Cinderella's New York Christmas

His eyes were laced with concern, but he didn’t say anything else until he pulled up outside her staff chalet. A few seconds later he’d stopped the car, jumped out, rounded the car and opened her door. ‘Let’s get you inside. Maybe if you sit down for a few minutes and get some water, you’ll feel a little better. If you don’t, I’m sure I can find a doctor in the resort to check you over.’

She really wanted to argue with him, but getting inside her chalet seemed like the priority right now, so she let him help her out and up the steps to the chalet, not even objecting when he took the key from her slightly shaking hand and opened the door for her. He flicked on her lights and slid his arm around her waist, helping her inside.

She sagged down onto her sofa in relief, unzipping her ski jacket and taking a few deep breaths. When she opened her eyes a few seconds later, Leo had already started the fire.

‘Well, if I’m Ice Princess, you must be Prince Charming.’ She smiled.

It was odd. She didn’t feel threatened by the complete stranger who was currently inside her temporary home and finding his way around. She was actually feeling relieved there was someone else with her right now.

‘Oh,’ she said in surprise as he sat down on the coffee table opposite her and lifted up her ski boot.

Those blue eyes twinkled. ‘Prince Charming? Isn’t that the guy obsessed with shoes? Let’s get these ski boots off and you can see if you’ve done any damage.’ He really was too handsome for his own good.

He undid the clips, loosened the boot then gave it a gentle tug, pulling it off. She clenched her jaw, waiting for wave of pain she’d normally feel if she’d done some damage. There were a few twinges but nothing severe.

He pulled off the other boot, holding her foot for a little longer than necessary. ‘Okay?’ His question seemed sincere, so she nodded as he moved so her feet could rest on the table in front of her. ‘You still look really pale.’ He glanced around the room. ‘How about something medicinal? I think you’re in a bit of shock. Do you have any brandy?’

Her brain really couldn’t think straight. Brandy. Yes. She had some of that. She waved her hand. ‘Cabinet behind you.’

Two minutes later she heard the clink of glasses. She leaned forward and peeled down her socks. No obvious swelling. Thank goodness. She gave both of her feet a cautious circle. Whilst one was definitely sore, it wasn’t as bad as she’d initially feared.

A glass was pressed into her hand and Leo lowered himself into the seat next to her.

She took a sip of the brandy and pulled a face. ‘I’m not sure if giving someone alcohol for shock is really the official treatment.’ She gave her head a shake. ‘You know, St Bernards don’t really have brandy around their necks.’

He smiled and raised his glass. ‘What can I say? I’ve always been one for old wives’ tales.’

She looked at him curiously. His face was a tiny bit flushed in her rapidly warming chalet, but there was no question that this was one of the most handsome guys she’d seen in a while. Mont Coeur was no stranger to numerous jet-set playboy millionaires, but he didn’t seem quite the type. She took another sip of her brandy, which warmed on the way down.

‘I’m not sure I believe you—you don’t look like an old-wives’-tales kind of guy.’ She sighed. ‘But then again, I’m not the type of girl to let a stranger drive her car—or come into her chalet—so I guess it’s just a night of firsts.’

There was a definite twinkle in his eye. She nudged him.

At any other time alarm bells would be going off in her head. But the one thing she instantly felt around this guy was safe. That was it. He had a safe kind of smile. She liked that—that and those bright blue eyes. ‘Want to take that wool coat off before you die from heat exhaustion?’

Her heart skipped a few beats. Had she really just said that? More or less invited him to stay a bit longer?

Deep down something was flickering inside her—and it was nothing to do with the fire. Everything about this was so out of character for her. Under normal circumstances she would probably have tried to hound her rescuer back outside the door. But Leo just seemed...different.

There was something in his eyes that she couldn’t quite figure. He had the tiniest air of mystery around him—that and a whole load of sex appeal. A lethal combination.

He laughed, unfastened the coat and shrugged it off. ‘A night of firsts,’ he repeated. There was a strange kind of look on his face. ‘I guess it’s certainly been one of those.’

There it was—the air of mystery that just seemed to reel her in. She turned a little towards him. ‘What do you mean?’

He shook his head. ‘Let’s just say I’m glad of the distraction.’

Now she was definitely curious. ‘Well, from my experience, most people come to Mont Coeur to either ski or...’ she raised her eyebrows ‘...to show off how rich they are. Which category are you in?’

For a second he was silent, then he took a long, slow swig from the brandy glass. ‘I can just about hold my own on a ski slope. But I’ve never skied at Mont Coeur before. I came here at kind of short notice. I didn’t bring any equipment with me.’

‘So you didn’t come here for the skiing?’

He shook his head. He really wasn’t giving much away. But the way that he looked at her through those heavy-lidded eyes, it was making her stomach do a whole lot of flip-flops. Never mind skiing. Right now her stomach thought she was a gymnast.

‘But you were watching tonight?’

He nodded. ‘I’ve only been here a few hours. I haven’t even reached my...’ he put his fingers in the air ‘...“luxury cabin” yet.’

Anissa’s stomach gave a little twist. Please don’t let him be staying in one of the cabins I’m cleaning.

‘So, is it business or pleasure?’ She licked her lips, a little nervous at asking the question. For all she knew, he could actually be here with a wife or fiancée, and really only was being gentlemanly by helping her home. She unintentionally held her breath as she waited for the answer.

‘I imagine some people would expect me to say a bit of both.’ He gave another sigh. ‘But the honest answer is neither. In a lot of ways, I wish I’d never come. There’s nothing I’d like more than to jump back on the soonest flight to New York.’

Her stomach gave a little pang. The first interesting guy she’d met in a long time couldn’t wait to get out of Dodge. Typical.

But it was the way he’d said the words that mattered. As if they made him sad. ‘Then why don’t you?’ she asked quietly.

He met her gaze with his blue eyes. ‘Because I’m a bit in limbo. What I do next could affect other people—whether I like it or not.’

Empathy swelled within her. Connection. Because those words were so familiar to her. What she did wouldn’t affect anyone other than herself. But being in limbo? She raised her glass to him. ‘Limbo. I see your few days’ worth of limbo and raise you a whole year’s worth.’

He turned closer towards her, leaning in and letting her see the shadow on his jawline and the tiny lines around his eyes. That tiny movement made her catch her breath at what might lie ahead. The woody scent of his aftershave filled her senses. She liked it. It had a hint of spice mixed with earthy tones.

He leaned his head on one hand and gave her a sexy kind of smile. ‘How did a gorgeous girl like you end up in limbo in Mont Coeur? Have you always lived here?’

Gorgeous. He’d just called her gorgeous. She could almost hear the echoing voices of approval of her fellow chalet maids at her rapidly rising heart rate. For months they’d been telling her to pay more attention to the guys around her. For months she’d told them she had other priorities and that no one had captured her attention. And they hadn’t. Until now.

She shook her head and tried her best to play it cool. ‘I’m Austrian. But I’ve spent most of my life on skis, no matter where I’ve lived.’ She lifted one hand. ‘This last year? Let’s just say it hasn’t been my best—hasn’t been my favourite. Limbo is exactly the right word to describe the last twelve months of my life.’

It hurt. Every memory about it still hurt. From the physical pain of crashing down a mountainside. To the psychological pain of realising her hopes of winning an international skiing championship gold medal had just been ripped from her grasp. Then there was the emotional trauma of her fiancé and coach, Alain, dumping her.

Leo reached out and grabbed her hand, the touch of his warm skin shooting an instant tingle up her arm. His voice was deep. His other hand reached over and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. It was a personal touch, an intimate touch, and the skin on her face was on fire with it. ‘How about, for one night only, we try and forget about the stuff that’s dragging us down?’

She blinked. Had he actually just said that?

The fire was flickering behind him, sending a warm glow around the room. Her heart missed a few beats.

No way. She wouldn’t. Not ever. She wasn’t that kind of girl.

But...

Somehow, tonight, she wanted to be.

She really, really wanted to be.

She prayed her voice wouldn’t shake as she uttered the words. ‘I could live with forgetting about everything dragging me down.’