up, the woots, the whistles, and she laughed.
Grinning, the ski-lift operator handed Tom his ski poles. âWay to go, Tom.â
When she was seated beside Tom on the chair and had begun the ride up, he shook his head as if he was trying to clear it after what had just happened between them.
âWhat?â she asked, turning to observe the breathtaking vista. Every tree was covered in white frosting, and the sky was bluebird blue.
He chuckled.
She glanced at him when he didnât answer. His mouth curved up as he studied her, though with his ski goggles now in place, she couldnât see his eyes the way she wanted to. He looked really cute and in charge in his red ski-patrol jacket, although she already knew he was a sub-leader and very much in charge.
âWhat?â she asked again, tilting her head to the side.
âYou do realize everyone in the pack was already giving me a hard time. Probably about a quarter of our people are up here today enjoying the fresh powder. Those who did see what just happened will tell those who didnât. Oh, they wonât say anything, much , to my face. Just the knowing smiles and slaps on the back. But youâve sure got the pack stirred up, and the word has already spread. I didnât even have to call Darien to confirm the dinner arrangement. He called me.â
She gaped at him and then frowned. âYou said he already wanted me to come to dinner.â
âI know my brother. He would have called before long if I hadnât gotten hold of him.â
âSo will your other brother, Jake, and his mate be there?â
âYou bet. When I told Darien that youâre a photographer, he said Jake wanted to meet you.â
âWell, it was all your fault for trying to be in charge of me.â
âAbout that. Yeah, Iâd like to try that again. Someplace where weâre not likely to melt all the snow off the slope.â
She chuckled and looked at the vista as the chair rode up the cable, vibrating, the rattling noise filling the bitingly cold air. She didnât remember a time when sheâd had such lighthearted fun.
Tomâs radio came to life, and he listened as the dispatcher relayed information about an injury on one of the slopes. He answered the call. âIâll be there in just a couple of minutes.â
âDuty calls?â
âYeah, but Iâm free at noon. Weâll have lunch.â
She smiled. If he could find her.
She still had to meet with North at the Timberline Ski Lodge. That put her on edge a bit. What if North didnât come alone? Or what if someone else came?
Someone who wished her dead?
Chapter 4
Elizabeth skied away from the chairlift but Tom followed her. âNoon,â he said. âMeet you at the base lodge.â
His comment wasnât an offer but a command. âYou donât take no for an answer, do you?â She smiled when she asked.
He offered her a wolfish, sexy smile in return that had her whole body warming despite the chill in the air. âYou never said no. See you later. Enjoy your day if I donât get a chance to meet up with you on the slopes. A blue trail is off to the left, expert to the right.â
He skied along the connecting trail for the black-diamond slope.
You never said no , echoed in her thoughts. Yeah, if she hadnât really wanted to meet up with him, she would have been all alpha and said no. He had her figured.
She watched him move like a pro and wished she could ski down the expert trail with confidence. She didnât get a chance to ski nearly as often as sheâd like, since they had no skiing in Texas. But she loved the slopes and took every opportunity she could get to ski. She was definitely an intermediate skier.
She was about to head for the intermediate slope when two males on the chairlift got off and joined her.
âNeed a ski buddy?â one asked, looking hopeful. He was a blond and reminded her of a Viking,