The Billionaire Athlete’s Christmas Fling - Leslie North Page 0,39

Tell him you want him. “Maybe one day, I’ll open a business, but for now, I’m focusing on getting a promotion here.”

“You like it here, then?”

The image of his face when she’d told him to take the job in LA flashed before her eyes. Chase had been stunned that she’d encourage him to take the job. “I really like it here,” she admitted. “This is the first place I’ve worked where I’m not worried about keeping my job from day to day. It’s the kind of place I could see settling in for the long haul. What about you? Is there any part of you that wants to stay here?”

Tana held her breath. Could he sense that she was also talking about him? Feeling him out? The way he kissed her didn’t seem superficial or shallow or like a fling. But there was only one way to make sure. She watched the snowflakes filter down and pretended to be absorbed in their twirling path to the ground. She was fully attuned to the way Chase was breathing, the way his heart beat hard against her back, and a catch in his breath.

“I’m not sure if it is the place for me.” She’d never been happier to be facing away from him than she was right now.

Tana drew a finger along over his wrist and tried mightily not to take this revelation personally.

“I’ve felt...out of place here since the accident. This is the place where...” He paused, snorting out a sharp breath. “We don’t have to get into this if you don’t want.”

“We do. I told you my plans—you should tell me yours.” She kept her voice light, as though this wasn’t one of the most serious conversations of her life.

“Okay.” Chase shifted, twining his fingers through hers. “This is the place where I fell in love with skiing. But I also fell in love with the idea of moving on. Moving out. I didn’t ever think I’d come back here. It’s like wearing clothes in the wrong size. It just doesn’t fit right.”

“Could it, though? Your brother could probably use more help.”

“I don’t know if he does,” he admitted. “Most of my life, I’ve been here. I learned to ski, I got good at skiing, and it became my career. Now I’m looking for a new one.” Chase hesitated, and Tana wondered what else he was about to reveal. “I’m still not sure I’ve found it yet. The job in LA isn’t perfect, either.”

Hope sprang up deep inside of her. She’d thought the LA job was his dream. “What’s wrong with the job in LA?”

He sighed. “It’s far from all my family except my other brother, Gabe. I’m not thrilled about leaving my grandmother. There’s plenty here to miss, too. I’m worried I’d get out there and realize it wasn’t for me.”

Tana hadn’t had much time for regrets after Lindsey was born. She took the jobs she could find. Any job that would let her take care of her daughter would do. But she knew she’d regret not being honest with Chase. It was only a matter of saying the words.

I want you to stay with me. No. Too much.

I’m falling for you. Way too much.

I think you could be a good father figure for my daughter. This was only getting worse.

“I can see how that would happen,” Tana said. “I’m sure you’ll make the right choice, though.” She settled for not saying anything.

Didn’t he feel this too? How well they fit together? Chase had his gruff, grumpy moments sometimes, but that was nothing Tana couldn’t handle. She wanted to handle it. Maybe that was a ridiculous thing to want, but she did anyway.

Let’s give this a chance. Yes. That was it. That was the perfect thing to say without scaring him off or making him think she wanted to go directly to the courthouse for a marriage license.

Tana opened her mouth to say it, but Chase reached across her. For a moment, Tana thought he might roll them right off the couch and onto the carpet. Chase pulled his hand back and waved the remote in front of her face. “Here’s the choice we need to make now. What to watch?”

“Anything,” she said. “Anything, as long as you don’t make me leave.”

“I wouldn’t,” Chase answered. “You’re not going anywhere until you have watched too much TV.” He rocked her back and pressed his lips to hers. “Until you’re finished with me.”

16

If Tana had been granted one wish, anything in