Page 15 of You, Me, & Après-Ski
Barney sat behind his desk, reading glasses perched on the tip of his nose as he tapped on his phone propped on his belly. When he saw me, he launched forward, glasses flying off his face. “Mr. Keller! I wasn’t expecting you! Please, sit down. How can I help? Is your office set up to your liking?” His hands fluttered over the mess of papers on his desk like a worried butterfly.
I didn’t sit. “It’s great, thanks. I need to see some security footage.”
“Yes, of course. What dates?”
I worked my jaw. “January 12, 2004. I’ll need to see the entire previous week as well.”
Barney shuffled his papers, unbothered. So he didn’t recognize the dates.That’s one suspect eliminated.“I don’t think we keep the records for that long. I’ll have Phil, our head of security, check in with you on Wednesday to see what we can dig up. Does that sound all right?”Tapping his fingers in a nervous rhythm, he looked at me and back at his desk in rapid succession.
It had waited twenty-one years, it could wait two more days. What did he think I was going to do, rage and throw things like an asshole if I didn’t get my way? Iwasan asshole when it suited me, but I didn’t need to make poor Mr. Huxby shit himself in his own office for something out of his control. “That’s fine.”
I left and headed through the lobby back to my house. Unfortunately, Val and herdatechose that time to leave the restaurant, that nervous twitch still in her smile. Ducking into the hall, I watched them walk toward the exit like a complete and utter creep. When she tossed a look over her shoulder, she happened to catch my eye, and her smile disintegrated at whatever expression she saw on my face.
Snowboarder Dude’s hand brushed her lower back to usher her outside, and something deep and dark simmered low in my chest. Val jerked forward and stumbled out after him.Good.It was for the best—for both of us. But keeping my distance from this magnetic woman would be an impossible task, as my grandfather had ensured we were programmed to spend every weekday together.
It’s going to be a long winter.
Chapter 8
VAL
Itisonemilliondegrees in here.As I waited for Nolan in the lobby of the main lodge, I pried off my scarf and jacket. Pit stains were the last thing I needed. My nerves were already twined so tightly, I’d even skipped my morning coffee. Caffeine would only make it worse, and launching into an ill-timed panic attack was not on my agenda today.
If looks could kill, Nolan would have murdered Austin last night a thousand times over in an infinite number of horrible ways. I’d never seen anyone look so…untethered. Maybe he and Austin had a bad history or something.
Ripping the velcro on my snowboarding pants pocket on and off, I focused on the day ahead. Some time on the slopes would calm me down. I had texted Nolan last night about our plans, and he replied with a terse “understood.” I didn’t dwell on how badly my hands had shaken before sending it, or the whirlpool of butterflies that roiled in my stomach while I had awaited his reply.
At nine a.m. sharp, Nolan strode into the lobby wearing a—suit?
“You know we’re going snowboarding today, right?” I asked, suddenly extremely interested in a painting on the wall as I avoided noticing the way his jacket sleeves stretched over his biceps.
Nolan’s weird mood from the previous evening had disappeared, but his tone was brisk. “I have work calls this morning. We can meet up this afternoon.” He looked straight at me, his blue eyes piercing, unwavering. “I’m sure you can find something for us to do.”
I opened my mouth. Shut it. “Ah, sure,” I said.Exceptional conversationalist, as always, Val.“You could have texted, since you insisted on giving me your phone number,” I added, for some insane reason.
He peered down at me, a spark of humor flashing in his eyes. “I’m glad you made use of it.”
The sudden urge to kick him in the shins took me by surprise. He had a way of making me want to do anything to wipe that self-satisfied smirk off his face.
Without another word, Nolan departed, leaving me staring after his broad shoulders and his tight…never mind.I shook myself back to reality, grateful for a few hours without Nolan’s befuddling presence. I didn’t have any lessons today since I was supposed to be with him, so I could hit the slopes and actually enjoy myself. Heading outside, I spotted Frankie at one of the ski lifts, a gaggle of six year olds surrounding her in a chattering swarm.
“Want a hand?” I asked, tossing my board down in a puff of powder.
“God yes,” Frankie said as she snapped her boots into her hot pink skis. “Wait, what about Nolan?”
I shrugged. “He blew me off for work and ruined my artfully crafted itinerary, so I have no idea what I’m going to do with him later.”
“I can think of a few thingsI’dlike to do with him later,” she said with a nudge.
I bit back a laugh. “Not in front of the kids.”
“I have these little demon spawn for the next few hours, but after that, you should snag a ride or two with Austin.” Frankie’s eyes sparkled withmischief. “How’s that going, by the way? I’ve noticed more than a few women staring daggers at you two.”
“Still? I thought the rumor mill would have churned past that by now.” But I shuddered to think at what they’d move on to—hopefully my tour guide assignment with Nolan remained securely out of the gossip circle.
“Ignore them,” Frankie said as we lined up by the bunny slope’s conveyor belt lift. “Those chatty Cathys are all bark and no bite, and if they try to bite, I’ll karate chop them in the throats.”
I chuckled. “Thanks. They won’t know what hit ’em.”
