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“How do you mean?” Where was that damned purse? If she couldn’t find it, then they’d need to swing by hers to fetch it, because she wanted a wad of tickets. Unless she could borrow off Liv or Elise.

“Are you guys seeing each other?”

“Aha. There it is.” She lifted out the purse. “Are we what?”

He hesitated. “Seeing each other.”

For a moment she had to think what he meant. “Brodie and me? We’re just friends. I’m not really looking to date again yet.”

Maya thought for a moment, not really sure why she felt that way. It wasn’t as if she was heartbroken over Rich; she hardly thought about him at all. So why wasn’t she interested in dating anyone?

“I just assumed, after that kiss under the mistletoe . . .” Sam shot her a smile, though for some reason it didn’t reach his eyes.

Maya swallowed as she realized the reason she wasn’t interested in Brodie, or anyone else for that matter, was the feelings she harbored for Sam. Feelings that she didn’t want to examine the depth of because she’d end up hurt. He still had a girlfriend, even if she refused to speak to him.

She plastered a smile onto her face, sobered by those thoughts. “It was just a peck. Didn’t mean anything.”

They pulled into the car park and headed for the top floor. There were cheers from the crowd as Sam entered, and he was swept into more hugs and slaps on the back.

Smiling, Maya headed to the table that Liv and Elise were at, sitting with Arran and Nico, plus Ben and a few others from the ski team. There was a bottle of beer waiting for her, and she took a seat, listening to the chat at the table and watching Sam work the room. He was handed beer after beer, and seemed to be doing a sterling job of sinking them.

Nico leaned over. “Hopefully Sam won’t be slurring too much by the time he takes to the microphone for his speech and prize giving.”

“I know,” Maya said, keeping her eyes on Sam. “They’d better bring the gig forward before the guy keels over.” She glanced down at their bottles. “Speaking of which, it’s my round. Same again?”

Nico nodded. “Please.”

Maya stood. “Everyone want another?” There was a chorus of yeses, and Maya headed first toward the raffle table to purchase a huge pile of tickets, and then the bar to get a trayful of fresh drinks.

Just as she reached the table with the tray and was handing them out, Sam got onto the makeshift stage at the side of the room, and someone tapped their glass loudly for quiet.

Maya took her seat as a chorus of shushes filled the air and everyone fell silent to listen.

Sam cleared his throat. “I want to thank you all for giving up your Sunday in order to make the fourth annual Glenavie sled race such a success. We’ve raised a lot of money so far for a truly excellent cause.” He pointed to a picture of the children’s hospice on the screen behind him.

Maya leaned over to Nico. “Surprisingly nonslurred.”

He grinned.

Sam continued. “I particularly want to thank the ski team, who gave up their time to run the event today. Especially Maya, who’s hiding over there, not wanting to take any of the credit.”

Everyone looked at her, so she tried to duck behind Nico.

“Oh no you don’t,” Nico said loudly, shifting to the side.

She received a round of applause and a big cheer, heat rising in her face as she gave the room an awkward wave.

Sam smiled, meeting Maya’s gaze. “Maya donated one of the prizes, a fabulous oil painting by our very own Arran Adebayo.” He pointed toward Arran, and their table led a large cheer, with Arran giving a wave to the room. “Plus, Maya also organized our top prize, through her contacts.”

There was another cheer; then Sam started to run down the winners, last to first, and gave each of the prize donors a shoutout. When it got to Nico’s prize, he stood and took a bow, with more than one admiring glance from the ladies in the room. Except Elise, who rolled her eyes.

“And finally,” Sam announced. “The first prize is . . . six tickets to see Glasgow’s own Iona Mac perform in her home city, along with backstage passes.”

The room erupted, and the winner of the prize jumped out of their seat in delight.

Maya couldn’t keep the grin off her face as the winner threw their arms around Sam. She raised her bottle to the table and clinked it with the others’, taking a drink.

The chat started again, and Maya began to feel fatigued after the day’s activities. Watching Sam for a little while, she noticed that he’d managed to sink a few more bottles, judging by the little pile in the corner by the stage.