I don’t think mine is working so well. You two will have to help me.”
The children laughed with excitement as Ally told everyone to get on the bed and explained the point of the game. “There’s a prize for the winner.”
Des forced her to look at him. “If we lose, is there a consolation prize?”
She chuckled. “I’ll think of one.”
“How about if I lose, I get to decide what my prize is?” he answered back. “I know exactly what I want.”
Ally couldn’t hold Des’s gaze when she knew exactly what was on his mind. He wasn’t going to let her get away with not explaining her remarks for much longer. She was putting it off because she was enjoying this time with him so much, and she wanted it to last.
And right now she owed it to the children to get into this game.
Des was a tough competitor and tutored the children with surprising patience. In the end, she won three matches and they won two. The kids would have continued trying to beat her for the rest of the day if it weren’t for Inez, who brought food on a tray and told the children she needed them upstairs.
Ally rewarded each of them with a big peppermint candy cane. Since they’d never seen anything quite like them, they were delighted.
After they left, she and Des ate the delicious food Inez had prepared. He sat against the headboard with his long legs extended. He looked relaxed, but she could feel his tension growing—right along with her own sense of impending doom.
She knew their time together was short—in a few days he’d be off on his planned campout and she’d be back in Wyoming. But in the meantime, as she delayed telling him the truth, their relationship was progressing, making a liar out of her.
Before he could pounce and claim his consolation prize, she put down her coffee cup and took the initiative, not able to stand it any longer.
“You want to know my secret? The reason I’ve been keeping my distance? For the last year I’ve told no one, not even Miguel and Inez. But that was before I met you.”
He sat forward. “Go on.”
“I wanted to say something that morning we went climbing. But you were—are—such an attractive man, and I feared alienating you by seeming … forward. You know. A strange woman suddenly baring her soul to you. I’m sure there’ve been plenty of women who’ve come up with some pretty inventive ways to get close to you. I … I didn’t want you to think I was one of them. If I’d blurted out what was on my mind, I was afraid you would think it seemed desperate. I hated the idea that you would consider me pathetic.”
His features hardened. “I know I acted resentful of you, and I’ve apologized for that, but did I seem that much of a monster to you when we were introduced?”
“No!” she cried. “No, Des.” She jumped off the bed, too agitated to sit still. “After you told me about your fiancée, I understood your disdain.”
She paced the floor for a minute. “What I’m trying to say is that this whole situation is about me and my hang-ups. I’m sorry you ever got involved. When I came to the Pyrenees, I didn’t expect …” She faltered for a second. “I didn’t expect to find what I did. To find you,” she mumbled.
He launched himself off the bed and came to stand in front of her with his hands on his hips. “You think I did?”
With that question she realized she wasn’t the only one feeling anxious about how quickly things had changed. “No.” She shook her head. “Of course not.”
He softened his stance. “Just tell me, Ally.”
She struggled for breath then lifted her head to look at him. “After Rex died, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a full mastectomy.” She smiled at him through the tears. “A woman gets used to her own body parts. But until I met you, I didn’t know how much it affected me that they were gone.”
Though he stood stock-still, as soon as the words left her lips, she saw his eyes widen in shock and his compelling mouth press into a thin line.
“I’m in remission for now and I’ve been working out to get in the best shape possible, both physically and mentally. But every time I go in for testing, I could find out it’s come back. Then again it might never come back.”
Ally heard his sharp intake of breath. “You think that makes you the Ugly Duckling?”
Des looked and sounded furious.
“In the physical sense, yes. When you kissed me a little while ago, it made me realize h-how much I wanted to be like I was before.” She looked down. “Desirable. Sexy.”
Ally was so embarrassed for having exposed herself to this degree, she started for the door with the tray. “You heard Inez. We’ve been invited to spend Christmas Eve with them. If you’re feeling well enough, come up to their apartment whenever you’re ready. If you decide you want to be alone, no one will bother you. I promise.” She left.
CHAPTER EIGHT
DES stared at the closed door after Ally had gone, devastated for her sake by what she’d told him. Two mortal blows in a row—first she’d had to deal with her fiancé’s sudden death and then the diagnosis of breast cancer.
Up on the frozen waterfall he’d discovered she was the most courageous person he’d ever known. She’d disregarded her own safety to get him to the clinic before hypothermia set in. Without injuring herself, no less! He knew Miguel would have sent out a search party for them if they’d been delayed, but by then Des could have been in real trouble. She had a warrior’s spirit and he stood in awe of her.
So how could someone who’d been so brave on that ice be so insecure about her own body? No matter what he had to do, he was going to get around her fears.
No one knew how long they had to live. And since every minute of life was precious, he had no intention of staying down in his room and away from her. Wheeling around, he picked out what he wanted to wear, then headed for the shower.
After he’d shaved and dressed, he left the room for the front entry to the posada. Pleased to have caught sight of Maricela in the hallway without needing to bother Miguel, he called to her. “Will you show me to Ally’s room? I need to talk to her.”
“Sure. She’s right down here.” He followed her along two different hallways until they came to Ally’s door. “Are you going to come to our apartment later?” the girl asked.
He patted her cute face. “We wouldn’t miss it. Come and knock on the door when you’re ready for us.”
“I will.” Her brown eyes danced before she ran off.
Des turned and rapped on Ally’s door.
Ally didn’t recognize the knock, but thought it could be one of the staff. She’d just come out of the bathroom after blow-drying her hair. She pulled on her pink toweling robe and padded across the room to open the door.
“Des!”
She
