Revenge of a Chalet Girl:

“Great, well, I’ll see you then.” He forced a friendly smile to his face but quickly abandoned the attempt. After all, she wasn’t even watching, so what was the point?

He shrugged and left the room. His muscles ached from the pistes that day; there’d been too much time at his desk lately. It’d been good to get out in the fresh air. But his head ached even more. He’d grab some ibuprofen; one of the guys must have something with them. If not then he’d ask one of the other chalet girls. Not Amy.

He knocked on Matt’s door before entering his room.

“Got anything for a sore head?” He grimaced at Matt.

“Hair of the dog?” Matt glanced up at him from his iPod and gestured to the bottle of duty free vodka on the bedside table.

Josh winced. “No, I was thinking more of headache tablets.”

“I think there’s some in my wash bag. Check the en-suite.” Matt took a swig from the bottle. “You’re not turning into a lightweight on us, are you?”

“Hmm.” Josh rummaged in the bathroom and took a couple of tablets. “Maybe we could give the bars a miss tonight?”

“And miss S Lodge? Weren’t we going there tonight?”

“STD lodge more like. Isn’t that what the seasonnaires call it?” Josh snorted. He shook his head and instantly regretted it. Christ that hurt. “We could just hang out here.”

“We could give the Jacuzzi a go.” Matt’s eyes gleamed. “And we can get the chalet girls to join us. Great thinking mate.”

“Well, er…” Josh frowned. This was going to be difficult. He didn’t need the added complications. But then…Amy didn’t seem to give a stuff. “Maybe.”

It would be better than giving his liver another battering.

Who are you trying to kid?

“Think they’d be up for a bit of fun?” Matt took another slug of vodka. “I like the look of that little blonde with the green eyes and the heart shaped face, Amy I think her name is.”

Ice trickled down Josh’s spine. “I’m sure there are rules about them dating guests.” Josh frowned.

“Rules are made to be broken.” Matt winked back.

Josh watched Matt at dinner and saw his eyes flicker over Amy’s breasts when she bought their starters to the table.

He wanted to throttle him.

“These look nice,” Josh gestured towards the goat’s cheese tartlets. “Did you make them yourself?”

“I helped to make them, yes.” She avoided his eye and slid into her seat.

He took a sip of water but before he’d even picked up his cutlery Amy leapt out of her seat and darted towards him, eyes wide with anxiety.

“I’m sorry, I’ve given you the wrong plate.” She snatched his tartlet away before he had time to pick up his cutlery. “This one’s mine, it’s er…gluten free pastry. Have this one instead.”

“She put her own plate in front of him.

“You’re gluten intolerant? Since when?” he asked, the words escaping from his mouth before he could stop them.

Everyone stared, expressions ranging from blank to curious. He wondered if anyone knew they’d dated. He’d not said anything to the guys because, well, it was private stuff. Had Amy told the other chalet girls?

Probably. Girls talked about that stuff, didn’t they?

“It’s just I’m sure I saw you eat a croissant at breakfast,” he added.

Thank God he’d dodged that bullet! At least he hoped he had. He could really do without his relationship with Amy getting out. He’d never hear the end of it.

“That was a…er…special croissant,” Amy said tersely, picking at the tartlet she’d taken from him and pushing it around the plate. “It was made with gluten free flour.”

He watched her; his own appetite had vanished too, despite the day’s skiing. Mountain air usually made him ravenous. He wanted to get Amy by herself. He needed to talk to her.

“Aren’t you going to eat it?” he asked her, ignoring a curious gaze from Matt.

“I’m not very hungry.” She grabbed her water glass and glugged down the contacts, her face crimson as she refused to look at him.

Curious.

“Excuse me while I check on the main course.” She pushed her chair back and sprang up, walking briskly to the kitchen.

He ignored the impulse to get up and follow her, feeling not only Matt’s eyes on him but Paul’s and Mark’s too.

He sighed.

Of all the chalets in all the world why did you have to turn up in mine?

Amy opened the freezer door and plunged her face in, welcoming the chilled air.

Tash came into the kitchen behind her. ‘Why on earth did you switch the plates? Are you mad?”

“He’s allergic to chilli.” Amy leant back against the freezer. “I only remembered at the last minute.”

Lying to Tash was much easier than admitting she’d decided it was too childish and she didn’t want to go through with it.

“Hmm, I spose that might’ve been going too far.” Tash shrugged. “But remember, this is the guy who hurt you so much you were thinking of running away from Switzerland. You don’t have to tell me all the details but I can tell he really hurt you. You can’t let that go.”

“I know, you were only trying to help.” Amy smiled weakly and walked to the sink to fill another glass of water. “Just how much chilli did you put in that tartlet? I only had a tiny bit of it and now it feels like my mouth’s on fire.”

“I put a fair bit in.” Tash admitted.

Amelia and Sophie came into the kitchen, carrying the empty starter plates.

Sophie took one look at Amy’s face. “The chilli? I thought I talked you out of that? At least you changed your mind at the last minute I suppose.”

Amy nodded miserably.

“Are you glad you didn’t go through with it?” Sophie stacked the plates in the dishwasher.

“Mmm.” Amy shrugged and leant back against the counter with a sigh.