job. A guy who’s confident enough to walk up to me in the middle of my day and give me random advice—”
“Ah, good. I was hoping you were into that.”
Tana laughed. “So, you did notice the big crowd around me today. I’ll just choose one of them. Oh, wait—everyone I saw today was under the age of ten. Turn here—my errand is this way.” Tana guided him through several turns.
Chase had never been more aware of someone sitting in the passenger seat. He heard every breath. His body felt every move hers made as she shifted to get comfortable. He had to get his mind off how unbearably sexy she looked in her snow gear. It made no sense—there was nothing Chase found inherently sexy about heavy coats. But with her hair spilling out from under the cap and the tight shirt he could see with her now unzipped jacket, he couldn’t stop the rush of heat. “Do you like it? Teaching.”
Tana frowned. “You think I would admit to you, Mr. Owner of the Lodge, if I didn’t think my job was great?”
“Of course you would. Or at least I hope you would. Just pretend I’m some random guy you recently met, trying to get to know you better.”
She smiled, sparking a touch of pride in the knowledge he’d put it there. “Fine, I’ll bite. I do like teaching. Kids still have an enthusiasm for things. They’ve got all the energy in the world. Teaching them keeps me grounded. Do you ever work with kids? It’s this right, up here.” She pointed out the window.
Chase steered the car around the corner, a solemn expression on his face. “Not if I can avoid it,” he intoned. “I’m a no-kids kind of guy.” He expected a laugh, but Tana was looking out the window. Maybe she hadn’t liked the joke. Chase swallowed down a bolt of nervousness.
“Great,” Tana said. “Just stop right here.”
He parked the car in a spot by the sidewalk. The road was teeming with other vehicles, making him wonder just exactly what her errand was.
Tana pushed open the car door and stood, waving her arm over her head.
A little girl stepped away from the crowd of people and looked their way.
“Mommy!” the little girl screeched and started running their way, her face one of pure joy. She was the spitting image of Tana.
Chase’s heart skipped a beat as he watched Tana open her arms wide to catch her daughter up in a big hug.
4
Tana led her daughter to the car, helping Lindsey into the backseat and confirming she was buckled up. She hadn’t missed the shocked expression on Chase’s face. It was a look that told her everything she needed to know. The man is not a kid kind of a guy. At all.
It was a bit of a shame because they’d had such a pleasant conversation even after getting off on the wrong foot. But it was probably for the best. Maintaining her professionalism was what mattered most, especially since she was in the running for the promotion. Tana slid into the front seat and put on her seatbelt.
Chase drove out into the end-of-school traffic, and she turned to look at Lindsey. Her daughter looked just as shocked as Chase had moments ago. Her mouth hung open, and her eyes were shining and glued on Chase as though she was seeing the biggest celebrity in the world. Because, of course, she was—at least according to her criteria.
“I hope you had a good day today,” Tana said, unsure of what to expect, but there was no avoiding the situation. It was ten minutes back to the resort. “Linds, this is my friend Chase—”
“Chase Elkin,” whispered Lindsey. Lindsey seemed to think about this for a few long heartbeats, and then the surprise melted off her face. “Chase, you’re my favorite person.”
He let out a nervous chuckle. “Oh, I’m sure your mom is your favorite person. She only got a ride from me because she got a flat tire, and—”
“You are the best skier in the world. I’ve watched all your videos. Mom, can I see your phone? Please?” Lindsey acted as though she hadn’t even heard Chase, cutting him off to gush on like a true fan.
“For one minute,” Tana said automatically. She tried to avoid screen time with Lindsey if possible. Still, in the end, she wanted her daughter to have some experience navigating the world of the internet. Tana pulled out her iPhone and passed it to Lindsey.