Southern Belle

“Yes, we skied the Horneggli.”

“You must be good,” he conceded reluctantly. “Dad’s a pretty advanced skier.”

“And you?”

“I snowboard mostly. I’m on the Rosey team.”

“So was your father, if I remember rightly. The ski team, I mean.”

“You went to Rosey?” Nicky eyed her with new respect. “Bet that was a while ago, huh?”

Johnny met Elm’s eyes and they laughed. “It certainly doesn’t seem nearly twenty years, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t,” Elm agreed, determined to include Nicky in the conversation.

“My mother was at Rosey, too,” he said. Elm caught the edge of defiance in his tone.

“I know. I remember her. She was very beautiful and had great grades. She won the prize for drama, I recall.” She noticed the quick look exchanged between Liam and Johnny. Something wasn’t right. There was an uneasy undercurrent when Marie Ange was mentioned. She could almost feel the tension coursing between Johnny and his son.

Liam was studying his cell phone. He sent her an apologetic glance. “Just need to check some stock prices. Haven’t had time this morning. This vacation has put everything on hold.”

“Uncle Liam, get a life,” Nicky exclaimed.

“Nicky’s right,” Johnny said. “Leave that damn phone at home, Liam, and enjoy yourself. Elm, we have this major family problem here.” Johnny leaned toward her, laughing. “Liam never has time for anything except work. We’re trying to convert him—unsuccessfully, I might add—to pleasure.”

The lunch proved to be deliciously entertaining. Elm enjoyed the interaction between the brothers, amused at how different they were, the one so dark, Irish and aristocratic, the other a strong-willed workaholic American businessman. And Nicky. He was sweet and bright and sulky and all the things she imagined an adolescent would be.

They left the restaurant ready to hit the slopes, although after a huge steak à l’ ardoisek, a couple of Kir Royals and two bottles of delectable local Swiss wine, Elm was amazed any of them could even move. Nicky challenged her to a run and by the end of the afternoon they’d become fast friends. She made him promise to show her some of his snowboarding moves before she left for the States. By the time Johnny dropped her off at Gioconda’s chalet, she was wonderfully tired and ready for a hot bath.

“It was a delightful day, thank you. Your brother and son are great.”

“How about tonight?” He leaned back against the car door and eyed her thoughtfully.

“I think I’ll take a rain check. I’m pretty beat and I have some calls to make to the States.” It was ridiculous, of course, to refuse his invitation when she’d like nothing more than to accept, but she needed to catch her breath, to assess just where she intended to go with all this. A quiet evening seemed like just the thing.

“You’re sure I can’t persuade you? We could go to the movies, if you don’t want to be late. I could see what’s on and call you,” he said, his smile deliciously persuasive.

“Well, I…look, why don’t we have a rest and then see in a little while,” she countered, dying to accept, but not wanting to give in too fast. Oh God, this was all so difficult. She could feel him drawing her like a magnet. She had never felt anything quite so strong, so intense or alluring. If she’d read about it in a book she would have thought it was nonsense.

But it wasn’t.

She reached for the car door. “Thanks for a wonderful day. It’s been truly great. And I’m still reeling from lunch.”

Johnny jumped out of the Range Rover and, removing her skis from the back, came round and helped her out. Then he walked her slowly to the chalet.

“Well, perhaps dinner tomorrow, then,” he said regretfully. “I’ll give you a call.”