Page 35 of Christmas with the Elkin Billionaires

“That’s two phone numbers,” Chase pointed out. “What’s your plan?”

“I’m calling security, too. I want to see Tana Birch in my office; right now.”

Chase paced to the window, at loose ends. He held up the article and squinted at the grainy picture. It was small, maybe two inches across, and it showed a married couple. At first, it didn’t look anything like her—but her eyes and the curve of her mouth were unmistakable.

How could she not have told him about this? About getting arrested, about all the theft… Was it possible she didn’t know? He didn’t see how it could be, since she’d changed everything about her life in response to the past. But maybe...

He cursed silently. It would be best if the guy hadnoincriminating evidence.Oh, stop—this isn’t evidence,Chase told himself.This is a newspaper clipping.And if he was going to do anything about it, he had to do it now. They needed to take a beat before they took actions they’d come to regret—especially Chase.

“Jonas,” he said urgently, and his brother looked up at him. “There has to be a mistake.”

Jonas looked past him, toward the door. There was no one there—he was just looking into the distance. “It’s really too bad,” Jonas said, stress evident in his voice. “I was going to offer her the job today.”

Chase couldn’t catch his breath. Of course Jonas was going to offer Tana the job. She was a perfect fit. Kind, smart, and a top-notch skier—they couldn’t ask for anyone better to lead the ski program. And now this?

“Wait a minute.” He stepped in front of his brother’s desk. “We don’t have the full story here. Shouldn’t you start with Tana? Get her side of the story before we get everybody in here? Jonas, listen to me.”

Jonas was furiously texting on his phone. He didn’t appear to have heard a single thing Chase said. Chase paced the room, running through potential options, his brother still ignoring him. At the very least, they needed to keep this away from Gran. She would be devastated to find out there’s a problem with another employee. She’d always stressed that the employees at Elk Lodge were part of her extended family.

Before he could mention that to his brother, Ron Winthrop walked into the room, out of breath and adjusting his tie. “Jonas. Chase.” The company attorney shook both their hands, looking from one brother to the next. “What’s going on? It sounded urgent over the phone. I’m glad I happened to be driving out this way.”

“One of our ski instructors has been accused of stealing an expensive piece of jewelry from one of our guests.”

Ron blinked, his mouth dropping open.

“Accusedis the main point, I think,” Chase put in. “Nobody has any proof.”

Jonas’s eyes flicked down to the newspaper printout in Chase’s hand. “We’re going to need that article.”

No.Chase wanted to rip it into tiny pieces and light it on fire. But if he did that, Jonas would just research it for himself. “Fine.” Chase put the paper down on Jonas’s desk, fury rising in him in a fiery wave. “Ron, I want you to know that this is something out of this person’s past. It’s not a conviction.”

Ron stared at him. “Got it.” He looked at Jonas again. “What is it you want me to do?”

“I want you to sit in on the discussions we’re about to have and make sure the lodge is protected, as much as we can be. We don’t want to upset Elin with this.” Jonas shook his head. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. But we only have an hour to deal with this before Cadwell acts against us. I’d like to avoid that.”

“This iswayoverboard,” Chase tried to get his brother’s attention again. “Jonas, take a breath.” How much did Jonas know about Tana? For that matter, how much did heknow about Tana?

His brother’s set jaw told Chase he wasn’t going to back down. “Chase, you need to leave. You’re too involved to be impartial in the matter.” Apparently, his brother knew more than he thought.

Fear crept across Chase’s gut with icy fingers. What if Tana wasn’t who she seemed? He didn’t want to go there. Not without all the facts. Not without talking to her. But it would have to be later. Right now, he needed to get outside. Find a place where he could breathe. And think.

Chase left Jonas’s office and headed for the lobby. Unfortunately, he ran smack dab into Tana, flanked by two staff security guards. She looked terrified and kept shaking her head. Their gazes locked for one brief second, and then she was out of view. And Chase couldn’t follow her.

20

TANA

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand what this is about,” Tana said, fear gripping her, a sense of déjà vu rocketing through her body. Why had Chase been practically running out of the lobby while security was bringing her in? She was due for a lesson, and Tana worried no one would tell them she couldn’t make it. “Can one of you at least let me know why you’re bringing me in like this?”

“Mr. Elkin requested to see you right away,” said one of the security guards, his face going red. “He’s right in here.” They ushered her through the doors of Jonas’s office, and Tana realized it wasn’t just him—another man was there, professionally dressed in a suit and tie.

Tana’s heart sank. This looked like a firing meeting. The security staff had been her first clue, but she hadn’t wanted to believe it. She stepped through the door in a numb haze. Why hadn’t Chase stayed here for whatever this was? Someone must have found out about the two of them, and she was being fired.

“Tana.” Jonas nodded at the security guards, and they stepped back, leaving her to face off with him and some stranger. “Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk.

“I’d rather stand.” If she sat down, her muscles would cramp and tighten from stress. “What’s going on?”

“We’ve had an accusation from one of the guests here at the lodge.” Jonas’s eyes met hers, but he looked stiff, uncomfortable. No wonder. This was the most uncomfortable she’d been since the day the police had come to her apartment and arrested her years ago. “Against you.”

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