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“Hey,” Sam said, grinning. “How dare you. There was a house full of women tonight who loved my banter.”

“Yeah, right,” Maya said, sniggering. “That’s not what they loved.”

They both laughed, though Sam’s ended up in another yawn.

“Seriously,” Maya said. “Get some sleep. I really don’t mind.”

“Maybe just for a second.” He closed his eyes.

After a few minutes, Maya snuck a glance at him and could tell he’d dropped off. She watched the road, mindful to avoid any potholes so as not to disturb her sleeping passenger.

Sleeping beauty.

The evening shadows cast definition over his cheekbones and accentuated the duskiness of his beard, a contrast to his fair skin. His lips were full and soft looking. Though Maya knew they were also soft feeling, because she’d experienced them up close in the past.

Burning the candle at both ends was doing him no good. But it wasn’t her place to comment; they hardly knew each other. And a short time ago, they hadn’t even been friends. It struck her how quickly, and deeply, they’d reconnected. And that was despite more than one false start.

Their bond of friendship might even be deepening past what it had been as teenagers. Perhaps because it had been built on a foundation of old conflict. Maybe that made for sturdier bonds.

When they arrived back home, Maya contemplated taking him right to his driveway so he could get straight to bed. But Liv had said that any attempts to go against his instincts regarding Cat wouldn’t be met with a favorable response. So she pulled in a little way from his place as usual.

When he didn’t naturally waken once the movement of the vehicle had ceased, she gave him a gentle shake. He opened his eyes with a start. “Are we nearly there?” He glanced around, his eyes clouded with sleep.

“We’re at yours,” Maya said gently.

Sam sat up, stretching. “I didn’t realize I’d dropped off for so long.”

She caught him peering out of the window with a frown on his face, no doubt checking that they weren’t too close to the property, because he relaxed again once he clocked that they were a little away along the street. “Thank you. You’re an absolute star.”

“No problem. Just remember I still need that chauffeur hat and shades.”

He reached into his pocket and took out some cash. “Here you go. This should cover your uniform.”

Maya frowned. “What’s that for?”

“Fuel money,” he replied, trying to get her to take it. “As our deal stipulated.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want it.”

Sam took her hand and forced the cash into her palm. “Tough. That was the deal, and I would’ve had to spend the same if I’d taken my own car.”

“Fine.” She sighed. “You’re so stubborn.”

Sam grinned, and it made her pulse accelerate. “So are you.” He opened the door, then paused. Leaning back toward her, he kissed her cheek.

A wave of heat spread across her skin.

“Thanks again,” he said quietly. “See you next week.”

She watched him walk down the street and turn onto his driveway, very aware that she’d need to tread carefully. The bond of friendship might be deepening for them both, but for her it carried with it a very strong sense of attraction, along with the longing that had lain dormant for the past eight years. And another heartbreak at Sam Holland’s hands was the last thing she needed.

The sun was bright in the afternoon sky as Maya assembled the intermediate class at the bottom of the slope, ready to ascend the chairlift for the last run of their session. One of the other instructors had called in sick, and no one else was free to cover. So, when Rowan had approached her in a panic about it, Maya had stepped up.

“Okay, everyone onto the lift and we’ll meet at the top of the red slope. Remember the pointers I gave you on the last run, and I’ll check you all out on the way down.” She gave them a wink. “In a manner of speaking.”

There was laughter from the group, which morphed into chatter as they joined the queue for the lift.

One of the students cut away from the rest in order to stand next to her at the front. He lifted his goggles, revealing a lovely pair of blue eyes, which he accentuated with a gorgeous smile. “This class is fantastic. You’re a great teacher.”