a mission. Especially Ben. It was as if he’d thought he was invincible. But he hadn’t been. “A direct answer to my question would be nice.”
“Then, yes, I’m experienced.”
“Good. the beginner slope is this way.” She put emphasis on “beginner”. “We do not call it the bunny slope.”
She didn’t miss the slight upturn of his mouth.
Baylie put her skis across her shoulder and started hiking up the low, snow-covered rise.
“By the way, why is it called ‘courtesy patrol’ instead of ‘ski patrol’?”
“Because we don’t want to be perceived as the policemen of the slopes. We are here to encourage courtesy and safety. Courtesy implies a kinder, gentler way of letting people enjoy the freedom of their vacation and holidays, with a reminder to be careful.”
“That makes sense. Nice idea. Unusual, but nice.”
Ahead of them at the top of the grade lay the ski school.
“So there isn’t a rope pull?” His voice held surprise.
Baylie smiled as she glanced at the short and slow ski lift off to their left. “No, we’re more advanced than that. We don’t believe in a ‘glove destroyer’, as we call it. Kids should learn to ride the lift. It’s just as important as learning to stand on skis.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he mumbled as his strong strides took him farther along the slope.
When they had walked far enough Baylie stopped and placed her skis on the snow. “We’ll ski down and ride up.”
“Don’t you mean ride up and ski down?”
“No. This is a reverse mountain. Here we stay on the top of the mountain and ski down. I know, at all the other resorts you stay at the bottom of the mountain and ride the lift up.” Shoving the toe of one boot into the binding, she pressed down on her heel until the click indicated her boot was secure. Hearing no movement from the man beside her, she looked in his direction.
His skis were butted into the snow, making them stand straight up beside him. A large hand, red from being exposed to the weather and white at the knuckles, held them upright. He’d made no move to put them on. He looked off over the landscape as if in a trance.
“Is there a problem?” Baylie followed his look, seeing nothing more than the beautiful countryside covered in white. She loved this place.
“No,” he said, almost too sharply. “I was just admiring the view.” He placed one ski on the ground carefully followed by the other then clamped his boot buckles closed.
With a quick slip and push she had her other ski snapped into place. Done, Baylie glanced at him again. She didn’t miss the small hesitation before he clicked his binding. In a smooth movement that showed his experience, his second ski went into place.
“Lead on,” he said.
She pushed off.
Every nerve in Kyle’s being went as taut as a tightrope. If he didn’t get it together, he’d be the clown in the circus. With relief, he felt his muscles contract and release as he moved downhill. It was coming back. For him skiing again was like the old saying about it being like riding a bike.
He followed the snow pixie ahead of him with the slightest unsteady movement before he felt control returning to his body. Making a maneuver with confidence he didn’t entirely feel, he slid up beside her in the lift line.
“Got your ski legs, I see. You’ll need them. The beginner slope may be our easiest slope but it’s also our busiest.”
Had she noticed his reluctance? He couldn’t—no, wouldn’t—let that happen. Something about her made him believe that she didn’t tolerate weakness in others, or in herself. He had no intention of letting his show. There could be no reason for questions. He looked her straight in the eyes.
“I’m aware of the type of skiers on the beginner slope. I can handle my assignment.”
“It’s my job to see that the resort visitors have a good time and are safe while doing it. I take it seriously, and you should too.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said in a placatory tone that indicated he had no plan to yield to her position.
They slid into place to wait on their lift seat then took a chair when it came around.
Despite their difference in size, Baylie’s leg brushed his, from hip to knee. A zip of awareness ran along his thigh. Even through the thickness of their ski gear he was conscious of her feminine curves pressed against him. Her personality might be prickly, but there was nothing uncomfortable about her softness.
Baylie shifted as if trying to put space between them but the limited seating area brought her leg back against his. For that brief moment when she’d pulled away, coolness had filled the gap and was replaced by heat when her leg met his again.
She inhaled deeply and released the breath slowly. “You’ll be expected to patrol this area and help anyone who needs it. Please pay special attention to the adults. The kids seem to get how to ride a lift right off but the adults can take out a group of skiers waiting in line faster than an avalanche.”
Kyle couldn’t help but chuckle at that turn of phrase. He’d seen it happen. They grinned at each other. For once that serious look had left her face. Where she’d been noticeably wholesome looking before, with a smile she became strikingly attractive.
Their skis touched snow again. After one unsure wobble, he skied off beside her. Success. Baylie seemed quite deft on her skis, making him all the more conscious of his lack of confidence.
“You have your radio. If you need anything, call in and someone with be here to help.”
With those final words Kyle watched as she skied off down the gentle slope in the direction from which they’d come and proceeded without a pause over the side of the mountain. She seemed very confident both on the snow and in her job. At one time he had been about the latter, but not now. Taking a deep breath, he marshaled his determination to get along with the patrol leader and get through the next two days, before putting his skis up forever.
Baylie wasn’t certain about the new guy.
He’d looked unsure for a moment when they’d been putting on their skis but that expression had disappeared quickly as they’d skied to the lift. If his confident attitude meant anything then he thought he could do anything well. It was one thing to be independent, another to be reckless. That she knew firsthand, and wasn’t impressed by it. She’d make a point of checking on him regularly during the day. It was important for the courtesy-patrol volunteers to display self-assurance on the slopes, not superiority.
Around midday Baylie skied off the lift that stopped at the top of the mountain. She’d made her rounds a number of times and had once found the new guy helping a girl up and later stopping an experienced skier to instruct him not to ski so fast through the learner area.
This visit Baylie skied up beside him. “You seem to be catching on pretty quick.”
“Most of it is just common
