The Billionaire Athlete’s Christmas Fling - Leslie North Page 0,17

other in forever. Before long, two other friends joined them, followed by their parents. Within a minute, the parents had all agreed to take the girls to the bonfire ring, where a fire was perpetually lit during the winter season. Staff members were stationed there all day with hot chocolate and marshmallows to roast, and it was a favorite activity of the families at the resort.

Chase nodded his head in Lindsey’s direction. “Want to put the skis away?”

Tana took in the scene, eyes bright. “Looks like I’ve got a few minutes.”

She started toward the ski-rental building, but Chase stopped her. “We’ll go around back and put up your skis in the employee section ourselves. Looks like they are busy with the after-lunch rush.”

The section in the back housed rows of equipment belonging to the family and the ski instructors. They could all stash their gear here, rather than hauling it back and forth from home every day. Chase reached the double doors first and pulled one open, allowing Tana to enter.

Her arm brushed across the front of his chest. “Oh, excuse me,” Tana said, as he stepped in behind her.

“No problem. There’s not a ton of room back here.” The narrow hallway was lined with racks for skis and poles, the boots stowed beneath.

Tana found an empty spot on the wall just as he spotted one on the opposite side where he could put Lindsey’s equipment. They maneuvered around each other in a careful dance, trying to put up the equipment without knocking into each other.

When he was finished, he found Tana standing in his path. They hadn’t spent much time together the past few days, and he had a suspicion she was avoiding him. He missed her and wanted to spend time with her. And here she was.

“Need something?”

“I just wanted to say, while we had a minute—” Tana pulled her hat off, flicking her dark hair away from her face. Chase’s heart stuttered. Gorgeous. “Thanks for the tips the other day. They have really helped. I know that’s a reversal from how we started out.” She laughed a little, and he wanted to capture the sound in a bottle and keep it forever.

He thought of the almost-kiss and the thank-you kiss, her lips a breath away from his. This time he wanted more.

Chase took a step closer to Tana. She was irresistible, and the hallway was narrow. He wanted the distance between them to get smaller and smaller until it was nothing at all. “You’re welcome. You looked so happy out there, and that’s all the reward I need. It’s clear you love skiing.”

“I do,” she said softly.

“Honestly, Tana, that’s what I find so amazing about you. You’re all in on everything. Your love for your daughter is like...it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. You tackle everything head-on.” His voice had gone gruff, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Out in front, the employees’ voices rose and fell, but all Chase cared about was Tana.

Inches apart, the tension between them was thick, their heated gaze making him forget how hot it was in the cramped space in their winter jackets.

Tana’s breath came light and fast. “Chase.” The whisper of her words landed against his lips. “Are you going to kiss me, or not?”

Chase felt like she’d opened the gate at the top of a mountain run and set him free to soar over the hills. He went in for the kiss the way he’d attacked a thousand ski runs in his life—hard, fast, and focused.

Tana’s lips were cold, but her tongue was hot where it battled his. He kissed her deeply, exploring her like he might not get another chance. He put an arm around her waist and backed her into the ski racks. The only thing that mattered was kissing her. Tana tasted sweet, her mouth holding a hint of caramel. His whole body leaned into the sensation, heart pounding, tongue searching, lips desperate for hers.

“Chase.” His grandmother’s voice called out his name like a reprimand.

Tana jerked away from him. He caught a glimpse of her red face and then her back as she ran faster than he could have imagined toward the front of the building, leaving him standing there. But not alone.

He didn’t want to turn around, but he did. His grandmother stood in the narrow hallway, her eyebrows raised in question at what she’d witnessed.

“Hello, Grandmother.” Chase’s brain was racing as he tried to think of a way to explain,