Page 31 of Christmas with the Elkin Billionaires

“And you just went on with your life?”

“I didn’t have another choice. I couldn’t go after my original goals. At least, I didn’t think I could.”

Chase stroked a hand over hers. “What were you going to do...you know, before?”

Tana laughed at the naive dreams she’d had just after college and just before she met her ex-husband. “I don’t know if you remember me telling you that I got my BA in fine arts? Well, teaching was supposed to be my backup plan. I’d planned to get my MBA. I was going to open my own business.”

“What kind of business?”

“I don’t know.” She laughed again, and this time, Chase laughed with her. “I thought of a lot of different things. A dance studio. A dancewear boutique. Lots of different kinds of boutiques. But once Lindsey was born, she came first. I didn’t have time to go back to school or to start a business.”

Chase was quiet for a long time. “What’s your long-term plan now?”

The hairs on the back of her arms stood up. Chase’s voice had a low, gravelly quality and she knew he was talking aboutthem. Be brave,she thought.Tell him you want him.“Maybe one day, I’ll open a business, but for now, I’m focusing on getting a promotion here.”

“You like it here, then?”

The image of his face when she’d encouraged him to follow his own dreams out to California flashed before her eyes. Chase had been stunned and maybe a little hurt. “Ireallylike it here,” she admitted. “This is the first place I’ve worked where I’m not worried about keeping my job from day to day. It’s the kind of place I could see settling in for the long haul. What about you? Is there any part of you that wants to stay here?”

Tana held her breath. Could he sense that she was also talking about him? Feeling him out? The way he kissed her didn’t seem superficial or shallow or like a fling. But there was only one way to make sure. She watched the snowflakes filter down and pretended to be absorbed in their twirling path to the ground. She was fully attuned to the way Chase was breathing, the way his heart beat hard against her back, and the catch in his breath.

“I’m not sure if itisthe place for me.” She’d never been happier to be facing away from him than she was right now.

Tana drew a finger over his wrist and tried mightily not to take this revelation personally.

“I’ve felt...out of place here since the accident. This is the place where...” He paused, snorting out a sharp breath. “We don’t have to get into this if you don’t want.”

“We do. I told you my plans—you should tell me yours.” She kept her voice light, as though this wasn’t one of the most serious conversations of her life.

“Okay.” Chase shifted, twining his fingers through hers. “This is the place where I fell in love with skiing. But I also fell in love with the idea of moving on. Movingout.I didn’t ever think I’d come back here. It’s like wearing clothes in the wrong size. It just doesn’t fit right.”

“Could it, though? Your brother could probably use more help.”

“I don’t know if he does,” he admitted. “Most of my life, I’ve been here. I learned to ski, I got good at skiing, and it became my career. Now I’m looking for a new one. New direction. Maybe a new career.” Chase hesitated, and Tana wondered what else he was about to reveal. “My other brother, Gabe. He’s the one who suggested I head out to California. When he got accepted at UCLA, he packed up all his stuff and drove away. He still comes back to visit, but getting him out here takes a tremendous amount of arm twisting. He needed that fresh start and he gets why I need one too. But picking up and going isn’t ideal either.”

Hope sprang up deep inside of her. She’d thought this was his dream. “What’s wrong with California?”

He sighed. “It’s far from all my family except for Gabe. I’m not thrilled about leaving my grandmother. There’s plenty here to miss, too. I’m worried I’d get out there and realize it wasn’t for me and it would be too hard to come back.”

Tana hadn’t had much time for regrets after Lindsey was born. She took the jobs she could find. Any job that would let her take care of her daughter would do. But she knew she’d regret not being honest with Chase. It was only a matter of saying the words.

I want you to stay with me.No. Too much.

I’m falling for you.Way too much.

I think you could be a good father figure for my daughter.This was only getting worse.

“I can see how that would happen,” Tana said. “I’m sure you’ll make the right choice, though.” She settled for not saying anything.

Didn’t he feel this too? How well they fit together? Chase had his gruff, grumpy moments sometimes, but that was nothing Tana couldn’t handle. Shewantedto handle it. Maybe that was a ridiculous thing to want, but she did anyway.

Let’s give this a chance.Yes. That was it. That was the perfect thing to say without scaring him off or making him think she wanted to go directly to the courthouse for a marriage license.

Tana opened her mouth to say it, but Chasereached across her. For a moment, Tana thought he might roll them right off the couch and onto the carpet. Chase pulled his hand back and waved the remote in front of her face. “Here’s the choice we need to make now. What to watch?”

“Anything,” she said. “Anything, as long as you don’t make me leave.”

“I wouldn’t,” Chase answered. “You’re not going anywhere until you have watched too much TV.” He rocked her back and pressed his lips to hers. “Until you’re finished with me.”

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