Page 5 of Falling for the Quarterback

Suddenly, there are another pair of skis next to me and two strong hands cinching around my waist to stabilize my balance and keep me upright. We both turn to face one another, our eyes wide as I realize we’ve come to an abrupt stop just before slamming into the massive fir tree mere inches from our bodies.

“Bloody hell!” I whisper in awe, blinking rapidly as my body shakes from both the adrenaline rush and utter relief that I’m still alive and unmaimed.

The man laughs and he slowly releases his hold on me, removing his goggles from his face. Then he quirks a crooked smile. “You can say that again. Although I probably would’ve said fucking hell.”

My expression likely appears baffled as I stare at him, mystified by how he materialized out of thin air. Is he real or my guardian angel?

I inhale, hoping to regain my composure, but a whiff of his woodsy scent has me nearly swooning. The masculinity of the scent and his strong pair of arms, and perhaps a mixture of pheromones has my lady parts activating for the first time in…well, months. Or has it been over a year?

“Thank you,” I manage to croak out once I’ve steadied myself on my skies, shoving my poles securely into the snow. “I’m not sure where you came from, but it was fortuitous timing.”

His eyebrows shoot up and disappear under his hat. “Whoa, fancy words in a British accent. You might just melt the snow with all that hotness if you’re not careful.”

He gives me a slow, easy smile, and it confounds me. Is this man flirting with me? First he saves me and then he teases me in a sexy, cocky way?

Did I hit my head on that tree and not know it?

The man clears his throat when I don’t respond.

“Anyway, it might be a good idea if I follow you down. Is that okay with you?” he offers, motioning with a pole back toward the trail.

“Oh, yes, thank you. I’d appreciate that.” The words come out in a breathless rush. His smile widens and he waggles his brows before lowering his goggles.

The man follows closely behind and in a matter of minutes, we’re down the mountain and back at the resort.

As I slide to a stop and pause near the path that leads toward the parking lot, he maneuvers up next to me, shoving his poles into the snow and sliding his goggles once more to the top of his head. When I do the same and get my first good look at him, I nearly gasp. Now that I see him without the haze of a near death experience, I’m at a loss for words.

This man is definitely a decade younger than me and also one of the most attractive men I’ve ever laid eyes on. His face is covered in a well-trimmed beard of blondish-brown hair and his glacial blue eyes seem to sparkle against the reflected light from the snow. He’s taller than I am by a good six inches and his broad shoulders under the ski jacket look very strong, his frame blocking my view of everything behind him.

He has the build of an athlete or someone who takes fastidious care of their body. It could be from skiing, but I would guess some other type of sport. It’s not his body that has me doing something I’ve never done before. It’s the intensity of his blue gaze.

I flirt.

“I feel like I should thank you for your assistance,” I say coyly with the bite of my lip.

Maybe this man could be my one-night stand? The thought fills my belly with a fluttering sensation.

He could very well be a serial killer for all I know, but as long as he fucks me before he kills me, it’s worth the risk.

“Oh, yeah?” he replies, popping his skis off as I do the same and holding them in one gloved hand.

“I mean, aproperthank you,” I add, batting my eyelashes as seductively as I can.

“Proper, eh?” he asks in a teasing voice, trying to mimic a British accent and failing spectacularly. It’s rather cute.

“Care to join me for a drink?” I motion toward the ski lodge behind us; there must be multiple bars in a place this size.

It’s completely out of character for me. I’ve never been one to invite a man for a drink. Especially a man I don’t know. But in this case, I’m throwing all caution to the wind and going for it because he’s a very attractive man.

Without taking even a second to pause and consider my invitation, the man replies.

“Sure, I’ve got no other plans. I’d love to.”

ChapterTwo

Joel - September

“Dude, look who’s back on campus!”

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