The Billionaire Athlete’s Christmas Fling - Leslie North Page 0,16

good to know.” Tana smiled and took one last drink of beer. She stood, their time together at an end. “I’ve got to run. See you around, Chase. And thanks for the beer.”

7

Chase stood at the bottom of the hill next to the lodge. Lindsey came down the bunny slope with a confidence he usually saw in older skiers, and he went forward to meet her at the bottom of the slope. One of the other employees—a junior instructor—accompanied her to the bottom of the hill.

“You look great out there.” He and Lindsey high-fived. “Next time make your turns bigger and wider. It’ll give you more control coming down the hill.”

Lindsey screwed up her lips. “But I want to go fast down the hill.”

“Speed comes later.” He patted the top of her helmet. “When you get on the harder slopes, you’ll need to be in control more than you’ll need to go fast. So do two more runs slow, and then we’ll talk about going a little faster.” He remembered what Tana had said. “Not too much faster, though. You still need to be able to stop.”

“Okay!” Lindsey skied off toward the chairlift, the back of her new fluorescent pink jacket bright in the sun. Unable to resist, he’d bought one at the resort ski shop and delivered it in person. Tana had reluctantly allowed her daughter to accept the gift, but it wasn’t like he’d given her the heads-up so she could say no.

Best of all, Lindsey’s first lesson was going quite well. She’d taken to the skis easily. Twenty minutes of practice on the flat ground, and she’d been off. He only wished he could go with her. Frustration flashed across his chest, watching Lindsey head up the hill with the junior teacher.

Memories tormented him, knowing as he watched the skiers face the challenges of the slopes that they were moments of sheer joy he’d never get back. The exhilaration of the wind rushing his face.

Chase just didn’t belong at Elk Lodge the way he had as a kid. That part of his life was over. And the other truth, lurking in the back of his mind, was that dreams like the one he’d had inevitably led to heartbreak. They always did, even simple dreams. Like the one of having his parents around to see him grow up. That hadn’t worked out either; the crushing pain of their deaths still haunted him.

As Lindsey went back to the top, Tana came down the front of the slope with a little girl at her side, the two of them matching movements. An old familiar exhilaration coursed through him, watching Tana come down the hill. The two of them slowed down at the end of the slope and raised their arms into the air. The girl beamed, so proud of herself.

He’d been right to recommend Tana to the girl’s family. It would be a win-win for all of them—Tana would be the beneficiary of their lavish tips, and their daughter would get excellent ski lessons. They’d shown up a few days before, ready to mingle with the other guests at the lodge. It was their annual tradition to come ski and flaunt all their new possessions, like the diamond tennis bracelet the father had bought the girl. Chase could buy expensive things, too, but sticking them in people’s faces like it was nothing was an arrogance he couldn’t stand. Real wealth didn’t need to show itself off.

Chase hadn’t seen the jacket as an over-the-top gift, but perhaps to Tana, it had been. He’d do well to keep that in mind going forward.

Lindsey came down the hill making smooth wide turns as Tana headed up the hill for one last run. Coming to a stop next to Chase, she too turned to watch her mother as she began her descent down with the little girl.

“There’s my mom,” Lindsey said, pointing in Tana’s direction. “She’s a really good skier.”

“I agree. And clearly, you take after her.”

Lindsey beamed at the praise. “Thanks. Someday, I’m going to be just like her. And you,” Lindsey added, before rushing to meet her mother.

“Hey, hon!” Tana stepped out of her skis and threw her arms around Lindsey. “How did it go?” she asked, glancing up at him.

“She nailed it.” Lindsey had a fearlessness that reminded him of himself at her age.

“Megan!” Lindsey thrust a hand in the air and waved to a friend nearby. The young girl ran to meet up with Lindsey like they hadn’t seen each