her eyes looked a little red.
Had she been crying?
No. He’d never seen Brenna cry. Not once. Not when she’d fallen and broken her ankle skiing, nor when those idiots who she refused to name had pushed her into a ditch.
But he knew how much she loved living in this particular lodge.
He remembered how excited she’d been when she’d first moved in. She’d chosen to sleep on the shelf, rather than in the master bedroom, and that decision hadn’t surprised him. Brenna would have slept on the forest floor if that had been a practical option.
“Thought you might need some help packing up the rest of your things.”
“It’s done.”
“Great! So tell me where the cases are, and I’ll get them loaded up. Room’s all ready for you.” He’d given her the room that was farthest from his, and he’d put Jess in charge of making up the bed and making the place welcoming.
“That’s it. That’s the case. You’re looking at it.”
Tyler stared at the single small suitcase standing forlornly on the hardwood floor. “Everything you own is in that?”
“Well, not everything. Not my sporting equipment obviously. I keep that in the Outdoor Center.”
He thought of the Canadian ice skater he’d been dating at the time of his accident. Her makeup case had been bigger and heavier than this suitcase. When they’d traveled, they’d needed a separate car for her luggage.
Thinking of it reminded him why he and Brenna were such good friends.
“I love a woman who travels light.”
Something flickered in her eyes, and then she looked away. “Stay there, I’m coming down.” Her voice didn’t sound like her own, and Tyler dragged his hand over the back of his neck and glanced at Jess, but she was making a fuss of Ash and didn’t seem to have noticed a problem.
Panic knotted in his chest.
Please don’t let her be crying.
It seemed like ages before she appeared. Then she walked to the kitchen area, checked the fridge was empty and smoothed her hand over the granite work surface while Tyler watched, trying to find something to say that wasn’t clumsy or tactless.
“I know you love this place.” Now it was his voice that sounded strange. Rough, a little husky, as if he’d been up all night drinking in a smoke-filled room. “I know it’s important to you.”
“The things that are important to me are outside, not inside. Blue sky, snow, powder, the smell of the lake in the summer. I can’t frame those things or put them in a vase. But it’s true, I love this lodge.” She glanced up at the soaring ceiling. “Jackson did so well when he built these.”
“Gramps nearly killed him for spending so much money. They didn’t stop arguing. We had fireworks every day for months.”
“But Jackson was right.” With a last look around the living room with its cathedral ceiling and huge stone fireplace, she walked toward the door and noticed Jess for the first time. “Hi, Jess. I have to stay with you for a couple of nights, until I find somewhere for myself. I hope that’s all right. I promise not to get in the way.”
“You won’t be in the way. And you’re going to stay for more than a couple of nights. Can we watch skiing together?”
“Sure.” Obviously finding the situation a little awkward, Brenna stooped to hug Luna, who licked her ecstatically. “You’ll have to tell me the rules of your house. I’ve lived alone for so long I haven’t had to think about other people.”
Tyler clenched his jaw. The look on her face made him feel as if he’d put his boot on a basket of kittens.
“There aren’t any rules.” Jess gave a wicked grin. “Dad pretends there are, but then we both break them.”
“That sounds like your dad.” Brenna smoothed Luna’s fur. “He’s never been too good with rules.”
“Hey! I’m pretty house-trained since Jess moved in, isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
“It’s not right. You still put your feet on the table when no one is looking, and you drink milk from the carton.” Jess was trying to stop Ash leaping on the sofa. “But he’s trying, Brenna. Sometimes there’s even food in the fridge along with the beer.”
Some of the tension in his shoulders eased.
“Forest Lodge has a great view, but my place is better. You’re going to love it. I’ve put you in the back bedroom. It faces the forest. Jess made the room up for you while I was teaching my final class.”
He glanced at Jess for confirmation, but she wasn’t looking at him.
Had she forgotten?
“Jess?”
“Mmm?”
“You made up the room, right? Because if you forgot, I am selling your skis and enrolling you in after-school history club.”
“I made up the room! Come on, Luna, let’s take Brenna to her new home.”
Brenna picked up her jacket and slid her feet into her boots. “This must be so inconvenient for you so close to Christmas. Don’t let me stop you doing any of the stuff you’d normally do.”
“Last year was my first proper, permanent Christmas here so we’re still making stuff up. I want lots of decorations but Dad says the house is already a mess, so I’m still working on that.” Jess dragged a wriggling, writhing Ash toward the door. “We’re having a real tree, though. We’re going to choose it soon. You can come. We could go after race training.”
“If there’s enough light.” Tyler opened the door and pushed the dogs out into the cold. Jess followed, and he was about to step after her when Brenna put a hand on his arm.
“Are you sure this is all right? Would you be honest?”
“I’m always honest.” But that wasn’t true, was it? Right now, staring down into those soft dark eyes, he wanted to say things that he knew would change their relationship forever. Because of that, he stepped back. “What are friends for? Maybe we’ll watch a movie tonight or something.” He knew he had to do something to take her mind off the way she was feeling, because seeing her this upset was killing him. “After you’ve cooked me dinner.” He chose his words to goad her, and was relieved to see misery replaced by a dangerous gleam.
“You think I’m cooking you dinner?”
“Of course. You’re the girl. I’m the boy. I get to sit down and watch football with a beer. You get to cook. You and Jess can decide between you who cleans up the kitchen.” His words had the desired effect. Roused from her state of inertia, she stooped and scooped up snow.
“I have one thing to say to that, Tyler O’Neil.”
He told himself that a snowball
