special
spot on the slopes, where Skylar and Zack always used to sneak off to carry on, like
they thought Trinity wouldn’t know.
Trinity had to fight not to cry, and she knew she really couldn’t stay here much longer
at all, even if she kept putting off the call to DropCaps.
Because it’s already happening. My old life is already sneaking down those slopes,
ready to pounce on me and try to keep me here.
She ran her palms up and down her upper arms, rubbing away the evening chill as she
headed back into the house. After she shut the door tightly behind her, the complete
quiet of the house settled over Trinity, reminding her of times she’d been home alone
as a teenager, and Skylar had been off working the ranch. Would she ever get over
the guilt of having left all the ranch’s responsibilities to Skylar?
Pausing in mid-step, Trinity’s gaze drifted over family photographs displayed prominently
around the room. Pictures of her with Skylar, of both the two of them alone, and with
their parents. After their father took off with his new wife and left them alone,
Trinity had refused to contact him. He never took the time to see how she was doing,
so why should she bother?
Trinity moved to one of the end tables, stopped in front of her senior photo, and
slid her fingers along the wooden frame. In the picture her face was pudgy, her smile
soft and wistful. Despite the wire-framed glasses she used to wear, her green eyes
were bright and full of hope for the future.
Next to her senior photo was a recent picture of Skylar and Zack. She was standing
in his embrace, her face tilted up to his, and the way he was looking at her with
so much love, it made Trinity’s heart ache with both pleasure for her sister, and
envy for herself.
She still couldn’t believe Skylar was married to Zack, after all these years. Trinity
had to admit they made the perfect couple now, as they had a decade ago. There was
so much fire and passion between the two of them then, and now... wow. To have sparks
like that. Trinity hadn’t thought that kind of passion between a man and a woman could
possibly be real—just something she’d read about in romance novels.
That was, until she’d met Luke.
With a groan of frustration, Trinity jerked herself away from the photographs, skirted
the Christmas tree, and started down the hall. Why the hell did that cowboy keep popping
into her mind? Maybe what she needed was a nice, long, relaxing bath.
Better yet, an evening dip in the hot tub would be perfect. They’d always kept it
heated and used it year-round. Knowing Skylar, it still would be ready for use.
In her bedroom, Trinity kicked off her Nikes and yanked off her socks, then ditched
her jeans and T-shirt. After she’d donned a short terry robe over her bra and underwear,
she grabbed a thick towel and headed out to the hot tub in the enclosed backyard.
The French doors squeaked as she opened them, and then again as she closed the doors
behind her. There was a coolness to the air, and the steam rising off the top of the
water in the sunken tub was a welcome sign. Thank goodness Skylar had the outdoor
heaters set up close to the hot tub to take the chill out of the air. The pole heaters
were easily six feet tall with tops that looked like woks turned upside down.
Trinity tossed her towel onto a deck chair and flipped on the heaters. In moments
their elements began to glow rich orange-red, the same color as the sun sinking in
the west. After she turned on the whirlpool jets, Trinity dropped her robe onto a
lounge chair. For a moment she stood on the redwood decking in only her royal- blue
satin bra and panties. With one little adjustment of her hair clip, she piled her
hair up on top of her head so that it would stay out of the water.
The whirlpool bubbled and frothed like a witch’s cauldron— even the lights beneath
the surface appeared green and eerie, as though it
spot on the slopes, where Skylar and Zack always used to sneak off to carry on, like
they thought Trinity wouldn’t know.
Trinity had to fight not to cry, and she knew she really couldn’t stay here much longer
at all, even if she kept putting off the call to DropCaps.
Because it’s already happening. My old life is already sneaking down those slopes,
ready to pounce on me and try to keep me here.
She ran her palms up and down her upper arms, rubbing away the evening chill as she
headed back into the house. After she shut the door tightly behind her, the complete
quiet of the house settled over Trinity, reminding her of times she’d been home alone
as a teenager, and Skylar had been off working the ranch. Would she ever get over
the guilt of having left all the ranch’s responsibilities to Skylar?
Pausing in mid-step, Trinity’s gaze drifted over family photographs displayed prominently
around the room. Pictures of her with Skylar, of both the two of them alone, and with
their parents. After their father took off with his new wife and left them alone,
Trinity had refused to contact him. He never took the time to see how she was doing,
so why should she bother?
Trinity moved to one of the end tables, stopped in front of her senior photo, and
slid her fingers along the wooden frame. In the picture her face was pudgy, her smile
soft and wistful. Despite the wire-framed glasses she used to wear, her green eyes
were bright and full of hope for the future.
Next to her senior photo was a recent picture of Skylar and Zack. She was standing
in his embrace, her face tilted up to his, and the way he was looking at her with
so much love, it made Trinity’s heart ache with both pleasure for her sister, and
envy for herself.
She still couldn’t believe Skylar was married to Zack, after all these years. Trinity
had to admit they made the perfect couple now, as they had a decade ago. There was
so much fire and passion between the two of them then, and now... wow. To have sparks
like that. Trinity hadn’t thought that kind of passion between a man and a woman could
possibly be real—just something she’d read about in romance novels.
That was, until she’d met Luke.
With a groan of frustration, Trinity jerked herself away from the photographs, skirted
the Christmas tree, and started down the hall. Why the hell did that cowboy keep popping
into her mind? Maybe what she needed was a nice, long, relaxing bath.
Better yet, an evening dip in the hot tub would be perfect. They’d always kept it
heated and used it year-round. Knowing Skylar, it still would be ready for use.
In her bedroom, Trinity kicked off her Nikes and yanked off her socks, then ditched
her jeans and T-shirt. After she’d donned a short terry robe over her bra and underwear,
she grabbed a thick towel and headed out to the hot tub in the enclosed backyard.
The French doors squeaked as she opened them, and then again as she closed the doors
behind her. There was a coolness to the air, and the steam rising off the top of the
water in the sunken tub was a welcome sign. Thank goodness Skylar had the outdoor
heaters set up close to the hot tub to take the chill out of the air. The pole heaters
were easily six feet tall with tops that looked like woks turned upside down.
Trinity tossed her towel onto a deck chair and flipped on the heaters. In moments
their elements began to glow rich orange-red, the same color as the sun sinking in
the west. After she turned on the whirlpool jets, Trinity dropped her robe onto a
lounge chair. For a moment she stood on the redwood decking in only her royal- blue
satin bra and panties. With one little adjustment of her hair clip, she piled her
hair up on top of her head so that it would stay out of the water.
The whirlpool bubbled and frothed like a witch’s cauldron— even the lights beneath
the surface appeared green and eerie, as though it
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