Snowbound with Dr Delectable

“Sure.” Not liking the tension between them, he offered an olive branch. “Hey, I didn’t intend to offend you earlier.”

“Is that an apology?”

She certainly had no plans to meet him halfway.

A voice over the radio said, “Baylie, you’re needed at the clinic.”

Thankfully he didn’t have to answer her question. He still thought a doctor should be making the larger calls at the resort. In his case, if a sports-med doc had been made available, his skiing career might not have been ruined.

Putting the radio to her mouth, Baylie responded, “Ten-four.” To Kyle she said, “You can keep your jacket overnight. Be at the patrol office at eight a.m. Slope opens at nine.”

Kyle watched as she moved down the slope toward the courtesy-patrol building. There was grace in the subtle shift and sway of her hips as she skimmed across the snow.

He was usually attracted to the tall, willowy blonde types with the “help me” looks, but for some reason Baylie’s compact, agile body appealed to him. The ski pants did nothing to conceal her supple curves. In many ways she was a contradiction. Outside all mountain girl, fresh and natural, while on the inside hard as nails and unyielding. The paradox made him want to know more about her.

What he didn’t completely comprehend was her over-the-top reaction to the table crashing.

All Baylie planned to do was grab a pizza and head to her place to prop her feet up. The pizza parlor/bar was full of the young après-ski crowd looking for a night of fun. She stepped inside and unzipped her jacket. Despite the blast of heat that hit her, she left her jacket on. She’d only be a few minutes. Pushing her way through the throng toward the bar, she spoke to a number of people she knew. This was also the after-hours hangout for most of the courtesy patrol.

Moving around a group, her gaze met Kyle Campbell’s across the room. He sat on a deep cushioned couch next to the roaring fire in the stone fireplace, which had a huge Christmas wreath hanging above it. The place had a festive holiday feel. Beside Kyle sat Tiffani, with a look of hero worship on her face as if she was fascinated by his every word.

When they had been having their heated discussion earlier his blue eyes had turned stormy, as if he was remembering something extremely unpleasant. There seemed to be nothing rational about his negative reaction to her and her qualifications. She didn’t understand his attitude but it didn’t matter. What he thought didn’t matter.

She still held his gaze. Then with a jerk of her head she broke the connection and continued making her way to the bar. she ordered a pizza and stood against the wall out of the way to wait until it was ready. Regardless of the number of times she reminded herself that what was between Tiffani and Kyle was of no interest to her, she couldn’t resist glancing in their direction. Just as she did so, Tiffani threw her head back and laughed as if Kyle had said the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Baylie curled her lip. Well, she had a pretty good idea where their evening would end.

Was that disgust or jealousy? Disgust. Definitely disgust. She wasn’t interested in any man on any level and certainly not in some ego-inflated doctor.

Turning back to the bar, she saw her pizza was ready. She paid and grabbed the box. Again, she did the bend and weave that was required to make it back to the front door. As soon as she pushed through the doors the freezing air cut through the three layers of clothing covering her chest. She placed the pizza box on the closest park-style bench and zipped up her jacket. Behind her, the doors of the bar opened. She glanced back to see Kyle coming out.

Dressed in a dark blue heavy-knit sweater with a black all-weather coat pulled over it, well-worn jeans and snow boots, Kyle looked like he belonged in this setting. He bore the air of someone who frequented the slopes, instead of those weekend warriors who bought all new clothes and showed up to impress.

“Hi.” His breath was a white mist in the air.

“Hey,” she said as she picked up her pizza box.

“I hope your place isn’t far because that pizza’s going to be frozen if it’s out here long.”

“Then I guess I’d better go.” Baylie walked away.

She moved along the wide brick-filled pedestrian area lined with trendy shops and, above them, condos full of vacationers. Small white lights hung from the eaves and wreaths adorned the doors. This was a miniature Christmas village brought to life. Even the light poles were dressed with wreaths and red bows. She inhaled the crisp air, enjoying the sharp sting in her lungs.

She heard heavy footsteps behind her. Baylie glanced over her shoulder. Kyle was walking a few paces to the side and a few yards behind, his hands shoved into his pockets and his shoulders hunched against the wind. He’d already dumped on her occupation, and was he now stalking her?

She stopped and faced him. “What’re you doing?”

The muted yellow of the streetlamp played across his startled features. His chin lifted in question. “I’m walking over to the dorm. Why? Where did you think I was going?” He stepped closer but not into her personal space. “Stalking you?”

“I, uh, no.”

He looked at her squarely. “Yes, you did,” he said in a teasing tone.

“Maybe I did think you were following me.”

“I was, but just not with the intentions your mind was hatching.”

Baylie was grateful that the light wasn’t any better. Hopefully her guilt didn’t show.

His grin grew. “Since we’re going in the same direction, let me join you. That way you can keep an eye on me.”

How could she say no to that attractive lift of his lips? “I guess that would be safer.” She started walking again, and he fell in step beside her.

“So, do you live in the dorm too? Ooh, that did sound like I’m stalking you.”

She laughed. Something she didn’t do much of these days. “No, I have a small place next door. Since I’m here full-time I get an upgrade, such as it is.”

“I just threw my duffel bag on a bunk and headed out for a burger. Place reminds me of college—dirty socks, snoring and beer cans everywhere.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle again. “Yeah, I know what you mean. An army barracks isn’t much more appealing.”

“You’ve been in the military?” Amazement orbited his words.

“Yeah. That’s where I got my training.”

He didn’t comment, and she was relieved. She didn’t want a repetition of their earlier conversation. They seemed to have reached a temporary stalemate.

They crossed the main paved road that divided the top of the mountain and maneuvered around a pile of snow left by the road crew. The pavement was the line that separated the Alpine village, where all the visitors stayed, from the side of the mountain where the employees lived in considerably less luxury.

No longer in the light of the numerous security lamps, the footing became more difficult along the gravel road. Baylie slowed her pace. It had started to snow.

“What’s there to do up here after the slopes close?”

His deep smooth voice and being alone together in the darkness had a far too intimate a feel. She didn’t do romance. Not now, not ever again. She couldn’t carry any more guilt if she failed another man. “The usual, I guess. Dinner, bars. Some people swim in the indoor pool.”

“You aren’t into the après-ski scene?”

“I’m sure you know the saying that those who ski all day go to bed.”

“They do, do they?”

His words came out slow and rough, putting a double meaning to them that made her think of a big bed, roaring fire and no clothes. What was happening to her? She was letting this stranger get to her. Crazy stuff. They didn’t even like each other. Again she was glad for the darkness. She needed to get to her place right away. “You know what I mean.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. If you ski all day it’s hard to stay up and party all night. You’re too worn out.”

“You and Tiffani looked like you were having a good time.” If Baylie could have taken the words back she would have. It was none of her business with whom he spent his time. Nothing about him was her concern except what he did on the slopes between nine and four-thirty.

“So you did see us.” Kyle’s tone implied the statement had a significant meaning, and he was mulling over what that was.

It was time for her to put a door between them. She’d already said too much. “Well, here’s your stop.” The large, functional three-floor building loomed in front of them. “I’m on down. Good night.”