Chapter Three

EVIE

“Evie, we’ve landed.” Carter's voice breaks through my foggy brain, and when I open my eyes, I see him standing over me. For a second, I panic and wonder how I’m sleeping with him anywhere near me, but when I sit up straighter, I remember where I am. I’m on the plane. Right. Thank goodness.

Carter is holding the book that I’d been reading, and he looks at it. “You’re into some kinky shit. I’ll keep that in mind.” He smirks as I snatch the book from him, making him laugh. “Calm down, kitten.”

I purse my lips, knowing he actually did read part of the page because that’s what the hero had been calling the heroine. I don’t know why, but I always love it when the heroes give their love interest sweet nicknames.

“Can we get off this plane?” Tyson nudges Carter along. It’s his way of standing up to Carter without really standing up to him. At least it distracts him.

Everyone is always so dang scared of him. Though I think everyone is more scared of his family's money and influence. I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit I, too, find it intimating. Carter could probably get away with just about anything. Well, at least at Madison Prep.

“Yeah, I want to see this place. Think they have night skiing?” Brandon cuts in, and all the boys get lost in talking about their plans for the mountain and who is going to be the best skier.

I grab my bag and make my way off the plane and down the stairs. When I get outside, I stop when I suddenly realize that it's snowing. My sleepiness and everything else fades away as I drop my head back to watch the snowflakes come dancing down. I’ve never seen snow in person before, and it’s actually the one thing I was looking forward to the most. It’s even more beautiful than I thought it would be.

“Move your ass,” Paige snaps from behind me.

She swings around, and her bag hits me in the side. I gasp and stumble forward, but my bag doesn’t help me regain my balance. The weight of it pushes me to fall faster, and I cry out when my knees hit the hard concrete.

“Shit, sorry.” Paige actually apologizes, but her kindness is short-lived. “I didn’t think you’d fall.” She offers me her hand, but I don’t trust her at all, so I don’t take it. I wince when I stand and feel my knees burning. I know they have to be scratched. I just pray they aren’t bleeding. “It was an accident, don't be a drama queen about it. I said I’m sorry.”

“Okay,” I respond in hopes that she'll move along and leave me be. She rolls her eyes but actually does it.

“You okay?” Carter jogs back, grabbing my bag off the ground for me.

“I’m fine.”

“Ride with me.” He swings my bag over his shoulder, not really giving me much choice in the matter. I follow him over to one of the five black SUVs parked in a row.

“Are they bringing our other bags?” I glance back to see two men unloading a bunch of luggage from the underside of the plane.

“Yeah, they’ll bring them and drop them at our cabins.” The driver of our SUV opens the door for me. “In you go.” Carter motions for me to go first.

I don’t want to. I have a feeling he's going to stare at my ass, but I don’t have much of an option, so I go in and do my best to ignore the pain in my knee. It aches when I climb up, but I scoot all the way to the side, wanting to be by the window. It’s dark out now, but I want to see as much of the snow as I can. A few more people climb into the back before Carter hops in, sitting right up against me.

“How long is the drive to this place?” I ask.

“Not far since we got to fly into the private airport.”

“Can’t wait to see it,” I admit.

“About time you got excited.” He puts his arm around the back of my seat, and I lean forward, keeping my gaze pointed out the window.

The drive isn't long but feels like forever with everyone starting to get rowdy and worked up in the SUV.

“Wow,” I breathe when we pull through a gate that leads up a giant mountain.

The vehicle slows as we make the winding trek upwards, then I see the cabins tucked into the side of the mountain. We pass a few and then pull up to a bigger one that I’m guessing is the main office.

I don’t wait for the driver to open the door and instead I quickly hop down. A dart of pain shoots through my knees and they almost buckle, but I manage to keep myself upright even with the cold taking my breath away.

The wind is fiercer up here and the weather is a good twenty degrees lower. All of that is worth it for the view alone. I can’t wait to see this place in the daylight.

“Let’s check in,” Carter calls.

Everyone takes off toward the building, but I’m a bit slower as I look around at the scenery as best I can. Plus, I know I’m going to get whatever I get when it comes to the cabins. When I take the last couple of steps on the porch, my knees burn again.

“You bring a better coat than that? You’re going to freeze your ass off,” a deep voice bellows. “Damn city kids.” I spin around at the sound, and my feet slip in the process. A curse comes from the giant man a few paces away from me as I start to fall yet again. Somehow, he catches me, moving far too quickly for someone of his size. “Shit shoes too.”

I stare up at the handsome stranger, my breath leaving me for a whole other reason than the cold this time. It’s too dark for me to make out the color of his eyes, but I guess they are dark green for some reason. He’s got a hood up, hiding half of his face, but the size of him can’t be missed.

“They’re all I have.” I lick my quickly chapping lips, and another deep grumble comes from him as he rights me on my feet.

“Evie!” someone calls before the door swings open. “We’re picking cabins, so you better get in here. Carter is trying to get you in his,” Paige informs me, knowing I’ll object to that. She doesn’t want me anywhere near Carter if she can help it. “Oh, and who are you?” Paige's voice completely changes to smooth and sexy. How does she do that? It really is a talent.

“We’re not doing girl cabins and boy cabins?”

“We’re not twelve, Evie. We’re all consenting adults.” She winks at the man who still has his hand pressed into my back.

“Boyfriend?” the man asks.

“Don’t have one,” Paige answers with a smile.

“I meant, is that Carter boy your boyfriend.” He gives me a pointed look, letting Paige and me both know he’s talking to me.

“Nah, Evie is hanging on to her virginity like she’s going to win a prize or something.”

“Paige!” I hiss, heat rushing to my face. Kill me now.

“The dramatics again? Really, Evie? It’s getting old.”

“Whatever.” I walk past her to get into the office, and to my surprise the man follows me. Probably to make sure I don’t fall again for fear I’ll sue or something.

“Evie, you’re bleeding,” Tyson says when I step inside.

I glance down, getting a better look at my knees now. My stomach turns at the sight of the blood, and black spots dance in my eyes. I know I’m going to pass out because I always do when I see blood.

“Catch her!” Tyson shouts.

The same two arms wrap around me, only this time he pulls me into his body. “Got you.” His words come out sounding like a curse.

“Green,” I whisper, staring up into his eyes before it’s lights out.