Page 14 of Christmas at the Scottish Lodge
‘I’ll bet you’ve used that line on Bonnie more than once,’ Mairi said sadly before her cheeks went up in twin flames. ‘I’m sorry that was…’ She groaned.
‘Jealous?’ Jed asked feeling a surge of relief. Mairi might be here asking for a divorce so she could have a relationship with another man – but she obviously still had feelings for him. He swallowed his pleasure; it would be better for both of them if she didn’t.
‘Some would say I was within my rights,’ she said, repeating the line he’d used yesterday, highlighting how mixed his messages were.
Jed winced and watched Mairi lean forward as if she expected the skis to understand that she wanted to glide.
‘You have to move your legs remember, because we’re on the flat,’ he told her, hovering a hand over the back of her narrow waist, trying not to touch. ‘Look up and forward, that way the skis will know what you want.’
‘I want you to reconsider signing the papers,’ Mairi mumbled. ‘Let me know if you think they can help with that.’
Jed decided not to respond and instead glanced around. Bear hadn’t emerged from the copse of trees since the start of the lesson. Jed had been so distracted by Mairi and then Bonnie that he hadn’t noticed. The dog was probably digging in the snow looking for treasures, or more likely he’d found some food. ‘Why don’t we head in there?’ Jed suggested, pointing towards the copse. He could search for Bear and there was also a flat piece of ground between the trees where none of the other ski schools were likely to go.
‘Are you looking for somewhere to dispose of my body, because it would be a lot easier to just agree to a divorce?’ Mairi joked.
‘That’s what you think,’ Jed muttered, wishing she was right. He tracked her as she did as she was told. Her movements were erratic, and he could see a slight shake in her legs.
‘You’re doing really well,’ he soothed, sliding beside her, his heart in his throat. He let out a long breath when they were finally enveloped by the rough thicket of trees away from the other skiers – and the chance of one of them knocking her down – and she pulled to a stop. Tiny, glittery icicles immediately peppered them from above – it was still cold, but at least the trees protected them from the worst of the wind’s bite.
Mairi jabbed her poles into the snow before twisting around so she could gaze at him. ‘I just don’t get it.’
‘Get what?’ Jed asked, checking she wasn’t going to fall when she quivered once more. ‘Do you want me to talk you through the snowplough again?’
Her frown deepened and she gingerly picked up each foot and edged around until she was gazing at him. ‘Why you don’t want a divorce.’
Jed could see his reflection in Mairi’s visor, could see the indecision on his face, so he fixed his attention on her mouth in an attempt to hide his reaction to the question. Which was a terrible idea because his eyes glued themselves to her top lip. The pink gloss was still there, and he was caught by a sudden urge to kiss it off, to eliminate anything that might remind her of the eejit in Edinburgh. He tensed, trying to police his body from doing something he'd regret. ‘Maybe I like being married,’ he growled.
Her mouth puckered making his hormones go haywire.
‘You’re seeing someone else.’ She waved a gloved hand towards the slope which made her legs wobble again. ‘Or do you just want a reason to stop your new relationship from getting serious?’
Jed shut his eyes. Suddenly he wanted to tell Mairi the truth about Bonnie, that she meant nothing to him and never would, but a bark in the distance saved him from making a huge mistake. ‘Bear?’ He slid around her, scouring their surroundings. How had he forgotten about his dog? Then again, hadn’t he always lost his head around Mairi? That’s what had got him into this position in the first place. Falling for his best friend’s sister and then marrying her in secret…
‘What about Bear?’ Mairi asked, trying to move herself around too, almost tripping when one ski hooked over the other. She would have gone down if Jed hadn’t scooped a hand under her elbow. Although the contact made his stomach crunch.
‘He’s in here somewhere,’ he said gruffly, untangling himself from her arm. ‘I got distracted – he doesn’t usually disappear for this long.’ He squinted into the darkness.
‘Bear!’ Mairi shouted, reaching out so she could hold onto Jed again as she eased herself completely round. ‘Shouldn’t we go and look?’ she asked urgently.
Jed shook his head. ‘I thought he’d be visible from here.’ He squinted, but there was no sign of Bear, although there were tiny paw prints in the snow that could have belonged to his dog. ‘I should probably get you out of those skis so you can go back to the lodge first.’
Mairi looked down. ‘That’s going to take time,’ she said, moving the visor so he could see into her eyes. ‘Wouldn’t it be better if we both looked now?’
Jed frowned. It would, but should he risk it?
‘I care about him too,’ Mairi said quietly. Her cheeks were flushed, and she looked so pretty it almost took his breath. ‘Effie adopted him when I was visiting, remember?’
Jed remembered. Could still recall how the dog had snuggled into her arms and he’d watched transfixed, wishing it was him. He cleared his throat. ‘I suppose,’ he said reluctantly. He shouldtake her back, but the weather was getting worse and he was worried now.
‘It won’t take us long,’ she pressed as she began to move the skis slowly in the direction of the thickening trees.
‘Mairi!’ he said urgently. ‘You need to be careful, the ground’s uneven here, you might fall.’
She twisted her head and stared right into his eyes. ‘Some things are worth falling for, Jed – and even if we do, most of us get back up again. It’s called life and fighting for what matters.’ She gazed at him for a moment before restarting, grunting with the effort as he stood prone and felt the sharp pinch of her words.
He wanted to tell her that she did matter – but hehadwalked away and hadn’t told her why, so couldn’t.
‘Wait!’ He took hold of her arm before she got too far. ‘I think we should walk. It’ll be safer.’ The snow was deep in the woods, but there were so many trees it wouldn’t be a good idea for Mairi to try skiing.
