Page 15 of Christmas with the Elkin Billionaires

One thing already didn’t look great to them—getting caught kissing Chase in the shed in the first place. And by his grandmother. Her face went hotter, and Tana moved to the side of the hill and took a side path along one of the bigger, longer slopes where there was more open hillside. She couldn’t decide if she’d done the right thing. Running away probably hadn’t been the best course of action, but the options had been sparse. Talking to Elin Elkin didn’t seem possible in the moment, but if she’d really wanted to prove herself worthy of a promotion, she should have…

What? Shaken her hand? Put on a bright smile and pretended the kiss had never happened? But she’dlikedthat kiss. She’d liked it a lot, even though she was up for a promotion and Chase was the last man she should be kissing.

She didn’t regret the kiss. Tana made a quick turn and held her arms out, letting the wind stream around her clothes. Shewouldn’tregret the kiss. The main embarrassment was obviously not greeting Elin like any other employee would. Somehow, she’d need to fix that.

But for now, Tana was more concerned about her aching muscles. Perhaps it was her lack of concentration, or just a careless skier, but either way, the fall she’d taken today during a lesson left her sore. One of the kids had cut her off from a strange angle, and her body hadn’t reacted the way she wanted. She’d gone off the edge of a gentle jump and landed on her side, one ski underneath her. Her back was probably going to be bruised. A hot bath sounded heavenly.

Tana headed toward the parking lot. She spotted Chase just ahead, headed toward the path that led to his house. More like limping his way along. Something was wrong.

“Hey,” she called out, her body lighting up at the memory of the kiss, as she tried to catch up to him, a move hindered by her aching back. “You okay?” she asked, joining him.

Chase grimaced. “I spent all morning working through applications, and afterward I had physical therapy. It makes things worse before it gets better.” He shrugged as if it were no big deal. But Tana knew it was.

“We have something in common then. Except instead of physical therapy, I fell on the slopes. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.” She forced a smile on her face.

Chase laughed, but the firm set of his mouth told her he was worried. “How bad is it? What hurts?” His eyes traced over her body, and Tana looked away.

“I’ll be fine. Other than a big bruise more than likely. And a bruised ego to match. I’m going home to soak my pain away in a hot bath.”

Chase stopped short and looked around. “Where’s Lindsey?”

“Lindsey?” Tana took a deep breath. "She’s staying with a friend tonight, and working on a school project, so I’m free.”Free.That sounded like she was asking him for a date. Chase stopped walking. “I mean—"

“Don’t go home then. Come to my place. I’ve got a hot tub—it’ll be way better for your back.” His easy grin made her want to say yes.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? After…what happened in the shed?”

“Sure it is.” Chase held his hands up. “Look, I’m sorry that my grandmother walked in on us. I wish she hadn’t. But I don’t feel bad about kissing you. We didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Chase gave her a look. “Of course I’m sure. I wanted to kiss you, Tana. I’ve been wanting to kiss you ever since the three-quarters kiss.” The corner of his mouth lifted, and she was taken yet again by how good he looked when he was happy—or at least when he was smiling. “And from the way you kissed back, you wanted it, too.”

“I did,” she admitted. “But I’m still not convinced that we didn’t break some…some long-standing rule. You’re a part of the Elkin family.”

“I am.” Chase put on a serious tone. “And in the Elkin family, we only kiss princesses and duchesses, women of the highest royal standing—”

“Don’t tease.”Even though I like it when you tease.“We can’t keep up all the kissing.”

Chase met her gaze, keeping his serious expression in place. It only made Tana want to laugh more. “We don’t have to kiss in the hot tub if that’s what you’re saying.”

“We’renotgoing to kiss in the hot tub.”

“Right. But you have to admit—it would feel great on those muscles.”

“Which? The kissing or the hot tub?” She grinned at him and then caught her breath when he leaned in close to her.

“I’ve been told that my kissing is downright magical, but I’ve never cured anyone of injuries. I’m willing to try, though. You know, for science.”

Tana blushed as her thoughts took a naughtier turn.No.Given her working situation and the attraction between them, it would be too dangerous. It was one thing to make out with Chase in the ski shed. Quite another to casually accept an invitation to strip down and get relaxed in his private hot tub, away from prying eyes. “Sure,” Tana choked out, surprising herself with her response. “But I do need to go home first to get my bathing suit. I can’t very well go naked, now can I?”

“You could. I wouldn’t mind.” His devilish grin reinforced that this was a bad decision, but she wouldn’t chicken out now.

The truth was, her back did ache, and her leg muscles were tight. She had a full roster of classes tomorrow and needed to be at her best. A hot tub sounded perfect.

Back at her cottage Tana rifled through a box at the back of her closet. She’d thrown the summer things inside when it was time to move.Do not get attached to him.She pulled out a cute red bikini and threw it back into the box.No way.A polka-dotted number from three summers ago was another reject.Not now, not ever.Tana yanked out her oldest suit—a boring black one-piece.

Perfect.

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