Page 23 of The Duke's Brother

How had he come to care for her so strongly? All he wanted was a chance to win her over, time to date her. Hopefully this trip would give him that.

Munching on a grape, he headed to the showers. Multiple jets sprayed a great calm into his muscles. He put on his favorite sweatshirt, his best jeans, gelled up his hair, and went in search of some company, not just any, but the kind most people around here called, ‘J. C. World renowned downhill skier.’

The press had already covered some of her more recent times. She was killing it, and Tripp was proud of her. They would both be heading to the next competition in two days’ time. Jenneca was on her way, and Tripp was excited for a front row seat.

He made his way to the elevator, picking up his pace. It dinged just as he arrived and the doors opened. But one look at the doors and he couldn’t make his feet move, or his mouth either. Jenneca stood in front of him, looking deliciously casual, a slight pink to her cheeks, hair on her head, wet from a recent shower. His heart picked up. Perhaps he was catching her on her way to relax for the evening. And perhaps her room was near his own.

She closed her mouth and swallowed. “Tripp!” Her eyes glanced nervously over his shoulder down the hall.

“Jenneca!” He held out his hand and when she placed hers in his own, he pulled her close for a friendly hug and kiss on the cheek. “How are you? I’m following your times. You are rocking it!”

She grinned, obviously pleased at his praise.

“Really. You’re going all the way. This is your year.”

“Thank you, Tripp.” She stared at him. “Are you back, to train?” Her eyes darted again down the hall, and he began to wonder what or who she was expecting.

“I am going to start competing, pick up a few points towards qualification.”

Her eyes widened. “Really! That’s great, Tripp!”

“Well, I don’t think I can bring my time down enough, but I wanted to get back into it.”I came to see you! He almost whisper screamed, so badly he wished to take her into his arms and kiss all of his feelings into her mouth.

He surprised himself with the strength of his desire for her. Turning back down the hall the direction she was angled to go, he asked, “Do you have plans? I was just looking—”

“J.C. There you are.” Jorge stepped out of his room and held a hand up to her.

She flickered a glance up at him and then waved back to Jorge. “Excuse me. Yes, I have dinner.” She paused in an awfully awkward moment, rocking from foot to foot and then said, “Well, good night. And good luck with your training.”

“Good night.” He watched as she made her way down the hall and then stepped through the door to Jorge’s room. He kissed her cheek as she passed and then had the audacity to smirk in his direction before he closed the door behind her.

“Ugh.” The elevator door opened again, this time, empty. But he didn’t know what to do with himself. He decided he just wanted to go back to his room, catch up on the news from Torren and go to sleep early. He planned to be the first one on the slopes tomorrow. He had let an old coach know he would be training again. All facilities were open to him.

He went back to his room and paced the floors. He ate his snacks. He flipped on the news. He watched the times of the skiers on the Ski Times channel they had on every TV in Dachstein. He opened his curtains wide and watched the twinkle lights that ran up the mountain at night. Up above, the tiniest points of light started to light the sky. He couldn’t keep at this. Either he was going home, or he was going to confront Jenneca and figure out what could possibly be their potential together.

He thought about what could be happening right now in Jorge’s hotel room. Any sort of thing, and none of it good for his prospects with Jenneca. The man would also be at all their competitions and trials and earning points himself. Tripp clenched his fists. He plopped down on the deep sofa, and then he stood. He couldn’t wait another moment. Time to interrupt their romantic interlude.

His feet stomped on the carpet silently. Which left little to his own personal satisfaction. He approached Jorge’s door and pounded on it before he could change his mind. Only then did he recognize how terribly brazen he was being. How rude to interrupt them. And he panicked for a moment. What would he say?

A long pause made him even more nervous, but he knocked again.

Jorge answered the door, the irritation on his face evidence he had looked through the peephole first. “Tripp. Can we help you?”

His hair wasn’t messy. That was a good sign. Tripp leaned around him to try and see into the room.

Jenneca approached. “Jorge. That was a lovely dinner. I think I’ll just be going now. Maybe Tripp can finish up with dessert.”

She slipped past him without even a glance, and Jorge watched her go. Tripp followed her with his eyes all the way to the elevator. When it dinged, Jorge and Tripp turned to stare at each other.

Jorge rested his hand on the door. “What are you doing here, Tripp?”

“Just making sure everyone is comfortable.”

“How chivalrous.” He opened the door wider. “Here, take some cheesecake back to your room.”

Tripp smirked. “Don’t mind if I do.” He grabbed a plate and a fork and turned to leave. “Thanks Jorge.”

“We’ve been together a long time, you know.” Jorge waved him out.

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