Read Holiday Romance Collection - 6 Books Bundle (Erotic Romance - Holiday Romance) Online
Authors: Melissa F. Hart
“If you say so,” Alondra dismissed getting up off the bed and making for the closet.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Danielle questioned turning to look at her friend.
“Danny, there’s only one part on the male’s body that does not lie.” Alondra returned having drawn her sleepwear from the closet.
“Alondra.” Danielle returned in warning, “Don’t go there.” knowing her friend had no shame when it came to the opposite sex, and their
‘manifestations’
of interest.
“No, it’s not that one. It’s his feet.” Alondra flatly stated. “Next time, look down. If you had, you would realize they were pointed at you for most of the evening.” Alondra said making for the bathroom, leaving Danielle slightly stunned.
“So?” Danielle demanded.
“It’s means his real interest was in you, and if you were not glancing around the room and actually paid attention to him, I’d safely bet that you could’ve ended up in his bed tonight.” Danielle called from the bathroom.
“Alondra!” Danielle returned in shock.
“Okay maybe not tonight, but he was definitely feeling you out,” Alondra replied, then there was a moment’s silence, followed by running water, “However there’s a definite chance that he’d bed you tomorrow night, if you let him.” Alondra’s muffled reply once again came, leaving Danielle stunned. “And who knows?” She once again spoke up stepping out of the bathroom, ready for bed. “You could actually do with a bit of a holiday fling, loosen you up a bit, Get all that pent up tension out your system.”
“I thought I was here because of your break up.” Danielle finally returned.
“Me being ‘heartbroken’.” Alondra started, making quotation marks with her hands, “does not mean we cannot have fun, and if there is a willing partner, what’s stopping us, there’s no complications, no strings and no need for emotional involvement. And honestly, I don’t think there could be a better way for me to get over things.”
“So you seriously would, if a guy?” Danielle questioned.
“Yeah, there’s nothing like living in the moment to feel truly alive. Hell if any of the even remotely good looking guys made a move, I’d be more than happy to bed him.” Alondra answered pulling back the sheets.
“And if they talk.” Danielle questioned.
“Well then you were good, and the others would come running,” Alondra returned settling on the bed.
“And you would?” Danielle asked wearily, wondering if there was a side to Alondra she did not know.
“No, I’m not a slut, but they don’t know that.” She deadpanned.
“You really think he’s interested?” Danielle questioned moving towards her share of the closet.
“Hell yeah, he was practically glued to you for most of the night. It you had been anywhere more private he would have had his hands on you the entire time.” Alondra professed, before dropping her voice to a more serious tone. ‘He’s nice, but don’t get attached, he’s older than the other staff members, so he’d be less forthright than them.”
“You’re really serious!” Danielle returned, turning to face Alondra.
“Oh come on, for once in your life seduce a man. You’ve been single for far to long now, you need to get back into the groove, and what better way than with someone you’re unlikely to ever face again. Be whoever you want to be, do whatever you never had the guts to do with someone you knew. He doesn’t know you, cannot judge you for it. But he can liberate you.” Alondra concluded.
“I’ll think about it.” Danielle returned, making for the bathroom.
“Good girl, now let’s get some sleep, you have to learn to ski in the morning.”
“Yeah, don’t remind me.” Danielle returned closing the bathroom door behind her.
The following morning they awoke to find the weather overcast, with forecasts predicting afternoon snowfall. It was colder than the day before and Danielle was hesitant as to whether or not she wanted to try skiing in the conditions, especially with the higher slopes having been closed off.
Gareth greeted them on their arrival, indicting for Danielle to join the others before once again starting the lesson by going over the basics again. Most showed some improvement on their previous day’s efforts, and Danielle even managed to complete a turn before tumbling in the snow.
Gareth helped her up and went with her through it again, before turning his attention to another learner. Danielle found her gaze following him, noticing the calm way he would assist the others.
When she managed to get to the bottom of the “Baby Slope”, and actually halt whilst keeping her feet under her, a shocking splattering sensation hit her back, catching her off guard and causing her to tumble over. Once she righted herself, she looked towards Alondra who stood not too far from her with an impish grin on her face. “Told you you could do it.”
“Did you need to throw me with a snowball?” Danielle returned in disbelief.
“I couldn’t resist.” Danielle returned,
“Oh well then in that case,” Danielle said bending down and scooping up a measure of snow, pushing it together slightly before pitching it Alondra, and declaring, “Payback time.” Alondra moved out of the way, and instead of hitting her friend, she hit Gareth, who was busy explaining something to one of the other students.
A sudden cold bolt of shock coursed through her, when as he exclaimed, “What the hell!” before turning round to face her. She knew her shocked, and guilt-ridden expression gave her away instantaneously.
“Not only do you literally knock my feet from under me, you’re now tossing snowballs at me too.” he returned, his tone disbelieving, making it difficult to judge his mood.
“I meant to hit her.” Danielle professed, indicating to Alondra who stood not too far from him. “But she moved.”
“Oh well, then it’s payback time,” he mischievously replied, also scooping up some snow, haphazardly shaping it before pitching it back at her. Danielle fought to maintain her balance on the skies, and his snowball found its mark on her shoulder when she tried to move out of the way.
“Snow fight!” she heard one of the kids exclaimed and then in fear of being pelted with more snowballs, simply sunk to the ground as the kids started to throw random snowballs in every direction.
“You okay?” Gareth asked standing over her, whilst everyone else seemed to get into the sprit of things.
“Yeah I’m okay. But I think you’ve started something.” She replied, indicating to the others
“Well it’s a fun way to end the lesson.” He laughed as everyone threw snowballs about. He held out his hand and pulled her up, helping her out of her skies. “It also helps them with concentrating on something other than their skies, allowing their bodies to naturally balance and not over compensate. You should actually join in, you’re a bit clumsy though.”
“Alondra told you.” Danielle deadpanned.
“No, I’ve been watching you. Your movements are very unguarded, and at times very sudden. Your body does not have the chance to naturally correct it, and then you end up over correcting.” he observed, bending down to pickup her skies.
“I made peace with being clumsy a long time ago.” Danielle returned as the started up the slight slope.
“It’s a bit of a challenge, but you’ll learn to ski still.” He professed, before adding as Alondra approached them, “Go on, I’m sure you want to get inside, the wind’s picking up again.”
Just then, Alondra caught up with them. “I’m gonna get you for that.” Danielle threatened her friend
“Ooh, I shaking with fear.” Alondra ribbed her.
“As you should be.” Danielle declared, body diving her.
“Ugh,” Alondra grunted as they landed in a heap on the snow.
“Now you know what it feels like to crash.” Danielle said rolling off her.
“Oh, I know how that feels,” Alondra returned, “I fell regularly when I learnt to ski.”
“Liar.” Danielle returned. “You’ve always been good at sports, even when we were at school.”
“Okay so I didn’t fall as many times as you, but I did fall.” Alondra said sitting up in the snow,
“Ha!” Danielle snorted, tossing her with a snowball, “Now we’re even.”
“You two done?” Gareth’s calm enquiry came from above them, still holding Danielle’s skies, “You’re blocking my slope.”
“Not that it’s really busy.” Danielle playfully returned, regaining her feet, before taking he skies from him, “But we’ll leave now.”
“See you tonight.” Gareth called after them.
“Tonight?” Danielle questioned looking at Alondra.
“Yeah, I invited him for a drink.” Alondra replied.
“Why?” Danielle returned, not liking the idea.
“’Coz he likes you, and you like him, and I really think it would be good for you.”
“An you?” Danielle asked,
“Let’s worry about you instead.” Alondra said as the made for the ski lift.
That evening they remained at the lodge, opting for the bar instead of going out. Both Alondra and Danielle settled on their seats as they ordered a drink each. Then turning to glance about the room.
“So you ready?” Alondra asked her, causing Danielle to look at her in surprise.
“You seriously –” Danielle asked not finishing the question, when Alondra nodded her head, then handed her the key. “When he gets here I’ll stay for a while, then leave, I’ll give you a few hours before returning to the room.” Danielle wanted to object, “Just go with it, these ski instructors don’t need much encouragement, and he’s really into you. Have some fun and I’ll check in on you later.”
Danielle took their room key from Alondra and nodded slightly, then nervously waited for Gareth to join them. He offered to buy both of them drinks, however Alondra declined and a few minutes later excused herself from their company.
Gareth took Alondra’s vacated seat, and looked at Danielle questioningly, “And that?” he asked indicating in the direction Alondra had disappeared into.
“That is her not so subtle way of giving us time together,” Danielle replied moving her gaze from him, looking past his shoulder.
“She sending you critic messages?” Gareth asked, trying to draw her attention back to him.
“No, it’s just I noticed that guy looking at us last night, and he’s at it again.” Danielle replied her gaze remaining fixed at one pointing the room.
Gareth turned to look in the direction of her gaze, “Which guy?” he asked as hi gazed over a group collected there.
“The older one, with the dark hair and dark jacked.” Danielle returned.
Gareth shrugged his shoulders slightly before turning his attention back at her, smiling as he answered, “That’s just Luke.”
Danielle looked at him before asking, “You know him?”
“Yes, we’re friends, came here together.” Gareth answered.
“So why don’t you invite him over?” Danielle asked slightly confused.
“He’s not really an overly social person, prefers to stand back and watch people.” Gareth replied frowning slightly.
“But if you’re friends, you could at least introduce him.” Danielle reasoned tipping her head slightly as she looked at him.
“You’ve taken a fancy to him.” Gareth suddenly professed, drawing back slightly.
“What?” She quickly questioned before adding, “No, it’s just strange.”
“Well you and your friend are the talk of the lodge, he’s curious that’s all.”
“What do you mean talk of the lodge?” Danielle quickly asked, her heart already racing.
“Two desirable woman sharing a room, and expensive holiday.” He started, not quite elaborating, “It’s bound to get tongues flying.”
“Oh, I never thought of that.” Danielle replied, dropping her gaze to the floor.
“Luke is actually taken by your friend.” Gareth said, drawing her attention back to him.
“So why doesn’t he come over?” Danielle asked, confused.
“He’s not that open, he also does not handle outright rejection well.”
“So he sends you in to find out if she’s available.” Danielle returned smiling slightly.
“Something like that, but that I haven’t been able to determine.”
“She’s single.” Danielle replied “Well at the moment that is.”
“And you?” He asked lowly, closing the slight distance between them.
Danielle just nodded her head slightly before looking at her drink.
“So I would be correct in saying that you’re not fully open but also not fully closed off either. Only that you’re more guarded than your friend.”
Danielle felt the frown for on her forehead, before asking, “Why would you say that?”
“It’s just an observation,” Gareth calmly replied. “You’re not as forward as your friend, however at times playful.”
“She’s always been the one to draw attention.” Danielle deadpanned, sighing slightly.
“You know she’s not all that attractive,” Gareth lowly spoke causing Danielle to look at him, shaking her head almost imperceptibly “She’s just easier to approach.” He continued before adding, “You resist, making it hard to get past that. You make someone work to get close enough, to you to establish if you’re open to something.”