Page 83 of Small Towns, Wild Hearts

The minute we made it to the bottom, I gained on him through the trees. He followed the path already cut by two or three skiers before us, but I shot left where the trees were thicker and stayed low to avoid the branches.

We were head-to-head on the moguls with Charlie’s words in my head.

My lungs ached. I kept my knees loose, as the force from every bump threatened to shoot straight through my legs into my skull the minute I tensed up.

At the end, I glanced back to find Daniel still fighting the last third of the section. I tucked and crouched low, racing down the trail where it widened out, darting in and out of other skiers. Spotting Charlie, I headed right at her and slid to a hard stop.

Lungs heaving, we both hunched over, sucking in precious gulps of air as Daniel came skidding in last.

He yanked his goggles from his eyes and glared over at us. “Best two out of three.”

“Nope, I won. You guys want to do some dick measuring, you’re doing it without me,” Charlie said as she arched her back and stretched her neck from side to side.

“Give it up, man. You lost.”

“Not yet I didn’t,” he said, baring his teeth. “Two out of three. Now!” He reached out, catching Charlie by surprise when he grabbed her wrist and tried to yank her toward the lift.

“Hey—”

“Get. Your. Hand. Off. Her.” Hot piercing anger pounded in my chest. I swung out and knocked his arm away when he didn’t let go of her fast enough.

In seconds I was out of my bindings and in his face, forcing his eyes up because I had at least three inches on him. “Fuck with her and find out, Sloan.”

His chest swelled with a furious drag of air into his lungs before he bumped into mine. For a minute, he seemed as though he might push.

Do it.

Fucking do it.

Was this how he acted when they were a couple? Did he lay a hand on her then too? I couldn’t picture her letting anyone get away with abusing her, but then, I never expected to see her hesitate to eat because of some pithy comment from her mother either.

He blinked, his shoulders drooped just slightly, and I knew he’d cave.

And I should have let him walk away when he did.

He brought his palms up and took a step back.

“Best two out of three. Now.” I clicked into my skis, my eyes never leaving him as he headed for the quad.

“Is that the first time?” I snapped my pole against my boot to knock the packed snow off.

She gripped my jacket. “Nick—”

My gaze flashed to hers. I didn’t know what she saw there, but she let me go and swallowed hard.

“Is that the first time he put his hands on you in anger?”

“He’s still breathing right?”

“Unfortunately. Yes or no, Charlie?”

“Yes. It’s the first time. And last. If it makes you feel any better… he got his before we broke up.”

“Good. How?”

“I superglued his dick to his thigh while he slept.”

The rage in my chest loosened its grip and I laughed. “Of course you did. Wow.”

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