The Academic Bride Read online

  While You Were Skiing

  An Echo Ridge Romance

  Lucy McConnell

  Contents

  While You Were Skiing

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Now Available

  Sneak Peak

  About the Author

  While You Were Skiing

  Mia Davis’s new job in guest relations at Ruby Mountain Ski Resort gets complicated when the gorgeous Ryder Montgomery falls off the ski lift, tells everyone they are engaged, and then loses consciousness.

  Worried about a head injury, Mia plays along, making him lunch, kissing in the front entryway and planning a future together; a future Mia wants with all of her heart.

  Things become all the more complicated when Ryder’s estranged family gets involved. Caught up in the fantasy and romance, Mia has to tell the truth or risk losing a part of herself and the man she loves forever.

  Invitation

  Join Lucy McConnell’s newsletter and be alerted when the next book in the Echo Ridge Romance series is available.

  You’ll also get insider information about what Lucy is working on and be able to participate in contests and drawings and a FREE book.

  Don’t miss out on a single drop of news. Click here to sign up today!

  Introduction

  My dad used to say, “Love isn’t a matter of life and death; it just feels that way.” He said it when my mom was hit by a drunk driver and died. He said it when Grandma and Grandpa moved to the exotic and faraway retirement village on the edge of Lake Mead. And he said it when he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

  I didn’t really get it, though, until I watched his casket being lowered into the ground at the Echo Ridge Cemetery three years ago this July.

  Dad had worked the lifts at Ruby Mountain Resort in the winter and done the gardening at the Emerald Bed & Breakfast in the spring, summer, and fall. Ruby Mountain was his home, and the Montgomerys who ran the B&B became his dear friends.

  Dad’s funeral was the first time a Montgomery put an arm around me, the first time I had dinner at the Emerald Bed & Breakfast, and the first time in a really long time I knew what being part of a family felt like.

  Fast-forward to today, and my life is on a pretty great track. After finishing my degree, I was promoted from liftie to guest relations. I’m trading in hiking the trails for a pay hike that will enable me to buy a house. Every girl’s dream, right?

  At least I thought it was …

  I should have paid more attention to what Dad was trying to teach me about love and life. If I had, I might have seen the train wreck about to happen.

  Chapter 1

  Mia Ruth Davis squirmed as a trickle of sweat went down the middle of her back. The last day of the ski season was warm enough that the locals stripped down to their shirt sleeves and wore sunglasses instead of goggles as they sloshed down the runs. Unlike the guests at Ruby Mountain Resort, she had to stay in uniform, which meant a long-sleeved turtleneck, ski pants, and her Ruby Mountain Resort beanie, complete with tassel.

  Not only was this the official last day of the ski season, it was Mia’s last day as a lift operator. A day as bittersweet as the chocolate crust the chef used for the truffle cheesecake they served in the lodge.

  “No swinging the chair this time,” she admonished the two thirteen-year-old boys who had terrorized the resort for the last five days.

  “No promises,” replied the freckle-covered kid, named Layne or Benny. They switched the IDs/lift passes that hung from their coat zippers every day making it impossible to know which kid what which troublemaker. They played the game, not answering to either name when the situation suited them.

  His friend snickered.

  “Thank the heavens I am not your mother,” she muttered. “Or your ski instructor.”

  The two pranksters had private lessons in the morning, and then their parents set them free on the mountain to practice their technique—or in other words, torment Mia and her fellow lifties.

  The boys’ favorite thing to do was bounce on the chairlift, which caused the cables to shimmy, creating a potentially fatal situation should a passenger up the line be caught unawares and fall.

  The other safety issue Mia monitored was that if the cable were to slip off the sheave wheel, the whole lift would be shut down for hours, stranding passengers over fifteen feet off the ground. To prevent a catastrophe because of bouncing teens, the liftie had to shut down the motor and stop the chairs manually. They couldn’t start it up again until everything calmed down.

  Delayed guests had complained to management, and management had talked to the lifties, and the lifties restated the rules, and the rules were scoffed at. It was a great cycle—really effective in taking care of the problem.

  The chair scooped the boys up. Mia put down the safety bar, not even giving them the option to leave it up like she did for adults. “Have a nice run.”

  They ignored her as if she were the hired help and they the prince regents, and she silently promised to do the same as soon as they were out of sight. She silently prayed for them to have a desire to see the other side of the hill and try a different lift.

  Since there wasn’t anyone in line behind the kids, Mia took a moment to admire the mountain where she’d been raised. The trees rose into the air like New York apartment buildings, full of squirrels, eastern bluebirds, and sometimes porcupines. Her first day on skis had been on this mountain—with her dad reminding her to make a pizza shape and smile because this was fun. And it was. Skiing was like nothing else in the world. It was woman versus mountain. Slope versus courage. And finding stillness in nature and within your soul where God speaks.

  In the height of the season, the peaks blended in with the winter sky. With spring dogging its heels, winter was making a hasty retreat. Leaving behind muddy and sinister bare patches on the runs or exposing tree roots that could snag a ski and send an unsuspecting skier sprawling. Everyone thought Old Man Winter was the one to keep their eye on, but spring was the one to watch out for.

  If the change in terrain wasn’t enough to signal the end of the best time of year, Mia could hear the snow melt. It crunched together as the structure underneath broke down and trickled away.

  “Mia!” Mia turned to see Buddy, her partner at the lift, return from his break. His grey hair poked out from under his hat and his face was pink from sun exposure. “They had two peanut butter cookies left, so I got you one.”

  “Thanks.” Mia smiled. Buddy was always watching out for her caloric needs. “Will you put it on my lunchbox?”

  “Sure.” He disappeared inside the lift shack and reappeared a moment later with one giant cookie in his hand. “So what are your plans now that the season is over?”

  Mia wiped her bangs off her face. “I’m heading indoors.”

  “Guest relations finally convinced you to take a full-time job?” Buddy took a large bite of his treat, crumbs avalanching down the front of his shirt.

  “I figured it was time to stop living like a college kid and get a house.”

  “Ah—our Little Mia is growing up. Your parents must be so proud.”

  “They would be—if they were still around.”

  “Aw shucks. I forgot—sorry!”

  Mia waved off his worry. “I have plenty to be thankful for. I have my friends and I’l
l always have Ruby Mountain.”

  “And your black diamond.” Buddy pointed behind her.

  The expert runs, the ones that made you nervous, the ones you anticipated the moment the first snow report came in, were classified as black diamonds. You didn’t attempt a black diamond unless you had all the right skills and high-quality gear. Mia spun around in time to see a man worthy of the nickname “black diamond.”

  Ryder Montgomery was her black diamond man. In a bright blue ski vest and black pants, he sluiced around a dodgy set of boulders with the grace of a seasoned athlete. “Yeah,” she sighed.

  She loved looking at every single six feet and one inch of Ryder. He had dark wavy hair that fell over his forehead, tempting every woman within a six-mile radius to brush it back or dig her hand into it all and just get lost in those dreamy waves. Heavens, he was amazing. Even with his ski clothes on, she could tell he had a good, muscular physique. He had to be in shape to ski the back country and hike to the chutes. The closer he got to the line, the more intense the sensation of leaning over the chute’s lip and digging for that bit of courage to plunge into the thrill of descent and the challenge of maintaining control.

  Ryder had her name up off her name tag the first time he came through her line. She still remembered the way he’d said Mia like he was imprinting her face and name into his mind for safe keeping. He never glanced at her tag again. That meant something to her.

  Another positive attribute in his favor: Ryder was an excellent flirt. The kind that made Mia’s heart slide around like a first timer on the bunny hill and her stomach go all twisty-turvy.

  Mia knew Ryder was a Montgomery, as in the owners of the local B&B where she often worked in the off season—but he didn’t know that she knew. It wasn’t like they had heart-to-hearts in the minute and forty-five seconds it took for him to shuffle through the line and wait for the next chair to circle around the horn and whisk him away. However, a minute and forty-five seconds was plenty of time to have a moment.

  Moments were something to look forward to.

  Ryder hockey stopped in front of Mia, pulled off his Oakleys, and winked. “Hey, Mia. Not bad for the last day of the season.” He gave her a quick once-over. “Not bad at all.”

  Grinning like a dope, Mia reached for a towel to wipe the water off the next seat. The snow was melting, and heaven forbid Ryder set his perfect behind on a wet chair. That just wouldn’t do. “Only for the die-hards. Everyone else had enough sense to stay out of the mud.” She flicked the towel at him, but he easily dodged it.

  “Mud, schmud. I don’t suppose you’d like to hit a few runs?”

  If only. “I’m on duty.” Mia gestured to her uniform. This was just one of the games they played. He’d spot her working a lift, didn’t matter which one, ask her to take a ride up the mountain with him—she’d refuse because she was at work—and then he’d wink and float away.

  Today, more than ever before, she wished he was more persistent. It was her last day on the lifts and possibly her last chance to flirt with Ryder. Since the only place she ever saw Ryder was on the mountain, once she moved into the office, she’d give up all flirting rights. All he had to do was ask her for hot chocolate and a peanut butter cookie—she’d even share hers.

  She could ask him to take a hot chocolate break—or in this heat, a raspberry lemonade break—but there was the strained relationship between Ryder and his family to consider. For that reason, she’d created two worlds. A world where she and Ryder were flirting partners and she pretended she didn’t know his family. And a second world where she was part of the Montgomery family and didn’t know Ryder. It worked—as long as the two worlds never got near one another. Plus, she had gotten this vibe that the Montgomerys wanted to set her up with Carter, Ryder’s younger brother who was poised to take over the B&B when his parents retired.

  “Hey,” called Layne or Benny. No telling, which since their ski passes had somehow vanished. “We’re waiting.” The gap-toothed kid clapped his poles together.

  Except that they weren’t waiting. They were shuffling along behind the last seat and crowding into her and Ryder’s space.

  Mia held up her palm like a traffic cop. “Uh-uh, this gentleman was here first.”

  Ryder smiled easily. “It’s no trouble. I’ll ride up with them.”

  Something icy trickled down Mia’s back. “Are you sure?” She searched his soulful pumpkin bread–golden-brown eyes. He often volunteered to ride up with kids from a ski class when there weren’t enough adults to go around. Mia sighed. Another reason to crush on the guy. Like she needed one more.

  “Yeah.” Ryder sidestepped until he was next to the kids. “Where are you guys from?” The chair swooped in behind them and off they went.

  Mia gave a small wave. “Bye,” she whispered, watching them go. She missed him already.

  Ryder fumbled with his poles for a moment, and just as it looked like he had them together, the boys gave one great bounce and set the seat rocking.

  “Hey!” called Buddy from the exit side of the lift.

  Mia watched in horror as Ryder fumbled. He lunged forward after his pole at the same time the chair swung back. Falling, he let out a yell. A scream grabbed at the back of Mia’s throat, held there by terror.

  By some luck, Ryder was able to grab the foot bar.

  Buddy swore.

  Mia bolted for the controls.

  “Shut it down!” yelled Buddy.

  The kids reached for Ryder, screaming their little lungs out. Their movements caused the chair to tip further and they threw themselves back, rocking the chair even more.

  “Hold! Still!” bellowed Buddy.

  “I’m slipping,” Ryder called.

  Mia was about to hit the red button when she noticed Ryder was directly over the patch of large boulders. If she could get him ten feet more up the mountain, he’d land in snow. “Hold on!”

  “My glove’s coming off.” Ryder’s legs swung. The heavy boots and skis weighed him down. Unable to grab on with his other hand, he did a little bounce to adjust his grip.

  “Hold on,” she willed him to maintain his hold.

  “Stop the lift.” Buddy almost hit the button by reaching over her shoulder.

  Mia smacked his hand away. “He’s almost over the drift.”

  Buddy jerked his gaze up the hill and nodded. “Not yet … not yet … NOW.”

  Mia hit the button and the lift jerked to a stop. “Call ski patrol,” she ordered as she ran up the hill.

  The chair went forward and then back, and then Ryder yelled as he lost his hold and fell fifteen feet. His arm wind milled as if he could slow himself down by flapping. If only that were true.

  Buddy disappeared into the control booth to make the call while Mia ran to Ryder. The boys above screamed and cried, and Mia couldn’t care less if they stayed on the lift for the next ten hours.

  Nothing looked broken, but Ryder’s eyes were closed. Thank goodness he wore a helmet. His sunglasses lay next to him and one ski had come loose and floated down the hill. The other ski was at an odd angle, indicating something was wrong with his knee.

  She ripped off her gloves and pressed her palms to Ryder’s cheeks, scared to move him in case his back was injured. “Oh, please, please, please.” She pressed her fingers to his neck and found an erratic heartbeat. Laying her cheek against his mouth, she couldn’t feel air, nor did she see his chest rise, but she did get a light buttery feeling in her stomach from being so close. “Ryder,” she whispered.

  Nothing.

  Her training kicked in, and the next thing she knew she was pressing her mouth over Ryder’s and breathing for him.

  “You killed him!” yelled one of the boys.

  “It was you who wanted to bounce!”

  Mia’s prayer was frantic and broken and came from somewhere deep inside. She was about to lean over him again when Ryder’s eyes fluttered open and he sucked in air.

  Relieved and drained and happier than she’d ever rem
embered being in her life, Mia pressed her lips to Ryder’s once more, this time in a short celebratory kiss.

  Ryder smiled in a dopey kind of way. “Hello, darling,” he slurred.

  Ski patrol arrived in a flurry of snowmobiles and red jumpsuits. Her friend Johnathan dropped to his knees across from Mia. She hadn’t even heard them pull up, she’d been so focused on Ryder. “You’re the darling one.” She’d never been so grateful to see someone breathe in her life. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

  Ryder grasped her hand that still held his cheek. His fingers were icy and the nails slightly blue. “Don’t leave me.” The temperatures weren’t low enough to cause blue fingers.

  Relieved at the strength of his hold, Mia promised, “I won’t.”

  He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. “I love you,” he said, his eyes echoing the sentiment.

  Wiping away her tears with her free hand, Mia worried Ryder had damaged more than his back. “You should check his head.” She chuckled to cover the intense feeling stirring inside her chest.

  Johnathan looked back and forth between the two of them. “This guy belong to you, Mia?” He slid a neck brace under Ryder and secured it in the front.

  “We’re getting married,” Ryder squeezed her hand. The pressure was much weaker than the last time.

  Oh, please let him be okay. Mia prayed his back wasn’t broken. “Please check his head.”

  Johnathan disagreed, “Not here. He’s stable enough; we need to get him to the emergency room.” Johnathan and his partner, Fred, secured Ryder to a board and then secured the board to a sled that was hooked to a snowmobile. Ryder didn’t make a sound. His jaw flexed as if he were biting down to hold back pain. His silence was as scary as the fall.