Swiss Miss Bliss

By LeAnn Mathis

     Coco hoped for a relaxing vacation with her friends. When she met Luca, a hot snow-boarding instructor, her vacation plans spiced up. But when an old pursuer follows her to Switzerland, the trip could end up scalding her. 

A clean, contemporary, romance novella

• Language: English
• Publisher: LeAnn Mathis
• Release date: Oct 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781393756316

LeAnn Mathis

The world itself is an inspiration. My Dad was in the army so my family got to see quite a bit of it growing up. I've taken that variety into my writing and I create stories based on whatever inspires me at the moment. Questions about my lunch meal, a Hawaiian Place of Refuge, and things my kids do have all been transformed, and I hope you enjoy what they grew into. Happy Reading. -LeAnn Mathis (The pen name for Stephanie Neilan when the books are just for fun.)

Book preview

Chapter One

Coco

D on’t be gone. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone.

Tracey and I had grown up on opposite sides of the Rocky Mountains and didn’t realize how much we’d miss them when we decided to attend the University of Michigan.

Seeing the first snow fall almost made cry. I had loved seeing the first flakes of the season back home, but what could we do with them in Ann Arbor? Sled for two inches before we stop? Hit our neighbor with a snowball?

Okay, that last one had been fun, but only because we got out of there before the Ts (Tod, Timothy, Tytan, and Tank) could retaliate.

Our Michigan-native, Amolee, said you could ski and snowboard up north, but we weren’t interested in those glorified hills. We talked about dragging Amolee with us back to one of our homes, but Tracey had more family members than a rabbit, and I didn’t want to risk running into a certain someone I had left back home. So when we saw an amazing travel deal advertised in the Michigan Daily, we snatched it up.

We all downloaded a Swiss-German app and began practicing. We didn’t get far, but I knew a few phrases now.

The chair lift crawled up the mountain side, taking me and another skier with it. Tracey and Amolee were waiting at the top. I hoped. I wasn’t sure how long they’d be able to delay the snowboarding class, and I was not looking forward to going back down this mountain on my own.

I hadn’t been sure my left foot was dominate until the salesman pushed my back hard enough to make me stumble forward. That information wasn’t something they cared about when you skied. Now, because I hesitated, I was nine minutes late...and counting.

I closed my eyes. When I reached the top, I would have to remember to place my unbound foot between the bindings and slide off at an angle. Easy enough. In theory. Visualize success.

The chair rocked slightly, and I opened my eyes. It was time.

My friends were impossible to separate from the sea of thick, winter coats and snow pants, but a cluster of Swiss-themed beanie-heads had to represent the instructors.

I wobbled down the exit ramp, but managed to stay on my feet. I re-located the group just as the first beanie headed down. No! Wait!

I shimmied my way over as fast as I could and grabbed the arm of the last instructor. Warten Sie. Bitte. I don’t want to go down by myself.

He scowled, and I lifted a hand.

I know. I’m sorry. I’ll hurry. I positioned my foot in place and adjusted the straps as fast as I could, but my mittens made it awkward. I straightened with an exhale. Danke.

The instructor’s arms were crossed. Veady to go, now?

Ja. I nodded and bit my lip. As long as he taught me a thing or two about snowboards, I could deal with a little rudeness. Pride and talent often went together.

He put the tip of his board over the edge and began to slide down. I tried to match his form and traveled as parallel as I could. My heart beat faster as we sped down the mountain.

Can you slow down? Langsamer?

Either he didn’t hear me, was ignoring me, or believed the best instruction was trial by speed because he started to go faster. I kept up for two more turns, but tumbled into the snow on the third.

Autsch. Are you okay?

I rotated my wrists first, then the rest of my body.  Nothing hurt when I moved it so I sat up.

I’m not dead yet. I stretched my head and shoulders again before standing up. My legs had stiffened, but it could have been a lot worse. I massaged them as I glared at Instructor Boy. Let’s just finish this run, but maybe you can give me some pointers this time.

He shrugged. You weren’t doing too bad...until the end.

I slowly added pressure to the front of my board and plowed over to him. Just be grateful I didn’t break anything while you proved how much better you are than me.

He shook his head. If I wanted to prove my superiority, I wouldn’t do it here.

I snorted and waved behind me. Then what was that?

A fun run down the hill. He leaned in closer. Do you want to know what I am really capable of?

As long as it’s on your dime. Not mine.

His eyebrows came together. Wouldn’t it have to involve both of our times?

I shook my head. Not time. Dime. I wasn’t going to pay him to goof off during my lesson.

He pointed to the laminated pass attached to my zipper that gave unlimited lifts for the day. It won’t cost you a dime.

I threw my hands in the air. Fine. I meant time. I pointed at him. But I’ll be watching it.

He slid back a little. Maybe I don’t vant you to come now.

I sighed and dropped my arms. Will you please let me see how awesome and amazing you are? I really was curious to see what, exactly, he was capable of.

He just looked at me.

I pressed my palms together in prayer. Bitte.

He finally nodded. Plazet, but only because I need to practice anyway. He raised a finger. And watching only. No trying to follow me down the pipe.

I placed a hand on my hip. Then how am I supposed to get down?

The goggles obscured my view of his face, but I was pretty sure he rolled his eyes at me. Wait until I am all the vay at the bottom first. Deal?

He extended a hand, and I shook it. Deal.

He led the way down the rest of the mountain.

This next turn is steep. Really dig in with your toes. Make it happen mit your feet.

I bent my knees, dug in, and made the turn. As the wind whipped past my face, I grinned. I was at the limits of my control, but that was a good thing. I would learn much more during my time with him than if he had coddled me. Even if it meant falling more often.

At the bottom of the hill we unclicked from our boards and walked over to the lift that led to the half-pipe.

So how long have you been snowboarding? I asked.

I made the transition five years ago and have never regretted it.

Why not?

He tapped his board. That’s part of what I am going to show you.

Is it the tricks?

Ja. You can do so much more mit the board.

I repositioned the board in my hands. "That’s what my friends say, too. I figured this trip was as