|| LOVE AT THE LODGE ||

CHAPTER 4 - DAY 4 - "This was what I wanted"

The next morning, I was up before dawn again, my alarm blaring in the still-dark room. I groaned, reaching over to silence it, but I couldn't shake the feeling of excitement bubbling in my chest. Today was a new day, and after everything that had happened yesterday, I had no idea what to expect.

I got ready quickly, pulling on my ski gear and throwing my hair into a messy bun. I didn't bother with makeup today. Jack had seen me at my worst, and I wasn't about to put in the extra effort just for a day on the slopes. Besides, I had a feeling today would be less about impressing him and more about figuring out where we stood.

When I got downstairs, I was surprised to find Jack already up, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. He looked up when I walked in, his face lighting up with a smile that made my heart race.

"Morning," he said, his voice warm and low.

"Morning," I replied, grabbing a cup of coffee for myself and sitting down across from him. "Ready to hit the slopes?"

He nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "I was thinking we could tackle some of the tougher runs today. Maybe even that black diamond we were talking about."

My stomach flipped at the thought of racing him down a black diamond. It wasn't just the difficulty of the run that had me nervous, but the idea of being alone with Jack on such a dangerous trail. But I wasn't about to back down.

"Sounds good to me," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

We finished our coffee in comfortable silence, and then headed out to the slopes. The air was crisp and cold, the sky still a soft pink as the sun began to rise. There were hardly any other skiers out yet, and it felt like we had the entire mountain to ourselves.

As we rode up the lift, Jack turned to me, his expression serious. "You sure you're up for this? I don't want you getting hurt."

I smiled, touched by his concern. "I'll be fine, Jack. Besides, I'm not planning on losing."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."

When we reached the top, the black diamond loomed before us, steep and intimidating. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. This was it. This was my chance to prove to Jack that I was more than just Max's little sister, that I could keep up with him, maybe even surpass him.

We stood side by side at the edge of the slope, the tension between us palpable. Jack gave me a sidelong glance, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Ready?"

"Ready," I replied, tightening my grip on my poles.

With a whoosh, we were off, speeding down the mountain at breakneck speed. The wind whipped against my face, the snow crunching under my skis as I navigated the steep turns and sharp drops. Jack was just ahead of me, his form perfect as he carved his way down the slope. I pushed myself harder, determined not to let him win.

But as we neared the bottom, I realized with a sinking feeling that he was too far ahead. There was no way I was going to catch up. I gritted my teeth, trying to close the distance, but it was no use. Jack reached the bottom first, gliding to a stop with a triumphant grin.

"Looks like I win," he said, breathless but clearly pleased with himself.

I slowed to a stop beside him, my chest heaving with exertion. "I guess you do," I admitted, though I couldn't help but smile. "But I was close!"

"Very close," he agreed, his smile softening as he looked at me. "You did great, Milly."

The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine, and for a moment, I forgot about everything else. Forgot about Max, about the fact that Jack was my brother's best friend, and that this whole situation was completely off-limits. All I could think about was the way he was looking at me, like he was seeing me for the first time.

Before I could say anything, Jack reached out and took my hand, his fingers warm and firm against mine. "Come on," he said softly, pulling me closer. "Let's get out of here."

Without thinking, I let him lead me away from the crowded slopes, down a secluded path that wound through the trees. The snow was untouched here, the only sound the crunch of our boots and the distant whistle of the wind.

We walked in silence for a while, the tension between us building with every step. I knew this was dangerous, that we were playing with fire, but I couldn't stop myself. I was drawn to Jack in a way I'd never been drawn to anyone before, and I had a feeling he felt the same.

Finally, we reached a small clearing, the trees opening up to reveal a stunning view of the mountains. Jack stopped, turning to face me, his expression unreadable.

"Milly," he began, his voice low and serious. "I know this is complicated, with Max and everything, but..."

I held my breath, waiting for him to continue. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it.

"But I can't stop thinking about you," he confessed, his eyes searching mine. "I've tried, believe me, but you're all I can think about. And after yesterday... I just can't pretend anymore."

My breath caught in my throat. This was what I'd wanted,