Tripp couldn’t shake the dark cloud that followed him wherever he went.

“Hey grumpy.”

“Lucan, leave me alone.”

“Oh, you are grumpy.”

He turned to his brother and tried to play along as they always did, but his heart wasn’t in it and his brother did not seem funny today. “Hey Lucan. Just trying to get through my days right now.”

“How are the clean-up plans going? How’s Grevena?”

“Excellent. We are meeting to make plans to refresh the whole place, renovate, and modernize where we can but still maintain that quaint historic feel.”

Lucan nodded.

“The shops have suffered from lost publicity and sales because they so carefully guard us from the press. I think we should do a couple press invited appearances every quarter and take turns supporting individual establishments.”

“That sounds like a great idea. And security would be simple enough to maintain. We know the area.”

His brother had only one thing on his mind, ever, security. Tripp wondered if a lady had ever even turned his eye.

“She’s training.”

Tripp pursed his lips.

“Jenneca’s getting really good. Her times bring her up to Olympic contender potential.”

“That’s great!” He was happy for her. She deserved whatever it was she most desired.

“You could train with her.”

“My days are past, Lucan. I tried. My times are slow.”

“So, I didn’t say go be an Olympian. I said you could train with her.” He raised his eyebrows and a spark of hope lit Tripp’s malaise.

“I could go start competing and at least get myself some points.” In order to qualify for the Olympics, he would need a certain amount of points by January 21. “And he would need to be competing at the top times. He doubted, with the lack of time and effort he had put in, that he could get his times down low enough, but he could be gaining some points. And, he admitted, run into Jenneca at the same events.

“Have you even told her all that you did for her and the bakery?”

“No, well, some of it. But what she really wants is this Olympic dream.”

“But the bakery cleared the way so she could get it. She needs to know.”

He shrugged. He didn’t want Jenneca grateful to him anymore. He didn’t want that feeling of her being beholden to him. He just wanted to spend time with her. Every day for the rest of his life. And if he had to start competing as a skier again to do it, even better. His smile started small but it crept across his face until he felt like his old self.

Lucan groaned. “Happy’s back.”

Tripp pounded his brother on the shoulder. “Thanks, brother.”

He made sure all his efforts at clean up were well under way and appropriately supervised and then he boarded his jet and took off once again to Austria. He would have a few days there to work up better times and then go to his first event for points toward qualification. He knew once he showed up at any event, the press would take it and run. He determined to hide from them as much as possible, especially where Jenneca was concerned.

The jet was quiet with the memory of all his brothers from the last trip echoing in his brain. But he slept for a large part of it and when he landed, hurried out to the waiting car.

The hotel gave him his usual room. The suite spread out in front of him in the rustic luxury he appreciated at Dachstein. A fire burned in the fireplace, his hot tub already bubbled in welcome. A spread of fruits, cheeses and breads waited for him on the counter. And all of it made him wish that Jenneca was at his side.

How had he come to care for her so strongly? All he wanted was a chance to win her over, time to date her. Hopefully this trip would give him that.

Munching on a grape, he headed to the showers. Multiple jets sprayed a great calm into his muscles. He put on his favorite sweatshirt, his best jeans, gelled up his hair, and went in search of some company, not just any, but the kind most people around here called, ‘J. C. World renowned downhill skier.’

The press had already covered some of her more recent times. She was killing it, and Tripp was proud of her. They would both be heading to the next competition in two days’ time. Jenneca was on her way, and Tripp was excited for a front row seat.

He made his way to the elevator, picking up his pace. It dinged just as he arrived and the doors opened. But one look at the doors and he couldn’t make his feet move, or his mouth either. Jenneca stood in front of him, looking deliciously casual, a slight pink to her cheeks, hair on her head, wet from a recent shower. His heart picked up. Perhaps he was catching her on her way to relax for the evening. And perhaps her room was near his own.

She closed her mouth and swallowed. “Tripp!” Her eyes glanced nervously over his shoulder down the hall.

“Jenneca!” He held out his hand and when she placed hers in his own, he pulled her close for a friendly hug and kiss on the cheek. “How are you? I’m following your times. You are rocking it!”

She grinned, obviously pleased at his praise.

“Really. You’re going all the way. This is your year.”

“Thank you, Tripp.” She stared at him. “Are you back, to train?” Her eyes darted again down the hall, and he began to wonder what or who she was expecting.

“I am going to start competing, pick up a few points towards qualification.”

Her eyes widened. “Really! That’s great, Tripp!”

“Well, I don’t think I can bring my time down enough, but I wanted to get back into it.” I came to see you! He almost whisper screamed, so badly he wished to take her into his arms and kiss all of his feelings into her mouth.

He surprised himself with the strength of his desire for her. Turning back down the hall the direction she was angled to go, he asked, “Do you have plans? I was just looking—”

“J.C. There you are.” Jorge stepped out of his room and held a hand up to her.

She flickered a glance up at him and then waved back to Jorge. “Excuse me. Yes, I have dinner.” She paused in an awfully awkward moment, rocking from foot to foot and then said, “Well, good night. And good luck with your training.”

“Good night.” He watched as she made her way down the hall and then stepped through the door to Jorge’s room. He kissed her cheek as she passed and then had the audacity to smirk in his direction before he closed the door behind her.

“Ugh.” The elevator door opened again, this time, empty. But he didn’t know what to do with himself. He decided he just wanted to go back to his room, catch up on the news from Torren and go to sleep early. He planned to be the first one on the slopes tomorrow. He had let an old coach know he would be training again. All facilities were open to him.

He went back to his room and paced the floors. He ate his snacks. He flipped on the news. He watched the times of the skiers on the Ski Times channel they had on every TV in Dachstein. He opened his curtains wide and watched the twinkle lights that ran up the mountain at night. Up above, the tiniest points of light started to light the sky. He couldn’t keep at this. Either he was going home, or he was going to confront Jenneca and figure out what could possibly be their potential together.

He thought about what could be happening right now in Jorge’s hotel room. Any sort of thing, and none of it good for his prospects with Jenneca. The man would also be at all their competitions and trials and earning points himself. Tripp clenched his fists. He plopped down on the deep sofa, and then he stood. He couldn’t wait another moment. Time to interrupt their romantic interlude.

His feet stomped on the carpet silently. Which left little to his own personal satisfaction. He approached Jorge’s door and pounded on it before he could change his mind. Only then did he recognize how terribly brazen he was being. How rude to interrupt them. And he panicked for a moment. What would he say?

A long pause made him even more nervous, but he knocked again.

Jorge answered the door, the irritation on his face evidence he had looked through the peephole first. “Tripp. Can we help you?”

His hair wasn’t messy. That was a good sign. Tripp leaned around him to try and see into the room.

Jenneca approached. “Jorge. That was a lovely dinner. I think I’ll just be going now. Maybe Tripp can finish up with dessert.”

She slipped past him without even a glance, and Jorge watched her go. Tripp followed her with his eyes all the way to the elevator. When it dinged, Jorge and Tripp turned to stare at each other.

Jorge rested his hand on the door. “What are you doing here, Tripp?”

“Just making sure everyone is comfortable.”

“How chivalrous.” He opened the door wider. “Here, take some cheesecake back to your room.”

Tripp smirked. “Don’t mind if I do.” He grabbed a plate and a fork and turned to leave. “Thanks Jorge.”

“We’ve been together a long time, you know.” Jorge waved him out.

“Have you? Do you have pictures as children?”

“That hardly counts as together.”

“It does in my book. Our grandparents played together.”

Jorge shook his head. “She’s wanted me for years, followed me around before she made it big. You can’t compete with that, Tripp. But I give you points for trying. Let’s hope you can get some real points towards qualification, if that’s even why you’re here.”