Terri Reed - Treacherous Slopes

“I’m glad to see you’re feeling better,” she said, moving farther into the room.

“Much, thank you.” He didn’t like being in such a vulnerable position, trapped in bed wearing a hospital gown and totally at a disadvantage with a lovely lady.

“There’s a woman out there waiting to see you,” Julie said. “Is she your girlfriend?”

“No,” Nick said quickly and exchanged a glance with Gordon.

Gordon stood. “Here, sit. I’ll take care of that situation.”

Nick sent Gordon a grateful nod. He hoped Gordon would be able to send Kitty on her way. There was something in the woman’s eyes that gave him the same feeling that had seized him when his boot had shifted in the ski binding today.

Julie took a seat and pulled out a notebook from the big flowered shoulder bag that she dropped at her feet.

So she wanted to get down to business. He watched her slender hands flip open the pad, her pen poised. There was a noticeable lack of a wedding ring. Curious, he asked, “Where’s Mr. Frost tonight?”

Julie grinned. “Afraid he’ll come storming in, jealous over me being at your bedside?”

“I like to be prepared.”

She laughed. “Frost is my stage name. Rolls off the tongue better than Tipton. There’s no mister attached to it or me.”

“You never married?” He’d figured she’d have found some intellectual at the fancy college she’d surely attended and be happily married by now.

Her gaze dropped to her hands. She fiddled with the pen. A shadow crossed over her face. “No. Never found the right guy.”

“Too picky?”

Her gaze shot up to meet his. Indignation flared in the light blue depths. “No. That’s not it all. Why would you say that?”

He’d struck a nerve. Which made him more curious and stirred an ache in his chest he couldn’t explain. Had someone hurt her? The thought didn’t settle well. “I remember in high school you didn’t date. I figured you were holding out for a brainiac like yourself.” At least that was what he’d told himself when he’d chickened out and didn’t ask her to homecoming their junior year. Of course that was before he’d had his talk with Dad and realized falling in love, making a commitment, meant giving up on his dreams. Something he had no intention of ever allowing.

A rueful twist touched her mouth, drawing his gaze again. “I didn’t date in high school because no one asked.”

He felt like a heel. “I should have asked you.”

She looked at him from beneath her lashes. “I would have liked that.”

“If you drop this whole interview thing, we could go on a date.” It had been a while since he’d dated anyone. Dating did not equal commitment. At least not to him, which was why he rarely dated.

She inhaled sharply. “That would be like asking me to stop breathing, Nick.”

“Good thing I know CPR.”

She rolled her eyes. “You promised to tell me why you have a bodyguard,” she said briskly. “And why did you think the ambulance crash wasn’t an accident?”

So much for dating her. “Someone’s trying to kill me.”

THREE

Julie’s jawed dropped. She snapped it shut as his words reverberated through her brain. Someone was trying to kill Nick?

Her mind reeled. First his talk of dating if she’d drop the feature on him and now this? Nick’s story was bigger than she’d ever imagined. Her mind popped with questions. “Why would someone want to kill you? Who wants to kill you? What’s happened that would lead you to believe that?”

“Whoa.” Nick held up a hand. “Slow down. Shouldn’t you be waiting for me to answer one question before you throw me another?”

Her face flamed. “Of course. Yes. Sorry. You’re right. Of course, you’re right.”

He touched her arm. “It’s okay. Take a deep breath.”

She took in a shuddering breath to calm her racing heart.

“Better?”

“Yes.” She poised her pencil over the pad of paper. “Okay. This is huge, Nick. Where’s Bob and his camera?” She tapped the pencil against the pad. “I’d like to get a shot of you here in the hospital, if you’d be comfortable with that.” From the appalled look on his face, she guessed he wasn’t. “Okay, scratch that idea.”

“Please do. In fact, let’s call the whole interview off.”

She searched his face, trying to decide if he was serious. His jaw was set. His eyes flinty. Yep, he was serious. “But we can’t. Surely you understand that.”

He shook his head. “I’m not thrilled about being the subject of your interview.”

“But you will go through with the interview, right?” She hated how desperate she sounded.

His dark blue eyes narrowed. “Why is this so important to you?”

Should she tell him what was at stake? She didn’t want to sound whiny or pathetic, but if he understood that her shot at becoming an on-air reporter hinged on how well she delivered this story for Northwest Edition, then maybe he’d cooperate. She didn’t have anything to lose except her pride.

“This is my first big break. I went out on a limb and pitched this idea for a feature on you to my boss in hopes of securing a permanent on-camera spot. I can’t afford to keep working there if I don’t get this promotion.”

“So what is your actual job now?”

“I’m a production assistant.”

“Ah, okay.” Nick repressed the chuckle that bubbled up. No wonder she’d been nervous and overly enthusiastic with her questions. And why she needed the promotion. He doubted being an assistant paid that well. “I’d like to help you, but...”

She sat forward. “Mr. Davenport at Thunderbird was excited about the idea. He said he wanted to make new skin designs for your skis and to unveil them live during the segment.” Her voice rose slightly. Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip.

His gaze landed on her mouth. She’d always had perfectly shaped lips. Soft and supple. Kissable. He remembered thinking that in high school. Of course back then her lips had been devoid of lipstick. She’d never been one to wear all that stuff on her face the way most of the teen girls did.

Her lips parted slightly, making him aware he’d been staring.

He could tell this meant a lot to her. But the anger he’d felt over the media raking Cody through the mud grated something fierce.

She reached to touch his hand. Sympathy tinged her gaze. “I was sorry to hear about Cody’s accident. I sent flowers.”

Nick’s breath hitched. Grief stabbed him. He fought the burning behind his eyes. The place where her fingers rested lightly on his hand created a hot spot, distracting him from the pain stirred up by her words. He hadn’t known she’d sent flowers. Of course, he hadn’t really been aware of much at the time. “That was thoughtful of you.”

A commotion outside the door drew his attention away from the pretty lady sitting beside him.

Ted blocked the doorway.

“But I want to see him!” said a female blocked from Nick’s view.

He didn’t have to see the woman to recognize Kitty’s voice. She was making a scene and disturbing the peace of the hospital. Nick winced. He’d thought Gordon was going to deal with her. Obviously he hadn’t been successful.

“That other woman was allowed in,” Kitty shrieked. “Nick! Nick, tell this man to let me in.”

“Who’s she?” Julie asked in a whisper.

“A fan,” Nick said. He sighed. Thinking of the other patients, he called out, “Ted, it’s okay. I’ll see her if it will make her stop fussing.”

Ted glanced over his shoulder. “You’re sure?”

“Why not? Let’s just add to my humiliation.”

Julie gave him a chiding look as Kitty barged into the room, carrying a small, wrapped present. She was an attractive woman with dark hair curling around her impish face, wide dark eyes, red lips and a Marilyn Monroe–type mole at the corner of her mouth. He wasn’t sure if the detail was real or for effect. She had on well-worn jeans and a red sweater that emphasized her assets. But to Nick, Kitty was a dark shadow compared to the shimmering lightness of Julie. The two couldn’t have been more opposite in looks or personality.