“You’re a professor at the college, right? You teach all the outdoor stuff?”
Her eyes narrowed. He knew she worked at the college since he’d called her there before, but somehow his knowing exactly what she taught felt like a violation. Like he had researched her to learn all he could about her. Part of her thought that was smart, even impressive. It was good to know about the competition. She’d done the same with him, though the research was easy with all the hoopla over him.
Another part of her wanted to snap,Seriously? You had to dig through my life before you crushed my dreams?She hid her irritation behind a carefully neutral expression.
“I oversee it, though we have several instructors teaching different courses.”
“Right.” He stepped up beside her, and she caught a trace of cologne—warm, woodsy, distracting. He picked up a sticker off the table that advertised the ski hill. “Looks like an interesting program. Smart to work in conjunction with the resort.”
“It’s a great program,” Toby said. “Great way to learn to run a ski area.”
Steph smiled her thanks at Toby and stepped toward the next table. Jack followed, which she noted but didn’t acknowledge.
“Looking for anything specific?” he asked.
“A sled.”
“For The Frozen Divide?”
He knew about that, too?
She glanced at him. “Maybe.”
He nodded like this was useful information, proving her suspicion that he knew more about her than he should. She’d wondered since Monday, when he yanked her off the street, exactly why he was there and what he was doing in Irma. He needed to stay in Elkridge, where he belonged, and leave her town alone.
“There’s one near the back,” he said. “By the snowshoes. Looked like it was in decent shape.”
“Thank you.” She turned toward the back wall.
He fell into step beside her, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She did her best to ignore him.
The sled was where he said it would be. Basic utility. Nothing fancy, but solid and appeared to be barely used. She knelt to examine it.
“Is this what you’re looking for?” Jack asked, crouching beside her.
She stood and checked the price—more than she wanted to spend. Besides, she didn’t really need it. It wasn’t like she didn’t already have a variety of sleds.
“I’ll think about it.”
He stood, too, and for a moment, they were closer than the space required. She took a half step back and looked across the gym, more to have somewhere to look than for any reason.
That’s when she saw them.
He came through the main doors with his wife beside him. They were laughing about something, his hand on the small of her back, and Steph had about three seconds to arrange her face before he spotted her.
“Steph!” Chris Hepner came toward her with his usual confidence. His wife came with him, smiling.
“Great,” she muttered, a smile still in place.
Bethany reached Steph first and pulled her into a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You too,” Steph echoed.
Chris’s hug was next, only slightly awkward. “Thought we might see you here. Find any good deals?”
“I haven’t really looked.” She watched as Chris’s gaze drifted toward Jack. Steph cleared her throat. “Um, do you know Jack Swisher?”
“Oh!” Bethany’s tone didn’t hide her excitement. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you.” She offered her hand. “Chris’s dad was just telling us about your plans. He said you’ve started pulling a lot of permits already.”
