Chapter Twelve
We spendthe evening cooking together, laughing and talking about our interests. For the first time in a while I feel happy. Hudson has lost his guilty look, Max and Bryce seem completely at ease in mycompany.
“So, you’re telling me that last year Bryce went off piste and managed to ski himself into a tree?” I laugh so hard at the story my eyes arestreaming.
“Yep, he had to hold a bag of cold peas against his groin for a week. It’s a wonder his manhood still works,” Max says, slapping Bryce on theback.
“Don’t listen to Max, he’s exaggerating. I’ll have you know that my crown jewels are in perfect working order, thank you very much.” Bryce glances at me and for the briefest of moments there is a flash of flirtation there, but he hides itquickly.
“Well, who’s up for a walk outside? I need to burn some calories, I feel like the side of a house,” I joke. Hudson really had surprised me with a beautiful dinner of marinated lamb, honey roasted vegetables and smooth, creamy, mashed potatoes. I am completelystuffed.
“Side of a house?” Max laughs. “Do you not know how incredibly sexy youare?”
I feel my cheeks burn at the compliment. I’ve never considered myself sexy. For the most part, I feel awkward in my body, choosing to cover it up rather than flauntit.
“Max.” Hudson’s voice has a note ofwarning.
“I’m just saying the truth,” Max says to his brother. He turns to me. “Sorry, Louisa. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m not hitting on you, I’m just stating a fact. You are sexy. Sexy as hell. Whoever manages to capture your heart will be one lucky man.” He smiles at me, a genuine, heart-warmingsmile.
“Thanks,” I say, flapping my hand in an attempt to dissolve the sudden tension. “Walk,anyone?”
“We’ll all come,” Bryce says, grabbing his coat andhat.
* * *
Five minuteslater we’re all wrapped up in hats, gloves, and scarves and are trudging through the snow. It’s deeper up here on the mountainside and is trickier to walk in but it is so worth the effort. I follow Hudson to the edge of the forest. Snow has begun to fall in thick, heavy flakes and all I can hear is the steady breathing of the three men standing next to me. The silence is as captivating as the snow and I breathe in the cold air as a gentle peace settles within me. “It’s so beautiful,” I say, completely enamoured with the place. “Is Petite Cabane yourstoo?”
“Yes, we bought the cabin and the surrounding five acres a couple years back after we fell in love with it. Even though we enjoy the chalet and the resort, this is oursanctuary.”
“What do you guys do exactly?” I ask, curious as to how three relatively young guys have become sosuccessful.
“We’re into property,” Bryce explains. “Hud worked his arse off after leaving the children’s home. He had five jobs at one point. Then once we got out we worked our arses off too. It wasn’t long before we managed to buy a studio flat. We did it up, we sold it on for aprofit.”
“Yep, then we kept buying, doing the places up and selling them on. We made a business out of it,” Max continues. “Hudson here is the brains, Bryce and me the brawn.” Max smiles and does an impression of the World’s Strongest Man. Ilaugh.
“We owe all our success to Hud,” Bryce says. I am caught by the love in his eyes. These men may have trouble committing to women, but they sure as hell are committed to eachother.
“This business works because weallmake it work, it’s as simple as that really. Somehow, together we are better at allthings,” Hudson says, and I’m reminded of what happened last night. My cheeks flush at the thought. All three men are looking at me and I can’t help but think they are reminded of last nighttoo.
“Right,” I say, clapping my hands together in an attempt to divert their attention. “It’s beautiful, but it’s damn cold. Who wants to go back in for a Baileys hotchocolate?”
“I wouldn’t say no,” Bryce says, and we make our way back to the cabin. Halfway through the walk back, Max stops. When I turn around to see what he is doing I can see him rolling up a snowball. He puts his fingers over his mouth then throws it directly at Bryce, hitting him square on the back. I let out a delighted laugh at the look of mischief on Max’sface.
“Oh no, you just didn’t,” Bryce says, scooping up a handful of snow and chucking it back at Max. It smashes against his chest, sending a spray of snow up in his face. Max’s eyes widen as another snowball comes hurtling towards him, this time from Hudson, who is grinning wickedly. Before long we are all throwing snowballs at each other, running through the snow like a bunch of kids until we are laughing and wet from the fight. Ten minutes later I hold my hands up in defeat, giggling. Having lost my hat in the fun, my hair is a wet, snowy mess and even though I have a heavy jacket and jumper on, the snow has somehow worked its way under my clothes and I am beginning to feelcold.
“That’s it, boys, I’m done. Time for that hot chocolate, yes?” I say, my teethchattering.
“Sure thing,” Hudsonsays.
“Just what I need,” Bryce agrees, then swears as Max hurles one last snowball that hits him square on the jaw, covering his beard insnow.
“You look like Father Christmas,” I laugh, and the brothers laugh withme.
Inside we take off our jackets, boots, and gloves and I head into the kitchen to start the hot chocolate. Max comes over as I am fetching the items I need from thecupboard.
“Here, let me do that. You look freezing, your lips are going blue,” he says, his eyes firmly fixed on mymouth.
“I’m notthatcold. Don’t exaggerate,” Isay.