Winter Wonderland

By Cyprus Hart

Samuel Forrest enjoys his life as a ski instructor. His only regret is how his previous relationship ended; suddenly and out of the blue.

Then Samantha Walker shows up at the resort, full of sexy confidence but also infuriating arrogance.

When his old girlfriend shows interest in reconnecting, Samuel must pick between the burning hot passion of a new experience and the warm comfort of something familiar.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cyprus Hart
• Release date: Nov 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201655259

Cyprus Hart

Cyprus Hart is an author of romance in all flavors, as long as the flavor includes spice. His newest novel, Darkness Exposed, is book two in the paranormal romance series Light Divided. Cyprus has written since childhood, often crafting entire worlds as an excuse to get two people together.  He loves finding ways to weave themes of love into all sorts of genres, be it contemporary, fantasy, or science-fiction. If there’s even the slightest opportunity to get some kissing in somewhere, he’ll find a way. He currently cohabitates with an old Chihuahua and a young Border Collie, and doesn’t like coffee or tea. What a weirdo...

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The ringing of my phone invades my dream, an intruder that won’t let me enjoy the paradise I find myself in. Swatting away the filaments of the fading setting, I swipe a hand across my eyes and grab the annoying piece of technology. I hate cell phones and their ability to let anyone insert themselves into your life at any time.

What? I ask without bothering to look who it is, because there are only a few people who have my number, and fewer still who’d actually call me.

Shit, sorry Sam, were you sleeping? It’s my boss, Evelyn. Of course she knows I was sleeping, but she’s being polite. It’s my day off, and rising before seven AM was not on my agenda, not after the late night I had.

No, it’s fine Eve, what is it? I stifle a yawn and try to will myself to pull the covers back. Even though I don’t know the exact reason yet, the end result of this conversation is clear as ice.

Brandt broke his leg walking from his door to his car. She’s as apologetic as Eve can be about the question hanging in the air.

You’re kidding me. That nitwit. Are you sure he didn’t do it on purpose?

Either way, I need you in. We’ve got a bunch of groups lined up, more than Vanessa and Heather can take. Even if Brandt was okay, it would be a heavy load. I’m sorry. I know what today is.

With a groan I manage to get my feet untangled from the sheets, disturbing Agamemnon in the process. He peers at me with icy blue eyes, head between his paws. I scratch behind his ear as I talk. Fine. I’ll be there as soon as I can. You owe me.

Thank you. You have my gratitude.

A raise would be nice, I mumble, standing up and stretching as my feet hit the hardwood floor of my bedroom.

Now Sam, you know I can’t—

I know, Eve, I know, I’m just giving you a hard time, I say, cutting her off before she starts to panic. Despite my teasing, I enjoy my job, and would do it for a lot less than she pays me. I’m able to support myself and Agie just fine in our small apartment. Getting paid to ski the slopes six out of the seven days I’m out there isn’t such a bad deal, and teaching people so they too can experience the fun of hurtling down a mountain on two slats of wood is worth every second.

Then in the off-season, I get paid to hang around and take people rock climbing. I love it so much I’ve worked there for almost ten years now. If there’s anything else I could ask for, I can’t imagine what it is.

A pang hits my stomach, because there is something else I could ask for, but she got away. Vanessa. One of the other ski instructors, who turned dark side and now teaches snowboarding. A year to the date since she dumped me, and I’m not over it yet. Hence my late night and current haggard face staring back at me from the mirror of my bathroom. Too many hot toddies make an unpleasant morning.

They haven’t yet been able to wipe out the final memory of her, clutching her sheets against her chest, bare shoulders determined, as she told me we were over. That woman always had bad timing.

I’ll see you soon. I hang up and toss the phone back towards the bed, just missing Agie as he stretches and climbs off the mattress, cocking his head to the side and staring followed by a questioning bark.

Looks like we’re going in today, boy.

His ears perk up and he stands straighter. If anyone loves the slopes and resort more than me, it’s him.

My shower, during which I brush my teeth, is quick, followed by tossing on some jeans and a shirt. A quick glance in the mirror again, raking an unruly brown curl of hair out of my face, and I decide I don’t need to shave.

My bedroom and bathroom are one part of my apartment, and the other room is kitchen and living room all in one open area. I don’t make much of a mess, because I’m not usually here for long, and almost never eat a full meal in my kitchen. I hook my coat off the back of the kitchen chair, grab my keys from the bowl on the counter, and head out with Agie following behind.

Everything else I’ll need is at the resort. Mount Nieve Resort, in fact. Not the tippy-top of resorts in the area, but above average. We get a fair amount of guests who want to try our legendary double black diamond slope, or ‘piste’ as I’m supposed to call it now to be all fancy.

There’s not enough room for me to keep all my equipment at home, and Eve is nice enough to let me keep everything there. Considering I’m there six days a week, eighteen hours a day anyway, it’s not much of a stretch. My apartment is somewhere to get my mail delivered and a place to sleep. I don’t even eat here, instead abusing my roguish good looks and charm to eat for free at the resort.

A thirty minute drive later in my well-used SUV along twisting roads and I’m there. I can’t afford to live anywhere near this place. There are houses around here with closets my apartment could fit inside. The resort itself is a cross between a Disney castle and a Bavarian town, if all the wood was polished and the perfect shade of brown. The main building hosts most of the rooms, but we’ve got several cabins scattered nearby for those who want more privacy.

I park in the employee lot in back, where our average cars are hidden out of sight. Can’t have the guests see anything less than fancy. The snow back here is dirty and wet, footprints going to and from the dumpsters, steam from the heating systems venting off where it won’t be noticed.

Eve dashes out as soon as I arrive, skidding on the wet pavement in her fancy boots, fending off Agie’s attempt at a good morning hug and lick. "Thank you, thank you so much, anything you can do will help, Agie get down! You’ll get mud on my slacks!"

Why don’t you go get yourself some breakfast, I tell him with a ruffle of his scruff.

Not in the kitchen, don’t go in the kitchen, she shouts after him as he bee-lines to the kitchen where his second-best friend, Benicio, the chef, will give him some choice tidbits.

Aw, he’ll be fine.

You’re lucky the guests love him, Eve says, turning back to me with a slight scowl touching the corners of her eyes. Her darker hair is perfect, as usual, the streaks of grey speaking of experience and reliability.

You’re lucky the guests love me, I retort with a wink, moving past her to go inside and get ready. The employee entrance isn’t fancy, not like the rest of the resort. No double doors here.

She follows after. Heather has the first group, since I wasn’t sure you’d get here in time, so you’ll have her group at 8:15, then after that come see me and I’ll have a proper schedule made up.

That’s fine. What’s the group? The hallway to the employee dressing area is clinical and clean, but little dings in the wall and scuff marks on the floor prove no guests come back here. A happy bark from the other direction tells me Agie got his snack. After gobbling it down he’ll go mingle. He loves people, and not many can resist an energetic and handsome Husky. He’s got personality to spare and has been mentioned in more than a few reviews.

Beginners. Mostly families, with a couple lone people.

Loners the week before Christmas? Families are fun to teach. They’re beginners, with kids, and not looking for anything serious. I can relax a bit, and enjoy myself. Not that I dislike teaching serious skiers. They’re a different type of teaching, but just as fulfilling. Heck, as long as it’s getting me on the slopes, I’d teach a hundred year old grandma in a wheelchair. Come to think of it, I bet she’d be a fun person.

Yeah. You know the drill. Give them your extra charm; they’re lonely. Speaking of, how are you?

The locker room is quiet, everyone who was scheduled to be here this morning already outfitted and out there. Fine. It’s been a year, Eve.

I know. Still, you haven’t seen anyone since then.

It’s fine. I open the metal door of my locker to hide my face. I can lie with my words, but my expressions always give me away. If she knew Vanessa still called me for the occasional booty call, she’d give me a reproachful look. Wouldn’t fire her, though. Which she shouldn’t. That would be unfair.

Right. She sighs. Well, again, thank you. I’ll see what I can do about a little overtime—

No, don’t do that. I don’t need the money. Buy a new rug or something.

I’d need to be paying you a lot more to afford a new rug with your overtime wages. She cocks an eyebrow at me and makes her way out.

You’re lucky I don’t care that you’re exploiting me, I call after her, chuckling to my ski gear. It only takes a few minutes to get suited up, shoving my jeans and shirt in the locker and donning my favorite set of long underwear, black fleece top, and the aqua blue with orange highlights ski jacket and pants. They’re a bit bright, but it helps the guests keep track of me.

I tuck my goggles and helmet under one arm, grab my skis with the other hand, and saunter out into the public area of the resort.

It’s already busy and buzzing with morning guests, either there for breakfast or getting ready to head out on the slopes. The main entry is all rustic wood and three open stories of glass, presenting the wonderful view down the mountain. Curated nature is on display, trees covered in snow like icing, the perfect Christmas card getaway.

Plush lounge chairs are scattered around small tables, and the huge fireplace, one of many, is stacked with real logs, ready to be lit in the afternoon to greet people when they return to their rooms or for dinner.

Since it is so close to Christmas, there is a plethora of tasteful yet extravagant decorations strewn about. Huge swaths of garland draped over every bannister and ledge, a full and real pine tree sat in the corner of the windows, twenty feet tall and hand decorated with cream and gold colored ornaments. They aren’t lit now, but later in the evening the white lights will come on, casting a soft glow from the ceiling where they loop through the beams.

I meander through, nodding at one or two regulars, stopping once to answer a question from a guest. The clinking of breakfast utensils wafting from the dining room reminds me I’d forgotten to eat this morning, so I take a detour to grab something with protein. Agie greets me on the way out with a bark and a sniff. He’ll set himself up in his favorite spot by the windows and bask in attention from kids and adults alike. Later on, he’ll join me for a class or two. Sometimes I wonder if I really own him, or if he’s just content for now where he’s at.

Propping my skis up against the wall so I don’t whack anyone with them when I’m wandering the buffet, I peruse the morning’s offerings. Lots of fruit, various types of eggs, ham, vegetables, standard stuff. I nick a slice of bacon and chomp it while trying to decide between hashbrowns or a plate of cantaloupe.

Your class is in ten minutes, Eve hisses from behind me. You need to get out there.

No good skiing on an empty stomach, I say, deciding on ham and stealing a slice from the pan with my fingers. I move out of the way and glance at her, munching with eyebrows raised. You’re not worried I’ll be late, are you?

I’m worried you’ll eat me out of house and home.

Just a slice of ham, I tell her back as she walks away to micro-manage something else. She’s nice, but always on edge. The resort isn’t anywhere near failing, but I don’t know if that’s because of or despite her constant worrying. I was never much of a financial person. Money doesn’t interest me.

On my way to retrieve my skis, I’m stopped by a woman at a table. Excuse me.

Yes, ma’am?

Are you the ski instructor? Her blue eyes twinkle with morning enthusiasm.

I’m one of several instructors, yes. Is there something I can help you with?

Where would one sign up for these classes? she asks, propping her chin in her hand, her bright blonde hair falling over her shoulder. Her question is innocent, but the tone is anything but. It’s like warm honey poured into bourbon.

I should keep this professional, but the way she’s staring at me is giving me ideas, and right now ideas seem like a great way to get away from memories. "All you need to do is show up at the rental slash academy building just outside, and they’ll get you into the next available slot. I could show you, if