, coming over to give her a hug. “I’m glad. I have missed our breakfasts and was hoping you’d have time for a coffee before we get started.”