Just One Kiss (Whisper Lake #4) - Barbara Freethy Page 0,13

we're not. How's your business going?" she asked, wanting to immediately derail what might be another trip back into their past. She preferred to stay in the present.

"It's good. We've been very busy this season. I had to hire on some extra guides."

"How big is your team now?"

"Besides myself, we have six full-time guides and another four who work part-time, depending on the season. I have four other employees who handle the bookings and sell the limited amount of merchandise we carry in the store."

"Why limited?" she asked curiously.

"Because the focus of my business is the experience, the adventure. Gianna's parents already sell top-of-the-line equipment in their store, so I'd rather carve out my own niche. Plus, it's not that exciting for me to sell or rent skis. I'd rather show someone the thrill of coming down a virgin trail after the first snow."

His words took her back. "You showed me that."

He met her gaze, smiling as they shared that memory. "You loved it."

"I did. I had never been on that trail before. I didn't even know it existed. It felt like we were on our own private mountain, like no one had ever been there before us."

"And to think you were almost too afraid to go."

"But you talked me into it. You always pushed me to go further than I wanted to go."

"Wasn't it a good thing?"

"Most of the time," she admitted. "But it was different for you, wasn't it? I didn't push you; I held you back. I wanted to keep your feet on the ground, and you wanted to fly."

A frown drew his brows together. "It wasn't exactly like that, Hannah."

She shrugged. "Maybe we remember it differently. Anyway, it sounds like your business is going well." She picked up her plate and carried it to the counter. The window over the sink rattled from the force of the wind.

"I don't think we'll be able to go back to town tonight," Jake said, as he joined her at the counter.

She didn't want to spend all night in this small cabin with Jake and a four-year-old, who was going to go to bed soon, but she also didn't want to risk taking Brett into a fierce winter storm. "I think we have to stay here," she agreed. "I'm sorry that my flat tire got you into this."

"You know I'm not really sorry," he said, with a gleam in his eyes.

She didn't know what to say to that, so she said, "Can you handle the dishes? I want to spend time with Brett."

"I can do that."

She moved into the living room and sat down next to Brett. The little boy immediately snuggled up next to her. She put her arm around him, feeling a rush of tenderness for the small child who shared her blood. She would protect him and love him until his mother came back. She sent up a silent, pleading prayer that that would be soon.

After Jake cleaned up the kitchen, he came into the room, chomping on a cookie. He sat down in the armchair adjacent to the couch and they watched the cartoon together.

When it was over, Hannah couldn't help but notice that Brett was looking very sleepy. Glancing at her watch, she realized it was after eight.

"Bedtime," she said.

"Are you going to sleep in the bed with me?" Brett asked.

Since there was only one bedroom in the cabin and one bed, her choice was Brett or Jake. She was definitely going to pick Brett. Jake could take the couch.

"I'm sleeping with you," she told him.

"Okay," he said happily.

She took his hand as they got up and headed into the bedroom. She found his PJs, which were on top of the clothes in the suitcase. All of the items in the case seemed to belong to Brett, which made her wonder where Kelly's clothes were. She helped Brett change into his pajamas and brush his teeth, then tucked him into bed.

"Are you going to sleep now, too?" he asked her.

"I'll be in soon."

"Can you tell me a story?"

"A story, huh? What kind of story?"

"Do you know the one about the little girl in the balloon? She wanted to fly far away and have adventures."

Her heart flipped over at the mention of Kelly's favorite story, one which Kelly had shared with her many a night. Even as a child, Kelly had wanted to fly high and far away.

"I might remember part of—" She stopped abruptly, realizing Brett was already asleep. She blew out a breath of