Free Fall

The whole SAR team had spent the past few weeks razzing Logan about this trip, taking bets on how many women he could meet and if-when- any of them would stick.

He could have told them when.

Never.

In his world, love didn't stick at all, not when pitted against such a demanding lifestyle. His mother hadn't stuck with his father's nomadic military way of life, and had left her three young children early on. Many of his friends had been through women like cheap wine, and several were on second or third marriages. Any relationships Logan himself had attempted self-destructed when he'd proven he loved his job more than any significant other in his life.

He looked over the women in front of the fire, several of whom looked him over right back. A particularly tall, beautiful brunette smiled slowly at him, her eyes eating him up.

A ski bunny, just what Wyatt had ordered. He waited for a reaction within him, even a little trickle of curiosity, but the woman stuck on his mind was smaller, lighter, tough as nails, yet soft as silk.

And he could still taste her kiss.

With an apologetic smile, he headed for the locker room, where he put his skis away for the night. On the bench opposite his locker sat another woman, late thirties, shiny blond hair, perfect makeup, fancy diamonds dangling off her ears. She wore tight black ski pants and an even tighter sunshine-yellow V-neck sweater that screamed 'woman on the prowl.'

'Do you work here?' she asked in a soft, husky voice, running her fingers over her deep-plunging neckline.

'No.' Logan stifled his impatience with the ritual flirtation dance and wondered what the hell his problem was. He sat on the bench to remove his ski boots. 'Just visiting.'

'Oh. Me, too. Actually, I own the place.'

'Really?' He dropped one boot into the locker. 'Because I met another owner yesterday on the slopes.'

'Lily Rose.' The woman laughed. 'My niece. She owns a bigger piece than me. Which means she has to do all the work while I get to come and go as I please.' She smiled. 'Are you having a nice time?'

He didn't have to think about it, which surprised him. 'Very.'

'The snow is so amazing here, isn't it? I'm used to skiing back east on ice. This place spoils me.'

Making an agreeing noise, he removed his other boot.

'Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous. Sun and fun on the Sierras.'

He put that boot on the floor of the locker, as well, and smiled absently.

'Wow. You have a great smile.' She thrust out a hand. 'I'm Debbie, by the way.'

'Logan.' He shook the hand she offered and looked into her hungry eyes…still nothing.

'I hope I see you around, Logan. Maybe in the bar, or the hot tub…' With a last, very direct smile, she patted his shoulder and sashayed out of the locker area.

Logan sighed at himself and headed down the stone staircase toward his room. He figured he'd take a shower and then go eat. And then take the evening from there.

His room was small but as warm and inviting as the rest of the resort. The walls, painted a soft buttery color, featured framed photographs of the Tahoe area from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The mismatched antique dresser and chair seemed like a perfect fit for the four-poster bed and its patchwork quilt.

He stripped out of his ski gear and took a long, hot shower, letting the water beat on his back while his mind wandered…right to Lily.

Unlike Logan, she didn't have a week off. She wasn't suddenly…lonely. Damn it. He got dressed and went back upstairs, determined to mingle. To be excited at the prospect of being on his own again. Eating alone in the cafeteria, smiling at strangers, suddenly held little appeal, however, so he headed into the bar, thinking a beer might settle this odd restlessness.

The bar was done up like an old western saloon, complete with swinging double wood doors, bar stools made from saddles and tables that were shellacked wooden telephone spindles turned on their ends. The place was nearly full, and laughter and talk rang out in pleasant tones as he walked in.

At home, he and the members of his team often met at Moody's after an incredibly tough shift, needing to unwind. Logan could walk into that bar any day of the week and come across friends to hang out with. He hadn't gotten that same level of intimacy last night when he'd wandered through here; this bar had a different energy altogether. It was edgier, louder- more about fun-but still a welcoming place.

Moving through the crowd, he took a seat on a bar stool. There were two women bartending, both with their backs to him. The closest one was petite in size and wore a black beanie, black leggings on her tight, toned legs, a black silky thermal top that came to her thighs and a white apron, somehow managing to make the simple undergarments look fashionable. When she turned to get his order, a smile split her face.

He felt the same silly thing happen to him. 'Lily Rose.'

Chapter 5

'What did I tell you about my middle name?' There was a teasing lilt in those whiskey-colored eyes as Lily spoke. 'Have you been enjoying yourself?'

'More so now.' Reaching out, Logan put his hand over hers and felt the icy cold of her skin sing along his. 'Holy smokes.'

'I know. I'm a Popsicle. I just got in a few minutes ago.'

He entwined her fingers in his and gave a little squeeze, trying to give her some of his warmth. She had short, unpainted fingernails that looked as if maybe she sometimes chewed them, and a silver heart ring on her right thumb, which he glided a finger over. He felt a little tremor go through her body, but didn't flatter himself. The woman was frozen solid. 'Lily, you need a hot shower. How's your knee?'

'I haven't had a chance to look at it today.'

'And I thought I was dedicated.'

She laughed again, a soft, musical sound that seemed to wrap around him. 'I'm glad to see you here. I figured I scared you off good yesterday, what with all the drama.'

'Nah.' Odd how his restlessness had vanished. Granted, being with this woman wasn't exactly a leisurely vacation, but he thought that what they could share for the next few days might be a lot better. 'You should come live a day in my life sometime. I'm not talking just ski-slope opera drama, either. We face a wider variety of stupidity.'

Her smile was slow and sexy. 'You're not scaring me off.'

'I wasn't trying to. So why are you working the bar?'

'Matt's running late.'

'Matt?'

'Remember Sara?'

'The sister worried about you stealing another Jeep?'

'That's the one. Matt's her husband. He's the bartender tonight, I'm just filling in until he gets here.'

'You have a big family. I met your aunt Debbie.'

'Ah.' She looked him over. 'I see she let you go without sinking her teeth into you. She must be losing her touch.'

'Maybe I wasn't interested.'

She shrugged, but he would have sworn that his answer pleased her. Still, she backed up, spread out her white