I sighed, and looked at Pam and Ken, who were looking at each other worriedly."Me, I think."
They looked at me in confusion."Kim and I had a little...run in...earlier this morning, and I think she's angry at me. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset her - she startled me, and I was in her room...things just kind of got out of hand."It was close enough to the truth that I didn't feel bad.
"Aww, Kim gets all bent about the stupidest things...I wouldn't worry about it, Darcy." Kyle mumbled through his French toast, and I gave him a grateful smile.
"I'm sure Kyle is right, Darcy - she's been a bit moody lately, and I doubt it was anything you did.I'm sorry she's been so rude to you all morning."Pam looked at me kindly, and reached across the table to touch my hand.
"Well thank you - and thanks for letting me crash last night, and for breakfast this morning, and everything. I had a great time yesterday."I looked at my watch and stood. "I better get back to Greta's, though, before she leaves and locks me out." I had a key, but thought it was a good time to leave, and not cause any more problems with Kim.
I shook Kyle's hand, gave Pam a hug and a promise to see her before I left, and Ken walked me to the door.
"I hope my grump of a daughter isn't chasing you away, Darcy.You're welcome to stay; we really enjoy having you around."His voice was gruff and he patted my back in a fatherly fashion.
"Of course not!You and Pam have been so nice - thank you for such a wonderful day yesterday." I smiled, and gave him a hug - he was embarrassed, but pleased.
"I wish you weren't leaving tonight - we'd all love to spend more time with you."He handed me his card."Here's my card; my email and home phone are on the back, too.Drop me line, if you are serious about the financing. The people I talked to this morning were very keen."
I gave him a dazzling smile."Thank you so much, Ken. This is so unexpected.I don't know what else to say but thank you."
"Don't thank me yet...you've got to charm others besides me."He smiled."But I don't think that will be a problem."
I blushed, and hugged him again.
"Let us know if you ever get out to Connecticut, or if you're up here again next Christmas.We come up every year."
"Thanks Ken," I said, and tucked the card in my pocket, "I'll do that."
December 22, 2002
I stomped the snow from my boots and followed the herd of people through the doors and into the lodge, feeling my face tingle with warmth after several hours of cold. I stepped out of the flow and looked around, finally spotting Greta's tall form waving at me from across the room.
After a couple of minutes of maneuvering between bodies, boots, chairs and tables, I finally reached her, delighted when I saw that Pam and Ken were with her at the table.
"Hey, you two!"I hugged them both, "It's so good to see you!"
That breakfast five years ago had proved to be a huge turning point in my life - I had contacted Ken soon after returning home, hoping he was serious about his offer.I could never have dreamed what had happened next; after initial feasibility studies, his company had agreed to back the research and development of my circuitry idea, and I had sold the patent earlier that year for a sum of money I couldn't even fathom.
With the money, I had done what I'd been tempted to do years before - I bought a house on the mountain, moved in, and skied nearly every day. Eventually, I knew, this wouldn't be enough, and I would have to find another project or job to occupy my time, but for now, I was content to be a ski bum.
We chatted amiably while I removed my jacket, hat and gloves and shook out my hair.I hadn't cut it in ages, and I knew it looked a bit unruly, but I no longer needed to worry about corporate appearances, thank god.
"Wow, Darce, you look great!More relaxed than I've seen you in ages, and all healthy and tan..."Pam sipped on a drink and looked me over. I had seen the Scotts often over the past five years; Ken mostly, because of business, but I'd seen Pam enough that she had known how much pressure I had been under, and how I hadn't handled it particularly well.
I laughed."No stress and sunshine at 10,000 feet will do that to you - I don't imagine my skin will be thanking me in a few years, though."
"Well, I think you look fantastic.Last time I saw you, you looked like you were about to keel over."
I grinned at her, glancing over as someone sat down beside Ken.
Every muscle in my body froze. The tingle that shivered through my body made me blink. I took a calming breath, trying to hide my reaction behind a neutral smile, but she had seen it, and there was an answering flash of something...it couldn't be what it had looked like, but something...
"Kim, you remember our friend Darcy Max, don't you?"Pam's voice came from far away.
Wow.The same blue eyes and striking features, but leaner - the petulance was gone and in its place a mature confidence and self-assurance.
Wow, I thought again.She was the sexiest thing I had ever seen.
She ran a hand absently through her hair.I was jealous of her hand.
She smiled.A real, genuine, ‘it's nice to see you, I don't hate you' smile. I melted.
She held a hand out to me and murmured, "Ah, yes.The telemarketer." That voice...I somehow managed to make myself stand, and grasp the extended hand. The touch of her skin on mine nearly made me gasp.
Oh boy.Was I ever in trouble.
I sat down quickly, before my legs gave way, and smiled weakly at her. "Nice to see you again, Kimberly."
She laughed lightly. I wish she would stop doing that.I hoped she would never stop.
"Oh, please.Just Kim. I haven't been Kimberly since I got over myself a few years back."
"Kim, then." I said with a shy smile.Shy smile? Me?May-day, may-day, I can't hold her, captain; warp-core breach; Piccard to bridge...
"I hope you'll ski with us this afternoon, Darcy, it's been ages."Ken's earnest voice broke the spell. I blinked and looked around.
Pam was looking at Kim thoughtfully, and Greta was trying hard not to grin.
I kicked her under the table, and she yelped, but the grin didn't go away.
After that, Ken and Greta took out trail maps and began to plan the rest of the day, and I leaned back and listened, regaining my composure and only sneaking a few quick looks at Kim.
The third time I caught her sneaking her own looks, I began to think that maybe I hadn't been wrong about what I seen on her face when she sat down. Interest. Attraction. Desire.
The thought sent another shiver through my body, and bolstered my confidence. The next time I caught her looking, I gave her a slow, teasing grin and watched in satisfaction as her nostrils flared and the muscles in her jaw jumped.
"So, are ya with us, Darce?"I looked over at Greta in surprise, not realizing the rest of the table had begun to gather their things, getting ready to head back out on the slopes. I managed to keep myself from looking over at Kim when I replied.
"Oh, you bet."
The first lift was a quad, and since there were five of us, I offered to go single.
"Don't be silly." Pam said in her lawyer voice, "Kimmie and you can ride together, and we'll go as a triple."Before either of us could say a word, Pam herded Ken and Greta into line and picked up another single.
Kim looked a little bemused, and I had to admit to feeling a little dazed myself.
"You don't mind, do you?" I asked out of politeness.
The slow smile nearly scorched my skin, "Oh no, I don't mind at all."
Conversation between us at first was awkward; I was too aware of her shoulder pressing up against mine to be able to say anything coherent, and she seemed to be struggling with basic speech as well. Finally, she burst out laughing. I looked at her quizzically.
"Your skis." She said.
I looked down with a frown, wondering if something was wrong with them. They looked fine, and I looked back up at her, confused.