Page 28 of Christmas with the Elkin Billionaires

All of this, Chase reminded himself, was supposed to be temporary. He’d been itching to leave. Elk Lodge had been the place where his old career had taken form. While Gabe’s suggestion to come out to California was a good one, what exactly would he do with his life? He wasn’t exactly someone who enjoyed a life of leisure. In theory, it sounded great. Not that he’d ever tell Jonas this, but he actuallylikedworking.

Chase popped a baked brie bite into his mouth, one of his favorite appetizers from the lodge’s kitchens. He felt more enthusiastic about the puff pastry—it was, after all, a really good cheesy bite—than he did about leaving Elk Lodge. And that shouldn’t be the case. He should want this fresh start more than anything, but in reality, he wanted Tana.

At the party and by his side. And leading her around the room on his arm, as his guest. Chase wanted to take her home and make love to her in his big bed, and he wanted to curl himself around her and sleep all night. And in the morning, he’d show her the sunrise across the mountain when the snow was fresh and unmarked. And then later, he’d help Lindsey with her school lessons, cook them both dinner, and—

Horror seized him.

This wasn’t some imaginary exercise and it wasn’t infatuation. He was falling in love.

The future he wanted was there in his mind, in clear, terrifying detail. He didn’t want to be out west. He could be perfectly happy here, maybe coaching kids like he’d done with Lindsey. It would put all his skiing experience to use and keep him sharp. They might not be professional skiers, but he could teach them to love the wind in their faces and the glide of snow beneath their skis. And at the end of the day, he would go home to Tana and Lindsey.

“Having regrets over quitting the one job Grandmother asked you to do?” Jonas’s voice cut into his thoughts. “You’re staring at your plate like it offended you.”

Chase blinked at his brother. “No. No regrets.”

He could tell Jonas didn’t want to care, but they were brothers—on some level, no matter how much they fought, they did care about each other. “What is it, then?”

“Just thinking about my options.” Chase was struck by the urge to tell Jonas about Tana—it would relieve some of the pressure in his chest—but he’d promised her he wouldn’t say a word.

Jonas narrowed his eyes. “What options?”

“What’s next for me.”

“Oh.” Jonas gave him one last look. “Don’t stare at your food that way. It makes people think something’s up. Besides your injury.”

“Thanks, Jonas. That’s very helpful of you.”

His brother brushed past him to get to the bar. In a way, hehadbeen honest with Jonas. There weren’t options with Tana. She seemed focused on her daughter and her career. Would she really want to devote all her spare time to a relationship with him? Especially now that he wasn’t a ski champion—that he wasn’t much of anything, really, except a man from a wealthy family?

The real question wasn’t what Tana would have done if he were still a ski champion. The real question was what he should donow. No matter how sparkling and wonderful his vision of their potential family appeared to him, he had to deal in reality. He was moving on from this place, and Tana was putting down roots. They wanted two different things.

“You’re doing it again,” Jonas said, heading back to his table.

“Doing what?”

“Staring off into space.”

“Just thinking.”

“About?” Jonas took a sip from his drink.

“I talked to Gabe. I don’t think he’s coming for Christmas.”

“He has to.”

“Maybe someone should give him a reason.”

Jonas gripped Chase’s shoulder briefly before walking away, not bothering to respond.

“Good talk, bro,” Chase mumbled under his breath.

Chase put his half-empty plate down on one of the tables to the side of the ballroom meant for collecting dishes. He needed to be at home, in the quiet. Besides, it didn’t look like she was going to show up anyway.

He was still in the middle of the room when he saw her.

All the things he’d been debating furiously in his head, while smiling and nodding at the people around him, fell away. Tana stood framed in the double doors leading into the lodge’s ballroom in a pair of low heels and a black dress that hit just above her knees. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders. And she was looking for him. He knew from the way her eyes danced over the room, searching.

She caught sight of him, and a smile spread over her face. The smile went straight to his core. In the black dress, she looked...transformed. He thought Tana was breathtaking, but in this dress, it was like watching a sunrise as she moved. Graceful, elegant, and inspiring.

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