Just Perfect (11 page)

“I’m sorry.” She straightened her posture the way she’d been taught during all those interminable charm classes she’d endured during middle school. “It was just a thought.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw her brother calmly pick up his paper. A little kernel of resentment burrowed inside her. If Robbie had asked for a real tree, their father would have sided with him, and their mother would have relented.

Trying not to sulk, she gave up on the disgusting bran cereal and turned to her coffee. Dang it, though, she wanted a real tree. Something gaudy and fun like the trees Maddy had always squeezed into the corner of their dorm room and Amy and Jane had helped them decorate. Then they’d all sat around it drinking hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps and singing Christmas carols until their dorm mom came by and told them lights out. Why couldn’t family Christmases be like that?

The silence that had descended over breakfast broke when Jonathan shrieked and tossed a glob of yellow baby food at Natalie. The blob landed with a splat on Natalie’s white Escada blouse.

Christine stared as Natalie gasped in surprise. Even knowing Natalie, she half expected her sister-in-law to throw a fit over having such an expensive designer shirt ruined with baby food.

Recovering, Natalie merely laughed. “Oh, you little rascal, you.” She leaned forward to rub her nose against the baby’s, making him giggle. “But you’re still messier than me.”

“I’m a rascal too.” The toddler splashed his spoon in his cereal bowl. Barbara pressed a manicured fingertip to her forehead as if staving off a migraine.

“You certainly are!” Natalie exclaimed as she stood and lifted the baby from the high chair. “You’re my big rascal.”

The boy beamed and splashed his spoon even more.

“You shouldn’t encourage them to misbehave,” Barbara sighed, the same way she had over Christine’s tree suggestion.

Natalie, however, seemed immune. “If we’re going out, I need to change my blouse, and most likely this little stinker needs a change too.” She lifted the baby and sniffed. “
Phew
! Somebody needs a big change. Honey, will you watch Charles? See if you can get him to eat at least a little of his cereal.”

“You bet,” Robbie assured with a smile.

“Thanks, sweetie.” Natalie kissed the top of her husband’s head before carrying the baby up the stairs.

“Okay, big guy.” Robbie pulled the boy into his lap. “It’s just you and me now. No Mom here to save you. So what’s it going to be? Cereal, or… tickle torture?”

“Cereal’s icky!”

Christine stifled a laugh and the urge to give the kid a high five of agreement. Sure bran was good for you, but yuck!

“Are you going to eat it?” Robbie raised a menacing eyebrow.

“No!” the boy declared with the vehemence only a two-year-old can lend the word.

“Torture it is!” Robbie announced and attacked the boy’s tummy. The boy shrieked and squirmed and laughed until tears came to his eyes.

Watching them amazed Christine. Ashtons were not known to be demonstrative, yet she’d seen her brother roll on the floor and behave like a kid himself more than once.

“Okay!” Charles finally screamed. “I give!”

Robbie stopped, but held his hand at the ready. “You mean it? You’ll eat your cereal?”

“Yes.” The boy sighed, catching his breath. Red blotches decorated his chubby cheeks as he sat up on his dad’s lap. He summoned an impressive pout, though, as he accepted the spoon. “It tastes like poo!”

Christine snorted coffee out of her nose and quickly smothered the laugh with her linen napkin. “Sorry. I must have swallowed wrong.”

“So, Christine,” her brother said with his son in his lap, dutifully eating. “Do you want to go with us to watch the snowboarding, or stay here and help Mom?”

She weighed her options. Go watch some airdogs in action, or help her already-irritated mother supervise the precise decorating of a fake tree. Even with the threat of running into Alec, going to the competition won hands down.

“You know”—she smiled—“I believe I’ll go with you.”

Her brother smiled back. “Somehow I thought you might.”

* * *

“I love that hat on you,” Natalie said, fluffing the white faux fur that completely hid Christine’s hair and partially shielded her face. “You look like a snow queen.”

“I feel ridiculous.” Christine glanced nervously about the crowded area in front of the entrance to the stands, wishing the men would hurry up with buying the tickets.

“Then why did you ask to borrow it?” Natalie asked in a hurt voice.

“Hmm?” Turning back, Christine nearly kicked herself. “I—I remembered how good it looked on you and wanted to try it. You always carry this stuff off so well, and I just… don’t.”

“That’s not true.” Natalie stepped back to admire the long coat that matched the hat. “I think you look glamorous.”

“Well thank you, for the compliment and the loan.” She gathered the big collar together, like a spy in a trench coat, and made another quick scan for Alec. So far, so good. “Now back to the tree issue. I still say we should have a real one.”

Natalie sighed. “You won’t get an argument from me. Robbie and I totally agree.”

“Then why didn’t you say something this morning? Never mind, I know why
you
didn’t speak up, but what’s Robbie’s excuse?”

Natalie fussed with the faux fox she’d chosen to wear. “As he sees it, your mother has few enough things in life that make her happy, so what’s the harm in letting her obsess over decorating all the time. I mean, come on, she’s been married to your father for forty years. Maybe that’s how they stay together.”

“What are you talking about? My parent’s have a good marriage.” She caught a flash of fluorescent green jacket and her heart did a little flip. Peeking over the collar of the coat, she found Alec looking about as he talked to one of the gate attendants.

The memory of their kiss washed over her, followed by hundreds of others that drove home how much she enjoyed being with him. How alive he made her feel. And there he was, looking for her, probably wondering if she was going to show up.

She longed to raise her hand, call his name, and watch his face light up when he saw her.

Instead, she pretended to tuck her hair beneath the hat so her hand would hide her face. What were she and Natalie talking about? Oh, yes, her parents. “I admit, they aren’t overtly affectionate, but it’s not like they have big marital problems or anything. They never even fight.”

Natalie pursed her lips. “It’s hard to fight when you rarely talk.”

“Mom’s just a bit reserved.”

“Christine, it’s not just your mom. Look, I don’t mean to be critical, but… Oh, to heck with it. Robert Senior is one of the most self-absorbed, egotistical, chauvinistic men I have ever met.”

Christine’s jaw dropped. “He’s also a loyal husband and a good provider. I don’t hear Mom complaining.”

Natalie raised a brow in disagreement.

“Okay, so she gets in her subtle digs,” Christine admitted. “What they have works for them.”

“Oddly enough, it does,” Natalie agreed. “Robbie’s point, though, is that if having the condo professionally decorated for Christmas every year makes her happy, let her have it. It’s better than having her stew for two weeks, looking for little passive-aggressive ways to get back at all of us.”

“So you’re just going to let your sons grow up with fake Christmas trees?”

“No.” A devious grin played about Natalie’s lips. “We’re going to wait until your parents are in bed, then sneak a real tree into the loft so the boys can cover it with every kitschy ornament we can find. By the time Barbara discovers it, it will be too late.”

“Oh, I love that plan.” Christine’s spirits lifted with childlike pleasure. “Can I help decorate? Please.”

“Only if you wear your pj’s and agree to drink copious amounts of hot cocoa.”

“With marshmallows?”

“Of course.”

“You’re on!” Christine hugged her sister-in-law. “I’m so glad you married my brother.”

Natalie hugged her back. “I’m rather glad I did too.”

When Christine straightened, she saw the same happiness shining in Natalie’s eyes that she’d seen shining in Maddy’s every time she looked at her fiance, Joe.

That’s what I want. That right there. The kind of love that fills you up until it spills right out.

If only she could have it with someone fun, like Alec.

Rattled by the thought, she glanced over her shoul der, but the sudden appearance of her brother and father blocked her view of the gate.

“The conquering warriors return!” Robbie proclaimed holding up two tickets. “We scored big-time. VIP seats, right behind the announcers’ stand.”

Christine’s eyes bulged. “No. That’s impossible.”

“Impressive, huh?” Her brother wiggled his eyebrows at his wife. “I’ll expect a suitable reward later.”

Natalie giggled when he nuzzled her neck, whispering in her ear.

Robert Senior handed Christine her ticket. “Shall we find our seats?”

“Lead the way,” Robbie suggested, tucking Natalie into his side.

Christine held her breath as she turned, prepared to duck behind her father’s back. Alec, though, had vanished, probably heading for the area before the announcers’ booth, where he’d told her to meet him. Okay, all she had to do was make it past him and reach her seat, then employ some hunker and hide maneuvers.

When they rounded the stands, she breathed a sigh of relief. Alec was nowhere in sight. Then they started up the steps just to the side of the announcers’ booth, and she tripped at what she saw.

Alec wasn’t in front of the booth. He was inside it! He sat beside the announcer wearing a microphone headset.

Her disguise was such that if she hadn’t stopped to gape, he probably wouldn’t have given her a second glance. No such luck. He saw her trip, did a quick double take, then squinted with uncertainty.

Before she could duck her head, her brother plowed into her back, nearly knocking her over.

“Oops, sorry,” he said, steadying them both.

“Who’s that?” Natalie asked.

“Hmm, what?” Christine tried to shield her face.

“That man waving to get your attention?” Natalie pointed straight at Alec.

Seeing no choice, she turned to face Alec. He smiled broadly seeing it really was her. But what was he doing in the announcers’ booth? At her questioning look, he tapped his watch, held up five fingers, then made an OK sign. Oh, please don’t let that mean he’d join her in five minutes.

“He’s cute,” Natalie said.

“Who is he?” Robbie asked, equally curious.

“He’s, um, my ski instructor.”

“Ski instructor?” Robbie’s curiosity turned to a narrow-eyed frown. “You’re dating a ski instructor?”

Christine cringed. When it came to disapproving of her boyfriends, her brother was as bad as Maddy and Amy. At least her father had continued up and couldn’t hear the exchange.

“No, I’m not dating him,” she insisted, hoping to avoid the brotherly lecture of “Why can’t you find someone appropriate to date? Someone suitable, like I did?” As if she needed a reminder that her brother even
dated
better than she did. “Actually, I hired him to teach me how to kick your ass on the slopes tomorrow.”

Robbie laughed. “Fat chance, little sister.”

“You two,” Natalie scolded, the way she did when they met at the country club tennis courts. “Why does everything have to be a competition between you?”

“It’s not.” Robbie grinned. “Since I always win, it’s more a lesson in humility than a competition.”

“Robbie!” Natalie punched her husband in the arm. “Don’t be so mean.”

“Isn’t that what big brothers are for?” He laughed.

“Laugh now,” Christine taunted as she stomped up the risers. “We’ll see who’s laughing tomorrow.”

The exchange distracted her from thoughts of Alec, until they were settled in their seats and she heard the words coming over the loudspeaker.

“… pleased to have Alec Hunter here with us today, one of the best jibbers in Colorado. Alec, you’re normally one of the top finalists; I was surprised to see you weren’t competing this year.”

“I had a personal obligation that kept me from entering.”

“I’m sure some of the competitors here this weekend were sorry to hear that,” the announcer joked. “Tell us about the course and any top picks you have for this year’s winner.”

Christine sat transfixed, listening to his voice while she watched him from behind. Part of her winced at his liberal use of what she called “dude speak,” the jargon unique to snowboarders and trick skiers. And yet, in spite of the lingo, his natural charisma came through. If only he would do something with all that charm and obvious intelligence to make him a good dating choice.

Maybe she could encourage him to do something more with his life than snowboard and ski.

Realizing what she was thinking, she mentally rolled her eyes. This was exactly what got her into trouble, thinking she could help some guy fix his life.

Although… with Alec, she didn’t have time to run the full cycle from infatuation to frustration. She had only two more weeks in Silver Mountain. That was hardly time to really get to know him, much less set out to change him.

Two more weeks.

Now that she thought about it, that really wasn’t enough time to do much of anything other than enjoy each other’s company. After that, she’d be back in Austin, a thousand miles from temptation. Even if she got involved with Alec here, the physical distance would keep her from doing anything stupid, like let him waste several months of her life and whatever money she lent him before he dumped her for nagging him.

What harm could come from enjoying his company for the next two weeks?

You’re justifying, Christine
, said a tiny voice in the back of her head that sounded suspiciously like Maddy.

Besides
, Amy’s voice added,
feeling good about yourself has to come from inside you, not from dating emotionally needy men
.

Oh, all right! I won’t date him
, she mentally groused.
Although for the record, Alec isn’t emotionally needy. He’s just undermotivated
.