Page 11 of Release Me

“Is it a bad idea?” I take a ragged breath, swallowing back the nervousness that builds in my throat.

“Why would it be a bad idea? Teach him to ski. He needs to know what the mountain is like if he wants to market the hell out of it. He has the best place in Tahoe and he doesn’t even know it.”

There she goes, thinking like a skier and about what’s best for Badger Creek. Right now, I need her to be my best friend, not someone who knows how much I’ve invested into my job.

“Delaney?”

“Yeah?” she says, looking at me and that’s when I see the realization on her face. Her eyes grow wide and suddenly, she’s beaming. “You should sleep with him. You two would be a fucking ski village power couple.”

“You’re not helping.”

Chapter5

Ethan

Iknow this is a bad idea. Deep down, some small part of me knows this is a bad idea. But an even bigger part of me knows that and doesn’t give a single shit.

I want to do this, even if I don’t know exactly whatthisis. This morning in the coffee shop, I could’ve sworn it was just an offer to teach me to ski from a surprised colleague who fully expected me to know how given I own a ski resort.

But at the same time, it also kind of seemed like we were flirting a little too, like maybe thiswasmore than just a ski lesson. Even if I know I should not be thinking about it being anything more.

“Fuck,” I mutter, shaking my head as someone knocks on my open office door. I look up to find Zoey standing there, still dressed in her work clothes.

“Hey, just letting you know I’m ready whenever you are.”

I chuckle, shaking my head a little. “So, we’re really doing this, huh?”

She smiles, her hip propped against the doorframe. “I mean, yeah, unless you’ve changed your mind?”

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my desk. “And why would I have changed my mind, Zoey?”

I watch as she licks her lips, my heart pounding in my chest, my body reacting of its own accord. “Maybe you’ve changed your mind,” she teases. “Or maybe you’re scared?”

Chuckling, I stand. “Haven’t changed my mind and definitely not scared,” I tell her, knowing we are crossing that line into this being something more again.

She raises a brow, crossing her arms over her chest as she watches me from my office door. Cameron has long gone and it’s just the two of us and fuck me if I don’t want to suggest we forget the skiing and instead head back to my place. Or maybe lock ourselves away in my office.

“Well then,” she says before I can give voice to those thoughts. “Let’s go, Mr. Morrison.”

Chuckling, I close my laptop before grabbing my phone and keys and walking toward her. “Lead the way, boss,” I say, waving a hand as I close my office door behind us.

“Boss, huh?” she asks, looking back at me over her shoulder.

With a smirk, I reply, “You are tonight.”

Fucking hell,what am I doing? I should not be flirting with her like this. I know that. But still, I don’t care.

Zoey laughs, walking down the hall toward the elevator, her long lean legs looking even more amazing in the stilettoes she wears. “I think I like that,” she says, hitting the down button as she turns and gives me a quick once over. “We should get you some ski gear.”

“Already took care of it,” I reply, hands in my pockets as I rock on my heels and try to hide the fact that I cannot seem to stop staring at her. The photo of her I was looking at last night really does not do her justice because she looks even more incredible in real life.

And yeah, the outside package of her long blonde hair and big blue eyes, coupled with a body that I would love to spend hours worshiping, is definitely appealing. But it’s also what I know is on the inside too. Her work ethic, her intelligence. All of it.

It’s just really fucking attractive.

“What?”

Chuckling, I watch as the doors open, holding an arm out to stop them from closing as I gesture for Zoey to step inside. “Already took care of it,” I repeat. “Grabbed some things at lunch.”

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