The Billionaire Athlete’s Christmas Fling - Leslie North Page 0,5

him. “Call it expert, friendly advice. I wanted to get to know the ski instructors better and decided to watch how everyone operates. Is this your first teaching gig?”

With her promotion officially on the line, Tana had to try and save it. Flashing him her warmest and most welcoming smile, she stuck out her hand. “Well, I’d love to start over with an introduction. I’m Tana Birch.” It was a little awkward because of the thick ski gloves they both wore, and she let out a laugh that approached a high giggle. Oh, no. “One of the ski instructors. And yes, it’s my first time, but I’ve also taught dance, and I was a private tutor for a while.”

“Explains your grace on the slopes, then.”

“Aw, thanks. I think you did have a point on the timing of the runs, though. It’s a bit tough with the smaller kids. Sometimes they don’t follow the plan.”

“Don’t I know it.”

Tana lifted her wrist and pushed aside the base of her glove. “Listen, I’d love to talk more, but I need to head into the lodge before my next class.” The words started out as a courtesy exit, but once she’d said them, she realized they were true. “It was really nice to meet you.”

“It was great to meet you.” His green eyes traced over hers, and his smile softened. “Before you go, can you tell me anything about the guy who was bothering you? I’m all for pleasing the guests, but that doesn’t mean they have carte blanche to be rude. Do you know his name?”

“Oh, no, no.” Tana couldn’t believe he was offering to go to bat for her with one of the customers. She did not need Chase Elkin hunting down one of the parents from her ski lessons just because she’d had an irritating encounter this morning. “You don’t have to do that. He was pesky, but it won’t be a problem.”

“Are you sure about that? I want things to be all right for you in your job. That’s a priority for me.”

“I’m good. We’re good.” We’re good felt pleasant in her mouth, to her shock. What was happening at this moment? Not a crush on the man who very much appeared to be one of her new bosses. Definitely not that. “I’ll see you around the lodge.” Tana pushed off toward the racks before her cheeks could get any redder.

3

So maybe Chase’s approach hadn’t been the best possible one. He’d walked out of the lodge determined to do something. After watching Tana’s last run down the slopes, he’d launched into some advice that would take the instructor, whoever she was, to the next level. External applicants or not, Grandmother preferred to hire from within. Even if he was too keyed up from their conversation to sit down with a stack of resumes, he could still offer advice out on the slopes.

His heart still hadn’t settled into a normal rhythm, and it had been two hours since Tana had taken off her goggles and pushed back her hood. He took another sip of hot cocoa and tried to pretend he wasn’t looking for her out on the hills. The lodge’s ski cafeteria doubled as a lounge, and its massive windows looked out over the front ski hills of Cardinal Mountain. Other bright red coats came down the slopes with students in tow. The only person he wanted to see was Tana.

Wow. The word still rang in Chase’s head. Tana was, without question, the most stunning woman he had ever seen. Her big brown eyes had warmed him from the inside out, sparking something low in his belly. And that smile? So big and genuine and hot. It didn’t matter that she wore a set of black ski pants and a bright red coat issued to her by the resort—her eyes alone had taken him captive and refused to let go.

Which shouldn’t be happening with an employee at the lodge. Not now, and not ever.

Tana’s red coat appeared at the top of the bunny slope, and he knew instantly from the way she moved that it was her. It made perfect sense that she’d taught dance. She seemed to dance even on skis, with grace and confidence and an encouraging smile he could see even in the Lodge.

The students around her followed her lead, and they started down the hill. He couldn’t hear what she said, obviously, but he could see their faces—smiles all around, and each one vying to be