Montana Match

A boyfriend. That bit of information ought to keep his wayward thoughts in check. “So what does he do?”

“He’s in graduate school, but, actually, he’s not my boyfriend anymore. We just broke up last weekend. So that’s why I’m thinking about moving back to Washington.” Brittany’s green eyes shimmered, and she looked away toward the window. “That’s another reason Heather invited me to ski. She thought it might help me forget the breakup.”

No boyfriend after all. He knew the hurt of a broken relationship—what it meant to have people you trusted turn away when you needed them the most. Did he detect unshed tears? He was surprised to find himself wanting to comfort her. The urge to reach out to strangers, to help people in need, had been very rare in recent years—but Brittany seemed to bring it out in him.

“Are you okay?”

Parker’s question made Brittany flush. How could she admit to this virtual stranger that part of her was glad that she and Max had finally faced the truth? She hated admitting that the breakup was inevitable, but she’d finally come to the conclusion that the relationship was at a dead end. “Yes. It was for the best.”

As Brittany said the words, she was even more certain that her statement was true. But she couldn’t forget that Max had been a part of her life for eight years, and his absence left an empty place in her heart.

“So, I suppose there’s nothing keeping you in Billings anymore.”

Before Brittany could respond, Heather approached the table as she waved a hand above her head. “I see you two found each other.”

Parker stood and pulled out a chair for her. “Yeah, we were getting to know each other.”

“Thanks.” Heather gave her uncle a pointed look. “I’ll bet you were asking all the questions, weren’t you?”

“Did Rose and Jasmine get to their afternoon activity?” Parker ignored Heather’s inquiry.

“They did. They settled in nicely. No problem.”

“Good. I hope they enjoy themselves this afternoon as much as we did this morning. Pretty soon they’re going to be skiing better than me.”

Leaning back, Brittany took in the exchange. Heather was right. Parker had asked most of the questions, and he certainly looked relieved when Heather had walked in. Brittany figured that Parker wasn’t exactly excited about entertaining his niece’s friend. But the fact that he’d made the effort told Brittany that he was a considerate man.

After talking with Parker, Brittany concluded that he hardly seemed like the recluse Heather had described. After all, he’d apparently been skiing with Rose and Jasmine while Brittany took her ski lesson. She wondered about the two females that she hadn’t met but didn’t dare ask about for fear of seeming nosy. She was already worried that she’d seemed impolite by waiting so long to invite him to join her.

She’d forced herself to look out the window in order to keep from staring at him or the intensity in his coffee-colored eyes.

His handsome face, covered with dark stubble, gave him a rugged appearance. His tobacco-brown hair, in need of a trim, only added to the persona. His good looks probably went a long way in explaining the presence of Rose and Jasmine.

“So what do you think? Are you ready to try your hand at skiing after lunch?”

Brittany suddenly realized that Heather’s question was aimed at her. She needed to quit thinking about Parker and pay attention to the conversation. She shrugged. “I don’t know. One lesson hardly seems like enough.”

“Sure it is. Besides, Parker will take you out and give you some instructions, won’t you, Parker?” Heather glanced at her uncle with a sly smile.

Brittany tried to get her friend’s attention, so she could signal her disapproval. “Your uncle doesn’t want to be stuck skiing with me.”

Heather laid a hand on Brittany’s shoulder. “He doesn’t mind.”

Parker cleared his throat. “Ah…you’re talking about me as if I’m not here. I can speak for myself.”

“Okay, but you can’t deny that you’re a great ski instructor.”

“I won’t.”

Heather grinned at Parker. “Then it’s settled. You’d be happy to help Brittany this afternoon.”

Brittany had no idea how to respond. Parker didn’t look exactly thrilled, but he also seemed too polite to go against Heather’s wishes. He was the ever-accommodating host.

Brittany didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but she didn’t want him to feel obligated to spend time with her, either. “I’d hate for you to be tied down with a beginner like me when you could be out skiing with Rose, Jasmine and Heather.”

“Rose and Jasmine are occupied for the afternoon, and I’m going to do a little snowboarding. So Uncle Parker is all yours.” Heather grinned again, making no attempt to disguise her triumph. “And when the slopes close, I’ll meet you two at the lodge.”

“That works for me,” Parker said.

Manufacturing a smile, Brittany knew she was trapped. “Okay, if that’s the way you guys want it.”

“Good. Then it’s settled.” Heather stood, shrugged out of her ski jacket and hung it over the back of the chair. “Now, let’s get something to eat.”

Soon they were eating a hearty lunch. At least Parker and Heather were. Brittany barely nibbled on her hamburger and fries. Her appetite had fled as her mind buzzed with thoughts of Parker, skiing and her dicey job situation. All of them gave her something to be nervous about.

Chapter Two

Thirty minutes later, Brittany held her ski poles with a death grip. She felt as though she was headed for some other world in her helmet and goggles. Her stomach churned as she followed Parker to the chairlift. Thankfully, she’d left most of her lunch on the plate. The thought of skiing down a real hill, not the bunny hill where she’d practiced earlier, terrified her.

“Why so grim? You look like you’re headed to the electric chair.” Chuckling, Parker stopped next to the chairlift.

She squared her shoulders and looked up at him. Should she let him know how scared she was, or should she tough it out? Who was she kidding? He probably already knew she was quaking in her ski boots. “I’ve never been on a lift before.”

“You’ll do fine. There’s nothing to it. You hop on and hop off.”

“Easy for you to say. You can probably do it with your eyes closed.”

“Not quite.” He chuckled again. “Remember. I’m here to help you.”

Somehow that didn’t seem reassuring at all. The whole scenario intimidated her. “So what do I do?”

“Just follow my lead. You step out here and wait for the chair to come to you.” He moved closer to the lift.

“Okay.” Brittany followed, holding her breath until she was seated beside Parker in the chair.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

She let her breath out in a big whoosh when they swung out over the snow-covered hillside, awash in sunshine and glistening snow. Pressing herself back against the chair, she hoped she wouldn’t fall out. She didn’t think she had a fear of heights, but she was beginning to wonder about that as they dangled on a cable far above the ground. She tried not to look down.

“When we get to the top, put the tips of your skis down and push out of the chair.” Parker’s voice cut through the fear clouding her mind for a moment, but anxiety quickly returned.

“Okay.” Her pulse pounded in her head.

“Ready. Here we go.”

Brittany tried to put her skis on the ground. In the next instant, she sprawled face-first in the snow as the lift ground to a halt.

“Are you all right?” Parker rushed to her side.