Chalet Girls
LORRAINE WILSON

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HarperCollinsPublishers

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First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2017

Copyright © Lorraine Wilson 2017

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be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book

is available from the British Library

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Ebook Edition © February 2017 ISBN: 9780007544066

Version 2017-01-17

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

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

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Also by Lorraine Wilson

About the Author

About HarperImpulse

About the Publisher

For Pip, a very special rescue dog

Chapter 1

From: benross21@yahoo.com

To: lucy.ross@hotmail.com

Subject: World domination

Hi Lucy,

How’s it going in the land of the millionaires? Mum saw something in the Daily Mail about chalet girls taking their tops off for cocktails and shagging in gondolas. She’s now convinced you’re up to no good.

Are you? I do hope so ;-)

Sadly, I suspect you’re being a good girl, which seems like such a waste tbh. If Dad could spare me from the croft I’d be out there like a shot.

Anyway, you owe me one because I’ve been doing my best to convince Mum you’re much more likely to be entering competitions and following in the footsteps of Jenny Jones, that chalet girl-turned-Winter Games medalist you keep going on about. If you could set yourself on the path to Winter Games stardom that would probably take the heat off.

I also showed her photos on the net of all the Royals and celebrities who holiday in Verbier to convince her you’re not living in a den of iniquity.

So, I’ve stopped her getting on a plane to drag you home. All you have to do now is win a Winter Games’ medal and bag a Royal. Easy peasy ;-)

Seriously, though, I do miss you, little sis. I hope you make it back home for a visit once the winter season’s over.

I’ll leave you with a joke:

Q- How many chalet girls does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A- None. Chalet girls screw in hot tubs. Ha ha.

Love from your exceptionally witty brother,

Ben

LUCY

As I read the email, two things occur to me. One – my brother Ben is a dillop-brain. Two – unfortunately he knows me far too well.

I slip my phone back into my jeans pocket. I’ve got more important things on my mind and thinking about Mum always puts a downer on my mood. I don’t want to feel sad this evening.

Tash would appreciate the joke, I’m sure. Out of the four of us chalet girls sharing a dorm room at Chalet Repos this season, she’‘s the only one who has almost certainly had sex with a guest in a hot tub. Rebecca would worry about being caught, Beth is new and has only been here for five minutes and I … well, it’s the ski, not the après ski that drew me to Verbier.

I would love nothing more than to follow in Jenny Jones’ footsteps. Chalet girl to Winter Games medalist is quite a leap, though.

‘We need to get going.’ I’m practically bouncing with impatience, keen to get everyone out of the dorm room so we can get on our way. ‘The screening starts at eight o’clock.’

‘We‘ve got plenty of time.’ Tash stares dreamily into her little compact mirror, perfecting her cat-like eye make-up.

Tash has been transformed in the time I’ve known her; her spiky edginess morphing into a more chilled and dreamy version of herself. Like a cactus transforming into a rose – fewer spikes, but still the odd thorn if you press in the wrong place.

She’s lovestruck. I even heard her whistling while she unloaded the dishwasher this morning. It’s weirding me out but I’ve no doubt her innate snarkiness will be making a come-back all too soon. Particularly now Holly’s put Amelia and Matt in charge of Chalet Repos – a decision I think must’ve been made under the influence of baby-brain. The sleep deprivation of new motherhood has to be blinding Holly to the potential explosive danger of making Amelia Tash’s boss.

At least for the moment there are no audible ticking bombs. Tash came back from her last visit with Nate blissed out and beaming, as though all her cocktails had come at once. Then she went on to describe in lurid detail how it wasn’t just the cocktails, if you know what I mean. I never know what to say when the others talk about sex. I usually stay quiet and hope no one will notice. It wouldn’t usually be much of a problem but they do talk about sex a lot.

I’ve not experienced the spell Tash is under first-hand. I’m curious – okay, maybe the teensiest bit wistful. It might be nice to be that blissed out by a man.

Not that I’d let myself mope around like that over anyone. I’m more of a doer.

I’ve always been practical. I suppose you have to be when you grow up on a Highland croft. To say my parents weren’t exactly big on indulging emotions or talking about feelings would be a huge understatement. Duty to God, self-discipline and hard work were the Holy Trinity in our house. Let’s just say Verbier has been a bit of an eye-opener.

Where I do take after Mum is that I’ve got no patience with faffing. I’ve been ready for ages and am itching to get out of the tiny bunk room and into the fresh Swiss air. The scents of too many different perfumes mingle to fill the air in the bunk room, so it’s cloying and sickly sweet.

‘Hiya.’ Amelia enters the bunk room without knocking. She had the luxury of getting ready in the double room she shares with Matt.

‘What’s this film we’re going to see, again?’ Amelia asks. She looks immaculate, as always, in designer knee-high boots and a silk, jersey-blend dress. Her high blonde ponytail swishes as she moves, reminding me of the cows back home, swishing their tails at milking time.

Beth squirts yet more perfume into the air and walks into the cloud.

I take a small step back, my legs bumping against the edge of the bunk bed behind me, and sigh. I close my eyes briefly and think of all the glorious, powdery white snow just a chairlift ride away that makes all this worth it.

‘It’s a film of the line Sebastien Laroche took at the Verbier Xtreme last year. You know, he jumped that cliff that had never been jumped before? I bet Crazy White Lines will win the Valais Freeride Film Festival. No one can beat Sebastien.’ I look around, expecting to see dawning recognition in the others’ eyes but find only blank incomprehension. How can they not have heard of Sebastien Laroche? The man’s a legend.

‘Ooh, our Lucy has a crush. I think Sebastien Laroche has a fan girl slash stalker in the making here.’ Tash smirks, dropping the mascara back into her make-up case.

I glare at her.

‘Okay, don’t get your knickers in a twist, I’m coming. Impatient much?’ She adds, her lips still twitching.

‘I am not a stalker.’ I narrow my eyes. ‘But I do admire him, because he’s an amazing athlete. He takes big mountain boarding to a whole new level. Did you know companies are fighting over his sponsorship and begging to film his runs?’

Tash rolls her eyes. She likes skiing and snowboarding but isn’t serious about the sport like I am. I bite my tongue. She’s agreed to come and keep me company tonight. I just have to accept that not everyone is as into the sport as I am.

‘It’ll be fun to watch. I can’t imagine hovering over a mountain ridge in a helicopter and then having to jump out onto it.’ Rebecca zips up her make-up bag and puts it into her locker.

‘I bet he’s totally bonkers,’ Amelia adds. ‘Has to be.’

I glower at Amelia. She’s yet another casual skier with no sporting ambition beyond skiing to the nearest cantine for a champagne cocktail. Not that there’s anything wrong with cocktails, but surely life has to be about more than getting hammered every night?

‘What?’ Amelia shrugs. ‘Who but a nutter would choose to snowboard on ice and scree, knowing every line they take could be their last? It’s mad.’

I bite my lip, resisting the urge to argue with great difficulty.

‘I’m glad we’re guest-free for a few nights,’ Rebecca, ever the peacemaker, changes the subject and drops her lip gloss into her clutch bag, clicking it shut. She’s wearing a silky grey cashmere top and designer jeans. She’s also perfectly made up, with pearly-pink lips and smoky eye shadow. Everyone is looking super-glam compared to me, but I guess I have different priorities. I’m going to watch the film, not to be watched myself.

Still, maybe I should’ve made an effort with make-up, but I rarely bother these days. My skin is beautifully clear from all my time out in the fresh Swiss air and bathing in pure mountain water. I’ve never felt better. Plus I’ve got a healthy tan from spending every spare minute on the slopes.

I’ve never been a girly girl; it just isn’t me. Growing up on a croft in the Scottish Highlands in a tiny village near Drumnadrochit didn’t inspire much interest in clothes or fashion. Mum never wore make-up and would’ve come down hard on me if I’d spent precious money on anything so frivolous and selfish. As far as she was concerned vanity was a sin and, boy, didn’t I know about it! She reminded me often enough.

Instead I filled any free time I had with hiking and skiing when we had enough snow. I always dreamt of skiing in the Alps one day, maybe even competing. Skiing in Scotland wasn’t enough for me, the snow coverage far too unreliable. Moving to Verbier was a huge deal, given no one in my family has ever moved further away than a ten-mile radius of Drumnadrochit. You’d have thought I was denouncing my Scottish heritage, God and my family from the way Mum and Dad had reacted when I’d told them where I was going. Well, I say Mum and Dad, but it was Mum who did the talking, as always. Dad just gave me the silent treatment, refusing even to say goodbye to me.

They still think this is a passing fancy for me but landing this chalet-girl job was the start of living my dream.

One day I’d love to be a big-mountain skier. Not that I ever admit this to anyone. They’d probably laugh and I’ve had a lifetime of being disparaged, I can’t face anyone else trying to crush my dreams. But why shouldn’t I compete one day? I’m good, and I’ve been told I’m getting better every month. If I could find someone willing to coach me, well, who knows …

‘Earth to Lucy.’ Tash waves a hand in front of my face. ‘What are you thinking about? Or should that be ‘who’?’

‘Nothing,’ I mumble and look away, embarrassed to be caught daydreaming. ‘Can we get going now?’

Tash smirks but finally we’re out of the bunk room and I slip into my ski jacket. It‘s not stylish, but it‘s the warmest coat I own. The walk back to the chalet will be a cold one, resort temperatures plummet rapidly once darkness falls. You forget your gloves at your peril. I‘d rather be warm than look pretty on the offchance of meeting someone interesting.

‘No Matt? I thought he was coming too?’ Beth asks as she steps into her Ugg boots.

‘He‘s got some work to do.’ Amelia slips a stylish, no doubt expensive faux-fur-lined wrap over her shoulders. ‘We need all the freelance web-design work he can pick up, given we‘ve got a wedding to pay for.’

Tash rolls her eyes; something she‘s taken to doing whenever Amelia mentions her wedding. To be fair, it happens a lot. Tash said we should start a swear jar going but instead of putting money in when she swears Amelia should be made to add a Swiss franc every time she mentions her wedding. For some reason, Amelia wasn‘t amused by the idea. Let‘s just say that the relationship between the two of them is as frosty as the icicles hanging down from Chalet Repos‘ roof.

As we troop out of the warmth of the chalet into crisp, fresh snow there are thick snowflakes swirling silently overhead. They land on our hoods and hair, brushing our eyelashes and cooling our warm cheeks. After the stifling atmosphere of the dorm room it‘s a relief to be out in the snow.

We head en masse to the car park in town, where a number of large white marquees have been erected for the film festival. I fish the tickets out of my jacket pocket as we merge with the crowd hurrying out of the cold and into the warmth of the main heated tent. We‘re cutting it fine. I crane my neck to see if there‘s a group of empty seats together. No such luck.

There is one empty seat at the front. I gaze at it longingly.

‘Go on, go sit at the front. You can take that chair in the front row’ Tash gives me a none-too-gentle push. ‘We‘ll meet you afterwards. You‘re the one who‘s really into this, after all.’

I don‘t need any more urging. I rush forward before any of the other late-comers can get to it. I‘ll get a fantastic view of the screen from the front row. Once seated I‘m twitchy, eyes directly ahead on the screen, waiting for the film to start and hoping to God none of my neighbours try to make small talk.

You‘d think, given how much I love the mountains and winter sports, I‘d have loads in common with my fellow seasonnaires, right?

Wrong.

As far as I can tell, most seasonnaires are here for the après ski, with a bit of skiing thrown in. Any illusions I had of meeting a serious boyfriend here in Switzerland took a flying leap off a mountain and crashed on the rocks below long ago. It should‘ve been obvious, if I‘d thought it through properly. Seasonnaire. The very name of the type of job we do suggests a temporary arrangement – only for a season. Most of the relationships that spring up in resorts, if they last beyond a one-night stand, span only a few weeks, not even the whole season. I keep telling myself it isn‘t a big deal. After all, it‘s not the main reason I came to Verbier. But still. I had hoped …

My skin prickles to attention, my sixth sense telling me I‘m being watched. I cross my arms and stare rigidly ahead. Thankfully the screen finally flickers into life, showing a holding page, a photograph of an alpine ridge. The general hubbub dies down to the odd cough. One of Sebastien Laroche‘s sponsors from a popular outdoor clothing company comes to the front and lists some of Sebastien‘s previous triumphs by way of introduction – three times European Boardercross champion and a place on the French Winter Games team last year, only narrowly missing out on a medal.

Of course I admire him. He‘s achieved things I can only dream about. Okay, he happens to be easy on the eye too. Maybe I have just a teensy wee crush.

When the introduction is over the holding screen disappears and the screen is filled with the image of a helicopter in flight. The camera pans to the open side door. Inside is Sebastien Laroche, a huge grin lighting up his charismatic face. He has wild black curls and his face is as craggy as the mountaintops he loves. His skin is tanned, with that weather-beaten look truly outdoorsy people get, and there‘s a jagged scar on his chin. Maybe he‘s not conventionally handsome, but when he smiles, like he‘s smiling now, his face glows with a fierce, dancing light.

He‘s utterly mesmerising.

Okay, so it might be more than a wee crush.

‘Snowboarding is my life, my reason to live.’ On screen, Sebastien‘s eyes shine with anticipation of the jump, lit with pure joy.

I shift forward in my chair, my gaze trained on Sebastien as he jumps down from the helicopter onto a metre-wide snowy ridge. The camera pans out and down to show a two-thousand-metre drop to the valley below, broken only by sheer, razor-sharp rocks.

The crowd gasp, united in their incredulity at the precariousness of Sebastien‘s position.

‘Il est fou,’ a woman behind me mutters. With difficulty I resist the temptation to turn around and give her my death glare. How can she dismiss his bravery as madness?

Although, when I see the line he takes down the mountain, sliding on virtually vertical stretches of scree and accelerating when he hits patches of ice, the breath catches in my chest. A small part of me reluctantly agrees. But where do we draw the line between madness and bravery? And who gets to decide where it lies?

Perhaps he‘s both mad and brave, essential characteristics for a pioneer, someone capable of transcending the ordinary with the extraordinary.

The camera follows his path down the mountainside. Whenever he leaps to a decent patch of snow he part-glides, part-dances on the snow‘s crust. He moves so gracefully it‘s like he‘s in tune with the mountain. As though he‘s dancing in time to a mountain heartbeat no one else can hear but him.

I expected his skill but didn‘t anticipate anything so beautiful or so moving. It stirs me deep down, opening up a visceral yearning.

Could I ever move that gracefully? My grandmother was the one who taught me to dream big. Before she died she told me to go out into the world and take all the opportunities she never had. She never left the Scottish Highlands to travel and she always regretted it. I know she loved Granddad but he was traditional and controlling. She made me promise never to tie myself to a man who tried to crush my dreams. I‘ll always be grateful to her for giving me the courage to defy Mum and Dad and come to Verbier.

When the film ends the crowd erupts in enthusiastic applause. I ease back into my chair, disappointed it‘s over. Only now do I finally breathe out properly. I‘d no idea I was even holding my breath.

My skin prickles again and I sense an intent stare from the person sitting beside me, demanding my attention. I bite my lip. It could be someone I know. I wasn‘t really looking when I sat down, I was too busy nabbing the seat. It would be rude not to acknowledge them. Reluctantly I turn and my eyebrows shoot up.

‘Oh my God.’ I‘m staring directly back at the subject of the film, at Sebastien Laroche himself. His eyes flicker with amusement.

‘I‘ve been called a lot of things in my life but never God.’ He grins, a hint of wickedness in the curve of his mouth. ‘I‘m not sure I‘m cut out to be a deity. Too badly behaved.’

His English is heavily accented with his native French accent but he speaks with a confidence that tells me he doesn‘t give a damn.

Heat floods my cheeks and I don‘t know where to look. Why did I have to sound so naïve and starstruck? Along with the prickling embarrassment, I‘m aware of something more – a stirring deep inside me. A quickening and an awakening. The look in his eyes when he says ‚badly behaved‘ makes my stomach flip over. I have to say something, right now. I swallow hard.

‘Um, that was amazing.’ I gesture towards the screen, admiration finally breaking through my embarrassment.

‘I was watching you while the film played. You get it.’ He places a heavy emphasis on the word ‚it‘ and, before I realise what he‘s doing, he takes my hand and places it over his heart. ‘You get it right here.’

I feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat through his cotton cashmere crewneck, it pulses against my palm. I can feel hard muscle beneath the soft, silky fabric. My cheeks burn even hotter.

‘Er, yes, I think so.’ I blink and kick myself for umming and erring. This has got to be the most bizarre conversation I‘ve ever had. Yet, as embarrassed as I am, I don‘t want it to end.

Ever.

‘I saw it in your eyes; you were up there, with me.’ His intense gaze is fixed on me, as though I‘m the only person in the room. I always thought that was a cliché, but it‘s how it really feels. Surely he must be aware there are lots of people waiting to speak to him? I‘m sure everyone must be staring at us, but I can‘t break eye contact with Sebastien. He‘s even more mesmerising and twice as charismatic in real life as he was on screen.

‘Do you have a name?’ His lips quirk. I try not to fixate on them but it‘s difficult not to imagine what it would be like to be kissed by him.

‘Yes …’ I‘m flustered. He still has my hand against his chest and is acting as though the way he‘s behaving is perfectly normal. ‘I‘m Lucy.’

‘Lucy,’ he tries out my name, his accent making it sound musical. He smiles. ‘You can call me Seb. Now I‘m afraid you‘ll have to excuse me. I have to go and make nice with the very generous people who give me money to do what I love. Will I see you at the after-party?’

He lets go of my hand and I instantly wish he hadn‘t broken the connection between us.

‘I don‘t think I‘m invited.’ I bite my lip, torn between desire and the urge to scurry back into my shell.

‘Pffft.’ He shrugs, a quintessentially French gesture of dismissal. ‘Consider yourself invited. Say you are my guest. Then we can talk some more.’

‘I‘m not sure …’ I‘m wasting my breath, as he‘s dropped my hand and turned and is already in deep conversation with two men in expensive suits.

Okay then. I remember to breathe and slip out of my seat, heart thumping, as I make my way out of the tent, gaze lowered to the ground.

That was … surreal. I‘m going to assume I had some kind of meltdown or fell asleep and daydreamed that encounter. There‘s no way I‘m going to some after-party. Parties are hellish enough when you know people, but making small talk with lots of strangers? It‘s not going to happen. The only place I‘m going is back to my bunk at Chalet Repos.

Chapter 2

From: sandratrent@gmail.com

To: sophietrent@hotmail.com

Re: The Lodge Hotel

Sophie darling, didn’t you get my other messages? I really need you to get back to me ASAP so we can start planning the wedding.

I know you said there’s no hurry but I don’t think you realise how far in advance wedding venues get booked up. Rita from the WI has a daughter who works at the Lodge Hotel – they’ve had a cancellation for the second Saturday in May next year but we have to act quickly if we want that date.

I’m so looking forward to planning you a wonderful wedding, darling. I can’t wait.

Anyway, I must go. There’s a pile of ironing to be done and your dad’s calling for his coffee. We both know how grumpy he gets when he’s caffeine-deprived so I’d better get on.

Give our best to Luc.

Love,

Mum

SOPHIE

I thrust my phone to the bottom of my bag, wishing it were as easy to squash down my anxiety. Emails can be ignored, for a little while, at least. Emotional procrastination is more difficult and worse for your health. I can feel a stress headache pulsing at my temples but force a smile to my lips and make an effort to tune back into the conversation.

‘Wow. This chalet is freakin’ amazing. Can we go and see the basement spa now? Pretty please?’ Tash practically bounces on the spot, her childlike glee at odds with her immaculate and elaborate make-up.

‘Absolutely, but no stripping off.’ Holly catches my eye and grins. We both know there’s no containing Tash when she’s in one of her exuberant moods.

‘Spoil sport,’ Tash pouts.

‘Well, not until after midnight anyway.’ Holly concedes. ‘The other guests should be mostly drunk by then. But, given it’s Sophie’s engagement party, maybe you should check with her before you do anything, erm, too outrageous.

My engagement party.

The words cause another worm of anxiety to squirm in my stomach.

‘Please, like I’ve ever been able to stop Tash stripping off.’ I shrug. ‘But we’re celebrating Amelia’s engagement tonight too and I’m not sure she’d be happy about it.’

Amelia got engaged a while before me, but when planning the party Holly realised she hadn’t done anything for Amelia and was worried she’d take offence. Holly was probably right, but I actually don’t mind in the slightest. I’ve got no problem with sharing the party with Amelia and, if anyone else wants to take some of the limelight off me, they’re very welcome to it.

‘Who’s stripping off?’ Nate comes into the room with Scott and Luc.

‘Your girlfriend,’ Holly says.

Nate rolls his eyes but they twinkle with good humour and the gesture is accompanied by an amused quirk of the lips. ‘That’s my girl.’

‘You’re all looking very glamorous.’ Scott makes a show of looking us up and down. ‘Especially my lovely wife, of course. It’s nice to see you all in dresses for a change.’

‘I love you very much, my sexist dinosaur husband, but I would like to point out that party dresses aren’t exactly practical clothing in a ski resort.’ Holly pretends to huff. ‘Anyway, glamorous clothes also tend to be dry-clean only. In other words, they’re very baby-unfriendly.’

‘You know, I think you look gorgeous in anything.’ Scott smiles fondly at Holly, tucking a stray strand of auburn hair back into her up-do. ‘Now, who’d like a private tour before the party guests arrive? I think we’re all set up now.’

Luc slips behind me and plants a kiss on the top of my head. When he wraps his arms around me some of my tension ebbs away and I almost believe everything might be okay.

Almost.

‘Thanks so much for this. We really appreciate it.’ I follow Scott and Holly down the corridor.

‘No problem, Sophie, it‘s our engagement present to you,’ Scott smiles. ‘Holly and I wanted to do something special for you and Amelia. Plus we really want to show off how Chalet Amélie is coming along.’

‘It‘s gorgeous, Scott. I thought Chalet Repos was special, but this is something else.’

I mean it too. It hits just the right note between traditional Swiss chalet and modern home. I adore the mini library and snug on the mezzanine gallery looking down onto the double-height living room. The whole wall facing the valley is glass with an arching timber frame and we‘re looking straight out onto snow-capped mountain peaks. I love the double-sided fireplace facing out onto the dining area on one side and the huge u-shaped leather seating unit festooned with silky faux-fur throws on the other. The kitchen is all modern – sleek black units, granite worktops and shiny chrome fittings. Not to mention two large island units. I‘ve never had a kitchen big enough to house even one island unit.

‘I think I have kitchen-envy,’ I whisper to Holly. ‘Actually, scrub that, I have chalet envy.’

I love the cosy little flat I share with Luc above Bar des Amis, but I dream of living in a chalet like this. Maybe one day we‘ll be able to build our own little chalet further away from Verbier where land prices are cheaper. I enjoyed my time living and working at Chalet Repos, but definitely don‘t miss sharing the cramped dorm room with three other girls.

‘I know,’ Holly whispers back, looking over my shoulder to check Scott isn‘t listening. She needn‘t worry, the men are all engrossed checking out the fancy espresso machine and talking about controlling the under-floor heating with an iPhone app. ‘It seems such a shame to waste all this on paying guests, but Scott and Nate keep reminding me it‘s a business. We‘ve had to up our game a bit. People are starting to expect more from a luxury chalet rental.’

Scott catches the end of the conversation. ‘And they‘re getting more. Come on, I‘ll show you some of the chalet‘s special features. The guest suites aren‘t quite finished yet but the cinema room and games room are done.’

‘There‘s a cinema room?’ Luc raises his eyebrows.

‘Yes. It‘s expected now, for this class of chalet. We also have an indoor heated pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, a steam room and sauna, a spa treatment room, a gym with plasma TV, DVD and music system, a games room with pool table, a party area with disco ball and bar, oh and a wine cellar.’ Scott ticks the features off on his fingers.

‘I think I want to move in,’ Luc sighs. ‘Will you adopt us?’

His words, so carelessly spoken, make the worm of anxiety writhe and squirm inside me.

‘If you like,’ Holly grins. ‘I want to move in here, but Scott won‘t let me. He says paying guests won‘t appreciate a crying baby in situ and I suppose having our own space is best. Never mind, it‘s perfect for a party, and there are no guests booked in until Christmas.’

Holly breaks off to check her phone, forehead creased.

‘I‘m sure Maddie is fine, Holly. The babysitter will ring if there‘s a problem,’ I say for the umpteenth time this evening.

‘I know, I was checking the signal, in case there‘s no reception.’ She pulls a face. ‘It is the first time I‘ve left her for an entire evening and she‘s still so tiny. It‘s hard. Like I‘m missing a limb or something. Although, I‘ll admit it‘s nice to be wearing something other than pyjamas at seven p.m.’

We make our way down to the spa. Dark slate tiles and mood lighting create the ambience of a cave. An extremely luxurious cave with sleek S-curved loungers and coloured lights dancing on the turquoise pool‘s surface.

‘It has an aromatherapy shower and a cold plunge pool.’ Scott leads us along the side of the pool to the spa area and treatment room with massage table.

Voices upstairs interrupt our tour.

‘That‘s probably Amelia and Matt.’ Holly touches Scott‘s elbow and tugs him away from a discussion with Nate and Luc about how the aromatherapy shower works. ‘And the guests will start arriving soon. We should go up.’

We head back upstairs and when Amelia sees me I‘m greeted to a no-contact double air-kiss that‘s more like assault by perfume fumes than a friendly greeting. The whole air-kissing thing is so phoney. When we were both working at Chalet Repos and sharing a dorm room we never greeted each other with air-kisses. Getting engaged and then promoted has changed her – and not for the better.

I catch Tash rolling her eyes behind Amelia‘s back. Funny how Amelia doesn‘t try to air-kiss Tash. Now, that would be entertaining.

‘So, how are the wedding plans coming along, Sophie?’ Amelia asks once she‘s finished doing the double-kiss thing with Luc. Although I notice he didn‘t get the no-contact version – there was definite lip-brushing cheek action going on. Funny that. Hmm.

‘Um, well it‘s still early days,’ I avoid looking at Luc and try to suppress my rising panic.

‘Oh, you shouldn‘t leave it too late. I‘ve been planning since the day after Matt proposed.’

‘If not before,’ Tash mutters.

I suppress a giggle. ‘Really? Have you had a tour of Chalet Amélie yet? The spa looks amazing.’

‘Not yet.’ Amelia‘s fixed smile doesn‘t waver.

‘I bet you wish Holly had put you and Matt in charge of Chalet Amélie instead of Chalet Repos.’ Tash is also smiling, but the hint of snark is unmistakable.

‘Which chalet did Holly put you in charge of? Oh wait, she didn‘t. Sorry, I forgot.’ Amelia steers the conversation into treacherous waters.

Time to head for the lifeboats.

‘We‘re going to get a drink.’ I steer Tash away before she can open her mouth.

‘Ignore her,’ I whisper in Tash‘s ear. ‘You‘ve got a whole season to get through. Pace yourself.’

‘I might need more than one drink,’ Tash sighs.

While helping ourselves to champagne cocktails we bump into Emily.

‘Hi Sophie, how are the wedding plans coming along?’ She smiles brightly.

Arghh. Why does everyone assume I must have a one-track mind because I‘m engaged?

‘It‘s a bit … complicated,’ I hedge. It‘s going to be a long evening. ‘Have you and Jake moved in here yet?’

‘We‘re moving in at the weekend so we can be on site to oversee the rest of the work,’ Emily beams. ‘Oh hi, Tash, how are you?’

‘Great thanks,’ Tash mumbles. ‘I‘m going to find Nate.’

‘Sorry, Sophie, I‘ve got to head off too. I need to find Holly. I‘ll catch you later.’ Emily grimaces apologetically and follows Tash.

I make my way up to the snug on the gallery before anyone else can ask how the wedding plans are going. I‘m keen to see what books they‘ve put in the library area. Books have been my escape my whole life, from reading Sweet Valley High novels in the school library to hide from bullies to romance novels – a pleasure I refuse to feel guilty for. What’s so wrong with feel-good escapism? I don’t need depressing realism when I’m trying to relax.

After a happy ten minutes scanning the books I settle into an armchair with my drink, preparing to be thoroughly anti-social until Holly or Tash appear to drag me back into the fray.

It’s then that I spot him on a sofa below.

Him.

Thomas.

The ghost of ski seasons past. The cause of so much misery and pain.

Something twists painfully deep inside me and my stomach cramps. It‘s far worse than the anxiety worm this time; it’s bigger and more dangerous. It has fangs.

Fangs that have dripped poison into my relationship with Luc.

I press back into my chair, even though he‘s not looking up and I‘m well hidden.

Crap. Crap. Crap. What do I do?

I stay where I am, frozen, heart thudding until Holly, Tash and Lucy come up to find me. Part of me is glad of the friend armour now surrounding me but I‘m in too much of a state to hide anything from them. They know me too well.

‘It‘s your party, Sophie, you can‘t hide up here.’ Holly peers down at me, narrowing her eyes and frowning. ‘Hey, what‘s up?’

‘He‘s here. What‘s he doing here?’ I whisper. Something wet splashes on my lap. I look down to see my hands are trembling, spilling my drink onto my dress. Lucy takes the glass off me and Tash kneels down beside my chair, squeezing my hand.

‘Who are you talking about, Soph?’ Holly asks, forehead creased. ‘Who‘s here?’

‘Thomas,’ I whisper, trying to sink further down in my seat. I take my hand back from Tash and wrap my arms around my still-cramping stomach.

‘Oh.’ Holly‘s eyes widen.

‘What? That Thomas?’ Tash’s voice is much louder than I’d like.

‘Ssh, yes, that Thomas.’ I squeeze my eyes tightly shut and take a deep breath before opening them again. I think I might be sick.

‘Which Thomas?’ Lucy looks furtively around us and down to the packed room below the mezzanine.

‘He of the ‘fat girls try harder’ and ‘I don’t use condoms’ fame,’ Tash replies, eyes flinty.

Recognition dawns on Lucy’s face.

I wince and take a shaky breath.

‘I’m so sorry, I don’t know why he’s here Soph. He certainly wasn’t invited.’ Holly’s eyes are wide, she looks stricken. ‘He must’ve come as someone’s guest. I’ll get Scott to ask him to leave.’

‘No.’ I reach for her wrist before she can leave. ‘Luc might guess. He’ll see I’m upset and could put two and two together. I never gave Luc the name of the guy responsible, you see. Things are a bit … difficult at the moment. I’m worried he might decide to teach Thomas a lesson, you know, to defend my honour.’

Holly chews her bottom lip, hesitating. ‘I suppose, but it’s your party, Soph. I want you to have a nice time. I hate that you’re going through this because of that jerk.’

Anger flares in her eyes. By ‘this’ I know she means more than his presence tonight. She, more than anyone, knows the grief Thomas has caused and continues to cause.

‘Was he the one who used to place bets with his friends about who could pull and shag the ugliest girl?’ Lucy asks, face contorted with disgust.

‘Yes,’ I reply shortly, face burning.

‘Oh, Soph, I’m sorry, you can’t possibly think I meant you …’ Lucy adds, colouring when she sees my face.

But no matter how many times my friends tell me that can’t have been what Thomas was doing the night I went home with him, I’ve never totally shaken the suspicion.

Tash and Lucy have described Thomas’ charming personality perfectly. As well as his aversion to using protection he also has no scruples regarding forcing a girl to do what he wants in such a way that he only just falls short of date rape.

Barely.

The whole ‚fat girls try harder‘ – a comment I overheard Thomas make when he talked about our night together with his friends, haunted me for a long time. The bloody annoying part of it was that when it happened I was a healthy weight for my height for the first time in years of struggling with diets. Compared to the Verbier skinny-blonde clones I‘m on the plump side, but Luc says he loves my curves. I think he really means it too. He always seems very, ahem, appreciative. Anyway I‘m not technically overweight, not according to the charts I‘ve found on the internet.

Crap, Thomas is doing it to me again. Screwing with my head. It‘s bad enough his actions had consequences Luc and I have to live with for the rest of our lives but now I‘m supposed to sit here watching him drink and chat up some other poor girl?

I can‘t do it.

‘Could we go down to the cinema room?’ I plead. ‘I don‘t want a fuss. Trust me, Luc might lose it.’

‘I‘m not sure I‘ve ever seen Luc angry.’ Tash stands up.

‘He rarely gets angry but anything that threatens me or Max stirs up his inner caveman.’ I get up from my chair. ‘Please, let‘s go somewhere else. I don‘t want to waste another minute tonight thinking or talking about Thomas.’

I refuse to hand Thomas that power. It‘s bad enough that I have to be constantly reminded of what he‘s done, of the choices he‘s taken away from me.

His poison has seeped into our relationship and we can‘t find the antidote, no matter how hard we try. Heat flushes up my neck and burns my cheeks. My hands ball into fists at my side. Never mind worrying about Luc hurting Thomas, I need to get far away before I take one of the marshmallow toasting forks and go for Thomas myself.

Chapter 3

From: eva.johnson@gmail.com

To: beth.chapman@yahoo.com

Subject: Okay?

Hello Beth,

How are you getting on? I’d love to hear all your news. Have you learnt to ski yet?

I know we disagreed about the wisdom of you taking this job in Verbier, but please know I’m here for you, whatever choices you make. Our spare room is yours whenever you need it. I was worried it might be too soon, but I hope you’ll prove me wrong. I only worry because I care, Beth. I don’t want you to get hurt. You’re like a second daughter to me.

If things do get difficult, remember you’re stronger than you think you are. You’re a remarkable young woman and I’m proud of how far you’ve come.

Lots of love,

Eva

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