All the Romance You Need This Christmas: 5-Book Festive Collection. Romy Sommer

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       Chapter Eight

      ‘Hold onto the grab rail at the back, just like you would on a motorbike,’ Zac said, quickly inspecting the snowmobile we were about to ride through the forests that lined the outskirts of this wonderful little resort; the early afternoon dusk slowly creeping across the pink-and-orange-tinged sky.

      ‘And we’re really gonna be riding this thing over frozen lakes?’ I asked warily, staring at the huge hulk of a machine.

      Zac smiled at me. ‘It’s an experience,’ he grinned, pulling his helmet on, his eyes shining with excitement. ‘It’s fine, Jess. Honest. You are gonna love this, I promise.’

      ‘Okay,’ I half-smiled, pulling my own helmet on before climbing onto the snowmobile behind Zac, my fingers gripping the handrail behind me, even though my hands were covered with huge, black gloves. My stomach was in knots. I’d ridden pillion with both Jase and Matthew a couple of times on their bikes but it had always unnerved me slightly, and anyway, Jase had died on a vehicle not dissimilar to this, hadn’t he? And just that thought made me feel more anxious than I wanted to, a slight panic taking over. ‘I need some air,’ I said, climbing off the snowmobile and yanking off my helmet, not caring that the biting cold was making my head hurt.

      ‘Jess?’ Zac climbed off too, throwing his helmet down onto the snow as he tilted up my chin, gazing into my eyes. ‘Look, if you really don’t want to do this…’

      ‘No, I do. I really do, it’s just…’ Should I tell him about Jase? Was this really the right time to explain that this sudden bout of nerves was because it had brought back memories of the night my beautiful husband had died? I couldn’t tell him that, could I? ‘I’m just being silly,’ I smiled, quickly pulling myself together. No. Now wasn’t the right time. ‘I’m sorry, I’ll be fine. I’m fine.’

      ‘You sure?’ Zac asked, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb, an action I wasn’t even sure he was completely aware of himself.

      ‘I’m sure.’

      ‘Okay, well. Let’s get going then.’

      I pulled my helmet back on, climbing back astride the snowmobile, taking a deep breath as Zac revved the engine, leaning forward in preparation to setting off at speed as soon as the guide was ready to go. And immediately as Zac pulled away, right behind the guide, I felt an exhilaration I’d never experienced before as we sped through snow-covered trees, scenery more beautiful than I’d ever seen before flashing past me. It was an incredible feeling of freedom as we tore through the fresh layers of snow that had fallen overnight, all the nerves I’d felt before now long gone as I looked around me, taking everything in, like mental pictures I could store away in my mind forever. It truly was like riding through a winter wonderland. Everything around us was white – the ground with its layers of fresh powder, the trees that towered above us, their branches heavy with snow, the image almost eerie as they reached up into a cold, grey sky that was now close to turning black as the minimal daylight hours once more looked towards their early end. It made me think of fairytales and magical forests as we continued our journey through this spectacular landscape. I felt as though I’d been transported into another world, and I liked that feeling, liked the cold air on my face as Zac picked up speed, determined to keep up with the guide ahead of us, I liked the way this world bore absolutely no resemblance to the one I’d left behind. I liked all of that. And I liked being here, with this incredible man, who was still, to all intents and purposes, a stranger to me. But a stranger who was fast becoming someone I wanted to get to know. For whatever reason, I knew I was meant to be here. Was Zac that reason?

      After an exhilarating ride through the frozen forests we stopped at a clearing, in front of a huge tepee-like structure, and at first it felt as though we’d arrived in the middle of nowhere, so remote it all seemed. But as we were led into the tent – that we were duly informed was called a “kata”, the Sami version of a tepee that was used by Sami reindeer herders all over the Arctic Circle – it was like walking onto another page of my own personal fairy story. In the centre of the kata was a huge, open fire which filled the whole space with a warm, orange glow, the heat it gave off a welcome respite from the freezing temperatures outside.

      ‘This is beautiful,’ I breathed as we were all invited to sit down on a comfortable, circular СКАЧАТЬ