Wicked Night Before Christmas by Tierney O’Malley Page A

Florida and didn't look back.
    Why? Could it be that after their first night, he saw what was in her heart, that she harbored a secret love for him, which scared the bejeezus out of him? Cara wondered if Lucas laughed behind her back for taking her on the floor. No. He wouldn't do that. They'd known each other for over six months. Perhaps not a very long time, but enough to know Lucas would never make fun of anyone. She had fallen for his kind and gentle nature, sense of humor, and dedication to protect not to destroy. Cara sighed. She shouldn't be mad at him because of Rochelle. The two were high school sweethearts where she was just his sister's friend stupid enough to open her legs for him.
    It was all her fault. If she didn't cross the fine line that divided friendship and lovers, she wouldn't be in this awkward and unpleasant quandary. Holy Santa, one moment they were friends and then boom! Their friendship was no more because they—for some magical reason—made love.
    That night, with their bodies still joined, hearts pounding like drums, he had said they would talk when he returned. She had believed his bullshit and had hung on to his words like some high school girl falling in love for the first time. Shit, at twenty-five, I'm still gullible . She had read enough romance books to know that any man would say the words, “I'll call you.” Or “We need to talk.” And even the three powerful words “I love you.” Those phrases were just bull men always said to appease the woman after sex. Kind of like a woman faking an orgasm to boost a man's ego.
    And Lucas's words, as wonderful a person as he was, were a classic example of sweet talk after sex. No more, no less.
    Gah ! Clamping her jaws together, Cara avoided a small snow hill. Her body tilted to the left the way she did when riding a motorcycle. She was descending faster than she had ever done before. Cold wind bit her cheeks, but the exertion and angry thoughts about her own stupidity and lack of good sense kept her body warm.
    She knew Lucas came back to celebrate Christmas here in Whistler with his family and Rochelle, the newly crowned Miss Washington State. So why did she say yes to Amy to come here, too?
    Where was her brain and pride? She could have used different alibis—migraine, PMS, bulk orders. She didn't have to come here. Great Santa, who am I kidding ? The truth of it was—no matter how hard she tried to deny it—she wanted to see Lucas with an intensity that destroyed her thinking brain cells and made her forget how awkward it would be to be near a man who took her virginity while he snuggled with his friend . Worse, her room was next to Lucas's. What was she going to do if she heard erotic sounds coming from his room? Listen and enjoy? God, this would be one hell of a Christmas holiday, Cara thought.
    Irritated, she initiated a turn to avoid a jump using her pole for balance. Damn it . Skiing should keep her mind off Lucas not make her brain cogitate about the what if's and what should have beens.
    Amy zoomed past her with a grin on her face. “Hey, ran out of gasoline? Come on little engine, choo-choo!"
    Ah, shit . No way would she lose this time. She quickly planted her pole into the powdery snow again and let the velocity do its own work. When she spotted a jump ahead of her, she didn't avoid it, she took it.
    Amy reached the bottom only a couple minutes after her, laughing with her goggles covered with snow. “You should have seen yourself. One minute you were going down so fast then slowed down. And then before I could blink, you zoomed passed me like a pro. It's as if there is some inner strength in you."
    Inner anger is more like it caused by my foolishness and your brother and his super perfect girlfriend . Cara made a show of tapping her skis. “Eagerness to kick your butt is my strength."
    "Well, it worked. You're really getting good at this. You flew, Cara. I've never seen you ski like that before."
    "Like a pro.” She removed