The Billionaire Athlete’s Christmas Fling - Leslie North Page 0,55

if we stay here for a bit longer? You have a killer job for as long as you want it, and you could always move into my house.”

“That’s an Elkin family house,” she said automatically. Those houses were places Tana could only ever dream of owning, because she’d never have the money. Unless…

“And you would be part of the family.” Chase went still, except for the pad of his thumb stroking her cheek. She leaned her face into his touch. “I love you, Tana. I don’t want to spend another day away from you. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to go.”

Tana breathed in the scent of him, all cold air and soap, and knew she couldn’t live without him, either. She’d do anything in her power to avoid it. She’d found the perfect man, and she was going to hold on tight.

“I want to go to the bedroom,” Tana said. “Right now.”

22

“Okay, ready?” Chase led Tana to the bunny hill chairlift, and they rode together to the top. But instead of turning right, they turned left toward the base of the closest intermediate slope. “Close your eyes until I say you can open them.”

“What’s this all about?” she asked.

“You’ll see soon enough.” Back when Chase was a little kid, he’d been so anxious to graduate to these hills. He still remembered the adrenaline rush now. It was almost that same kind of day—sunny, crisp, clear. If he closed his eyes, he’d be able to take himself back to his former body and back to those limitless days

“Let me see.” Tana jiggled in place, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. “Come on. You can’t bring me all the way out here and then not show me—”

“Look,” Chase said, pointing up the slope.

Tana blinked against the bright sun. Chase studied her face, waiting for the moment when she saw her surprise. For when she spotted her daughter.

Chase had asked another instructor for a favor that morning, and now Lindsey came down the slope with the woman, whose cheering voice carried all the way down the hill. The pair steered their way down, successfully navigating the steep parts and the small rises. He had originally thought he might like to do these runs with Lindsey himself, but he’d also wanted to experience watching with Tana. If only he could have made a clone of himself. Too bad—he’d have to learn to be a patient man.

“Oh, my gosh! It’s Lindsey,” Tana exclaimed, the excitement in her voice contagious.

Lindsey looked just like Tana, down to the fierce determination on her face and her natural grace out on the slopes. Chase got choked up watching it. He turned to Tana and noticed her cheeks glistening with happy tears.

She stood watching for a few more moments, and then raised her arms above her head and let out a loud whoop that he guessed could be heard the next state over.

“She’s so good!” Tana shouted at Chase. “She’s so good!”

Lindsey whizzed by, waving a pole in the air. “Hi, Mom,” she shouted. “I’m going again! Watch me!”

The instructor followed, waving to them, too.

Tana threw her arms around Chase’s neck and gave him a kiss that was so hot it verged on inappropriate. “You are the best instructor my daughter could ever have. Did you know that?”

“I do.” Chase grinned. Tana’s comment and laughter made him prouder of the accomplishment than anything else he’d done in his life.

“I’m so excited to work with you.” The heat in Tana’s eyes was enough to melt him on the spot. “You’re going to make a great athletic director.”

“I couldn’t do it without you.”

“Pshhh.” Tana swiped at the front of his jacket, then pulled him down for one last kiss. “You can do anything.”

Chase was finally starting to believe it again, now that he’d found his footing at the lodge. He’d just been named the director of their new and expanded athletics program. They’d make ski instruction more comprehensive and even offer cross-training classes in the gym. He would oversee all the specialized programs, from the beginner development to expert-level training. He couldn’t have dreamed up a more perfect job. He’d dreamed up the director job, and that was it—that was the peak of his dreams. That, and having Tana there by his side.

“I got a few sponsorship offers today.” Chase wrapped an arm around Tana’s waist, and the two of them stood side-by-side, watching Lindsey come down the hill again. She’d come so far from when