“You couldn’t have forecasted these storms,” he assured her. “This isn’t usual.”
She shook her head. “Even when we were still together, when I booked the tickets, I was worried about making it back, but Jason said it was the only time we could go, since he was working toward a big gallery show in July. And I caved to his desires, as usual.”
There was so much derision in her voice that his heart stopped for a moment with a thought. Best find out now, man, before you’re in too deep. “Are you still hung up on this guy?”
There. Good. Put it out there.
To his relief, she laughed. “Jason? No way. I was over him even before we broke up, I realized. It didn’t take me long to get over his stupidity. But I am angry at myself. Because before Jason, I felt like I knew what was right and what was wrong. I felt like, even if I wasn’t perfect, I was good enough. Maybe I didn’t spend enough time with my sister, or maybe I wasn’t as ambitious as I should have been, or all kinds of things that didn’t necessarily match up. But I felt like I was doing an adequate job at being a human being. I didn’t realize just how precarious that image of myself was. How easily Jason tore it down. And I let him do it. I think that’s why I insisted on coming on this vacation. Because I was trying to get back something that I thought I needed.”
Lily paused and cocked her head as though she was thinking it over. “Pride, I guess. That’s what I was probably trying to get back. The ridiculous thing is that I spent the entire time sleeping alone in a huge bed in a suite with a lovely, romantic view that I couldn’t share with anyone and it only made me miserable. I even offered to fly my mother down with me, just to have some company. But no one I know could take the time away.”
She let out a short, harsh laugh. “It wasn’t until yesterday that I realized that I should have just left and either gone back home or explored the country somewhere else. That it was staying and torturing myself that made me more foolish than anything. I don’t even like skiing that much.”
His stomach roiled. What kind of guy would put a woman in such a position?
She took a sip of her wine and put it back on the table, then flicked her hair over her shoulder. “The thing is, like you, I didn’t like being there alone. But I wasn’t upset that Jason wasn’t there with me, which only confirms that I never really loved him the way I thought I had. For that, I’m grateful I found out he was no good before we got married. But what I was upset by was that I did exactly what I loathed in him. I put my pride and what I thought were my own desires before my sister. And now I might miss the most important moment in her life thus far because of that selfishness. I’ve let a guy who wasn’t worth it in the first place interrupt one of the few truly special relationships in my life.”
Bruno shook his head, but Lily put up her hand. “Before you speak, I will caution you that, no matter what you say, that’s what I think.”
He sat back. She was right. He didn’t know her well enough to try to convince her of something that she was so wrapped up in right now. Maybe in time she would come to realize that getting something back for herself was the right thing to do. Especially judging from her sister’s reaction.
“What about you? Have you ever let a woman drive you to do something foolish?” Her tone was teasing.
“I don’t know yet. And I’m not sure I’d call it foolish, either.”
“Hmmm.” His breath caught at the feel of her foot sliding up his calf. “Sounds like you’re a bit confused. Maybe you might need some help with pinning it down.”
“What do you suggest?” His voice was gruffer than usual, the desire he’d been feeling all evening culminating in a need so strong, it was practically strangling his entire body. Lily’s foot was halfway up his thigh now.
“Well, I am a consultant. I’m good at finding solutions to hard problems.” She grazed his erection, and he barely suppressed a groan. “Big, hard problems.”
“Lily…” He made a last attempt at rational thought. “You’re a smart, beautiful, sexy”—her foot eased between his legs with a gentle pressure, and this time he did groan—“woman. But when you make it home tomorrow and the stress of not knowing whether you’ll make it back in time is gone, and you’re further away from the days you spent at the ski resort, will you regret it?”
Her foot dropped. She slowly pushed her chair back and stood, then walked around the table to stand next to him. She leaned down close, placing both hands on the arm of his chair.