The Christmas Swap, стр. 31

Chapter 14

Lucy

The ride back to the cabin was quiet and Lucy wasn’t sure if she was grateful or disappointed. Were they going to talk about it? At all?

Her hand in his, they’d looked at each other across the table for much longer than would ordinarily be comfortable. But then they finished their drinks and went back to the slopes as though it had never happened.

After skiing two more green runs, Will had tried to convince her to try a blue, but she’d hesitated. “I’ve possibly had the most perfect first day of skiing ever.” She had even mastered the steep part where she’d fallen the first time and had made it all the way to the bottom without falling—twice. “I don’t want it to go all pear-shaped because I got ahead of myself.”

“You’re doing great, though. You could totally handle a blue run. Come on, it’ll be fun.”

Lucy doubted that very much. As far as she was concerned, she had got lucky—perfect conditions and an excellent teacher. It was unlikely the day would be enhanced by snowploughing her way down a terrifying blue run, just to say she’d done it. She’d already overcome a massive fear just by letting Will teach her.

They had “compromised” by doing exactly what Lucy wanted to do—once more down the mountain on a green slope that they hadn’t yet skied, one that wove in and out of the forest. It had been brilliant and her favourite run of the day. There were only a few other skiers about, and it was so peaceful amongst the trees, the sluicing of their skis through the snow the only sound.

She looked across the car, knowing she had to say something. The silence was becoming a thing. “Will?”

“Mmm?” he said, glancing at her.

“Thank you for today.”

“Oh, no problem. I had fun.”

During which part? Lucy wondered. “I did too, actually.”

He chuckled. “You sound surprised.”

“Well, you must have realised I wasn’t particularly keen on going in the first place?” Understatement of the century.

“I thought you were just a little nervous, that’s all.”

“Quite frankly, I was terrified.”

His chuckle turned into a chortle. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I was being polite!” The chortle morphed into a full-blown bellow of a laugh and Lucy joined in at her own expense.

Many moments later, she gasped, “I can’t breathe.” How was Will managing to keep the car on the road? He was laughing so hard he was barely making any noise.

They each regained their composure with a series of audible sighs, Lucy with her hand clutched to her chest, and Will saying, “Oh, my god,” on repeat.

By the time they pulled up at the cabin, they were both breathing normally again. They shared a smile across the car and before she knew what was happening, Will leant across and kissed her on the mouth—hard and fast, a smack of a kiss, almost like he was staking a claim.

His eyes danced with playfulness as he retreated, and Lucy didn’t even mind that he seemed a little cocky. She couldn’t remember ever being kissed like that before. She didn’t go out with men much and if she did, they were usually far less sure of themselves than Will. All that, “May I kiss you?” nonsense. “Just kiss me!” she would scream inside her head.

This, with Will … this was different. But what in the world was going on?

There was no time to ponder this question because right after Will kissed her, the front door of the cabin flew open and a very pretty young blonde woman ran out, her long hair streaming behind her. She reminded Lucy of Jules except she was squealing so loudly—something Jules would never do—that Lucy could hear her from inside the car.

“Oh, hey, they made it!” Will opened the car door. “Come on. You’re about to meet the rowdy side of the family.”

*

“Rowdy” did not even begin to describe Aunt Jackie, Uncle Bob, and their three children—all (nearly) grown—Briony, Bridget, and Bradley. Someone clearly had a thing for Celtic “B” names.

Within moments of being inside, Lucy had been embraced so many times, the names and faces had blurred into one and the loud voices echoing in the cavernous foyer were hurting her ears. After a day of skiing, all she wanted was to stand under the shower, have something to eat, then go to bed. With Will. The last thought popped into her mind unbidden and she felt herself flush.

She watched how he was with his family. His charm seemed to come easily, and she could tell that all three of his younger cousins were somewhat starstruck by him. Bradley was the youngest at sixteen. He looked a lot like Will, only he had yet to grow into his height; he was all limbs and a little awkward. Like me, Lucy thought.

The cousin who had squealed her way out to the car was the eldest, Briony. She was a senior in college and couldn’t stop remarking on how beautiful Lucy’s hair was—Lucy’s long mass of curls that drove her mental on a semi-regular basis.

Uncle Bob was a bear of a man with a smiley face and cheeks so rosy, Lucy couldn’t help but think he looked like a middle-aged Father Christmas. He’d retreated to the kitchen after greeting her with a hug, right as Will was introducing the middle sibling, Bridget.

She was eighteen and about to start her final semester of high school. Unlike her mother, her aunt, her sister, and her cousin, Jules, Bridget was not tall, willowy, and blonde. She was of average height and solid build with brown hair pulled into a simple plait down her back. She seemed quieter than the rest, shy even, and Lucy liked her immediately.

Aunt Jackie looked almost exactly like her twin, Steph, but Lucy could tell right away that they were