The Billionaire Athlete’s Christmas Fling - Leslie North Page 0,49
well.
The sun was finally sinking beneath the horizon on what turned out to be the longest day of his life. Tana had stormed off and left him there in the lobby, and she’d been right to do it. Leaving Jonas’s office had been a huge mistake. He picked up his phone for the hundredth time and scrolled through the apps to his gallery. He pulled up photos of Tana and Lindsey. He’d taken them one day after her lessons, when she and Lindsey had skied together. They’d goofed off at the top of the hills by the chairlift, making faces for the camera and laughing. Lindsey had worn her brand-new Frozen skis. The picture twisted at his heart.
The doorbell rang, and Chase got up so quickly his phone tumbled to the ground. If it was Tana at the door—
His grandmother stood there, dressed neatly in a winter coat. She looked him up and down. “Hello, Chase,” she said finally. “I was wondering if you had time for a quick chat.”
He and his grandmother were almost never at odds, but right now he felt like a giant disappointment. If she told him he’d screwed things up royally for everybody involved, well...it wouldn’t be anything he hadn’t already told himself.
“Of course I do.” He stepped back to let her in. “Want to sit in the living room?”
“Sure, but I’m not staying long. I have a few things to say to you.” His grandmother stepped out of her boots and folded her coat over her arm. She’d had the same coat for about ten years now, refusing to get another one on the grounds that it was perfectly fine. A woman of wealth who refused to spend it on what she considered excess.
Chase followed her back to the living room, where she took a seat in the wide armchair opposite the couch.
His grandmother cleared her throat. “Listen to me carefully. I have always loved you, and you know that.”
“I do,” he said miserably, sitting down on the couch to face her. “I love you, too.”
“And it’s not because you were a fantastic skier, though, of course, you were.” His grandmother smiled at him, and the warmth in her expression eased some of the pain in his heart. She’d spoken in the past tense and for the first time it didn’t seem to matter as much. “I’ve loved you because you’re my grandson and because you have so many wonderful qualities. My favorite thing about your skiing career was that it let you showcase your persistence. Your dedication.”
She shook her head, her eyes going distant. “You’ve always gone after the things you wanted most with your whole heart, and it never seemed to matter that you won or made lots of money. It was about doing your best. And giving everybody around you your best.”
Chase swallowed a lump in his throat. Maybe he’d been that person once. “I—I don’t know what to say.” He felt wretched about it. Torn up. “That hasn’t been how.... things have gone lately.”
“Maybe not,” his grandmother said diplomatically. “Things have been hard. But I know deep inside you’re still my fierce and determined grandson. And I’m here mainly to suggest that you could apply that determination to make sure the woman you love doesn’t get away.” She looked him directly in the eye. “I heard all about what happened with Tana and I don’t believe a word of what that man says, but I also need to stand by Jonas until the investigation is over. However, no investigation should keep you from going after the woman you love. I’d sure love to have her sweet daughter as my great-grandchild before I die.”
Chase’s mouth dropped open. What could he say to that? He’d already let Tana leave. His grandmother stood up and kissed the top of his head.
“All else aside, what happened between the two of you, Chase? I wasn’t at the meeting earlier, but I’ve been apprised of the situation. The staff at the front desk heard the two of you talking.”
“We had an argument. She probably went to her parents to get away from here,” he said woodenly.
“And how are you handling that?”
He rubbed the back of his head. “I’m not. Because you’re right, I love her.” He hadn’t meant to admit it out loud. “I’ve fallen for her, and I didn’t go after her because I thought she might not want me to.”
“Of course she does.” His grandmother patted his leg. “And if you love her, you’ll