“I’ll be in touch.” She shook the hand he offered, then put on her skis and headed back toward the base area.
She was greeted by a chorus of “Congratulations!” when she entered patrol headquarters, and Shelby received plenty of pats on her way to her kennel.
“Settle down, everyone,” Scott called. “We’ve got a lot on our schedule today.”
And that was it. Another accomplishment ticked off, but just another day on the job. Maybe she and Jackson could raise a toast when she babysat for him tonight.
The rest of the day was a typical busy day. The snow was good and the sun was out, so the resort was packed. Lily helped transport a woman with a knee injury from a steep black run on the back side of the resort to the clinic at the base area, helped move a bunch of fencing to a storage area behind the terrain park, answered questions from tourists, took Shelby out for some exercise and obedience drills, and ran general patrols.
When she stopped for lunch at twelve thirty, she saw she had missed a call from Denny Endicott. He had left a voicemail. “We won’t need you to babysit tonight. Change of plans. Thanks.”
She wished she had been able to talk to him. She wanted to know how he was doing. But maybe he would have thought she was being too personal. She thought of him as a friend but really, to him she was probably just the babysitter.
She was collecting her belongings at the end of the day when Nina stopped by her locker. “Big plans for tonight?” Nina asked. She had freed her long blond hair from the braid she usually wore, and it fell about her face in attractive waves. She looked runway-ready in black leggings and a black turtleneck that accentuated every curve.
“I was supposed to babysit, but that got canceled,” Lily said.
“Then come out with me. We can celebrate Shelby’s certification.”
At the mention of her name, the dog nuzzled Nina’s hand. Nina obliged by rubbing the dog’s ears.
“Where would we go?” Lily asked.
“Just to the Trail’s End for a few drinks and something to eat. Nothing fancy. Some of the other patrollers will probably be there. The dogs will be fine here for the few hours we’re gone. You can ride with me.”
“Thanks. I’d like that. Just give me a sec.” Though she had been part of this ski patrol team for a month now, she hadn’t socialized much after work. It would be good to have a night out and get to know people better.
Chapter Three
The Trail’s End was a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike, and on a Friday night it was packed with people, all talking loudly to be heard over the mix of alternative country that blared over the speakers. Scott pushed his way toward the bar, behind Connor and a lift tech named Hank. The two friends had waylaid Scott outside Ski Patrol headquarters and persuaded him to go out with them for a beer.
While they waited for the bartender, Hank entertained them with an account of the twelve-year-old triplets in matching pink ski suits and blond pigtails who had delighted the crowds in the lift lines by blowing bubbles and handing out candy to celebrate their birthday. “Cutest little girls, and they were eating up the attention, too,” he said.
“Hey, it’s our turn.” Connor pointed to the bar, and they moved forward to place their orders.
Beer in hand, Scott turned to survey the crowd. He recognized a couple of fellow employees from the resort, as well as a few couples he had spotted on the slopes that day. Then the door opened and Nina entered. The tall blonde couldn’t help but turn heads. Behind him, Hank gave a low whistle. “Our own Powder Princess,” he said softly, a reference to a nickname some sports blog had given Nina in her ski racing days.
But it was the woman behind Nina who made Scott’s heart strike an extra beat. Lily wasn’t especially tall, but she carried herself with a confidence he admired. But she wasn’t arrogant. People liked Lily, from the ski school toddlers to entitledtourists. Whereas he apparently had a talent for rubbing people the wrong way, Lily could charm even the grumpiest complainer.
He wouldn’t say she had exactly charmed him, but she did distract him. He’d like to figure out why.
“Hey, Nina! Lily! Over here!” Connor raised one arm and motioned the women over.
“Hello, Connor. Hank. Scott.” Lily’s smile sent warmth through him, even though she had barely glanced at him.
The bartender approached. “What can I get you ladies?”
“Hah!” Hank said. He was a wiry dark-haired man with soulful brown eyes and a thin moustache. “I had to wait fifteen minutes to place my order.”
Nina smiled at the bartender. “I’ll have an Avalanche Pale Ale and an order of chili cheese fries.” She glanced at Lily. “Is that okay? We can split the fries.”
“Sure. I’ll have a Snowcap Cider.”
“My treat,” Hank said, and reached for his wallet.
“No thanks,” Nina said. “I always pay my own way.” She handed over a credit card, the smile just as warm.
Lily handed over cash to cover her share of the order, then turned her back to the bar. She surveyed the crowd, then glanced at Scott. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
