Free Chilled by Death by Dale Mayer Page A

rough couple of years watching you fall apart then put yourself back together again, as if the new model was made of steel, fortified so you’d never be hurt again.”
    “Wow, does everyone know about that?” Being a private person, it was disconcerting to think that others knew of her breakdown. “I thought I’d hid it much better.”
    He rushed to reassure her. “You did a great job, but for those that knew you and loved you, it was hard to watch.” He shrugged sheepishly. “We couldn’t help you besides being friendly and supportive. And hope you pulled out of it.”
    She nodded. She tilted her helmet back slightly and rubbed an itch along her forehead. She didn’t know what to say. She’d been unaware of so much back then. Now that she was pulling herself back into line, she regretted not knowing. Maybe she’d not have fallen into such a downward spiral if she hadn’t been alone.
    But she had. And here she was today. Realizing she had more friends than ever. “Thanks, Stevie. I hadn’t recognized much around me back then. It was a difficult time. Thanks for standing by me.”
    “Always. We’d tried to get George to do something…”
    She shook her head, a startled laugh coming out. “Good try. George loves me dearly, but he’s not yet been able to force me into doing anything.”
    “And yet,” Stevie threw his hand wide, pointing to the wide expanse of frozen beauty all around them, “here you are.”
    With a shout of laugher, she reached out and slugged him lightly on the shoulder. “I hate to disappoint you or to knock George off a pedestal, but I’d already decided it was time to face this. I came because George requested that I come, but if I hadn’t come this time, then I’d have asked to come on another time.”
    At his look of dismayed astonishment, she laughed again. “At the risk of really ruining your mood, I’d also like to find new inspiration for my photography.” She motioned to their surroundings. “I need to heal myself and get back to living life like I used to.”
    *
    Oh, look at that. The ice princess deigned to come out and play. He hid his smirk and waved at her. Bitch. He smiled brightly. “Hey, nice you came out.” He buckled up his belt. “You’re just in time to have some fun.”
    Then I’ll have fun with you later. Whore. After Royce, are you? He watched her smile at the man in question, a burning sensation in his gut. They were all whores. Women. The scourge of the earth.
    Royce slugged him on the shoulder. “You’re next.”
    “Ha. Race you to the bottom,” he responded. “You’ll never beat me.”
    “You’re on.”
    He put all thoughts of Stacy into the back of his mind as Royce took off. There was no way that was going to happen. “Like hell, prepare to get your ass whupped.”
    That started the laughter, the cheers and jeers from everyone around as they urged the racers on.
    And he laughed. Damn, he was good. He grinned. Soon, he’d make sure everyone else knew it, too.

Chapter 11

    T he rest of the morning passed in a blur of runs. They skied and boarded and took the lifts to the top. It was fun and bloody cold. Stacy opted out after several runs. She was sore and tired but thrilled to be there.
    She pulled to a stop by the frozen waterfall. “Go on,” she said, waving them past. “I’m going to stay here for a couple of runs and rest. See you on the next pass.”
    And the others whooshed by with hoots and hollers. They’d be close to forty minutes before returning to where she waited.
    She laughed, watching them race down in front of her. It was a stunning day. As the silence descended, she tilted her head skyward, letting the warmth of the sun land on her face. She opened her eyes and turned to look up at the frozen waterfall. Such beautiful ice forms. Who said white was white? This was so much more than that.
    The sunlight was perfect. It bounced and echoed, a soundless splash of color across the scenery.
    And she saw it. That face. A