A Slippery Slope (8 page)

‘Oh!’She
didn’t know what to say. Josh was standing in the doorway and he looked as
though he had been wondering where she was. Had she been that long?

‘I
... I thought I heard my phone ringing,’ she lied, feeling her cheeks burning and
her heart thumping. ‘It’s ... it’s in my handbag. In the bedroom.’

He
creased his dark brows but a smile appeared within seconds. ‘And was it?’

‘Um.
No. I must be hearing things. That’s what happens when you get old.’

‘How
old
are
you, Verity, if you don’t mind me asking? I know Lucy’s
twenty-one because Joanna told me, but you honestly don’t look old enough to be
her mother.’

She
was a little surprised by the question and she grabbed a bottle of wine from
the rack whilst she thought of a suitable reply. She was even more surprised
when he took the bottle from her and opened it without saying another word. She
placed some glasses on the worktop in front of him. He stood so close to her as
he poured the wine that she could feel the heat of his body and smell his
subtle aftershave. She eased herself slightly away.

‘If
...if you’re worried about my ability to cope, Josh, please don’t be. I know I
said that I’m exhausted – and I am – but that’s got more to do with skiing
again after all these years than it has with working here, I assure you. I
won’t let you down. At least I’ll try not–’

‘It’s
got nothing to do with working here,’ Josh interrupted. ‘That wasn’t why I
asked your age. I ... I’m just curious, that’s all.’

Verity
giggled. ‘Phew! I thought for one moment I was being sent packing.’

Josh
tilted his head to one side and studied her face. She felt her cheeks getting
hotter – her whole body getting hotter.

‘I
thought you didn’t care if you worked here or not?’

‘I
didn’t.’

‘But
now you do? What made you change your mind?’

She
wanted to tell him to stop looking at her like that, but she wasn’t sure that
she wanted him to stop. She wasn’t sure of anything, except perhaps that she
wanted to kiss him. Right here, right now. She really must pull herself together.

‘Lucy,’
she said, forcing herself to look away from him. ‘She really wants to do this.
She has done for as long as I can remember. I can’t let her down.’

‘Oh.’
He sounded disappointed.

‘And
in answer to your question – although it’s not polite to ask a woman’s age –
I’m forty. But only just. It was my birthday the week before we came here.’

‘Really?
Happy belated birthday! So ... you were about nineteen when you had Lucy?’

‘I
was a child bride,’ she joked. For some absurd reason she didn’t want to say that
she was pregnant when she married Tony.

‘Well,
you don’t look forty,’ Josh said.

‘Thanks.
People often say that Lucy and I look like twins.’

He
smirked. ‘I wouldn’t go quite as far as that, but sisters, yes.’

‘Thank
you
!’ she said, giving him a playful shove.

He
grabbed her hands, their eyes met and she was in his arms with his lips on hers
before she knew what was happening.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The
kiss lasted just a matter of seconds but even that was long enough for Verity
to know she wanted more. Much, much more. And unless she was mistaken, so did
Josh. The look in his eyes told her so. If the five guests who had barrelled
through the front door and were now doing a conga line around the kitchen,
hadn’t returned when they had, who knows what would have happened.

She watched Josh run a hand through his hair, lick his lips as if
he were still savouring the taste of her, and screw up his eyes for the
briefest of moments. She wondered what he was thinking. That it shouldn’t have
happened, or that he wished the guests weren’t there? She wasn’t completely
sure herself.

He smiled half-heartedly as he was pulled into the line, just as
Verity was seconds later, but they both quickly managed to extricate
themselves. They faced one another in silence until the party moved into the
sitting room.

‘I’m so sorry, Verity, I never should have done that,’ he said,
his hand in his hair again.

Clearly regret then, she thought. ‘It doesn’t matter. These things
happen.’

‘I suppose I should be glad you didn’t karate kick me or
something.’

She forced a smile. ‘Yes. I suppose so.’

Roars of laughter emanated from the sitting room and Josh glanced
in that direction.

‘Will you be okay with that lot, or would you like me to handle
it? They rarely do any damage and if they do, they always pay for it, so don’t
worry about that.’

Back to business as usual, it seemed.

‘I’m sure I’ll be fine. Besides, I’ve got to get used to it. It’s
not as if you’ll always be here, is it?’

It took him a few seconds to reply. ‘No,’ he said eventually. ‘In
fact, I think I’m going to be away for a week or so.’

‘Oh?’

‘Business.’

She could see he was lying. ‘Well ... have a safe trip.’

‘Thanks.
Er ... call me if there’s anything important but
other than that, Etienne will be able to help you with anything you need, or
questions you may have.’ He moved towards the door. ‘I really am sorry, Verity.
It won’t happen again.’

He was gone before she could reply.

***

‘Mum. It’s time to get up.’

Verity opened her eyes with some difficulty. ‘Is it really morning
already? I feel as if I haven’t slept a wink.’

‘I don’t think you did. Were ... were you dreaming about Dad? You
kept calling out, “Don’t go!” and you were sobbing at one point. I shouldn’t
have gone out and left you last night.’

Verity let out a long breath. ‘It had nothing to do with you going
out last night, darling, and I’m sorry I kept you awake.’

‘I ... I thought you were coping a bit too well. You haven’t cried
since we’ve been here so I suppose it had to happen. You’ve been trying to
pretend that you’re not upset, haven’t you?’

Verity pulled herself upright. ‘To be honest, darling, I’m not
really sure what I’ve been doing. But don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’ll
get showered and go and shovel some snow.’

‘I’ll do that, Mum. You take it easy this morning. You need to
look after yourself.’

Verity almost burst into tears at that. She wondered what Lucy
would say if she knew the real reason for her tears because she had a feeling
they had absolutely nothing to do with Lucy’s father.

‘Seriously, Lucy, I’m fine. Although I don’t think I’ll go skiing
today. Why don’t you show me how to make that yoghurt cake thing and I can have
a go at that instead. Did you have a good time with Etienne?’

She saw the colour creep into Lucy’s cheeks and the slow smile
appear on her lips.

‘Not bad. He said he may stop by later. What about you? Did Josh
stay long?’

Verity cleared her throat. ‘Er ... not long, no. Some of the
guests returned and they were a little ... lively. I think he thought it was
time to leave. He said he’ll be away for a week or so.’

‘Really? That’s odd. Etienne said that we should all go out on our
day off on Wednesday. He didn’t say Josh would be away.’

‘Perhaps it was a last-minute decision.’

‘I assume he’ll be back before Christmas. Can you believe it’s
only just over two weeks away?’

‘To be honest, darling, I haven’t even given Christmas a second
thought!’

***

Verity still hadn’t given it much thought by the time Christmas
week actually arrived. She and Lucy dressed the tree and hung a few decorations
around the chalet. Etienne helped them hang the coloured lights – of which
there were many, both inside and out. Josh, it seemed, was as partial to fairy
lights as Verity and Lucy were. But that was the extent of their preparations.
She decided she’d better ask Etienne exactly what was expected of them. There
had been no sign of Josh since the night of their ‘kiss’ so she couldn’t ask
him.

‘Only what it says in the info pack,’ Etienne said. ‘Christmas is
always a bit manic out here, but you’ve handled the last two weeks like real
professionals, so I don’t think you’ll have a problem.’

‘I just wondered if we’re supposed to organise games or anything.
We’ve wrapped the Christmas gifts for under the tree and the food and drink are
sorted but it is Christmas and I wondered about carol singers or something –
just to make it a little bit special.’

‘I told Mum that just being in a place like this over Christmas is
pretty special, but it’s always been a big thing at our house and she doesn’t
want anyone to be disappointed, do you?’ Lucy said, hugging her mother.

‘I don’t think they will be,’ Etienne replied. ‘We’ve never had
any complaints before. The chalet looks very Christmassy and the snow outside
makes all the difference. I’ll see if they give any hints of their expectations
when I chat to them on the way from the airport, but I’m sure it’s all good.
You can check with Josh though, if you’re worried. He’ll be back this morning.’

‘This morning? Oh! Um ... Thanks, Etienne.’ Verity quickly turned
away. She didn’t want Etienne or Lucy to see her flushed cheeks.

‘Josh is back today? That’s good news. We’ve missed him, haven’t
we, Mum?’

‘Uh huh.’

‘Are you okay down there?’ Lucy asked.

‘Uh huh.’ Verity rummaged in the cupboard and grabbed the first
thing she could find.

‘I hope you’re not going to hit me with that,’ Etienne said when
she straightened up.

She realised she was holding a pan up in the air as if that was
exactly what she intended to do. She placed it on the worktop and laughed.

‘Sorry. I seem to be having one of those days.’

‘Well, we’d better get this lot in the minibus and off to the
airport,’ he said, referring to the departing guests. ‘See you both later with
the new batch of party animals.’

‘If they’re anything like those two guys who went back on the Eurostar
this morning,’ Lucy said, ‘
animals
is the right word for them!’

‘Not all guests are perfect,’ Etienne replied, grinning broadly.

‘And some are barely human,’ Lucy said.

‘Speaking of animals.’ Etienne nodded towards the Golden retriever
curled up in front of the kitchen hearth. ‘You’d better do something with
Mistral before Josh sees her, or we’ll all be out of work over Christmas!’

***

‘That smells good.’

Verity recognised Josh’s voice instantly – and the hint of
apprehension in his tone. She wondered if he felt as nervous as she did.
Telling herself to keep calm and taking two deep breaths, she turned and
grinned at him.

‘It’s chicken casserole.’ She hoped he’d guess it was
coq au
vin
.

Humour danced in Josh’s eyes. ‘I love chicken casserole.’

Their eyes met and held.

‘Hello, Josh. It’s good to see you again,’ she said in the
lightest tone she could manage.

‘Hello, Verity. It’s good to see you too.’

‘Hey, Josh!’ Lucy said, returning from the cellar with several
bottles of wine. ‘How are you? If I’d known you were here I’d have asked you to
go down there.’ She nodded towards the cellar door. ‘That place really gives me
the creeps.’

‘Hello, Lucy. I’m sorry about that,’ Josh replied, laughing. ‘It
gives me the creeps too. Send Etienne. He’s not afraid of anything.’

‘I usually do,’ Lucy admitted, ‘but he’s at the airport and I
forgot to ask him before he left.’ She headed towards the dining room with the
wine. ‘We’ve missed you. Oh. Am I allowed to say that to my boss?’

Josh darted a look at Verity. ‘Yes. And I’ve missed you. It’s good
to be back.’

‘Would you like a coffee?’ Verity asked, trying to avoid meeting
his eyes.

‘Um ... I’d better not. I came here straight from the airport ...
just to say hi and let you know I’m back. I’d better get home and see if
there’re any messages I’ve missed. Unless you need me for anything.’

‘Oh. Um. No.’

Verity hoped she didn’t sound too disappointed. She considered
broaching the subject of Mistral – who was currently asleep on Lucy’s bed – but
she didn’t feel this was the time for that potentially difficult conversation.

‘I’ll see you soon then,’ Josh said. ‘Etienne tells me things have
been going well. The chalet looks lovely by the way. Just like a Christmas
card. The guests last week must have been very impressed and it’s particularly
important for the guests this week.’

Verity wanted to shake him. All he seemed interested in was the
chalet and his business.

‘Things have been going very well, even if I say so myself. You
only have to read the guest book comments,’ she said.

‘We have a guest book?’

‘I thought it would be good for us to get feedback. To see if
there’s anything we’re not doing that we should be. Is that a problem? Do you
mind?’

Josh shook his head. ‘No. It’s fine with me if the guests like
it.’

‘Well, they’ve all written in it, so I can only assume they do.’

‘Great. I look forward to reading it.’ He hesitated for a moment.
‘Um. I’ll be off then.’

‘Bye,’ Verity said, turning her back on him and pretending to be
busy.

Oh well, she thought, hearing him leave a few moments later, at
least that’s over. She was dreading seeing him again after that kiss but
clearly, as far as he was concerned, it was as if it never happened.