The sound of the whistle cut through the frosty air. The shiny metal fell from my lips and skidded over my coat to land midway down my chest, stopped by the blue chord it was attached to.
Everyone glanced up, and I clapped. “Wrap it up!” I bellowed, a puff of white air bursting out with my words. “Good class today. I’ll see you all on the slopes.”
A couple of people skied off toward the lifts, and a few began taking off some of their gear.
It only took a second for me to unlatch the board from my feet, bend down, and pick it up. I was so used to doing it I could do it in my sleep.
Walking toward the rack and for my clipboard, I paused when someone called my name from behind.
“Liam?”
I glanced around as a snow bunny in pink came forward, wobbling on the bulky boots and half dragging the snowboard along with her.
“What can I do you for you, Ms.—”
“Heather,” she said, cutting me off. It was a good thing, too, because I didn’t know her name. God only knew what would have come out of my mouth.
“Heather,” I said and smiled.
She tripped, and the board fell onto the snow and skidded away as she pitched forward.
“Whoa,” I said and caught her, easily juggling my board and her body. I noticed the way she pressed close a second. Hell, I even let her do it before I steadied her on her own two feet. “Careful there. You almost got a face full of powder.”
She giggled and adjusted the goggles on her head. “Thanks.”
After a minute of her saying nothing at all and me just standing there waiting around like a dumbass, I cleared my throat. “Was there something you needed?”
“Oh!” she said, her cheeks turning pinker than they already were. “I was wondering if you had any last-minute tips for me? How did I do in the lesson?”
My eyes dragged over her, starting at her boots and landing at her face. She had long, blond hair that hung out of her cap and over her shoulders. It was slightly damp and slightly wavy from the snow. It reminded me of someone.
Of the past.
Keeping my eyes trained on her face, I replied, “You did good today, for a beginner.” Then I smiled.
She giggled.
“Just remember to keep your eyes up and not down at the board. Your body will follow your eyes, okay?”
She nodded.
“Cool.” I started to turn, and I felt her follow.
I wanted to groan. Usually, I was all good with the attention from the ladies. But not right now. Not from her.
Besides, I had somewhere I needed to be.
As if on cue, a body on a pair of skis slid expertly to where I was heading. The perfection of his stop was amplified by the powder that sprayed toward me.
“Niiice,” I said, grinning.
Alex tucked the poles under his arms, his chuckle loud and clear. The reflective green cast on his goggles flashed blue when he lifted them onto the navy hat on his head. “You see that?” He boasted. “One hundred percent perfection.”
I grunted and propped my board up on the rack.
Alex’s eyes slid toward my groupie and then back to me. With my back turned, I rolled my eyes at him. A nanosecond of surprise flashed in his, but it was gone practically before it appeared.
“Hey there, bunny,” he called, hitching his chin at her. “What’s your name?”
“Heather,” she said, taking that as her cue to come closer.
“You just have a lesson with my man Liam?”
She nodded. “He’s the best,”
Alex grinned, a puff of air floating out around his mouth from his silent laughter. His eyes flickered behind where we stood and then back. “Say, ah, how long you around for?”
I wanted to groan. She must have a friend. One who wasn’t quite as brazen.
“All week,” Heather said.
“That your friend?”
Heather glanced over her shoulder and nodded.
I gave Alex a warning look, silently telling him to shut the fuck up. He didn’t even acknowledge me.
A slow smile spread over the lower half of his face. “We’re planning on hitting up the tavern off the lodge tonight for some drinks. Maybe we’ll see you ladies then.”
I almost took the ski pole out of his grasp and stabbed him with it.
After the girl giggled and practically promised to be there, she went to retrieve her board and talk excitedly with her friend.
Once they were out of earshot, I glanced at my best friend and groaned. “Dude. Why did you do that?”
“It’s my duty to get you booty,” he quipped.
I punched him in the shoulder. He slid backward on the skis, but the bastard steadied himself just as fast. “You know I don’t need help with that.”
He chuckled. “Maybe not, but she was fine and so was her friend.”
“So bang her friend,” I grumped. “Fuck, have a threesome with them both, for all the fucks I give.”
“Whoa.” He made a face. “Who threw a snowball in your shorts?”
“No one.” I picked up the clipboard and made a few notes before I forgot. “Sometimes it gets old is all.”
“Yeah, being followed around and hit on by hot snow bunnies on the daily is just a tragedy.”
I gave him the finger.
He hit the underside of the clipboard. “What’s up, bro?”
I glanced up. His ice-blue eyes were concerned. “Nothing,” I muttered. “She just reminded me of someone.”
“Anyone I’d know?”
I gazed off in the direction she’d gone, then out over the tall pine trees heavy with white snow. “Forget it,” I said. “It’s ancient history.”
Alex made a sound, but before he could press, I said, “Thanks for taking my next class. I better head in before the old man sends someone to fetch me.”
“No prob.” He checked the watch buried under his jacket. “I got some time. I’m going to head in and grab a drink. I’ll walk with you.”
Alex had his skis off, leaning them on the rack where my board had been before I tucked it under my arm. I didn’t leave my board lying around. And it didn’t go in the rental space where all the other equipment was stored either. This board was mine and no one else’s.
“So, hey, how ‘bout those beers tonight?” Alex asked as we went.
I chuckled. “Do you always think with your dick?”
“Don’t you?” he asked, glib.
“Touché.” But even as I said it, I knew it wasn’t true. At least not lately. Lately, I’d been thinking with my head a lot more than my dick.
I wasn’t too fond of it, but damn if I knew how to fix it.
“C’mon, Liam. You’re probably gonna need a beer after the meeting with Mr. Mattison himself.”
“Fine.” I agreed. “I’ll meet you in the bar later.”
He slapped me on the back.
I slid him a glance from the corner of my eye. “But no women. Not tonight.”
“How you going to do me like that?” Alex complained.
I laughed. “Fine. No women for me. But you can take your pick.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” he exclaimed.
I laughed and returned his fist-bump before heading into the employee entrance, then up to my father’s office.