Sarah Morgan - Maybe This Christmas

It was fun to wind his brother up, and it took his mind off the fact Brenna was hurting, a thought that made him restless and uncomfortable.

“We’re nearly done.” Jackson refused to be rushed. “As you know, they’re predicting a big statewide snowstorm. A winter storm watch is up. According to the forecast, the storm will be right down the New England coast, which puts us in the sweet spot for snow, good news given that the snow pack is twenty percent down on the average for this time of year.”

“Hey, it’s winter in Vermont. One minute you’re skiing on grass, then you’re slithering on ice, and if you get really lucky, you’re up to your neck in powder.” But the mention of snow roused Tyler from his state of boredom. “How much snow, exactly?”

“Between twelve and fourteen inches. Possibly more.”

“That is the best news I’ve had in a long time. I love a good powder day.”

“So do our guests, and they’ll pay for a guide so you’ll be busy.”

“Trust you to ruin good news. Do you ever think of anything other than work?”

“Not with our busiest time of the year approaching, no. We’re a winter sports resort.”

Kayla glanced up from her laptop. “And you’re our USP.”

“I’m your what? ”

“Our unique selling point. No other resort has a gold-medal-winning downhill skier available for hire.”

“I’m not for hire.”

Ignoring his dangerous tone, Kayla smiled. “You are for a price. A good price, I might add. You’re not cheap. Have you taken a look at our new website? There is a whole page devoted to you. Ski with the best in the world .”

Tyler suppressed a yawn. “Can’t I give them a map and let them find their own way?”

Jackson ignored that. “People will pay good money to lay down tracks in fresh snow and enjoy the silence.”

“And with all those people enjoying it, there won’t be any silence,” Tyler pointed out, but Jackson wasn’t listening.

“The snow will be fun on the slopes, less fun on the roads.” As usual, his brother focused on the implications for the business. “If it happens, we’ll need to find rooms for as many staff as possible because the snowplows will have trouble keeping up.”

Deciding that logistics weren’t his problem, Tyler rose to his feet. “My bed is big enough for two. Three if they’re blonde.” He kept his eyes away from Brenna’s shiny dark hair. “I’m going now before I die of boredom and you have to remove my rotting corpse. Not that I know anything about marketing, but I’m guessing that wouldn’t be good for business.”

TRYING TO ERASE an image of Tyler sharing his bed with two blondes, Brenna zipped up her jacket and stepped out into the freezing night. Tyler was already striding ahead, and she looked at those broad, powerful shoulders, thinking that meetings never lasted long when he was involved. He drove things forward, impatient to be out in the fresh air, incapable of sitting still for any length of time.

Trapping Tyler O’Neil in a meeting room was like trying to cage a tiger.

Her feet brushed through a light dusting of fresh snow, and she knew without any help from the weather forecast that they were going to have more before the week was out. She could smell it in the air. The temperature had plummeted, and the sky was heavy with it.

As far as she was concerned, there was no place on earth more perfect than Snow Crystal. She loved the stillness and peace of the lake in the summer, the burst of fall color that turned the dense leaves of the forest to flame, but most of all she loved the frozen beauty of winter.

“Brenna, wait.” Kayla hurried across to her, her laptop bag banging against her hip, her blond hair sliding over her stylish berry-red coat. Like Christy, her hair was smooth and perfect. Like Christy, she could have walked into any boardroom in New York and not looked out of place.

“Everything all right?”

“Yes, but I haven’t seen you for a couple of days. It’s been crazy. Are you using the gym tomorrow?” Kayla’s phone beeped, and she checked it quickly. “Text from my ex-boss in New York, offering me a promotion if I go back. Hilarious. He’s sending me one a week at the moment. They’ve won a big account, and they’re desperate for staff.”

“Would you go back?”

“Not in a million years. Manhattan at Christmas is my nightmare. Give me fir trees and forest every time. I’d rather hug a moose than visit Santa.”

“And most of all, you’d rather hug Jackson.”

Kayla gave a wicked smile. “True enough. That man makes it hard to get up in the morning, that’s for sure.” She slipped her phone back into her pocket. “I love it here. And this winter I’m determined to get better at skiing so I’m not left behind. I’m done with Tyler’s derogatory comments about my lack of ability.” She followed Brenna’s gaze and saw him striding away. “He doesn’t hang around, does he? I wanted to persuade him to run a master class for advanced skiers, but he ran off before we’d finished.”

“I suspect the prospect of coaching the high school team and guiding was enough of a challenge for one meeting.”

“I don’t get the problem. He loves skiing. He finds it fun. What’s wrong with skiing with guests?”

“Because he’s the best. And fun for him is skiing places that would give any other person a heart attack.”

“All of it gives me a heart attack. The idea of launching myself down a vertical slope is terrifying.”

“That’s because this is only your second season.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m always going to find it terrifying. I’m a coward, and it isn’t natural to put myself in a position where I could kill myself. How do you do it? I mean, you hurl yourself down slopes that would make me cry. Jackson said the other day he thought you could have made the U.S. ski team if you’d had more encouragement from your parents.”

It was something Brenna didn’t let herself think about. “They wanted me to get a proper job.”

“You run the Outdoor Center. That isn’t a proper job?”

“Not to them.” Brenna tilted her face and felt flakes of snow flutter onto her cheeks. “I guess I’m a disappointment.”

“How can you be a disappointment? You’re such a talented teacher, equally good with wimps and daredevils.” Kayla’s eyes gleamed. “Hey, that is a great idea. We should name a class daredevils .”

“Not if you want me to take it. Kids don’t need any encouragement to act crazy on the slopes.” Brenna pulled her hat out of her pocket. “I’ll catch him up. See if I can persuade him to do your master class.”

“Perfect. Then he can kill you and not me. All we need now is snow.” Kayla turned as Jackson joined them. “Ready for dinner? Your mom texted. She’s made pot roast. Although what her text actually said was pit rot , so you might want to order takeout.”

“I’m not sure I’m in the mood for a family gathering. How does pizza in bed sound?” Jackson slid his arm around her shoulder. “Are you joining us, Brenna?”

“For pizza in bed? I don’t think so.” She pulled her hat onto her head and smoothed her hair away from her face. “I have to finish working on plans for the race series.”

“We can’t have pizza in bed,” Kayla murmured. “I promised Elizabeth we’d be there. It’s family night. Sean and Élise are coming, too, and Jess is already there.”

“I love my family, but there are days when I could happily move to California.” Jackson lowered his head, kissed her and then gave Brenna an apologetic look. “Everything all right in Forest Lodge? You’re comfortable?”

“It’s perfect. I love it. Forest Lodge is my dream home. And it’s convenient. Thanks for letting me stay again this season.”