Electric! (9 page)

As they walked toward a building with a wraparound deck, he
added, “This is the Hart Prairie Lodge. The original lodge, Agassiz, is farther
up the mountain.”

“It’s beautiful,” she said as she took in the snow-laden
pines and aspens, and the lodge itself.

“When my parents first started skiing here, before I was
born, Agassiz was the only lodge. There was a bunny slope, another beginner run
and then the main chairlift that takes you midway, if you want, or all the way
up to the top of the bowl for the advanced skiers. The lines back then were so
long they only got in about four runs a day. My dad said they’d spend more time
waiting in the lift line than actually skiing.”

“When did the resort expand?”

“In the eighties, just before I was old enough for my first
pair of skis.”

They trudged through the powder in their boots and climbed
the stairs to the deck. The mouthwatering scent of burgers on the grill wafted
their way, but Cassidy was stuffed to the gills from their huge breakfast.

Chase took her by the hand and led her into the lodge.

“How about a drink in front of the fireplace?”

“Sounds good.”

She plopped down on the sofa and Chase went to the bar. He
brought back two steaming coffees with Baileys.

“This is nice,” Cassidy mused as they kicked back and
watched the skiers and snowboarders pop in and out, taking a break from the
slopes to grab an early lunch or catch their breaths.

She asked Chase, “Are you a good skier?”

“Boarder. I started out on skis, but really took to the
board when I was about ten.”

“Did you practically live here in the winter?”

“Not as much as I would have liked. This resort didn’t start
making its own snow until recently, so we had unpredictable seasons. Sometimes
we’d get a lot of powder, sometimes not. They might have a short season or not
open at all. So when I was old enough to drive and we’d get a really good dump
overnight or over the course of a few days, my friends and I would ditch school
to come up here. Being the avid skiers my parents were, they’d always write a
note to cover me.”

“That’s so cool.” She sipped her coffee. “How do they like
Florida?”

“Love it. My dad had to give up skiing because of a serious
knee injury. He’s all about the sun and the surf now.”

“Do you come up here often?”

“Not so much anymore. Unless an enticing snow report comes
my way.”

Cassidy said, “I’d love to watch you board.”

“Maybe in the fall?”

She nodded, then asked, “So what’d you do after graduating
college?”

“Traveled through Europe for a year. Moved to Scottsdale and
worked as an adjuster for a midsized insurance agency. Switched to account
management with MII because I like the marketing aspect where I’m challenged to
bring in new business.”

Cassidy had immediately recognized he’d be a great strength
for the division, given his charismatic and ambitious nature. She was more
focused on servicing the accounts she’d procured rather than farming for new
clients. She enjoyed the relationship-building aspect; Chase liked the
competitive edge inherent to landing new customers.

Truly, they made a well-balanced accounts team. And, as she
eyed him over the rim of her coffee mug, she had to admit that they made a good
couple. Chase was easy to be with. Even when he’d been flirting incessantly
with her and she’d pretended to be annoyed by it, there had always been a very
interesting dynamic between them that was comfortable in terms of how naturally
they responded to each other, yet unsettling in that very titillating way that
left her a bit tingly and exhilarated.

Chase said, “Since you grew up in Connecticut, I had assumed
you ski too. I was surprised to hear last night that’s not the case.”

She shrugged. “Again, it’s up there in that danger-zone
category when you’re raised by a man who eats, sleeps and breathes risk
management.”

He took a drink and then slid a coy gaze her way. “So…now
that you’re out on your own, do you wanna learn?”

The thought actually intrigued her. “Maybe.”

He leaned in close. “Sort of suspected you had an
adventurous side dying to be set free.”

That was the exact moment Cassidy realized why she’d fought
her attraction to Chase for so long. It was more than being a good girl. She’d
been raised to always,
always
play it safe.

And yet last night… She’d walked a bit on the wild side. No
harm had come to her. In fact, she’d enjoyed the hell out of herself.

She’d shed all the
what she should do and what she
shouldn’t do
and had experienced one incredibly hot and passionate night
with a man she’d never believed she could excite or arouse so damn much that he
came inside her while calling her name.

Hmm.

Something told Cassidy her mom just might have been proud of
her for the little breakthrough she’d experienced.

Turning fully to face Chase, she said, “My job is really
important to me. You know that. But what happened last night… I mean, despite
all of my previous reservations and all…it was—”

“Significant?”

“Yes,” she said. No hesitation. “Without doubt.”

“Okay, then.”

“But there’s still the matter of extra effort I have to put
into my career. I knew what I was getting into before I sent in my resume,” she
reminded him. “I grew up in this business. I know what it’s about. And maybe
someday it’ll evolve a bit more. I hope for it all the time. I mean, do you
know that the company my dad and brother work for still have no female
adjusters above the local level? Not a single one in the regional departments
or, heaven forbid, in executive positions.”

“So give yourself a hand,” he insisted. “Look at what you’ve
accomplished.”

She stared at him. He stared back.

Then he asked one very simple question that was impossible
for her to answer.

“Why isn’t it enough?”

Cassidy turned the tables on him.

“Would it be enough for you?” she challenged. “Are you so
content with being a director that the thought of a vice president, senior or
executive vice president position isn’t on your radar?”

Chase grinned. “Here’s something that might shock you,” he
said. “I do want a juicy promotion. No doubt about it. But I believe, to the
depths of my soul, it’ll follow yours. There’s no leapfrogging you, Cass,
because you are damn good at what you do and you are
very
well respected
by all the right people. Deservedly so.”

It took her a few minutes to find her voice. “I just
realized that this is why I didn’t shut down your flirting from the get-go.
Despite how much I continually say no one gets me…you do.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “Yeah. I do.”

They finished their coffee and left the lodge. Chase scooped
up a handful of snow along the way, lightly balled it and tossed it at her
shoulder. She laughed and they continued on their way. She skimmed her hand
over a tall bank of snow, collecting enough fat flakes to make her own snowball
and sent it Chase’s way.

He laughed heartily. Seconds later, a full-blown snowball
fight broke out and Cassidy raced toward her SUV to hide alongside it. But
Chase was hot on her heels. He wrapped an arm around her and hauled her up
against him, kissing her passionately.

Cassidy lost her breath and it wasn’t from the high
altitude. She wound her arms around Chase’s neck and returned his kiss with
equal fervor.

When he finally pulled away, she gazed up at him and said,
“I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.”

He grinned. “Me too.”

He held her a bit longer, then they climbed into her vehicle
and headed back down the mountain. It started to snow again on their return
drive to town. They stopped into NiMarco’s Pizza for a thick slice, then Chase
suggested a pub crawl. They walked across the street to Beaver St. Brewery for
a pale ale. Then strolled east to the Lumberyard Brewing Company for a pint of
raspberry amber. Afterward, he took her by the hand and they crossed the
railroad tracks by the depot and ducked into Flagstaff Brewing Company, where
they shared a hearty wheat beer.

With a laugh, Cassidy asked, “Is this how you spent your
college years?”

Chase dropped a few bills on the bar when they were done
with their pint and guided her down the sidewalk. “Sometimes we’d let loose
with an afternoon of drinking. We could always walk back to campus.”

At San Felipe’s Cantina, he had a glass of water and goaded
Cassidy into a shot of tequila. Then they popped into Alpine Pizza for an
enormous, melt-in-your-mouth slice of pie.

“I can’t decide which pizza is better,” she said after
swallowing a large bite. “This one or NiMarco’s.”

“That’s why I wanted you to try both. Think they’re tied for
best pizza in town.”

Chase then escorted her to Heritage Square, with its many
restaurant and shops. Finally, they stopped into Uptown Pubhouse for a game of
pool.

“Bear in mind, I had more of a male influence when growing
up than most females,” she warned as she examined a cue and nodded her head in
satisfaction.

Chase came up behind her and whispered in her ear, “I’m
really just here for the visual effect.”

Heat tinged her cheeks. As she bent to line up her shot and
break the cluster of balls, Chase remained behind her. She glanced over her
shoulder to find him eyeing her ass with a lascivious look on his
chiseled-to-perfection face.

“If you think you’re going to distract me, think again.”

His gaze never left her backside. “I’m the one who’s
distracted.”

Cassidy laughed softly. Returning her attention to the
table, she concentrated on her shot and sent the balls flying, dropping three
solids right off the bat.

Chase whistled under his breath. “Impressive.” She
straightened and turned to him. He frowned. “I was enjoying that view.”

“Pay attention to the game. I’d like some competition.”

He smirked. “Don’t go thinking you’re the only one good at
billiards.”

She didn’t doubt for a second he’d give her a run for her
money—Chase was good at everything he did, it seemed. But she liked teasing
him.

“What do you say we make this interesting?” She pulled a
twenty from the front pocket of her jeans and laid it on the ledge of the
table.

With a snicker, Chase said, “I don’t want your money, Cass.”
He leaned in close again and added, “I want you naked and tied to the bed.”

She blanched.

Come on!

Damn it, she’d known all along not to taunt someone who was
so far out of her league. What had she been thinking?

But the sexy glint in his smoldering eyes kept her coming
back for more.

“You really believe I have a kinky side, don’t you?

He nodded. “Oh yeah. You just haven’t let her out to play
yet.”

Cassidy swallowed down a lump of…
Oh shit, what am I
getting myself into?

In a low, scorching-hot tone, Chase added, “I can get pretty
creative.”

She all but melted in her hiking boots. “I don’t doubt
that.”

“We just need to make one stop before we head back to your
rental.”

Excitement shot through her. So too did a hint of panic. She
could easily get in over her head with Chase. Yet she didn’t back down.

“You win this game,” she said, “and you get to tie me up. I
win it, and I get to tie
you
up.”

What the hell she’d do with him afterward was a bit beyond
her skill set, but he did inspire a number of sexy fantasies. Why not act on
them?

With a chuckle, he said, “You have no idea what you’re
getting yourself into, but I like the wager. A lot.”

Hitching her chin, she said, “I just dropped three balls,
Chase. I could end this game before you even get a chance at a single shot.”

“Then we’ll make it best two out of three.”

“We might not even get to three,” she told him with a sassy
look. “I could easily take both games.”

“So much talk,” he quipped with a shake of his head. “Let’s
see some action, babe.”

Cassidy surveyed the table and mentally strategized her next
three shots. The first two were a piece of cake. The third didn’t quite align
properly, because she’d put too much backspin on the cue ball. But she called a
bank shot into the corner pocket and nailed it.

Chase groaned. “Shark.”

“Hardly. I told you upfront I knew what I was doing.”

She bent over the table for her next line-up. Chase crowded
her and mumbled, “I want you with your ass in the air again.”

The reminder of him fucking her the night before caused a
thrill to race down her spine and Cassidy missed her shot.

“You’re a cheat,” she said with a laugh.

“Whatever it takes, babe. I have some very specific ideas of
how I want you next, and winning this bet will definitely work to my
advantage.”

She moved past him and reached for the beer they were
sharing. The frosty Hefeweizen helped to cool her blazing insides.

What, exactly, did he plan to do to her? And why didn’t the
thought of being restrained and at his mercy scare the hell out of her?

Rather, the mere speculation tripping through her mind
turned her on even more.

She gnawed her bottom lip in contemplation as Chase worked
the table, dropping a combo and then kissing a stripe into the side pocket. He
left two balls perfectly aligned and slammed them in but came up short for the
third.

With a cocky smile, Cassidy told him, “Sorry, Charlie. One
chance to run the table is all you get.” She nailed her final solid and then
called the eight ball in the far pocket. It dropped in a clean shot and she
gloated. “Big mistake betting against me.”

“We’ll see.”

She racked the balls for Chase. He broke them with force,
dropping one of each. He eyed the table and went for the most beneficial set.
“I’ll take solids.”