going to let you in on a little secret, Jackson,” Carter said, leaning down to look the kid straight in the eye. “I’m a slow learner. I have to practice something ten times more than other people before I finally master it.”
“Really? But you’ve got gold medals and X-Energy girls hanging around you. Doesn’t seem like you have any problems,” Jackson said.
“Dude, those girls get paid to hang around me,” Carter replied, realizing that the women might attract older men to the sport but were sending the wrong message to younger ones. “There are a lot of things in life, not just skiing or snowboarding, that are hard. Some of them are going to be a breeze for you and other things will be a breeze for your friends or your sister and will take you longer to master.”
Carter put his poles in one hand and held his other out to Jackson. The kid reached up, and Carter pulled him to his feet. “I’m a little worried about my first run down the slope.”
“We can go together,” Jackson offered.
“Deal,” Carter said. He glanced over Jackson’s head and noticed Lindsey watching him. He winked at her.
She shook her head at him, but mouthed her thanks. “You guys ready to take your run?”
“We are,” Jackson said.
Carter stayed close to Jackson as they got to the top of the slope. Lindsey skied up next to them and smiled, but he noticed the tension around her mouth. He wondered if just being on the skis was rattling her.
“Give yourself a minute to look down the slope,” Lindsey said. “Remember where you fell?”
“Yeah.”
“This time in your mind picture yourself going straight past there,” she said.
“I will. Ready, Carter?”
“I am.”
Together they took off down the slope, and it didn’t really take Carter any time to adjust to having two skis under him instead of his snowboard. Lindsey had given them the basics, but more than that, just knowing the kid and Lindsey were watching was enough to make him want to do a little better.
The entire class was at the bottom of the small slope, and he looked back up at Lindsey. He was scared for her, and wondered if she’d be able to ski down it. But he saw her take a breath and come sailing down.
Her form was shaky to his eyes, but he’d seen her at her best, and today it was fear driving her—not the need to win. The smile on her face as she joined their little group, though... That was real.
* * *
THE CLASS BROKE UP and all the kids were reconnected with their parents. Jackson waved happily at Carter. Lindsey shook her head. Was there anyone who Carter couldn’t relate to?
She sat and took off her skis, and then stood there for a minute. Her first run in the better part of a year. It was a big deal and she didn’t downplay it. She’d been scared, but as usual letting Carter see any vulnerability had pushed her to just do it. And now she had. She was tempted to take another run. Down the little slope again? Or maybe something more moderate. Maybe one of the bunny slopes.
“Great class,” Carter said, coming up to her.
“Yeah? Well, you were certainly a big hit. What are you even doing here?” she asked. “Ski lessons? Just doesn’t seem to be your style.”
“When are you going to learn that I don’t fit the little mold you keep trying to shove me into?” he asked. “I’m here because if I’m going to lead a team with skiers on it, I have to at least be able to participate in a few of their events.”
“Crap. Do you think I’ll have to snowboard?” she asked. She didn’t even want to begin to think about that. Not now. “I might give it a go on one of those indoor places. It’s all virtual.”
“I’ve seen them. In fact, I have one that is branded in my name,” he said.
She laughed. Of course he did. That was really a Carter sort of thing. From the beginning he’d took to the press and to advertising as though born to it. He was photogenic, that went without saying, but he also really liked the spotlight. Almost as much as he liked snowboarding—or at least that was the impression she’d always had.
“Well, then, I guess you know what I’m talking about.”
“I do,” he said. “The kids in your class were great, by the way.”
“You caught a good class. Some of them aren’t so great. Jackson sure took to you.” Lindsey looked up at him. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you were really encouraging.”
“Shocked you, didn’t it?” he asked with a rueful grin. “Don’t let the word get out or all my rivalries will look like shams.”
“As one of your biggest adversaries, I’d never let the cat out of the bag.” She studied him for a long moment. “Have you ever thought about coaching?”
“It’s really not my thing. I mean, helping Jackson over a learning curve is one thing, but day in, day out, keeping up that kind of energy... I’m not sure I could do it.”
That was too bad. He’d sounded as though he really got the difficulties that came along with participating in a sport. Well, duh. She shook her head.
“I saw that look on your face after the run. You liked it, didn’t you?” he asked.
“Sort of. When I got to the bottom, I was elated that I’d done it. But if you and the class hadn’t been at the bottom, I might have walked away.”
“I don’t think so. You’ve turned a corner, Linds. You’re not walking away from anything anymore.”
He was right—she wasn’t. She didn’t know how she was going to take a big run, but from now on she wasn’t going to let her fear dominate her. She’d sort of turned a corner, and she knew exactly who to thank for it.
The only problem she could see was that she’d sort of tried shoving him out of her life, but here he was again. He was one determined fellow, as her granny would say.
“Why do you keep showing up?”
“Why do you keep pushing me away?” he countered. “That’s the real question. What is it about me that makes you do that?”
She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. “I just need to sort through my stuff. And this job... I have to make some decisions, and I’ve always believed the best time to get involved with a man—”
“Wait. Are you actually contemplating getting involved with me? I thought I was your dirty secret. Your booty call.”
She shook her head in exasperation. “I don’t know why I try to talk to you. You look like a normal human being but inside you’re just one big ass.”
“I am. I really am,” he said. “But let’s both agree that you have been treating me as though I have the plague.”
“You like to exaggerate, don’t
