Page 8 of Christmas with the Elkin Billionaires

He let out a chuckle. “Oh, I’m sure your mom is your favorite person. She only got a ride from me because she got a flat tire, and—”

“You are the best skier in the world. I’ve watched all your videos. Mom, can I see your phone? Please?” Lindsey acted as though she hadn’t even heard Chase, cutting him off to gush on like a true fan.

“For one minute,” Tana said automatically. She tried to avoid screen time with Lindsey if possible. Tana pulled out her iPhone and passed it to Lindsey. “What do you need on there, honey?”

Lindsey was already focused on the phone, her tongue sticking out between her teeth. “I need my playlist.”

Tana blushed. How could she have forgotten? Lindsey’s playlist wasn’t just a collection of random videos she liked. It was a playlist of videos that featured Chase, the ski world’s golden boy up until his accident. “Are you sure about that, hon? We can watch the playlist at home.” Tana gave Lindsey a big grin, which her daughter missed entirely. “Linds?”

Sound burst from the phone’s speakers. “Show him this one first, Mom.” Lindsey thrust the phone up toward Tana. “Watch this, Ace. It’s a video of you, and you’re doingawesome.”

“Honey, you need to call adultsMr.andMrs.This is Mr. Elkin unless he gives you permission to call him Chase.”

“I prefer Chase to Mr. Elkin or Ace, if that’s okay with you.” He stopped at the stop sign and turned slightly in his seat to give Lindsey a thumbs up.

Lindsey squirmed with excitement as she quietly murmured “Chase” over and over.

Tana gave her daughter another smile that hopefully communicatedpull it back just a littleand took the phone. She held it up, the screen vaguely pointed in Chase’s direction.

“It’s not safe to watch while I’m driving.” He tried to smile, but it faded almost immediately.

“Well, I’ll tell you what happens.” Lindsey strained against her seatbelt as far as she could. “You come down the hill. You go aroundall the flags.” She waved her hand in the air, mimicking the path he took in the video. “And then, when you get to the bottom, you—” Lindsey sucked in a breath, anticipation brightening her face. “Then you go over ajump!”

“Oh, I can teach you how to do that.” Chase was busy making a turn, and Tana saw the moment when he realized what he’d done. It was a flinch, barely there, and then gone.

Lindsey squealed at a pitch capable of shattering glass and bounced up and down in her seat. “Can I do it, Mom? Can I have private lessons with Chase? Can I please, please,pleasedo it?”

Tana noticed the tension in the firm set of his jaw. “I’m sorry. I should have warned you that she’s one of your biggest fans. You don’t have to do it,” Tana said quickly, trying to help him find a gentle way out of his mistake.

Chase stared ahead out the front window, as though he wanted to be anywhere else other than here.

“Honey, that’s really not something we can ask Chase to—”

“It’s fine.” Chase maneuvered the winding roads through the resort. “I’m—I’m glad to give the lesson. No charge.”

That wasn’t what she’d been worried about. Tana hadn’t been ready for this when she got in the car with Chase, but she should have been. Clearly. “We’ll talk about it at home, Lindsey.”

“You have to let me take lessons, Mom!” Lindsey’s voice had gone higher. “Chase is the best skier on thewhole planet.”

“I know, honey.” The ride had been goingsowell. How could she not have seen this coming? “We’re in employee cottage number two off the eastern road.” Tana had never been more relieved in her life than when Chase pulled up in front of the little cottage on the edge of the resort property where she and Lindsey lived. “I’ll think about it, okay? Tell Chase thanks for the ride.”

“Thanks for the ride!” Lindsey chirped. She grabbed her backpack off the seat next to her and hopped out of the car. Tana got out too, but not in time to stop Lindsey from poking her head back in. “You want to come in, Chase? I bet my mom has enough snacks.”

“Oh, that’s all right. I’ve got some things to take care of over at the lodge. I’ll see you around, Lindsey.” Tana didn’t know if he was trying to look calm or not, but he was failing. “You too, Tana.”

“Thanks again for the ride. You really bailed me out.”

A smile flickered across his face. “I’m not done yet. I’ll see about the flat tire, okay?”

Tana wanted to argue—Chase had already done plenty—but in reality, his help was appreciated, so she agreed. She closed the car door definitively and took Lindsey’s hand. Her daughter insisted they wait on the sidewalk to wave goodbye as Chase drove off. He raised his hand and waved back in front of the rearview mirror.

Back in the little cottage, Lindsey hung up her backpack and raced to the bathroom to do the first thing on the After-School Fun List—wash her hands. It didn’t seem to matter that the activities themselves weren’t what Lindsey would call “fun”—washing hands, changing clothes, and a snack. Okay, the snack partwas fun.

Lindsey was up on a step stool with the water running when Tana got to the bathroom door. “I met Chase Elkin,” she announced as if Tana hadn’t been in the car the whole time. “He is the best skier in the world. And now I get to ski with him.”

“Honey—”

“I’vealwayswanted to ski.” Lindsey pouted, her expression pained. “I’ve always wanted to ski just like you, Mommy. And you said it was dangerous, but Chase is a good skier. He wouldn’t do something dangerous.”

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