Read Online Come Fly with Me by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online Page B

budged and he smirked knowingly. “Let’s go skiing, bright eyes.”
    He said it in that low, seductive voice that could have lured her into crime, sin and most certainly anything less dangerous. Skiing fell somewhere in the middle. In fact, by comparison, it was beginning to seem infinitely safer and more appealing by the minute.
    As it turned out, however, her original assessment had been the accurate one. The skiing experience was pretty awful; if anything, even more dreadful than she had anticipated it might be. Its only virtue, as far as she could see, was that it did get her out of that house where all sorts of newly imagined dangers suddenly loomed.
    In the meantime, though, her nose was cold. Her feet refused to do what she told them, not that she could blame them since they were standing on long, skinny strips ofwood that skidded worse than bald tires. And her backside was frozen and sore from landing on it repeatedly.
    They kept at the lesson for what seemed like an eternity, though in reality Lindsay knew that it was barely more than an hour. She kept telling herself she was scrappy, a born fighter, that she was not going to be defeated by a sport other people without her college education, law degree and responsible career could do as easily as walking. Even little bitty children could ski, she reminded herself in disgust as she toppled over again.
    As a result of these internal pep talks, every time her skis shot out from under her, she got determinedly to her feet again and tried putting one foot cautiously in front of the other. As long as she simply picked them up and plunked them down, she did okay. But whenever she tried to glide in the smooth, easy motion that Mark had patiently demonstrated over and over, she felt as though she were out of control and, arms whirling frantically and futilely, down she went. She thought about making snow angels while she was down there, but she wasn’t feeling the least bit angelic. Besides, Mark pulled her back up almost immediately just so she could fall again. It confirmed her impression of his perversity.
    â€œYou’ll do better tomorrow,” he consoled, finally taking pity on her and helping her back into the house, where Shadow lifted his head and thumped his tail once in greeting, then went right back to his nap.
    â€œIf I live,” she muttered, wishing she could go lie down in front of the fire and put her head on Shadow’s back. She wondered if he’d mind or even notice. That dog seemed to need vitamins. On the other hand, he’d been inside in front of the fire, while she’d been outside freezing her tush off. It didn’t take a genius to figure out which of them was in better shape physically and mentally.
    â€œOnce you’ve had a nice hot bath, you’ll feel a whole lot better,” Mark assured her. He regarded her hopefully. “You have to agree it was beautiful out there this afternoon. That sky was something. I’ve never seen it so blue. Have you ever seen anything quite so gorgeous?”
    â€œThe beach at Maui,” she countered dryly, as she rubbed her icy hands together. They felt as though millions of tiny needles werejabbing them. She’d almost liked it better when they were numb.
    â€œIt’s hardly the same.”
    â€œI’ll say.”
    Mark looked crestfallen. “Didn’t you like it at all? I thought maybe once you got the hang of it...”
    â€œI haven’t gotten the hang of it, remember? Not unless you’re supposed to sit in the snow with your legs all tangled up with your skis.”
    â€œTomorrow,” he promised again and Lindsay felt a tiny little quiver of guilt. Here was a successful, handsome, rugged, virile man who seemed to want more than anything to please her, to share his special world with her, and she was behaving like an ungrateful wretch. Her mother would have a heart attack if she knew. She’d tell Lindsay that from now on she