drink, she found that her glass of wine had appeared without her even noticing it. She picked it up and took a sip, still thinking about what had happened.
“Cassidy.” She looked up into his eyes. “There is no one at fault. Yes, you skied onto a closed run, but you said you didn’t see the sign and I believe you. Some of the stuff I said out there today had nothing to do with you. It was more me confronting my past. I’m just sorry you were on the receiving end.”
His sincerity became evident. It was in the tone of his voice and the kindness of his eyes. There was even a little crinkle at the corner of each eye when he smiled. Still, she wasn’t used to trusting the words that men said. Too many times, they had let her down. She wanted to say the right thing but, having been told she always said and did the wrong thing, she wasn’t sure what the right thing was. And she didn’t want to spoil the mood. The candlelight, the warmth in his gaze, and the lights twinkling off the ice crystals in the snow, all had her holding her breath to not spoil the magic of the moment.
Letting the breath out, hoping her silence hadn’t been awkward, she finally acknowledged him. “Thanks. I honestly didn’t see the sign.” She laughed. “It would have served me right if I slid down the whole run on my butt.”
Laughing with her, he said, “At least it’s a nice butt.”
He thinks I have a nice butt!
Before she could reply, they were interrupted by the waiter again, this time bringing an assortment of plates. “Mrs. Johnson has arranged for a Chef’s sampler, compliments of her. To begin with, there is an antipasto platter and Caprese salad. Enjoy.”
“Wow, this looks great! I’m starving. It is hard work sliding down a slope on your backside you know.”
* * *
Throughout the many courses that kept arriving at their table, they talked about a wide variety of subjects. Mostly safe subjects like sports, travel, jobs and food. Cassidy found it easy to talk to Daniel and was enjoying his take on everything. She also figured out that she had to be fast if she wanted to try to eat something from a shared plate, because otherwise it was gone. Daniel’s fork would be in there scooping up all the food. At first she’d tried the whole demure female who wasn’t hungry routine. She thought better of it when the food disappeared, but she hadn’t had a bite.
“OK, buster, that’s it!”
Startled, Daniel paused with his fork half way to his mouth and his eyes wide. “Whammpf?” He said through a mouthful of food.
“Don’t act all innocent with me. These are share plates. You know? Share? As in we each get some. Not whoever gets to the food the fastest gets it all.”
He’d finished chewing his food, looked at his plate and then at hers. “Sorry. I didn’t even realize I was doing that. I get really hungry after skiing. Actually I’m hungry most of the time.” He grinned. “I promise I won’t eat one more bite until you’ve had your share.”
“Thanks. I was trying to be all ladylike and dainty, but forget that. I’m hungry too!” She laughed. Reaching over to the platter in the middle she transferred some of the pasta and seafood to her plate. Shortly afterward the waiter brought a dessert platter with crème caramel, chocolate mousse pie, tiramisu and several other wonderful looking treats. Her eyes narrowed as she focussed on the plate, she picked up her dessert fork and poked the back of Daniel’s hand as he was reaching toward the platter. “I’m going to tell you one thing right now. Do not come between a woman and her chocolate, or you might get stabbed.” With her other hand she scooped the chocolate mousse pie on to her plate.
“Nice warning there, Cass! Aren’t you supposed to warn someone before stabbing them? Not at the same time.” He rubbed the back of his hand.
“That wasn’t a stab, that was the warning poke. Stabbing is more painful. Trust me.” She nodded as she
“Cassidy.” She looked up into his eyes. “There is no one at fault. Yes, you skied onto a closed run, but you said you didn’t see the sign and I believe you. Some of the stuff I said out there today had nothing to do with you. It was more me confronting my past. I’m just sorry you were on the receiving end.”
His sincerity became evident. It was in the tone of his voice and the kindness of his eyes. There was even a little crinkle at the corner of each eye when he smiled. Still, she wasn’t used to trusting the words that men said. Too many times, they had let her down. She wanted to say the right thing but, having been told she always said and did the wrong thing, she wasn’t sure what the right thing was. And she didn’t want to spoil the mood. The candlelight, the warmth in his gaze, and the lights twinkling off the ice crystals in the snow, all had her holding her breath to not spoil the magic of the moment.
Letting the breath out, hoping her silence hadn’t been awkward, she finally acknowledged him. “Thanks. I honestly didn’t see the sign.” She laughed. “It would have served me right if I slid down the whole run on my butt.”
Laughing with her, he said, “At least it’s a nice butt.”
He thinks I have a nice butt!
Before she could reply, they were interrupted by the waiter again, this time bringing an assortment of plates. “Mrs. Johnson has arranged for a Chef’s sampler, compliments of her. To begin with, there is an antipasto platter and Caprese salad. Enjoy.”
“Wow, this looks great! I’m starving. It is hard work sliding down a slope on your backside you know.”
* * *
Throughout the many courses that kept arriving at their table, they talked about a wide variety of subjects. Mostly safe subjects like sports, travel, jobs and food. Cassidy found it easy to talk to Daniel and was enjoying his take on everything. She also figured out that she had to be fast if she wanted to try to eat something from a shared plate, because otherwise it was gone. Daniel’s fork would be in there scooping up all the food. At first she’d tried the whole demure female who wasn’t hungry routine. She thought better of it when the food disappeared, but she hadn’t had a bite.
“OK, buster, that’s it!”
Startled, Daniel paused with his fork half way to his mouth and his eyes wide. “Whammpf?” He said through a mouthful of food.
“Don’t act all innocent with me. These are share plates. You know? Share? As in we each get some. Not whoever gets to the food the fastest gets it all.”
He’d finished chewing his food, looked at his plate and then at hers. “Sorry. I didn’t even realize I was doing that. I get really hungry after skiing. Actually I’m hungry most of the time.” He grinned. “I promise I won’t eat one more bite until you’ve had your share.”
“Thanks. I was trying to be all ladylike and dainty, but forget that. I’m hungry too!” She laughed. Reaching over to the platter in the middle she transferred some of the pasta and seafood to her plate. Shortly afterward the waiter brought a dessert platter with crème caramel, chocolate mousse pie, tiramisu and several other wonderful looking treats. Her eyes narrowed as she focussed on the plate, she picked up her dessert fork and poked the back of Daniel’s hand as he was reaching toward the platter. “I’m going to tell you one thing right now. Do not come between a woman and her chocolate, or you might get stabbed.” With her other hand she scooped the chocolate mousse pie on to her plate.
“Nice warning there, Cass! Aren’t you supposed to warn someone before stabbing them? Not at the same time.” He rubbed the back of his hand.
“That wasn’t a stab, that was the warning poke. Stabbing is more painful. Trust me.” She nodded as she
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