Chapter Eight
"Eva, don't freak out," Andi tucked the phone under her chin and flipped through the file in front of her. "I may have a little project for us."
"Any conversation that starts like that, is bound to make me freak out," Eva said. "What on earth have you done?"
Andi smiled at her friend's reaction. She knew Eva wouldn't reject it out of hand.
"Well, it's a small little Christmas party for the Lodge." Best to ease her into the idea.
"Andi, the Lodge doesn't do small parties. Just tell me."
So she did. Andi spilled the story about how Carmen was left in the lurch for a project co-ordinator and how since she just happened to be there, Andi thought she'd help out.
"But you hate Christmas," Eva said, when she was done explaining.
Andi looked out the window, to the snow covered pines wrapped with twinkling lights. They were starting to come on as the sun set behind the mountains.
"I did," she said. "I mean, I do."
"Which is it?"
"I might be changing my mind," Andi admitted.
"Wow, the Lodge must be working it's magic on you. I didn't think it was possible for you to be converted to the candy cane cause," Eva said. "By the way, how are things? You left a message saying things got screwed up. Did it get sorted out?"
"Oh yes," Andi said. She touched a finger to her lips, remembering her kiss with Colin. "Things most definitely got sorted out. I'm actually sharing a villa with a guy."
"What?" Her friend managed to get out before being taken over by a coughing fit. After a moment, Eva got herself under control and said, "Sorry, coffee went down the wrong pipe. What do you mean, you're sharing a villa? What on Earth is going on?"
"There was a mix up with the reservations, and they didn't have room for me, so Colin offered to share his villa with me, since he was by himself."
"Colin? What do you even know about this guy? How do you know he's not going to murder you in your sleep, or worse?"
"Worse than murder?" Andi laughed.
"It's not funny," Eva said. Andi could picture her friend pacing in their tiny office. If there was something Eva did well, it was worry about things out of her control. "This is serious. You need to get out of there right now."
Andi put the file she was holding down and stood. "Honestly, Eva. He's perfectly safe. And he's...well, he's kind of cute."
"Wait a minute. Stop everything. Are you saying you like this guy?" Eva's tone shifted as she realized her friend might actually be interested in a real live man after so long.
"I think I do," Andi said. "He's been doing what he calls his Christmas Conversion project, showing me how wonderful the holidays can be."
"And it's obviously working," Eva said and then giggled. "Okay, so now I understand what's really going on."
Andi went to the kitchen and poured herself a fresh cup of coffee. "So you'll help me with the ball?"
"You know I will," she said. "Tell me what we need to do and I'll be there. But I have to be gone first thing in the morning. My mom has a big dinner planned."
"Thank you. You can stay here, there's an extra room in the villa."
"Perfect, and then you can tell me all about this guy, right?"
Andi swallowed her coffee hard and ignored the question. "After looking at what they have here and what they've done in the last few years, we should be good for decorations, and of course the Lodge will handle the food, we just need to plan a menu. We should be able to utilize the staff to work the party but we still need a theme."
"Okay," Eva said. "I'll work on the theme and then you can tell me about this guy."
There was the sound of the keycard in the lock and Andi looked over to see Colin, laden with bags, come through the door. She waved her hand in his direction but put her finger to her lips to keep him quiet.
Colin nodded his head in agreement and went down the hall to put his packages away and Andi turned her attention back to the phone, and Eva. "I have to go, call me later."
"Oh, he's there, isn't he? You don't have to tell me now, but you'll tell me sooner or later."
Andi smiled and turned towards the tree in the corner of the room. She had to admit, it was beautiful. The lights sparkled, and the fresh piney smell filled her senses. Maybe it wasn't so bad. "I'll talk to you later," she said to her friend and hung up before she could hear Eva's protests. There was no point having her read more into the situation than there was. It was just a kiss. Amazing, and toe curling, sure, but it was still only one kiss. Besides, Colin had made it really clear he didn't want anything more, and as much as Andi would like to pretend she could be the one night stand type, she wasn't so sure her heart could make the leap.
"Andi," Colin said making her jump. She hadn't heard him come into the room.
She turned around and the sight of him made her stomach clench with desire.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"You didn't," she said. "I was just thinking and..." His slow smile distracted her. Damn. Could he be thinking of their kiss too?
"Andi, I-"
"I should probably get ready," she said, cutting him off. "We have dinner reservations."
Andi did her best to be casual as she walked past him towards her room, but when her arm brushed his, she knew he could feel the electricity between them, just as well as she could.
***
Colin knew Andi would look amazing dressed in something besides the jeans and sweaters he'd seen her in, but he wasn't prepared for the woman who sat across from him at the restaurant. She was stunning in a simple fitted black dress that showed off all of her assets. But it was her silky dark hair that she'd let loose from the standard pony tail she'd been wearing it in. It was shiny and looked so soft that Colin couldn't stop himself from imagining what it would look like splayed across a pillow.
All through their appetizers and steaks, they'd talked about all types of things. She'd seemed impressed with how he'd turned things around in his business, and he'd been equally impressed with her party planning company. She was a driven woman, which only made her more attractive to him, if that was possible.
Despite the easy conversation between them, Colin couldn't help feel that something was holding her back. Andi seemed distracted and distant. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was definitely something going on.
"Are you up for dessert?" he asked. "The chocolate lava cake looks pretty good." He pointed to the table next to them, trying to distract her out of her thoughts.
"I don't-"
"Come on," he said. "We'll share. How could you pass that up?"
"Honestly, I don't think I can move," Andi said. "I'm so full. That was the most amazing steak I've had in a long time. " She leaned back in her chair. When she stretched, her breasts pushed out and Colin had to look away. She had no idea the effect she had on him.
Once he had himself under control again, he stood and offered her his hand. "Why don't we walk it off then?"
She accepted with a smile and said, "I think that's a great idea. I could really use some fresh air."
Just feeling her skin against his again made his heart race. They hadn't kissed or even touched since their shared moment by the fire earlier, but now he was like an oversexed teenager. He battled with himself. Part of him, a large part, couldn't wait to get her back to the villa and show her exactly how she made him feel. But there was something about Andi. He liked her, really liked her, and Colin got the distinct impression that she wasn't the type for casual sex. And the more time he spent with her, the more he had to admit to himself that maybe Rose was right.
The left the restaurant bundled up in their coats and, wordless, chose the longer path back to the villa. Walking through the woods on the lit path, Colin reached out his hand and took hers. She smiled
"I was wondering if I'd scared you away earlier," she said.
Colin stopped short. "Me? Scared me?" He pulled her close by grabbing her other hand. "Oh no, you definitely didn't scare me. Quite the opposite in fact."
"Is that right?" She grinned and Colin leaned down, touching his lips gently to hers.
He pulled back after only the slightest touch. "That's right."
She smiled but then her face turned serious. "I need to tell you something."
Colin's gut reaction was to put his fingers in his ears like a child. He didn't want to hear what she was going to say. Not if he wasn't going to like it. He swallowed hard and prepared himself to hear the worst. "What's that?"
"It's been a long time since I've been with anyone."
"Okay." He tipped his head to the side. "Why do I get the feeling that there's more?"
"There is." She smiled weakly. "It was a very serious relationship and he left me when I needed him the most. It crushed me. And when it ended, well, I kind of shut down. The only thing left for me was work. So when the holidays came up, I came up here to hide. I couldn't face it." She looked down and added, "And I can't believe I'm telling you all of this."
"No," Colin said. He squeezed her hands and she met his gaze again. "I'm glad you are. I could tell there was something on your mind at dinner."
"You could?"
He laughed at her surprise. "I know, I can hardly believe it myself," he said. "I'm not generally known for being very perceptive."
"Well, it's been a little while since I've been on a date, and I just thought it was fair that you knew what you were getting into to."
"A date?"
She blushed. At least, Colin thought she did. It might have been the cool air.
"Well, I guess, I thought...never mind."
Was it a date? It'd been so long since he'd gone on an actual date, and not just out for drinks and sex. "No," he said and leaned forward, letting his lips caress hers again before pulling away. "You're right. It is a date. Our first date."
"Well then, since we agree that it is a date," she said. "I suppose I should tell you that I used to have a rule about dating."
Colin pulled back just enough so they could continue walking, slowly now, towards the villa. "Tell me," he said.
"I know this sounds kind of awkward, but I think I should put it out there because you seem like the type of guy that has different ideas on things."
What the hell did that mean? He thought, but instead said, "Just say it, Andi."
"I don't sleep with men on the first date."
Colin coughed to hide his shock. "And you think I'm the type of man who sleeps with women right away?"
She stopped walking and tipped her head, challenging him with her eyes. "You more or less told me that you don't do relationships, and you're an attractive man, so-"
"You think I'm attractive?" he smiled and she swatted at him.
"Tell me I'm wrong," she said.
Colin shrugged. "I can't." He started walking again.
A few moments later they reached the front door and Colin slid the key into the lock. Before he opened the door, he turned to Andi and said, "I might have been that guy, before, but I think things are changing."
"Is that right?" She smiled with so much sass that it took all the willpower he had not to kiss it away.
Instead of answering her, he pushed the door open and let her walk in ahead of him.
He didn't know what frustrated him more. The fact that she was right, or that he wished she wasn't.
Chapter Nine
The cold air blasted through Andi's house coat and pricked at her skin. Colin was already waiting in the hot tub and steam floated up, creating a mystical cloud around him. It had been her idea to try out the tub since neither of them was ready for bed. She regretted her idea, just for an instant when she saw his hard, naked chest. More likely it was her stupid, no sex rule she regretted.
"Jump in," he said.
"It's cold." Andi bounced on her feet and tightened the robe around her.
"I swear," Colin said. "It's beautifully hot in here. Come on."
"Sure, it's good when you're already in."
Colin laughed and splashed some water in her direction. "I'll prove it to you," he said, and before Andi could say anything, he put his hands on the edge of the hot tub and launched himself out of the water.
"What are you doing?"
"I told you I'd prove it to you," he said. Colin flopped into the snow next to the deck and started making snow angels with nothing but his wet board shorts on.
"You're crazy," she said and ran towards him. "Get up before you freeze to death." Andi reached out her arm to him but pulled it back before he could grab it. "I don't think so. You're not going to pull that trick again.
Colin jumped up from the snow and Andi took off running. She untied her robe and let it fall behind her as she leapt into the hot water. Colin was close behind, falling into the hot tub with a loud, clumsy splash.
"Oh," he moaned. "It burns." Colin danced around in the water. Andi was laughing so hard she didn't even bother covering her face from the splashing.
After a moment, Colin relaxed and sank down into the water next to Andi who was still laughing. "See, I told you it was hot," he said.
"You're ridiculous," she said when she was finally able to take a breath. "Are you okay?"
Colin wrapped his arms around Andi's waist and pulled her close. His wet chest pressed up against her body fired all her nerve endings and she pulled herself closer so every possible inch of their wet skin was touching.
"I'm just fine now," Colin said. His lips met hers and maybe it was because of the fact that only scraps of bathing suits were between them, but the sweetness of their earlier kiss was replaced with fire. Andi let her body relax and wrapped one hand around Colin's back. She let her fingers slide over his muscles before squeezing tight. A sigh escaped her when he moved from her mouth, trailing kisses down her neck. Her body responded to every touch, with bold sensation. But when he reached the swell of her breast, she reluctantly pushed Colin away.