“Why?”
“It just is.”
“Ash tells me you’re a good student. You can come up with a better reason than that.”
How would Asher know what kind of a student I was? Then again, from the start, he’d known a lot more about me than I’d known about him. “I could, but it’s not my job to explain it to you.”
His jaw tightened slightly, and for a moment, he reminded me of Asher—stiff and defensive. But then his grin returned, easy as ever. “You’re more fun in the hideaway in front of the fire.”
“No doubt,” I said stiffly.
“Or in the gym.” He smirked.
“I’m here on business. Not to discuss your favorite places to hit on women in the lodge.”
“Good,” he said, his tone lightening completely now. “Because you haven’t even begun to list all of them.”
I couldn’t help it—I almost smiled. Now that I knew him better, it was nearly impossible to stay upset around him for long. That grin. The glint in his eyes. I couldkind of see why those two women had liked talking to him so much.
“Do you know where Landon is? I need to talk to him next.”
“Probably in his sanctuary.”
“The place with the plants?”
Kai looked surprised. “He showed you that?”
“Yep.”
“Well, he’ll be there at sunset. Not sure where he is now.”
“Thanks.”
As I went about my next tasks, keeping an eye out for Landon, I kept thinking about Kai. He acted like nothing ever got him down, and I wondered what it would be like to live like that. I spent half my days anxious about the future, upset about the present—like that coffee shop I managed back at school. Despite all my efforts to bring in more customers, it still wasn’t turning a profit. But Kai just seemed so uncomplicated. So carefree.
He reminded me of Peyton in that way—impulsive, never taking anything too seriously. But Kai was a world-class skier. Peyton couldn’t even figure out what she wanted to do with her life. And I knew that if I didn’t spend every moment studying, learning, preparing for my future, I wouldn’t amount to anything either. I’d end up like my sister—drifting from one thing to the next, never committing, never building anything real.
But was Kai really as uncomplicated as he seemed? Or was that just the version of himself he showed the world? I didn’t know if I’d ever understand someone like him, but that didn’t mean I didn’t like being around him.
Later, after I’d tracked down Landon and confirmed the maintenance reports were up to date, we went down to get a late dinner together. It was nice, having him at my side. But I couldn’t help but watch the way Kai joked and laughed with everyone around him, completely in his element. And then I let myself think about the gym.
I wished I hadn’t pushed him away so soon. What he’d done, the way his hands had moved along my body—I’d never felt anything like that. I didn’t know a kiss could feel that good.
Maybe it wouldn’t have with anyone but him. But I had a strong suspicion that Landon and Asher could make it feel just as well if they wanted it to.
Later that night,we gathered in the hideaway. Kai appeared with a bottle of champagne, and the cork flew out with a loud pop. Landon caught it mid-air without even looking.
“What’s the occasion?” I asked.
“If you drink enough of it, you get drunk,” Kai said. “That’s a good enough occasion for me.”
Landon shook his head. “Asher usually has to skipChristmas and New Year’s Eve, because he’s working in the restaurant. So we like to celebrate when we can. I imagine you’ll miss them too.”
“Me?”
Kai poured champagne into four glasses. “Yes. Because you spend the entire day running all over the place, especially walking back and forth across the lobby, your high heels clicking on the floor. It drives me insane.”
That was a little insulting. “Because of the sound?”
