Page 46 of Wild Promises

"That doesn't seem fair. He did all this work and didn't realize the potential it had for marketing and the business," I couldn't help but add.

"I don't think like that. I want the people around me, the guests, to be happy. That's it. Not everything comes down to a dollar sign."

At that vulnerable outburst, I intertwined my gloved hand with his. Oliver's gaze snagged on the movement. "I kind of love that about you." I hadn't declared that I loved him. Just that I loved something about him. Something his own family failed to see. Xander had a huge heart.

"Thanks for telling me about it. I have to get this guy home. We'll talk more about it tomorrow." Oliver turned to go, and I let out an exasperated sigh.

With a wave, Joey said, "Bye, Uncle Xander. Aunt Tori."

"Good night, Joey." Xander's tone was tight.

Xander tugged his hand from mine and glided toward the entrance to the locker-room area. I hurried to keep up, wanting to make sure Xander wasn't upset with me.

Xander sat on the wooden bench to take off his boots. It was quiet as we worked, and it felt weird to have shoes on, like my legs should be gliding not walking.

"Is everything okay?" I finally asked him when we were in our regular boots.

"You shouldn't have said anything," Xander said quietly as he placed his skis and poles into his locker. Then he took mine, tucking them into the space next to his things. It felt nice to see my gear next to his.

"It's so beautiful. I just thought others should get to enjoy it."

"I wanted it to be something just for us. Not everything is an opportunity to sell something or profit off it."

My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. I'd taken something that was meant for me and Joey and shared it with what he saw as the world. "I'm sorry, Xander."

Xander inclined his head toward the storage unit's door. "I'll text you the code so you can grab your gear whenever you want to go skiing."

"Thanks." I headed toward the door to leave, but he didn't follow me.

Xander's hands were curled into fists. "I have some work to do tonight in my office."

He'd never mentioned working in an office before. I wasn't even aware he had one, although it made sense that he would. "Okay."

"Don't wait up for me." He walked out the other door, the one that led to the lodge, and I stepped outside. The cold air felt good on my heated skin. I was upset for Xander. I hated that he felt like he had to work harder or do something that he wasn't familiar with to prove himself to his brothers. And I worried I'd made everything worse.

I'd had a good night with Xander until he realized he was late getting Joey back. It was as if his brothers didn't trust him with anything, much less Joey. My heart ached for him. He was a good man, but his brothers couldn't see how this pressure wasn't good for him.

Xander needed to be seen for the man he was. He shouldn't need to change or be someone else for his family to accept him.

I understood that he might come across as irresponsible, but that wasn't the case. How could I see it so easily, but his brothers couldn't? Were they so wrapped up in who they wanted him to be that they couldn't see the great guy he was now?

Later that night, I tossed and turned until I heard Xander come into the apartment, close to midnight. Only then was I able to drift off.

13

XANDER

Last night, I'd spent some time cleaning my office so it looked like someone worked there. I set my laptop on the newly dusted desk and sent an email to Eli and Oliver outlining what I'd done with the trail and asking if we should advertise it to the public.

I'd wanted to keep the lit trail to myself. I didn't want to share it with people beyond the ones closest to me. Logically, I knew others would happen upon it. But I wasn't ready to share it with the world. But if that's what everyone wanted, then I'd do it. It would appeal to those who weren't into downhill skiing. It would be the perfect date-night trail.

I felt weird about sending the email, but it was what Oliver wanted, and if it would help me prove that I could be business minded, then so be it. There was just the little issue of when I admitted I wasn't business minded like Eli and Oliver.

I'd listened to enough of the business podcasts to learn that nothing said on it excited me. It didn't light me up like when I was on the slopes, talking to guests, teaching them how to ski.

I couldn't sleep, so I got up early, showered, and made coffee. I needed about three cups today to get through my lessons. Iwould be dragging. I hated that Eli and Oliver had me twisted up inside.

I was just pouring the coffee when Tori's bedroom door opened.

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