21. Tender Loving Care

21

Tender Loving Care

Ivy

I was so close to kissing Zane last night. The starry sky, the shimmer of holiday lights, the way he gazed at me. Everything was perfect, even the fireworks that ended up ruining the moment. But maybe it’s for the best. Maybe the fireworks know better.

The only resolution I should make for this new year? Stay single.

After I take a shower and get dressed, I try calling Hazel one more time, but still no luck. How can this town operate here with so little service? Then, a light bulb goes off in my head. Zane mentioned a landline.

Glancing around the room, I spot the phone on the corner desk. Hastily, I type my sister’s number and put it on speaker.

“Hello?” she says with her polite “I don’t know who you are” voice.

“Happy New Year,” I shout, even though we already exchanged well wishes via text.

“Ivy! Happy New Year. How are you? Whose number is this?”

“My hotel room. I just figured out they had a landline here.” I shake my head. “But I’m good. How about you?”

“Great. We’re actually in line at Universal Studios right now.”

“Oh, hitting the park on New Year’s Day? Big move.”

“Yup. Surprisingly, it’s not crowded at all. The park was basically empty when the gates opened. Now, a few more people are trickling in, but we’re waiting in line for Hagrid, and it’s only a thirty-minute wait.”

“Wow. Unheard of.”

“Exactly,” she laughs. “So, how was your party last night? Did you have fun? Did you kiss the hot instructor at midnight? ”

“Oh, shut up. It was great. The town even had fireworks at midnight. But no, I didn’t kiss him.”

My mouth dries when the words leave my mouth.

“But you wanted to,” she insists, her voice teasing.

“No!” The lie has my cheeks instantly bursting into flames.

“Oh yes you did.” She giggles. “I can tell. Even from however many miles away we are.”

I sigh. “Exactly my point.”

“Wait. That’s your problem? You didn’t kiss him because he lives in another state?”

I bite my lip. “Well . . .”

“Ivy. Why are you always so invested in every relationship you pursue? Couldn’t you just have a little fling? Something to make your heart race and make you feel pretty while you’re on vacation. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I don’t do flings.” Never have. I’m proud to be a relationship kind of gal. A fling isn’t good for anything except breaking hearts. At least for me, because I don’t know how to be with someone before handing them my heart on a platter with a big sign that says “crush it.”

“Think of it as your new year’s resolution, then,” she peeps .

“Come on, Hazel. What girl kisses another guy a week after she was supposed to get married?” Guilt creeps back in, and I hate that it’s still there.

“Ivy, the keywords in that sentence are ‘ supposed to .’ Do you think Dan and what’s-her-face are playing chess right now?”

“I know, but it’s different . . .”

“Why? Because you’re the girl? Trust me, you have even more reason to be all over another guy right now. You deserve it.”

I sink into the couch, hugging the pillow I beat up the other day. “It’d only mess everything up.”

“New resolution,” she says again. “Oh, I’ve got to go. We’re up next. Love you.”

“Okay. Have fun. Love you too.”

As I hang up, I release a long breath. Could I really just have a fling with Zane? It’s probably what he’s looking for anyway, but am I even interested in that?

The image of Zane leaning in to kiss me plays over and over in my mind, sending shivers of anticipation down my spine and replacing the heartache of being dumped the night before my wedding. What I told Zane on the chairlift is true. After spending some time here, I no longer think Dan was the one. He never made me feel what I feel when I’m with Zane. The way my heart pounds when our bodies touch, the flutter in my belly that’s triggered by a single one of his smiles, my mouth going dry when I lose myself in the depth of his gray eyes. As guilty as those things make me feel, I can’t deny their existence, nor the fact that the only man I think about, all day and night, is Zane Harden.

After brunch, I mentally prepare for my ski lesson, trying to retrieve everything Zane taught me from my foggy brain. As soon as I spot him walking toward me with all the equipment hoisted on his shoulders, I forget all about snowplows and turning with poles. All I want to do is jump at him, wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him.

“Hey,” he says, a wide grin lighting up his face. “Sleep well?”

“I did.” In fact, I wish my alarm clock hadn’t gone off. Zane was in my dreams last night, and we weren’t interrupted by the fireworks this time. “And you?”

“Not bad. Ready for your lesson?” He slides his skis on. “I want to try a blue run today.”

My eyes widen slightly. “Already?”

“Yup. I think you can handle it. ”

I bite my lip, hesitating. “Okay. Let’s just hope I won’t start the year with a broken leg.”

He chuckles. “I won’t let that happen.”

We ski down a few green slopes first so I can get my footing, and I feel a lot more at ease than before. We ski the whole slope without having to stop, and I have yet to eat snow today.

It’s a clear day too, which helps with visibility. The perfect blue sky doesn’t have a shadow of a cloud. Once we reach the top of the blue run, we pause to take in the view. It’s steeper than any other slope I’ve tackled, but I’m not really scared. I trust Zane. He wouldn’t take me here if he didn’t think I could handle it.

“Ready?” he asks, putting his sunglasses on.

I nod. “Absolutely.”

He flashes a bright smile. “Just be extra careful. It is a little crowded, and hangover tourists are a bigger hazard than usual.”

I clear my throat, arching my eyebrow even though he can’t see it behind my sunglasses.

He shakes his head. “You don’t count as a tourist anymore.”

My heart warms. It’s silly, but the fact that Zane sees me as one of his own sends tingles through my body. Like I’m now a member of a super select club. And with Zane at the head, invites are probably tough to get.

“Just follow me, okay?” he says, a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll do great.”

“Yeah.” I nod. “Let’s do this.”

And off we go. The blue slope really is crowded, but I focus on the techniques I learned and always stay in Zane’s lane. He cranes his neck to throw me glances a few times, just to see if I’m still following, and I’m so proud to be doing this great. We stop twice, but not because I fall—just some quick breaks to enjoy the view.

Zane claps his hands when we slide to a stop at the bottom of the slope. “I’m impressed. That was excellent.”

“Thank you.” I beam, taking my sunglasses off. “Looks like I’m not too old for this after all,” I joke.

“You’re perfect . . .” he says, his gaze so intense it could melt the snow off this entire mountain.

“Anyway.” I clear my throat, taking my skis off. “I have to get going. I have another massage session scheduled for this afternoon, and this time, I’m not bailing. After five days here, I really need some TLC.”

Bending down to grab my skis, I bring them together and stand back up to hand them to Zane.

Only he’s watching me with a pointed look. “Ahem.”

“What?” I frown, struggling to fight my smile .

“You made me tag along for cooking class. I went ice skating and tubing with you. Tubing! And you don’t invite me to the spa? That’s just mean.”

I burst into laughter, my cheeks burning up at the idea of Zane in a bathing suit. “You want to come to the spa ? It’s indoors, you know.”

He wrinkles his nose. “I think I’d survive. You’re not the only one who needs TLC once in a while.”

“You’re more than welcome to join me.”

My heart rattles in my chest. I’m not sure if it’s from the shock of Zane being willing to come, or the fact that he’s the one who asked to join me. At the spa, of all places. Where we’ll be in a warm environment with hardly any clothes on when we’re used to hanging out with more layers than usual. Plus, I’m pretty sure it’s not his scene—at all—and the thought of him stepping out of his comfort zone again just to spend time with me sends all kinds of butterflies tickling my belly. Yeah, that’s definitely what makes my heart rattle the most.