Page 55 of His Ski Resort Overrun for Christmas

“None of that,” Jace called out, picking Ammon off the ground with his bear hug. “I’m so proud of my little brother. Who’s now bigger than me.”

Jace grunted and set him down. Ammon knew Jace appeared leaner than him, but he was strong enough to pick him up or push him around when he needed to. Jace grabbed his shoulders, looking into his eyes with a seriousness that surprised Ammon, his deep-brown eyes exact replicas of Ammon’s. “I’ve missed you.”

“You too.” Ammon’s throat got thick again. He didn’t mind life in Jace’s shadow. He did mind rarely seeing his best friend. He noticed the other guy stayed in the SUV. “Not staying long?” He thought Jace would get a break in the off-season, but his sponsors wanted him training year round.

“Nah. Sorry bro. I’m going to say hi to everyone and then I’ve got to fly to Chile. There’s a resort there that has famous dry powder and only accommodates 450 skiers so it’s going to be incredible and is an honor that I got invited.” He looked away and Ammon wondered if he at least felt bad for never being around. It was fine. He and grandpa could hold down the fort, or the ski resort, helping Mom take care of Dad with his MS and running Bentley around and keeping their hilarious and well-loved little brother entertained. Sometimes it wasn’t fine. Sometimes Mom got overwhelmed, Dad’s pain flared up and Ammon had to carry him to the bathroom or to bed, Grandpa got grumpy, and Bentley got unreasonable. But Ammon would never tell Jace about any of those moments. They all had their own paths. Ammon’s was here. Jace’s was the Olympics. And Ivy’s was …please let her get a different answer, he begged heaven. Which was a really awful prayer to pray.

“That’ll be sweet,” he said.

“For sure.” His brother looked in his eyes again. “What great things do you have planned?”

Ammon checked Ivy’s position. She’d stepped out of her truck but hadn’t moved toward them. He met her gaze and lifted a hand. Her face lit up in a smile, but she still didn’t move. It was odd she didn’t want to say hi to Jace but it meant she wanted to be alone with him. Perfect.

“Taking care of everyone here,” he said.

“I meant for your future,” Jace said, sort of sternly.

Ammon glanced back. “Taking care of everyone here,” he repeated, “Most of all my beautiful angel.” Ivy was his future, but she was sassy enough she’d tell him she could take care of herself. She could. He just wanted to be with her. “And running the ski resort. Grandpa’s slowing down, no matter what he wants to admit.”

“I’d better go see him.” His brow squiggled. “But bro ...” Jace swallowed then rushed out, “I feel like a jerk sometimes, leaving you here dealing with everything. I want you to go for your dreams too.”

“My dreams are here,” he said, knowing Jace couldn’t understand that and glad he never told Jace about any hard days and made him feel like a bigger jerk for leaving them all. “Grandpa and I are drawing up plans for a gondola, and adding another lift and carving out a bunch of new runs on the east mountainside. We’ve got the lodge booked and the upgrades done to haul mountain bikes up the lifts all summer. I updated the website and got our rooms uploaded to hotels.com and the lodge rooms are booked every weekend this summer. With the extra income from this summer, we’ll have the gondola started next summer.” He talked to quick with all the plans and excitement building in him. He was stoked about all the progress and could see his visions for the future of their resort. With Jace and Ivy pushing him to leave the valley and see the world he’d prayed hard and he knew this was the Lord’s purpose for him as well.

Jace just stared at him. “Yourdreams, Ammon, not grandpa’s.”

Ammon’s gut tightened. Maybe Ammon was just an old man at heart. He got along with his grandpa as well as his close friends the Deltas. “I love you bro, but your dreams are not mine.”

“You’re every bit as fast and technically sound as I am. I could get you a sponsor tomorrow,” Jace rushed out. His dark eyes begged him to agree.

Ammon had heard how fabulous of a skier he was so many times, from so many different people. He loved to ski, had grown up on skis, but he’d never beat Jace. His brother just had this vision of the two of them racing and traveling together. “I appreciate it, but I have no desire to chase around the world.” It was true. He had no idea why Jace or Ivy couldn’t understand that. He loved his valley, his family, and especially his resort. Grandpa had already gifted Summit Resort to him and Jace. If Jace was ever around to enjoy it or help Ammon expand and make it even better was a completely different story.

Ammon knew he had to add, “And honestly bro, no guilt slung here at all, but Mom and Grandpa need me.” They’d have to hire two men to do what he did and nobody would be as invested in the resort’s future as he was.

Jace’s jaw worked. “What if I …”

“No way. Being in the Olympics is your dream. Go for it.” He studied Jace, saw the guilt there despite him not trying to inflict it. “I’ve got this. Running the resort is my dream. You go after your dream. Someday we’ll be doing the resort together.”

Jace nodded and hugged him again. “Get to your girl.”

“Done.” Ammon grinned. “Say goodbye before you jet set off again.”

“You want me to interrupt your ‘celebrating’ with Ivy?”

“Only you could have that privilege.”

Jace chuckled.

Ammon pumped his eyebrows at his brother then jogged off toward Ivy. She was leaning against her truck, but straightened as she saw him. She had sunglasses on. It was a bright early June afternoon, but he really wanted to see her gorgeous dark eyes.

“Angel.” He slowed his steps and stopped in front of her. He wanted to pick her up and hold her close but something was off. “Angel?” he asked, easing in closer and tilting her chin up. “You okay?”

“Ammon …” Her voice quavered. He couldn’t tell if she was upset or excited. She pushed her sunglasses up on her head and he could easily see. She was both. Her eyes were red-rimmed as if she’d been crying, but they were also sparkling with excitement. She flung her arms around his neck and he happily gathered her close.

Holding Ivy was always exciting, fulfilling, and comfortable at the same time. She was meant to be in his arms. He wanted to simply hold her, and kiss her, but he had to know what was going on. He had the most awful premonition that this was going to be the last time he held her. His arms tightened around her and he quickly pushed that feeling away. He and Ivy were meant to be together. True they’d only dated for five months but they could’ve dated two days and he would know that she was his perfect match.

“Everything all right?” he asked.

“It’s amazing,” she said, pulling back slightly, leaning against her truck and gazing up at him. “The best news ever. Even better than what I’ve been praying for.” She grinned and did a little dance. She was so cute. “I wanted to tell you alone and I wanted to tell you first.”

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