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“Mum tries to get us to talk, but even she ends up skirting around the subject.” She shrugged. “And I’ve sent those CVs that Dad wanted me to. Because I can’t admit to him that it isn’t what I want.”

Sam circled her shoulders as they continued on their walk, wishing he could fix it all for her.

Altogether the light walk took over an hour, and Sam relished every moment, trying to ignore the feeling that he didn’t want their time together to end.

He’d deliberately engineered it so he could walk her back to hers rather than the other way around. He didn’t want her going back alone when it was late.

Maya leaned in as they reached her driveway, meaning he was enveloped in her scent. It always did terrible things to his heart rate.

“Let’s compare notes.” She held her card next to his, scanning them. “We’re pretty much in tune here. We’d make awesome judges.” Shifting away again, she sniffed. “How dare they not let us on the panel.”

Sam smiled. “To be fair, we haven’t asked. And it’s too late now.”

“Ooh.” Her eyes widened. “Next year, shall we ask if we can join it? They can only say no, right?”

Sam’s heart swelled at the thought that she might still be around, and in his life as his friend, in a year’s time. “Let’s do it.”

Maya did a little dance in the snow, making him laugh.

“Awe-some,” she sang, then hugged him. “Keep your scorecard so we can see how our votes compare against the real results.”

He gave her a squeeze, realizing that snow was falling. “Will do.” He eased back to look at her, the fluttering flakes of snow clinging to the dark of her eyelashes and forming tiny beads of moisture on her lips that he desperately wanted to kiss off.

She released him slowly, and he handed back her cup. “Thanks for the hot chocolate.”

Giving him a wink, she headed along the driveway, doing a twirl in the falling snow as she went. “You are very welcome, Samuel Leonard Holland.”

Chapter

Seventeen

It wasn’t that she was proud of avoiding her sister, but Maya certainly was pleased about it. She’d hardly seen her family in an effort to avoid any more arguments.

Planning for the sled race had taken over her days and nights, and Maya had thrown herself into not only that, but all aspects of work, and had ended up eating most of her meals at the café, each evening hanging out with whoever was working late and grabbing some food with them. She’d even been coming in on her days off, much to Ben’s delight.

Sam had encouraged her to go home and at least speak to her mother, but Maya didn’t even feel able to do that—not wanting to be “selfish” in pitting her mum against her dad and sister.

Sam had told her that Cat was staying at her mum’s and not speaking to him. Maya wondered whether that signaled the death knell of their relationship, or if it was just another one of their many bumps in the road. From what she’d heard, their relationship had suffered much drama and multiple large blowouts along the way. But she couldn’t help feeling that this time must be different, what with Sam’s revelation about Cat’s underhanded behavior.

Not that Sam seeing the light and separating from Cat’s toxicity would mean Maya would expect him to suddenly be interested in her—she was painfully aware that they were just friends. But it would make his life more content, and Liv could stop worrying about him. The idea of both those things made Maya very happy.

By the time the Sunday of the race rolled around, Maya was living and breathing the resort, and she loved it.

Skiing to the top of the short, green run that was to serve as the race venue, she surveyed the hill, making sure all the markers were in place. The bright white slope swept down before her, glittering invitingly, begging her to cut into the fresh and pristine powder.

The sun sparkled off the surface and warmed her face against the cold, yet gentle, winter breeze. She pulled her goggles over her eyes, setting off down the side of the slope in order to check it from the bottom. Her skis sliced satisfyingly into the snow, the sensation infusing her soul with joy.

Sam appeared at the bottom of the slope as she had a few more yards to go. Smiling, she carved into the powder and came to a standstill next to him, deliberately spraying him with a soft shower of snow.

He laughed, brushing himself off. “You’d better watch it.”

Maya took off her goggles and helmet. “Oh, I will.” She skied away a little, toward the terrace, then turned to flash him a grin. “Or will I?”

Sam laughed hard at that point, and Maya enjoyed the way his face lit up. Maybe he’d never break away from Cat, but perhaps he could find some way to improve their relationship. And in the meantime, Maya would be there to make him laugh.

Sam strolled over to where she was checking the finish line markers. He leaned in. “Shall we test it out before the contenders arrive?”

A burst of excitement gathered in her belly, rising into her chest. “Great idea.”