Taming His Montana Heart(36)

“Not if I get to him first. I’ll leave him in the woods with the skis wrapped around his neck. Shaw, I can get by with the office I have. I’m sure the men have other things—”

“Size isn’t the only consideration. I don’t want you cold. You might get sick.”

People didn’t catch cold from the temperature. Surely he knew that. Even so, knowing the man she’d kissed last night was concerned with her physical comfort had her smiling and briefly closing her eyes.

“I’m pretty hearty,” she said. “In fact, I went two years in elementary school not having a single sick day. Got an award for perfect attendance.”

“I hope you had the award framed.”

She had no idea where the award was. Like so many things from her childhood, it had been forgotten in the chaos following her mother’s death. Unable to tell Shaw that, she asked if he’d accomplished anything as outstanding as having perfect attendance during his childhood.

“As a matter of fact I did. I played baseball and football from sixth grade on. Juggling two sports isn’t something I’d recommend. My folks said the insanity would have to stop if my grades dropped.”

“Did they?”

“Heck no. I wouldn’t let it happen. About did myself in a few times burning the candle at all ends, but I don’t regret it.”

“It sounds as if you don’t.”

“Right you are. For the record, during my senior year the baseball team won the state championship in our division.”

“I’m impressed.”

“As you should be.” He chuckled. “Not to brag, but my batting average was highest on the team.”

“What position did you play?”

“Catcher. I think the trophies are in storage. Mom would know.”

Mom. He’d said the word with such warmth and love.

She wondered how he felt about not being able to have a number of his belongings with him. Housing at Lake Serene wasn’t designed for people who held onto stuff. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, she’d never been attached to possessions beyond a few small things that had been her mother’s. She wouldn’t have enough furniture for her mobile if a couple of resort employees hadn’t been replacing some of theirs. She’d bought a couch she kept covered with a wool blanket and a kitchen table with two wooden chairs. What would Shaw think when he saw how she lived?

When, not if.

By the time she’d shaken off the complex thought, Shaw was telling her about his conversation with several dog racing team members. The president had explained that he’d been given the authority to go to contract. He’d faxed the documents to Shaw who’d signed them after a thorough reading. A check would soon be deposited in the resort’s account.

“Too bad most deals aren’t that efficiently handled.”

“Right you are. Say, how do you feel about watching the races with me? I should be able to get us front row seats. Well not seats so much because I don’t think that’s how it works as having priority where we stand.”

Had he asked her for a date? Things could change between them by then, maybe fall apart, but she didn’t hesitate before accepting.

“Great. I’ve seen clips of those races on TV. You probably have too. I’m thinking the real thing is more exciting. Those are high energy dogs.”

“I don’t doubt that.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Are you still there?” he asked. “Having a busy day?”

Much as she’d rather hold his date offer close to her heart, she forced herself to catch up to the conversation. “Not really. I think the weather report has some people deciding today isn’t the best one for getting far from civilization.”

“We’ll see if this storm arrives as promised. It might fizzle out. Say, they’re setting the Christmas tree up in the lobby. If you’re so inclined, we could watch the decorating this evening. Make sure they’re doing it right.”

Her heart ached. Her childhood Christmases had been filled with tension but that hadn’t stopped her from imagining what holidays were like for her neighbors and classmates.

No! She hadn’t lived in that dark and narrow world for years and refused to let it define her. Lake Serene was her world and Shaw had become an important part of that world.

“Haley? What about it?”

She closed her eyes only to open them because the one scene from the past that might never disappear had found her. “Will there be cookies?” She managed to say.

“You want cookies?”

Act normal! “Of course. With red and green sparkles.”

“Your wish is my command, or rather it is if I can convince the cooks. I’m looking forward to this.”

Shaw kept her off-balance too much of the time. She never knew what was going to come out of his mouth, whether he’d wear his serious hat or let the inner child loose. Her goal for the evening needed to be to keep them both in child mode because it was safer that way.

She might have stood outside the snowmobile building indefinitely with snowflakes stacking up on the top of her head if Daron didn’t saunter closer and ask why she’d threatened to wrap some skis around his neck.

“I’m joking, I think.”

Shaw brought out so many complex and confusing emotions in her, also some highly erotic ones if she was being honest. Right now one involving a bed and no clothing was trying to push to the surface.