A Long Way to Fall, page 15
Harriet’s eyes widened. “No. I forgot about that.”
Bridget grabbed a radio from the charging station. “Let’s hope it’s not too late.” She rushed out of the lodge and was halfway down the steps when she heard her name. She turned around, and like a starry-eyed, clueless teenager, she kind of, sort of, swooned at the sight in front of her. Because there stood Kennedy, looking as gorgeous as ever, even with her damp hair all slicked back. She had on the clothes Bridget had left out for her, dark jeans that she’d rolled at the cuff, a long flannel button-up, and a black puffer vest with the lodge’s logo on the chest. She almost looked like she worked there or at the very least, was the smokin’ hot girlfriend of the owner.
No, no, no. Bridget couldn’t think those kinds of thoughts. She needed to wipe the grin from her face and use her pleasant lodge-owner voice when she climbed back up a few steps and said, “Good morning. Did you get some breakfast? How did you sleep?”
Kennedy used Bridget’s shoulder to steady herself as she took a step down, putting them face-to-face. “I’m not sure why, but the toe is a little worse this morning.”
Bridget took her elbow. “Maybe you shouldn’t walk on it. Let’s get you back inside.”
“Wait,” Kennedy said. “I was thinking maybe you could grab one of those snowmobiles and take me down to the scene of my embarrassing accident? I really need to find my phone.”
Bridget furrowed her brow. “About that.” She paused and looked to see if a snowmobile was available. “You know what? I’ll tell you on the way. Put your arm over my shoulder.” She took a step down and wrapped her arm around Kennedy’s waist. “I’ve got you. Just do one step at a time.”
When they got to the bottom step, Kennedy hopped on one leg. She almost lost her balance, but Bridget grabbed her so she wouldn’t fall. That put them face-to-face again with her hands on Kennedy’s waist, and when their eyes met, Bridget whipped her head to the left. And then to the right. She needed something else to look at. Something not desirable or sexy or warm and inviting. She needed different images in her mind. Harriet! That was who she’d think about. Except that was kind of mean. And weird. She could think about payroll taxes. That would do the trick.
“Uh, Bridget?”
“What? I mean, huh?”
“If we keep standing like this with my leg up, people are going to start to wonder if you’ll ever be brave enough to actually kiss me.”
Bridget took a quick look at her leg, and sure enough, she was in the kissing pose that one saw in old movies. And Kennedy obviously found the situation comical. “Very funny. Now, just stay right here. Can you do that? Can you put your leg down and stay upright for a minute?”
Kennedy demurred as she lowered her leg. “I suppose I can manage.”
Bridget narrowed her eyes. “Is your foot really worse off today or—”
“Or what?”
“Or are you just looking for a reason to—”
“To what?”
Bridget wasn’t buying Kennedy’s innocent tone, but she didn’t want to accuse her outright of using her injury to bring them physically closer. “Never mind,” she said. “Just don’t tip over while I’m gone.”
She hurried to the parking lot and brushed the snow off a two-seater. She needed to get down there before Mack pushed that suitcase even deeper into the snowbank. Or worse, ripped it wide open with the plow blade and ruined its contents.
When she pulled up to the lodge, Kennedy put a hand up. “Don’t get off. I can do it on my own.”
Bridget offered her hand for support. “Easy does it.”
With surprising agility, Kennedy mounted the machine with her good leg and eased in behind Bridget. “Where do I hang on?”
“You don’t,” Bridget said. “Hands straight up in the air like you’re riding a roller coaster but don’t you dare fall off.”
“Ha. For a second there, I thought you were serious, but I realized that was just code for, slide closer and hold on to me as tight as you can.” She wrapped her arms around Bridget’s waist and tucked her hands into her coat pockets. “Okay, I’m ready to stay like this for an hour, so take the long way.”
Bridget turned slightly and said, “If I go the long way, your suitcase might be toast.”
“Well, I may have realized that I’m already toast, so my suitcase is the least of my worries.”
Bridget turned around even more. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” Kennedy stopped. She shook her head and rested her forehead on Bridget’s shoulder. “Just go the short way.”
Bridget turned back around and put her hands on the grips. She waited for Kennedy to put her hands back in her pockets, but she didn’t make any contact at all. “You good?” she asked without turning her head.
“All good.”
Was she hanging on to the back of the snowmobile? Bridget revved the engine, causing them to jerk forward just enough for those arms to grab her around the waist again. She smiled to herself and shouted, “Sorry about that.”
It was a very short ride down to the Flemings’ driveway. Mack was out of his truck, picking up pieces of clothing. Bridget stopped and said, “Damnit. It looks like we’re too late.”
Kennedy shouted, “Hey. Don’t worry about that stuff. You shouldn’t have to clean up this mess.”
“No worries, ma’am. I already found your purse. Set it on the porch up there.” He gestured toward the cabin. “Unfortunately, your suitcase seems to have exploded on impact, so I’m just gathering up your, um…” He held up a pair of panties “Unmentionables.”
Bridget got off the snowmobile and stood in front of Kennedy to block her view. “I’ll handle this. Just stay right here, okay?”
She grabbed Bridget’s coat sleeve. “I’d really rather do it myself.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not,” Kennedy snapped back.
Bridget raised an eyebrow. “You’re acting like one of those people who gets stopped by customs in To Catch a Drug Mule.”
“It’s called To Catch a Smuggler, and I am not.”
“You’re not acting like that, or you’re not a drug mule?”
“Bridget, stop him. Please.”
“So you are a drug mule.”
“Oh. My. God. I just don’t want a stranger going through my things, okay?”
Seth’s head popped up from behind a snowbank. “I found the phone,” he shouted. “And this.” He proudly held up a bright pink vibrator.
Bridget covered her mouth, but it didn’t really muffle her laughter. Kennedy shot up off the seat. “Hey, leave that…woah.” She wasn’t able to get the words out before her arms started to flail in an effort to regain her balance. Bridget lunged for her, but Kennedy tipped forward and grabbed the handlebars, managing to squeeze the thumb throttle in the process. The snowmobile shot forward.
Bridget grabbed on to the back and screamed, “Take your hands off.” She lost her footing but managed to hang on long enough to shout a more specific instruction. “Take your hand off the throttle!”
The snowmobile came to a stop a few feet away from Mack’s truck. Bridget let go of the bar and rolled onto her back so she could catch her breath. Kennedy got off and dropped to her knees, a look of sheer panic on her face. “Are you okay?”
She was fine. They were both fine. But it needed to be said. “My God, you’re a hot mess, Kennedy Fleming.”
They shared a laugh that turned into a few seconds of silence before Kennedy said, “If I kissed you right now…”
Bridget hesitated for not more than a couple of seconds, but it was long enough for Kennedy to regret the question and try to pull away, but Bridget stopped her. Aside from the world ending, did the consequences of one kiss really matter? It seemed like the regret she’d most likely have for the rest of her life if she let the moment slip by would be a much higher price to pay. She wanted that kiss, so she whispered, “Just do it.”
Their lips had barely touched when Seth dropped to his knees next to them.
“Woah, that was scary,” he said. “I thought for sure you were going to smack right into that truck.”
Kennedy made a noise that sounded a lot like, “Motherfudger,” said through gritted teeth before she let Seth help her to her feet. She stomped a few feet away and with her back to them, threw her hands to the sky.
Bridget shared her frustration. Just the brushing of their lips together had her feeling all sorts of things. Mainly, a strong motivation to make sure it happened again, maybe somewhere a little bit more private. She pushed herself to a sitting position and brushed the snow from her body. Seth moved to help her, but she put up a hand. “No. Just hang on to Hot Mess so she doesn’t cause any more trouble.”
Seth stifled a laugh. “Can we use that one on the radio?”
Bridget got up and faced him. “You can call her anything you want as long as you don’t say a word about what you just saw.”
“Hey, I didn’t see a thing.” He cleared his throat and added, “Except for this personal massager.”
Kennedy marched back over and grabbed it from his hand. “You didn’t see this either. Got it?”
Kennedy had turned bright red. Possibly from the cold air. Or maybe it was from the almost kiss. Bridget wanted to think it was the latter, but it was most likely from embarrassment. She didn’t want to add to it so she stifled a giggle and said, “Is it safe to assume it’s okay for Seth to take the rest of your belongings to the cabin?”
Kennedy gave them a nod. “Thank you, Seth.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll check on the furnace guy while I’m there. He showed up right as Mack made his first pass up the driveway.” Before leaving, he took Kennedy by the arm and led her the few steps to Bridget. “Can you hang on to Hot Mess while I’m gone, boss?”
Kennedy gasped. “Is that what you’re calling me now?”
Seth took off giggling and Kennedy shrugged. “I guess it’s better than the previous nickname. She turned to Bridget. “Especially if you gave it to me.”
Bridget suppressed a grin. “Nah, it was Harriet. I think she might have a crush on you.” She steadied Kennedy while she got back on the snowmobile.
“Yeah. I totally get that vibe from her. It must be the way she glares at me from across the lobby like I’m a possible suspect in a shoplifting gang that’s been terrorizing the mountain.”
Bridget laughed because she knew the look, and Kennedy’s description was pretty accurate. Also, she looked so damned cute sitting there on the snowmobile. Her hair had dried into sort of a messy look. Kennedy would probably try to smooth it out if she looked in a mirror, but Bridget found it adorable and sexy. “Still want that long ride?” she asked.
Kennedy spread her legs wider, making room for Bridget to sit in front of her. “Hop on, cowgirl.”
The consequences of the kiss became evident about a minute after they took off for higher ground. Kennedy pushed her entire body up against Bridget, her hands tucked into her pockets again. And for Bridget’s part, certain body parts had been awakened and were begging for attention. If a simple brush of lips had done that to her, what would a real kiss do?
Was it because it had been a minute since she’d been with anyone that she got so turned on? Or was it that her attraction to Kennedy was just that strong?
They went over a bump, which caused Kennedy’s hands to bounce up in Bridget’s pockets and graze her breasts. It only made the situation worse because then she imagined unzipping her jacket enough for Kennedy to reach in and touch her deliberately. To massage her breast and play with her nipple.
Her hand could go lower too. It could slide into her pants and then her underwear. A finger could glide into her wetness and find her aching clit, and—
“Where are we going?” Kennedy shouted.
Bridget stopped in the middle of the narrow trail and cut the engine. She didn’t have a destination in mind. She just wanted to have those arms wrapped around her for a little while longer.
Kennedy put her chin on Bridget’s shoulder. “Not that it matters,” she said. “You can take me wherever you want.”
Bridget got up, turned around, and straddled the seat so they were face-to-face. “Anywhere?”
Kennedy’s lips parted as if she was about to answer, but she glanced from side to side. “Actually, I kinda like it right here.”
Bridget also took a look around. As long as she lived, she’d never get over the natural beauty that surrounded her every day. “My dad once told me that most people think the best view of the mountains is from the bottom, but he saw it differently. He said that to really appreciate the majesty and grandeur of a mountain, you need to be on top of it, feeling scared to death that you’re going to fall.”
Kennedy rested her hands on Bridget’s knees. “I’m not afraid to fall.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
“Wait. You’re the one who races down mountains. Are you telling me you’re scared to death every time you do it?”
“I didn’t realize we were talking about skiing.” Bridget turned away. She shouldn’t have said that. And she probably shouldn’t have followed up with, “Earlier, you were going to ask me a question. You said, ‘If I kissed you right now…’”
Kennedy raised a hand to Bridget’s cheek and held it. “I wanted to know if you’d kiss me back.”
Bridget didn’t purposely delay her answer. She just needed a moment to take it all in. It was all so perfect. So sexy. And so different. It was just the two of them in the middle of nowhere with nothing to stop them from experiencing the pleasure of a shared kiss.
Kennedy started to remove her hand, but Bridget caught it and kept it on her cheek while she held her gaze. The tension between them heightened to the point where she felt like she’d lose her breath, so she raised her other hand and cupped Kennedy’s cheek. “Are you still not afraid to fall?” she asked.
Kennedy’s breathing quickened. “I’m scared shitless, but if somebody doesn’t kiss somebody soon—”
Their lips touched again, but this time with a gentle force that sent shockwaves through Bridget’s body. She held back a moan, but Kennedy didn’t. She let hers reverberate on their lips before she pulled away just long enough to say, “Thank God this finally happened.”
Bridget found herself in agreement and also very lost in Kennedy’s scent. The kiss was everything she’d hoped it would be. It went from frantic to gentle and then back again. Her heart pounded, and other parts of her ached for attention. She wanted Kennedy in a way she had never experienced. She wanted all of her. She wanted her naked and open and wet and warm. She wanted to be inside her so much, she was tempted to stop what they were doing and race back to her cabin. But if felt too good to stop.
The combination of Kennedy’s fingers running through her hair and her tongue exploring her mouth made her feel lightheaded. She wondered if Kennedy was just as lost in the feeling of Bridget massaging her ass while she took her bottom lip into her mouth and sucked on it. The deep, throaty moan she elicited told her she was.
The kiss was everything Bridget had imagined and more. It was hot and passionate, and had they not been sitting on a snowmobile, it was the kind of kiss that could’ve led to so much more. And Bridget absolutely wanted more.
Kennedy kissed her way to Bridget’s ear and buried her face in her shoulder. “You’ve got me so turned on right now, I don’t know which way is up.”
Bridget smiled. “I know the feeling. It’s almost like I’m tipsy.”
Kennedy lifted her head. “I’m drunk on you too. Also, parts of me are on fire, and other parts of me might never thaw out.”
It hadn’t occurred to Bridget that Kennedy wasn’t exactly dressed for a long ride in the dead of winter. She glanced at her feet and gasped. “Oh my God. You’re still wearing my slippers.” She grabbed her cheeks and looked her in the eye. “We have to go back. Right now.”
“One more kiss for the road?”
Bridget gave her a quick peck and got herself turned around. She started the engine and barked, “Hang on, and don’t let go.”
“Wow,” Kennedy exclaimed. “That was a really short honeymoon period. Like, infinitesimal.”
“You could have frostbite. Also, I’ll make it up to you later, okay?”
Kennedy slid forward and wrapped her arms around Bridget. “I’m holding you to that. Also, my naked body. I’m going to hold you—whaaaa.”
Bridget grabbed Kennedy’s flailing leg as she gunned it and made a U-turn. “I meant it when I told you to hang on.”
Frostbite was no joke. It also occurred to Bridget that the reason Kennedy hadn’t complained about her toe since they’d left the lodge could be that it had gone numb from the cold. She needed to get her back home fast.
* * *
Since it seemed like everyone at the lodge had orders to bend over backward for her now, being back in her dad’s house again was not Kennedy’s idea of a good time. She had a plowed driveway, heat blasting from the furnace, and although she hadn’t looked yet, she’d been told that the fridge had been stocked with a few days’ worth of groceries. If only they’d all been this kind when she’d first arrived. Now it felt like just when things were getting good, she was being told to take her toys and go home. But her toys were all broken, including her phone. And if her suspicions were correct, so was her toe.
So she sat there with her feet soaking in a pan of warm water while Bridget took a call outside. She rested her head on the back of the chair and turned toward the window so she could watch the skiers go by. The sun had finally come out. In fact, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. She wondered how long it would take for the giant icicles that hung from the roofline to start melting. She also wondered if Bridget’s heart had begun the melting process or if that kiss was just raw attraction.
