Page 15 of Wild Promises

I couldn't form a response because I couldn't imagine how long it would have taken him to hang these lights. It wasn't an easy project, especially if he was doing it himself.

"You want to go off-road?" Xander asked with a wink.

"Of course."

He led me through the woods. This part I didn't remember as easily. It was Xander who knew these woods like the back ofhis hands. He'd spent all of his time when he was a teenager exploring the property.

He didn't stop until we were at a clearing with a lookout. He'd even added lights to the trees here. I could see the lodge and, below that, the town itself. It seemed so far away, so small.

We unclipped our boots from our skis, and sat on a rock that was covered in a light dusting of snow. "This is gorgeous."

"I wanted to make tonight special for you."

"Are you afraid that I'll leave again?" I asked.

"It seems surreal that you're here at all. I'm sure your parents feel the same way."

"I suppose they do." I'd just have to prove to everyone that I was here to stay. There was no reason for me to leave. But the fact that Dad was planning to sell the practice had hovered on the edge of my brain all day.

5

XANDER

Tori was covered from head to toe in a jacket and snow gear, but she'd never looked more beautiful. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, and her eyes bright. But there were lines around her eyes as if she were tired or even stressed.

"I thought I'd come home and everything would be the same. I'd work for Dad and take over the practice when he retired, but he has other plans."

"What are you talking about?" I'd assumed her parents would be ecstatic for her to be home, and everything would fall into place like it was supposed to.

"Dad made other plans for the practice. He's trying to sell it, so he can use the proceeds for his retirement."

"I'm sorry." I hadn't even considered that something like this would happen, but it made sense.

"I'm sure Dad doesn't believe I'll stay, no matter what I say."

"I'm starting to think that action is the only thing that works when people don't trust your motives."

Tori frowned. "What do you mean?"

Flurries fell around us, giving the night a dreamlike quality.

I cleared my throat. "I had a business meeting with my brothers. They're unhappy with my perceived dedication to the family business. They don't think I'm invested enough. They even threatened to let me go."

Tori leaned in close, resting her hand on my forearm. "Your brothers are going to fire you?"

"That's what they said."

Her brow furrowed. "What do they need you to do?"

"They want me to help out with the business decisions, but that's not really my thing. I'm just a ski instructor?—"

Tori squeezed my arm. "You could never be just that."

"I'm really good with people. They trust me. I think that's why I get so many requests for lessons. My schedule is full in the winter, and we're slowly building our offseason offerings too."

"That's great, Xander."

"Not if my brothers don't see it. They think they can hire any instructor to replace me."

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