Rocky Mountain Holiday (To Love Again Book 4) (3 page)

She blushed again and focused on her friend, avoiding Kip’s piercing gaze. “I was chatting with one of Josh’s colleagues, a professor from the University of Calgary - I guess Kip just assumed?”

He shook his head of reddish curls and smiled back at her. “So, not married?”

“No,” she confirmed.

Reaching forward, Kip lifted her hand from the table and brought it to his lips. He pressed briefly, smiling into her eyes. “In that case, Jenny, it’s
very
nice to meet you.”

“And you,” she mumbled. She ignored Barry’s questioning look. “Been in long?”

“About half an hour, it got too damn cold,” he said. “Another hour and I’m sure I’d have hypothermia.”

“Is it cold for you, Kip? How does it compare to Scotland?”

“Aye, it gets cold in the highlands, but nothing like this. I thought me nose would fall off.”

“He stayed out longer than he should have, big macho. Even though I warned him.”

Jenny laughed. She couldn’t believe he was here. The other night at dinner, she’d been dying to talk to him, but the professor never left her side and Kip had been busy with a woman she’d assumed was his wife. “You really need to be careful in this weather. Frostbite can set in very quickly.”

“So I’m learning,” Kip laughed. The waiter unloaded a tray of drinks a couple of tables away. Catching his eye, Kip waved him over.

“What will you have, Jenny? Share a pitcher?”

“I’ll leave the beer to you boys today. I need something hot,” she said, turning to the waiter. “A hot toddy, please. Double, water back.”

Clearing the table of a couple of candy wrappers, the waiter collected the empty pitcher and left.

“So you’re Valerie’s brother?” She turned to Barry. “She’s your friend who does first aid for Search and Rescue, right? I think we met on the cross-country trips?”

“That’s right, she’s been with us on two of the overnight cross-country ski trips - the one at Johnson Canyon and the one at Miller’s Creek. She volunteers with Search and Rescue. Full-time she’s an emergency nurse at Calgary Hospital.”

“Right, I liked her. Your sister’s accent,” she said, turning to Kip, “isn’t half as strong as yours. I mean, there’s no question she’s Scottish, but—”

“But mine is almost unintelligible?” Kip laughed. “So many people keep asking me to repeat myself I feel like I’m speaking a foreign language.”

“I didn’t mean that,” she said, slapping his forearm playfully. “I think it’s charming.” She caught Barry watching her again and tried to dial it back a little. But it was hard. This man was beautiful, capital “B,” and she was naturally flirty anyway. That was her story and she was sticking to it. Although generally she had a little more finesse, which was surely what Barry was picking up on.

When she’d lamented not meeting the hunky football player last night, Isabel had said she was sure to see him again. Which was maddening at the time, because she was just as sure she wouldn’t. And yet, only half a day later, here he was.

The waiter returned with the pitcher and her drinks. Wrapping her hands around the hot mug, she sipped slowly. “You’re a professional athlete?”

“Oh, no,” Kip said, rubbing his hand over his head. “I’ve played rugby all my life - I guess you would call it football - but my pay comes from the fire department.”

“You’re a fireman?”

Kip nodded. “Like my father before me. And his father before him.”

“How long are you visiting?”

“I’ll be here awhile. With my schedule, I have big chunks of days off, and I traded some shifts to extend my vacation.”

“He’s too modest,” interrupted Barry. “He’s actually a station manager.”

“Congratulations,” said Jenny.

“I’ve been at it a long time.” He shrugged.

“He’s here to give a talk at a convention in January about a new safety technique they’ve developed for storing equipment.”

“Come on Barry, let’s not bore the lady. I’m sure it’s as captivating as watching painting dry.”

They laughed. “Not at all,” she said. “So it’s combined work and family visit. What other plans do you have while you’re here?”

“This guy,” he motioned toward Barry, “plans to keep me in the mountains ‘til after New Year’s. Then, a few days to look around Calgary after the convention.”

“Have a wonderful time while you’re here,” she said, rising and digging through her pockets for money. “I’m sorry to jam out on you boys, but it’s too cold for me. I’m heading back to Banff.”

Barry put his hand up. “We’ll get your drink, don’t worry.”

She caught a glance pass between them and could have sworn Kip kicked him under the table. Barry rushed on. “Coming out to ski tomorrow?”

“If it warms up, I’ll be here.” She gave them each a wide smile, gathered her things and made her way out of the bar.

She tittered on her way down the stairs. Oh, yeah, she’d be here tomorrow. Even if it was still a deep freeze outside, being around the big Scot would surely warm her up. She could hardly wait to tell Issy she’d seen him again, even if she did have to listen to her say “I told you so”.

DECEMBER 26 ~ EVENING

Isabel slid into the water and sighed loudly. Karin and Shelly giggled and slid in beside her.

“It’s just hot water, Mom,” Karin said.

“Talk to me about that in twenty years,” Isabel smiled. “After working all day, it feels really good. Now tell me what was so important - you said you needed to talk to me?”

“Not right now, Mom,” Shelly said, exchanging a look with her sister. “Let’s just relax a while.”

Enjoying the peace, Isabel gazed out the window. It was only seven o’clock, but had been pitch dark for almost three hours. Christmas lights twinkled in the courtyard and she would have felt exposed except it was too cold for anyone to be out there and the steam from the hot tub was quickly fogging up the windows so they wouldn’t be able to see in anyway. She’d had a really productive day, but hunched over the computer all day hadn’t done her any favors. She moved closer to one of the jets and positioned herself so it hit her lower back.

“Mom?”

“Mmmm?” She peeped out from under half-lowered lids.

“Is it true that Barbie’s mom set you up with her cousin from Smith Falls?”

Isabel straighted. “What? Jean?”

Karin continued. “Barbie said her mom was excited about setting you guys up —”

“Cause he just separated —” Shelly interjected.

“— and he’s a psychologist, too, right?”

Isabel slid back down into the water, covering her shoulders. “Well—”

“It’s okay, Mom,” said Karin. “We noticed you guys were together for almost the whole meal.”

“We want you to be happy, Mom,” Shelly added.

She sighed. “That’s nice, girls, but … no. There’s nothing between me and Will.”

“Maybe not right now, but you liked him, right?”

“He’s a very nice man,” she agreed.

“Did he ask you out?” Karin scooched over closer to her.

“He invited me for dinner, but I said no.”

“Oh, Mom—” started Shelly.

“I’m not interested, girls.”

“Okay, but Mom, we’d be okay with you dating someone.”

Where was this coming from, she wondered. “You would?”

They exchanged looks again and Karin spoke. “Now that we’re away at university, we’re a little worried about you. You work so much and you’re alone.”

“I’m not alone, Karin.”

“You
are
Mom. And you work too much. We just think it’s time for you to—”

“Start circulating again,” finished Shelly, leaning in. “We can help you set up a dating profile online, if you want.”

Isabel laughed lightly. “I don’t want, but thanks.” This seemed like the perfect moment to tell them about Tray. It would be easier than trying to hide him all week long. Still, it was premature. “I appreciate your concern, but for now, I’m good.”

“All right,” they chorused.

“What about you girls? Anyone special you’re interested in?”

They giggled. “Karin is crushin’ on Barbie’s brother.”

Karin elbowed her sister, hard. Shelly squealed. “Not really,” she blushed. “Well, a little, but he still acts like I’m a little kid.”

“That’ll change,” Isabel assured her. “Just be careful, please, girls. There’s a lot of things happening at parties these days.”

“We know, Mom.”

“Like date rapes and Rohypnol. I heard there’s some rufies circulating at the university.”

“There’s always stuff like that, Mom,” said Karin. “But we’re really careful. We never leave our drinks, and we always have a friend check on us when we go out. We even have a text system set up so we can check on each other every half hour.”

“All the time,” added Shelly.

“And we’re also testing one of the new date rape apps.”

“That’s good,” Isabel said. “I know I shouldn’t worry about you, but it can happen. A friend of mine had a close scare a couple of months ago.”

“Really? What happened?”

“Someone saw a guy put some drugs in her drink and stopped it before it went any further.”

“Wow, that’s lucky. Did Jenny tell you that?” Isabel looked at her in surprise and Karin grinned sheepishly. “I mean, you don’t go out, so I figured it happened to her. Or maybe she told you the story?”

Isabel rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t matter, the point is, be extra careful please.”

“Did I hear my name?” Jenny crossed the room to the jacuzzi.

Karin rose and Shelly bounced herself onto the ledge, legs dangling in the water.

“Hi Jenny, we were just talking about you,” said Shelly.

“Do tell - good things, I hope.”

“Always,” said Karin. The girls each gave her a quick hug.

“We need to get going, Mom. Okay?” Shelly asked.

“To the open house?”

“Yes, we’re meeting Barbie and her brother there,” Karin said.

Shelly twittered and Karin elbowed her again. “Ouch, stop doing that.”

“Don’t forget,” Karin said, “tomorrow we’re going to the hot springs in Radium and staying overnight.”

“I want you to text me when you get home tonight. And text me when you get to Radium tomorrow. Understand?” They both nodded. “Take my key so you can get changed. Just leave it on the desk and I’ll go in through Jenny’s room.”

“Okay, thanks Mom,” Shelly said over her shoulder as the door closed behind them.

“That was intense,” Jenny smiled, stepping down into the water.

“Remember what that was like? Always somewhere to go, somewhere to be?”

They laughed. “My life is still too much like that,” Jenny said.

“If you count work and home and home and work, then mine is, too. I know they’ll stay out of trouble, but it worries me sometimes. Especially after the rape drug incident at the club. What if it happened to one of them?”

“Did you talk to them about it?”

“Yes, but not specifics. They said they’ve got a back-up plan whenever they go out.”

“Sad. But a necessary evil these days.” Jenny relaxed back into the water.

“They wondered what was going on with me and Will.”

“Will?”

“Jean’s cousin Will - the one she tried to set me up with at dinner yesterday.”

“Right. What did you tell them?”

“That nothing was going on. The thing is, they wanted something to be happening. They had a little heart-to-heart with me about dating. They’re worried I spend too much time alone.”

Jenny smiled. “Sharp kids.” She glanced over at her. “Did you tell them about Tray?”

Isabel shook her head. “I decided to wait.”

“Sounds like it was perfect timing.”

“Feels premature.” She shrugged.

“Oh, speaking of timing,” Jenny sat up, “guess who I saw with Barry today?”

“Skiing?”

“Yes, I ran into him and we had lunch. Guess,” she prodded.

“Animal, mineral or vegetable?”

“Don’t tease. Remember the hunky football player at dinner yesterday? Turns out he plays rugby, not football. Anyway, he was skiing with Barry.” Her friend grinned ear to ear. “I think he likes me.”

Isabel laughed. “Who’s acting like high school now? Of course he would like you, but what makes you so sure?”

“He thought I was married ‘cause he saw me all day with the professor. So, one,” she held up a finger to count, “he was paying attention to what I was doing. And two, he was delighted when he found out I wasn’t married.”

“Nice. Who was the woman with him at dinner? Was she there, too?”

Jenny’s face darkened. “I didn’t think of that. I have no idea who she was.”

“You’re skiing with them again tomorrow?”

“Suppose to, if it warms up. I almost froze to death out there today.”

“You can find out from Barry, right?”