In that instant, those words had wrapped Raoul in their sweet tentacles and wouldn’t let him go.
“I’d like the same thing,” he whispered in a moment of truth. Deep down he’d wanted it for a long time, but had fought it with everything in him.
Philippe lifted hopeful blue eyes to him. “Please, will you ask Mommy? She’ll listen to you.”
Raoul’s body gave up a shudder. He couldn’t believe he’d just said those words aloud in front of Philippe. It was like lighting a fuse. “I wish it were that simple, mon gamin, but I’m not your daddy.” As Crystal had said, But Eric isn’t here. Had she said it thinking of Philippe’s feelings, or had she expressed them for her own sake? That was the question he needed to have answered.
“I don’t care,” Philippe answered right back.
“Talitha’s mommy lives with her boyfriend and he’s not her daddy.”
“The girl on oxygen?”
“Yup.”
He looked down at Philippe. “Did her daddy die?”
“She doesn’t have a daddy.”
Out of the mouths of babes. “I thought you didn’t make any friends at your school.”
“Talitha’s not my friend. I heard some kids talk about her.”
Raoul’s heart thundered in his chest. He was in such deep water already, he didn’t dare let this subject continue. “Come on. Let’s put your parka on so we can go ice skating. We’ll have to hurry since you’ve got school in the morning.”
All along he’d planned to drive Philippe to school every day. It would give him an excuse to be with Crystal, who never lighted long enough for them to have an in-depth conversation. Unfortunately her move to get a rental car had thrown him, but it didn’t change his intention of being there for his nephew. If she didn’t like it, that was too bad. Philippe wanted and expected to be with him now that he was here.
Like a wound that had been torn open again, his conversation with Philippe had brought all his agony to the surface, leaving him bleeding all over the place. He needed to do something about his turmoil or he honestly didn’t know how he was going to make it through the night, let alone the rest of his life.
AFTER DROPPING Philippe off at school the next morning, Crystal drove to Broussard’s and parked around the side entrance reserved for the staff. The famous mountaineering shop looked like a giant chalet and catered to everything for the mountain climber, but it also carried ski clothes and equipment. Raoul’s office was on the third level at the other end. As she walked through the lower level to the ski shop, she doubted he was even at work yet.
“Eh bien—I can’t believe my eyes.”
She smiled. “Bonjour, Jean-Luc.”
The ski veteran who’d run the shop for years came around the counter and gave her a bear hug. “If it isn’t Crystal, as I live and breathe. You are a sight for sore eyes.”
“It’s great to see you, too.” He was like family to the Broussards. Jean-Luc had been a fabulous skier in his time and had given Eric a lot of pointers.
“What brings you in here?”
“I want to rent some equipment to go up skiing for a couple of hours.”
His brows lifted. “You didn’t bring your own gear?”
“Not this time. This was a spur-of-the-moment decision.” Thanks to Raoul, who’d infused her with the determination to get back doing what she did best.
“Well … let me fix you up. I’m afraid we don’t have your special skis, but I think I can find something for the famous Colorado champion.”
Before long she was outfitted with ski bibs and everything she’d need. He found an empty dressing room for her to change in and let her put her things in a locker in the back room.
Once she was ready, she put her skis and poles over her shoulder and started for the same side entrance. It was only a short walk to the Brévent cable car.
But she never made it outside because a tall, powerfully built man in a familiar black bomber jacket was just coming in, blocking her exit. She looked up at him and trembled. “Raoul—”
His hands shot out to grip her upper arms. At his touch, a jolt of electricity arced through her body. “I saw your rental car out there as I was driving around to the back.” She felt his gaze travel over her like a laser beam. “Give me a minute to get into my ski gear and I’ll go up to Planpraz with you. I haven’t had a good run on skis in weeks.”
Warmth flooded her system. It wasn’t just his physical presence that made it difficult to catch her breath. It was the fact that he was willing to drop everything to come with her. She’d always loved that trait in Raoul. His spontaneity at a moment’s notice made him such an exciting man to be with. Though it was taking an emotional risk, for once she didn’t question it because the negative tension between them seemed to be missing.
“I’ll wait outside the door for you.” Maybe it was the day, the air. All she knew was, she wanted to be with him.
His hands fell away, leaving her free to continue walking, but her legs felt like mush. If this was the way he was going to affect her, she didn’t think she had the strength to make it to the cable car, let alone ski. He was a wonderful skier and an even more wonderful companion when he was relaxed. Thrill after thrill darted through her at the thought of being with him like this.
She didn’t have to wait long before he joined her looking fantastic in his black ski outfit with the blue stripe up the side. They walked the short distance to the ski station in companionable silence before riding the cable car up the mountain. Soon Chamonix lay at their feet. She gasped softly at the phenomenal sight while experiencing an attack of exhilaration that she was seeing this with him.
This was her world! For a few years she’d forgotten. When she turned her head, her eyes fused with the cobalt blue of Raoul’s.
“You’ve got that look on your face, Crystal.”
“What look is that?” she whispered shakily.
“The one that used to be on all the billboards. The look that’s been missing. I’m glad to see it’s back. I’ll race you to the bottom.” His gaze reluctantly left hers before he gripped his poles and started down the run, exploding like a torpedo out of its silo past two other skiers.
She adjusted her goggles and pushed off, eager to catch up to him. They played like children, skiing the moguls down the steep piste. Sheer euphoria. She let out a joyous laugh and poured on the speed, flying past him. She eventually reached the bottom a few seconds faster than he did.
Crystal was still laughing for the utter pleasure of being alive and sharing this with him. When he skied over to her, his smile dissolved her bones. “You’re still the greatest thing going out here. If anything, I think you’re skiing better than you used to. You were loose. Fluid.”
Raoul. “You’re good for my ego.”
“I think you meant that.” His expression grew more thoughtful. “How about one more run before I have to get a little work done today?”
“You’re on!” she cried, delirious with happiness that he wanted to go again.
They skied over to the station and rode the cable car once more. It filled up fast. Raoul’s intense gaze found hers over the heads of the other skiers. His gorgeous eyes conveyed so many things,