Love and Other Games by Kara Leigh Miller Aria Kane Melinda Dozier Ana Blaze

whooping. “Did you see that?” He put his arms around her waist and lifted her up. “I fucking did it!”
    Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck as he let her body slide down his and he kissed her, strong and demanding, holding her head tight at his mouth. Behind her the snow bunnies sighed. When he let go of her, he held his fists high and howled turning in a circle, then faced her and placed his hand on her chin. “Thanks for showing up.”
    The heat in her cheeks grew stronger from embarrassment as a camera filmed her at his side or from the kiss he just gave, she didn’t know. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
    The reporter sidled up to him. “With that last backside flip, you’re sure to be in the finals. How does it feel?”
    Ty tore his woolen hat off his head and threw it into the screaming audience. “I feel like gold. Woo-hoo!” He whelped. “And here’s my Lucky Lady.” He bent down and kissed her again, placing his hand against her neck, his tongue playing against her lips.
    “Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. Ty Madsen and his Lucky Lady – sure to be in the finals tomorrow, maybe winning a medal for the US team.”
    Chris tore Ty away from her with a heart aching tug. The thrill and excitement had her feeling like she won the Olympics too. “Dude, you tore it up out there. Come on, Trouble, you have to get ready for your next run,” Chris yelled behind the audience’s shrieks.
    Ty kissed her quickly and pointed at her. “Stay here. I have two more runs and need your pretty face to steer me on.” He ran off fist pumping the air and high fiving those around him. A snowmobile picked him up with his board and they headed back up to the beginning of The Pipe.
    She looked at her roommate, whose eyes were as round as the Olympics symbol. “What the heck, Nadia? What’s going on with you two?”
    Suddenly, she had a crowd around her, asking questions, patting her on the back, congratulating her as if she was the athlete. “I don’t … Nothing.” She shook her head.
    “You can’t say nothing is happening. It’s all right there on your face and in his kiss. Wow.” Nadia crossed her arms.
    Nadia wiggled her eyebrows. “I told you I could have fun.”
    People backed off once the next snowboarder, someone from Finland, started down the half-pipe. But, she couldn’t help the uneasiness that overwhelmed her. In the last ten minutes, her heart swelled and ached as if she belonged to Ty. And she didn’t. Not really. They were having fun and it’d only been a few days, but for an instance when he stood by her, hugging her and kissing her, she felt like they were a real couple. It’d been so long since she had a partner. This was something she actively avoided. But for this moment, it felt right. Needed. Idyllic.
    And she was a realist. Not a dreamer. She had to remind herself that.
    She was extremely happy for Ty, but after the event, she would have to leave. Taking evasive measures were in order. She couldn’t lead herself on, and that’s the direction her heart turned. Could it really happen so fast?
    She needed to get back to her original goal – to land the perfect job that her father envisioned for her. Her father, who had won three ski medals in past Olympics. Ever since she graduated university and worked for the Swiss Snowsports Association as an events administrator, her father had the plan for her to assist in the Committee Headquarters. Since the Olympics was his life, it easily became hers. She owed it to him.
    But what about her? Didn’t she owe her heart what she wanted … Ty?

Chapter Six
    Ty entered the community building taking in the almost empty facility. He had to find Nadia. After his second run and a couple of interviews, he couldn’t find her among the crowd. He was sure he saw her there after his last 180. She stood there next to the fence, under the heavy lighting, a sweet smile on her face. Her woolen cap pulled over her blonde