Revenge of a Chalet Girl: by Lorraine Wilson Page A

branches. Carols filled the air, piped through the sound system, some in French, some in English. The air was full of delicious smells, savoury and sweet, of roasting meat and frying pancakes. As she stared at the variety of food on offer from waffles to tartiflette and fondue, Amy’s stomach gave an involuntary rumble, bemoaning the absence of breakfast.
    “Hungry?” Josh stood close behind her, leaning in so he could be heard over the music. She felt a shiver of desire tickling her spine at his close proximity.
    “Is my stomach rumbling so loudly you can hear it over the sound of the carols?” Amy smiled awkwardly, turning her head to face him, close enough to feel the warmth of his body.
    Step away Amy. Expose Juliet first and stop Josh making a hideous mistake. Maybe, then we’ll see…
    “Hey, I know you, remember? You were always hungry. And I noticed you didn’t eat much at breakfast,” Josh replied, inching closer, his face so near that she could lose herself in his eyes, feel herself melting as the noise and crowds around her dissolved into nothingness. Her mind airbrushed everything out, leaving just her and Josh.
    Her chest ached with supressed emotion.
    Kiss me.
    “Hey you two, we’re all going to the Lumberjack Village.” Sophie tugged on the sleeve of Amy’s coat, shooting her a meaningful look. “Let’s go.”
    “The Lumberjack Village?” Josh asked
    “They have log cabins with open fires in the middle so we can warm up.” Sophie linked her arm through Amy’s, giving her little choice but to go with her. “Most importantly they have wood-fired pizzas and hot wine!”
    “Sounds great.” Josh smiled stiffly and walked with them. This time he kept his distance, his eyes dark and expression troubled.
    He wants me as much as I want him.
    Amy felt dizzy, her vision blurry with sparkling lights. Her senses were overwhelmed by the smells and music and crowds. And most of all by Josh…
    I need something to eat, that’s all.
    She was getting good at this lying to herself lark.
    Inside the log cabin Paul and Mark had already grabbed some beers and flanked Tash on either side, warming themselves at the railing around the central fire.
    Amy instinctively moved forward towards the heat; despite her warm clothing the tip of her nose had gone cold. The flames flickered and licked around the logs. She watched, mesmerised.
    This was how she felt, consumed, alive with the certainty she couldn’t just carry on drifting. She couldn’t sit back and let Josh walk away. Again. She’d lost Josh once to a job, she wasn’t going to lose him to Juliet. The job had been something positive, something good for him but Juliet, well the word toxic didn’t feel too extreme.
    Josh had moved to stand next to Holly. She’d engaged him in conversation. Probably about the wedding arrangements.
    Amy suddenly felt sick, unable to face the pizza. She looked for the nearest exit and slipped out of the cabin, moving instinctively towards the lakeshore, feeling the peaceful draw of the inky-black water lapping against the rocks.
    The sun had now dipped down below the line of cloud shrouding the French Alps on the opposite side of the lake from Montreux, turning the sky an awesome amber colour, tingeing the clouds with pink.
    It was breathtaking.
    Amy forced herself to take some deep breaths as she stumbled towards an elegant wrought iron bench. She slumped gratefully down onto it. Then her gaze fell on a couple kissing, silhouetted against the setting sun.
    It took a minute for Amy to realise it was Amelia and Matt.
    She smiled, the first genuine smile to grace her lips in a long while. But then the inevitable sadness swept in. It was so uncomplicated for Matt and Amelia – a snog, a fling and then a possible hook-up back in the UK… Amelia didn’t have a wedding to sabotage.
    A shiver of fear and cold ran through her, how was she going to stop the wedding? She still didn’t have a plan. What she needed was to give Josh