Winter Wedding Bells. Jennifer Snow
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from slipping and stood. When her skis slid, Austin grabbed her and it seemed as if a sheet of foggy glass fell away in front of them: every color leaping, every birdcall separate and vivid.
“Ready to try again?” he asked into her ear, sending her nerve endings into overdrive.
“You promised me pizza at the end of this, right?”
He stepped back and put a hand over his heart, light skidding across his handsome face. “Pepperoni and meatballs.”
Her mouth watered, imagining her favorite, though at this moment she wanted Austin more. “You remembered.”
She moved aside as a family of four rushed by in a flash of neon jackets and pom-pom hats.
“Sometimes too much,” she thought she heard him mumble as he skied a few feet down before turning. Breath lifted Austin’s chest, as if he was bracing himself for something. “Up and at ʼem, Julie.”
“Who’s Adam?”
His mouth tipped upward at their old joke and she grinned back before pushing off again, slower this time.
“Curve side to side,” coached Austin. She swiveled her hips, leaning slightly into each shallow turn. The sun warmed her back through her jacket and a lightness stole through her.
This was fun.
Yes, there was a chance she’d fall again.
Yes, there was a chance she’d hit scrub brush.
And yes, there was a chance she really might end up on that stretcher. However, those possibilities should not—would not—ruin this moment.
She felt free. Powerful. Moving through space like she was running—only faster. Laughter escaped her, cascading, bubbling over her tongue sweet and smooth.
When she hit a bump, she ended up sprawled in the snow again.
Graceful, she was not.
Other beginners edged by her as Austin expertly sped back, floating on the snow, by the look of it. The tink tink tink of a bird sounded somewhere close.
“Okay?”
She was already back on her feet and leaning on her poles when he reached her. “Definitely. This is incredible.” The air smelled so good she wanted to bite into it, feel the soft crunch between her teeth.
“I knew you’d like it if you gave it a chance.”
Their eyes locked and moments ticked by, until a kid barreled into Austin, sending them both sprawling.
Julie laughed as they scrambled upright. Nice to see Mr. Athlete could be a little ungainly once in a while.
“That’s two for me and one for you.” Julie bumped his shoulder with hers and propelled herself forward.
“You forgot your swan dive off the ski lift.” Austin slid a teasing look her way when she passed him.
Trees turned to a green blur as she skied, the early afternoon sun reflecting off her metal poles. “I’m actually trying to forget that one, thank you very much,” she called over her shoulder.
Austin reached her and tapped the side pocket she knew held his cell phone. “I’ll send you a picture if you like. Or you can grab it off my Facebook page.”
Julie gasped. “You are evil.”
“One of my best qualities.” He tossed her one of his devil-may-care grins, looking impossibly handsome.
A valve loosened inside of Julie, making her feel entirely different from the “think first, act never” girl she’d become again when she’d returned home from college. She sped up and whizzed by him, her muscles coordinating at last.
“I’ll be the judge of that. See you at the bottom, sucker.”
“Oh, it’s like that, then.” He easily caught up to her and swished from side to side. “What do I win if I get there first?” His lazy grin knocked the wind out of her.
“What do you want?”
He cocked his head and his eyes glinted before he faced forward again. “Guess you’ll have to wait and find out.”
In a moment, he’d disappeared around a bend, the roof of the lodge closer than ever.
No doubt he’d win, but so would she. Whatever lurked around the next turn didn’t scare her anymore. She pushed harder, eager to find out what lay ahead.
Bring it on.
Today showed she could let go and face her fear of the unknown.
And that could include a future with Austin. She just had to make him believe it, too.
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