Love 'Em or Leave 'Em (9 page)

"Are you ready?"

Liz nodded nervously. "Okay, I'm ready. Now I just glide."

"That's right."

They settled onto the chairlift with a huge sigh of relief from Liz.

"Okay, now the reward" Ashley pulled the flask from her jacket. She had tucked it under her arm and next to her breast, the only spot with any extra room. "Here, drink this."

Looking at her, Liz asked, "What is it?"

"Trust me. It's guaranteed to calm nerves on any ski hill."

Liz eyed her skeptically and hesitated.

"Come on and drink up, Evel Knievel. You need to relax so you don't embarrass yourself." Ashley unscrewed the top. "Liquid courage, and it can't be beat! Listen, if it makes it any easier, I'll join you. I could use some, what with my having to wear this getup"

"All right, if you really think it will help." Liz took the flask from Ashley and tipped it up, pouring the liquid into her mouth. She swallowed and started coughing and choking. "Is this hot chocolate?" she croaked.

Ashley giggled. "It's a combination of dark chocolate, hot cocoa powder, and steamed milk."

Liz took another drink and savored the flavor. "This is really good"

Ashley stole the flask back and took a drink. "Guaranteed to cure anything." She smacked her lips, then tucked the flask under her coat and prepared to dismount the chairlift.

Fortunately, the first run was a green beginners' hill. Several of the group hadn't been on skis for a while and were happy to start slowly. They surrounded Luke, looking around awkwardly until he said, "What the heck, it's only snow" and led the way.

Everyone followed. Ashley stayed with Liz while her friend found her ski legs. They glided down a nice gradual slope. Nothing scary. The day was gorgeous with almost no wind. Ashley slalomed gracefully down the hill, the sun on her face and the wind blowing through her hair. The saleswoman was right. She felt like a vision in her sexy black outfit.

Everyone was in great spirits as they lined up for the chairlift again. This time Luke sat with Cricket, and Ashley stayed with Liz. As soon as they settled on the lift, the flask reappeared. They passed it back and forth twice before they got off. Liz became more confident and steady on her skis with each run, or perhaps the sugar high was having the desired effect, and she just wasn't as worried.

After the next successful hill, they found a different chairlift that took them farther up the mountain and dropped them off at a beautiful chalet overlooking the ski hills and neighboring mountain peaks. The majestic snow-covered mountains in the distance jutted up into the blue sky, demanding attention. Having grown up in the Midwest, where there were no mountains, no oceans, and no deserts, Ashley couldn't help but be awed by the landscape. Wisconsin was beautiful, but nothing like the majesty and power that nature had created here.

They removed their skis and entered the Swissthemed chalet. Inside, a fire blazed in the center of the room. A huge bar lined one entire wall, surrounded with tables. The decor included broken ski tips hung throughout the building.

Ashley nudged Liz. "Should we add ours to the collection before we leave?"

"Sure, why not?" Liz smiled.

The group followed one of the producers up to a private loft area where the camera crew set up. All of the hats, ski gloves, and jackets came off. Ashley no longer felt concerned about her ski-bunny outfit and comfortably slid the jacket off as she approached the table. She couldn't help but notice Luke gazing at her as he held a chair for Megan. Ashley usually kept a low profile, but this outfit was anything but. The fresh air had exhilarated her and the warm tingling in her face told her that her cheeks must be very rosy indeed. Ashley slipped out of her boots as well.

The waitress arrived to collect their orders for beverages.

Lunch turned out to be the highlight of the day, with a fun combination of people. Some of the women vied heavily for Luke's attention, but Ashley and Liz weren't concerned. Ashley didn't want his attention. The joking and teasing about each person's skiing ability went on as they enjoyed a relaxing and entertaining lunch.

They returned to the slopes in great spirits, Ashley and Liz in especially fine form. It was Liz's turn to sit with Luke on the chairlift, since he picked a different woman each time. Ashley gave her the thumbs-up as she joined Luke. Liz looked stunning, and Ashley was sure Luke would be entranced by her striking beauty and great personality.

The ski runs became longer, and the one they skied now was a blue intermediate run. When the group approached the end of the run, Ashley held back. She felt a bit of false bravado and decided to spray the group at the bottom of the hill with snow. She came straight down the hill without slowing; the faster the speed, the better the effect would be. As she neared the waiting group at full speed, panic lit their faces. She leaned hard into a tight turn at the last second and skidded expertly toward them. The spray created a huge arc of snow crystals shooting in all directions. She covered them literally from head to toe. Usually when she pulled this trick, she managed to stop directly in front of the skier. Not this time. She slid right into Liz.

Okay, maybe it was more of a slam.

Ashley tried not to hit too hard, but didn't want to spear Liz with a ski pole in the process. Her momen turn caused Liz to fall into Cricket, and then Cricket into Kate, and so on, until she wiped out the entire group, including Luke. In moments, the whole group lay in a giant snow-covered heap at the base of the hill. Passing skiers didn't bother to stop. Instead of being horrified, Ashley began to laugh. Liz joined her, laughing as though it was the funniest thing that had ever happened.

Getting up, Kate tangled her skis with Megan's. Ashley, the only one not trapped under another skier, couldn't move because she was laughing so hard and trying not to wet her fancy ski pants. Luke lay buried under a couple of bodies, numerous skis, poles, and spandex-covered legs.

It took a couple of attempts, but finally they stopped giggling long enough to get untangled. Of course, the camera crew recorded the entire escapade and laughed right along with them. Once they were back on their feet, skis reattached, Luke motioned for the others to move ahead to the chairlift, then slid up to Ashley.

"Your turn," he said, piercing her with a knowing stare. He gestured her to join him on the chairlift.

Ashley felt like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She gave him an innocent smile as she slid smoothly past him into the lift line, acting like nothing was amiss.

"So, what's up?" He gazed down at her from only a few inches away, his firm mouth curled.

"Sorry, I guess I lost control back there," she replied, looking straight ahead.

"No, I mean what's going on?" He looked at her conspiratorially.

Ashley feigned innocence.

Luke gave her a sideways glance. "Your turn" He held his arm out to direct her toward the chairlift.

Ashley glided forward smoothly to the lift. She could feel Luke's eyes admiring her sexy ski outfit.

He joined her, and together they turned toward the approaching chair and sat. As Ashley settled herself, Luke examined her closely, then reached into her tight little jacket and pulled the leather strap to the flask.

"Okay, now I understand" He gave her an accusatory stare.

"It's not for me"

"Is that so?"

"Really, it's for Liz. She was afraid to ski and I knew a little boost would loosen her up"

"Well she's not the only one loosened up" He'd just discovered a new angle to her personality.

She nodded. "Yup, did you notice how relaxed she is now compared to her first run?" Luke watched her try to talk her way out of the situation. "She's a natural. Not a care in the world." Ashley swung her arms open wide.

He quickly put out his arm, as if to keep her from leaning forward and off the chairlift. "Whoa there! Let's keep you on the chairlift, okay?"

"Sorry. I guess we got a little carried away. I didn't mean to cause a scene with my snow spraying-it just sort of happened"

Luke stretched an arm around her shoulders and leaned his head close, enjoying the view her sexy outfit offered. "I'm disappointed you didn't share some of it with me." He noticed how relaxed she became when the cameras weren't around.

A big smile spread across her face as she looked up into his eyes. "By all means! What's mine is yours. You are the guest of honor here. Please help yourself." She opened the top of the flask and nodded for him to drink. He lifted it into the air and the liquid streamed smoothly into his opened mouth.

Luke began to choke. "It's hot chocolate, but not even hot."

Ashley grinned. "Gee, what did you think it was?"

Luke eyed her and gestured with the flask. "I never drink alone."

She took the challenge and, leaning back into the welcome crook of his arm, opened her mouth. He gently touched her lower lip with the edge of the flask opening and raised it high as he poured the rich liquid between her parted lips.

Luke sat mesmerized at her surrender. She deeply inhaled the taste of the drink and the pure mountain air. Her cheeks were rosy in the coolness of the day.

Luke replaced the cap and returned the flask to the protection of her bosom. He leaned forward and placed his moist lips against hers, tenderly sealing their drink with a kiss. He sensed her momentary surprise, and felt her relax in his arms as she welcomed his advances. He tasted the sweet chocolate on her lips. A small moan came from the back of her throat. Luke pulled away and watched her eyes flutter open, wide and innocent. He felt her warm breath upon his cheek.

Luke was entranced by this unusual beauty. She acted uninterested and tried to avoid him. She even said he wasn't her type and she wanted to get off the show. But whenever he got her alone and cornered her, he saw her sexy, fun side.

His lips parted slowly from hers. "Not your type, huh?"

They had reached the pinnacle of the mountain. Ashley turned to him, visibly disturbed. She shook her head. "It's all downhill from here"

"I wish it were me tonight," Gwen said longingly as she dipped her speared meat into the hot oil to cook.

The women feasted on fondue around a low table in the great room. Liz and Kate were out with Luke on another date. The rest had settled in for an evening of relaxation.

"Me too," drawled Shelby, nibbling on a crisp piece of zucchini. "I can't get enough of that man!"

Not me, thought Ashley, glad she'd been left alone for a while and away from his piercing stares that always seemed to see too much. After the antics on the ski trip, Ashley was happy to hide back in the security of the mansion. She couldn't get Luke-or the way his lips had felt when he'd kissed her-out of her mind. Each time the image popped into her mind her belly tingled and her toes curled up in a happy sort of way.

"I wish he'd kiss me," said Jenny with a far-off look as she prepared her skewer of steamed broccoli for the cheese fondue.

"He didn't kiss you?" asked Shelby, amazed but with a hint of satisfaction in her voice.

Most of them seemed surprised at Jenny's comment. It appeared as if they'd all received a kiss from Luke. Suddenly Ashley's intoxicating kiss on the chairlift didn't seem so hot. Apparently the man would lock lips with anything that moved. Except Jenny.

"Well, no, but it doesn't mean anything," defended Jenny. "He doesn't go around kissing everyone" She hesitated. "Does he?" She turned to Cricket for an answer.

Cricket gave her a nervous smile and shrugged her shoulders, a guilty look on her face.

Jenny swallowed and looked down at her broccoli, blinking back tears.

"Oh honey, it's all right," added Shelby, patting Jenny's hand. "The timing must have been off."

"That's right," crooned Tami in her haughty, overconfident way. "It's all about the timing. Of course, whenever I'm with Luke, it's time."

Tami crossed her legs as she leaned back into the plush cushions on the couch and flicked her tongue across her collagen-filled upper lip. "Let me tell you, that man has the moves and he knows how to use them"

"Are you sure those were his moves and not yours?" asked Shelby, with the perfect hint of Southern sarcasm.

Ashley caught Rachel's eye and winked in agreement. Tami glared her darkly shadowed eyes at Shelby.

If looks could kill ...

"Gee, Tami," interrupted Rachel politely as she picked at the hot meat on her skewer. "Slapping and scratching are the only moves I saw you make on our fishing date, and that was at the bugs swarming all over you" Rachel nibbled at the meat. "I could be wrong, but Luke didn't seem too impressed."

On an earlier date, Rachel and Tami had joined Luke on a fishing trip. They'd left the mansion at 4:30 A.M. to drive to the boondocks and sit in a boat for six hours.

Tami had worn a cute little halter top and miniskirt along with her designer perfume. It'd turned out to be more than just a nice scent. According to Rachel, the perfume had attracted biting flies, gnats, and mosquitoes. Luke offered her bug spray a number of times, but Tami had said there was no way she would ever spray something that smelled so vile on her body. By the end of the trip Tami had gotten covered in bite welts up and down her shapely legs and even on her previously well-made-up face.