Page 4 of You, Me, & Après-Ski
“No thanks, Hugh,” said Frankie with a toss of her chin-length black hair. “A few shifts per week is enough. I like drinking drinks, not making them. Anyway, did you guys hear? Nolan Keller is spending the season here.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Can’t wait to seethathunk of man with my own eyes.”
Hugh chuckled as he stole a sip from Frankie’s wineglass. “You leaving us for a billionaire? I could get behind that.”
Frankie snorted, snatching her wine back. “Of course not. He’s not my type, but he’s not yours either. He doesn’t swing that way.”
Hugh gave an unaffected shrug and refilled Frankie’s wine.
My stomach did a flip at the reminder of my new job. “And he’s engaged anyway.”
“Have you seenthe way Nolan looks at her in interviews?” asked Frankie. “I regard moldy toadstools with more affection than he shows his fiancée. I’ve seen a few recent stories about how they’re on the rocks.”
“I tend to favorJeopardy!reruns,” I said. “And love match or not, he’s still not single. Not that his relationship status is at all relevant.” Tucking my chilly toes under my legs, I ignored the swooping feeling in my stomach.Just anxiety about having to entertain such a bosshole for the next five months.
Frankie waved away my comment, the loose sleeves of her black sweater flapping like bat wings. “Ialsoheard he’s getting a personal tour guide, someone who has to spend all winter with him. We know it’s not me because I would eat him alive, but I wonder who it is?” Pausing, she swept her gaze across the room. “It’s probably Jen. She’s peppy and friendly.”
Sinking into my chair, I hunched over my wine. Hugh lifted a bushy brow, and I narrowed my eyes at him.Don’t you dare, I mouthed.
The exchange didn’t go unnoticed by Frankie. She noticed everything.
Gasping, she swatted my arm. “You lucky bitch.”
I felt anything butlucky. “I’m supposed to showcase the resort, convince him we’re worth expensive renovations, and make sure he has an enjoyable experience. That’s all.”
Frankie gave me a wicked grin. “‘Enjoyable experience,’ yes, I’m sure.”
Elbowing her, I said, “Stop it. This is strictly a professional relationship.”
“Ah, but itisa relationship.” Frankie’s smile held a hungry edge.Maneater, indeed.
“Okay, I’m done talking. Hugh, you take over.”
But Hugh chose that moment to become intimately fascinated by the wine label. Before Frankie could pounce on me any more, a guy with longish curly hair and suntanned skin approached us. “Hey, Val,” he said with an easy smile, and my already rising heart rate spiked.
“Uh, hey Austin,” I said.A brilliant opener.At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to become one with the chair and disappear.
Frankie and Hugh exchanged a knowing look. “We’ll see you guys later,” Frankie murmured. She shot me a thumbs-up behind Austin’s back before she and Hugh headed upstairs.
Austin, another snowboard instructor, took Frankie’s chair. He was only a few inches taller than me, and his compact form and lean muscles were perfect for shredding the slopes.
“Good opening week?” he asked as he laced his hands behind his head.
My eyes glued to the bottom of his shirt as it rode up, exposing a tanned stripe of skin and his taut abdomen.Focus. He asked you a question.
“Ah, yep. Ran some lessons, had some free time to ride. A solid week.”That sounded casual, right? Am I talking too fast?
“You ride Cobra today? It was the best I’ve ever seen that slope.” When his warm brown eyes settled on me, a dimple flashed in his cheek.
“Ah, yep.”Is that how I start all my sentences? God, I want to evaporate.
“We should ride together sometime.”
My eyes bulged and every coherent thought I’d ever had flushed down the drain. I’d had a crush on Austin since he started working at Hale’s Peak last season. We were cordial, but I’d always admired him from afar. Talking to attractive guys wasnota talent of mine. When not faking being an extrovert for work, I surrounded myself with plants, books, and Frankie and Hugh. Dating was not in my social vocabulary.
“Um, sure?” I said.Are my hands sweating? My hands are sweating.
“Great. It’s a date. See you later.” Tossing a dazzling grin over his shoulder, Austin headed off as I stared stupidly after him. Adate? Is that what I had just agreed to? I couldn’t believe it. Did I have magical powers and not know it? Was I being pranked?A few other women employees in the lobby noticed the exchange and eyed me—some with curiosity, and some whispering behind their hands to each other.
I huffed. Resort life could be just as cliquey as high school. In college and the several years since, I’d dated around, but my strict study schedule and jobs kept me too busy to have a personal life—until I’d started working at Hale’s Peak and Frankie adopted me as her best friend. We stayed above the fray mostly, but Austin’s interest in me apparently put a target on my back.Great. Just what I need to start off the season. Another reason to worry.
