Page 1 of Knife to the Heart
ONE
Rosalie shifted her snowboard over the icy crust of Lucifer’s Lair. Adrenaline surged through her as she peered down and whistled. “Damn, that’s a sweet drop.”
“Hell yeah, it is.”
She turned toward the voice that rumbled like a board carving through snow. The afternoon sun blinded her, and she swayed.
A hand gripped her elbow. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.” Only one man scared her. She prayed that the monster who’d stained the ground with her and her father’s blood back in Denver wasn’t anywhere near Red Snow, Colorado. With the two-year anniversary of the attack approaching—and the threat of him striking again—she lived every minute on edge.
The stranger held her gaze. “I watched you ride Predator’s Path from the lift earlier. You’ve got impressive skills.” He rocked his hips and slid back through the snow. Another smooth shift glided him in front of her.
“So do you.” She raised her eyebrows at the slick way he’d maneuvered himself into her direct line of sight. Like her, he didn’t wear a jacket, even though the temperature hoveredjust above freezing. His half-zip pullover, with the Shredder snowboard logo, stretched across his muscled chest. The red material hugged arms that could easily scoop her up, board and all, and carry her into the woods.
If she were the kind of woman who dreamed about a brawny hunk carrying her off, she might enjoy the ride. She wasn’t that kind, but she did appreciate a man with good taste in snowboards.
He peered down the vertical drop. “First time on Lucifer’s Lair?”
“Yes.” Instead of following his gaze down the mountain, she pulled on the end of her ponytail and studied his face. The rugged-looking man, with the strong, stubbled jaw and dark hair poking out of the back of his black helmet, looked like he’d been born in the wilderness. She wouldn’t be surprised if he had a cabin tucked way back in the trees—one he’d built himself—with a fireplace and no wireless connectivity.
The kind of place where she could forget duty and justice.
But forgetting wasn’t her goal.
A dimple appeared on his right cheek as he smiled. “You might want to take it easy on your first attempt. This is considered the most treacherous run in the Rockies.”
“Oh, don’t you worry about me.” Once she started to fly, he’d wrap himself around a tree watching her back. She smiled at the thought. Not the tree part, but him watching.
His grin fled. “I worry about everybody. I’ve seen people get seriously injured on this trail.”
“I appreciate your concern.” Dipping her head, she leaned closer. The scent of pine—and was that chocolate?—drifted into her nose. “But I’m seriously good. Question is, can you keep up?”
“I like your confidence.” Pulling his goggles over his eyes, he chuckled. “I’ve been riding Lucifer’s Lair since I was eight, so I’d say my chances of keeping up are better than average.”
She didn’t doubt it. Nothing seemed average about this mountain man.
“I’ve been riding black diamonds since I was small, too.” She didn’t mention that when she was ten, she’d broken her arm and shattered her confidence. She’d only gotten back on the board because her father had told her if she wanted to follow him into the FBI someday, she’d better toughen up.
She scooted to the edge. “Last to the bottom buys the winner coffee.”
“I hate coffee.”
“What kind of person hates coffee?”
His dimple returned. “The kind that won’t let you win just because you board like the devil but look like a snow angel.”
“My name is Rosalie.” Tipping her board over the edge, she let herself soar.
The whole ride down, she kept him in her sights as they easily navigated the Friday morning crowd. She’d even waited for him when he stopped to help a fallen skier.
At the bottom, she cut her board into the crunchy snow and sat on her behind. The mountain man glided in front of her as she pulled off her gloves and helmet.
He yanked his helmet off too. “Great run.” Wavy hair jutted out at odd angles around his face. “I’d say that was a photo finish.”
“Nice try, but I’m the winner.”
He dropped next to her. “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, Snow Angel, but I want a rematch.”