tow, to get her things. Not optimal. Which way?
“Go left,” Val called out.
Adriana stiffened. Figures.
He skied on her right, herding her toward the trail.
“Hey.” She slowed down to get away from him. “Cut it out.”
He kept her pace. “Come. This is the quickest way to Lionshead.”
“Val, please, I’m not playing.”
He wouldn’t move out of her way. Which was more annoying: the fact that he wouldn’t leave her or that she kinda liked it?
Ugh. She was a lost cause.
She went left onto the light-dappled path. He took the lead, giving her a choice view of his incredible ass and legs. His whole body was fierce, but watching his lower half right now was killer. She couldn’t imagine his muscles ever burning the way hers had been.
Fifteen minutes later, Vail Village was finally coming into view. Another hundred yards and she was down. Happiness danced through her veins. She almost didn’t recognize it, since she’d barely felt it at all today, but there it was.
He slowed up.
Adriana skied alongside of him. “Now that was fun.”
Val shed his goggles up and rumpled his hair. “You are a good skier.”
“I told you.”
“You did.” His brows raised.
“Yeah, but not in that other stuff and the whole off-piste thing creeped the hell out of me.”
“Once you shifted your balance you were fine.” His lashes lowered over his stunning eyes.
“I don’t know.” She took off her goggles. “I love flying down like we just did so much more.”
“Me too, but you can do that in fresh snow too. I will teach you a few tricks.” Pocketing his goggles, he looked up at the very pregnant clouds. “Looks like there will be a lot more to play in tomorrow.”
“I can’t. I have to get home.” They were at the bottom just in time, the lifts were closed. Ski Patrol were herding the last skiers down. People were crisscrossing here and there with their skis and poles. She put her goggles in her jacket and got her phone.
“New York?”
“I’ve gotta figure out this job thing.” It was four ten p.m. If she scrambled, she could be at the airport by eightish.
“Not tonight.”
Adriana stopped trying to load her web browser and stared at him.
He ran his palm across his face. “The last flight out of Denver to New York is around seven, you’ll never make it to the airport in time.”
“No way.”
He shrugged and stabbed his poles into the snow pack. “I go often.”
Stuck here? No. Swallowing, she put her phone away. She’d have to go with plan B, dealing with Jackie.
“It will be all right.”
With Adriana’s insides churning, nothing about this was okay.
“Let’s get your things.”
Her face burned, but she said nothing.
“I know. You do not want to see her.”
Summoning a bitter smile, she blinked back her emotions. “No choice. I’ve gotta deal.”
“Later.” Val skimmed his teeth across his lips. “Have a drink with me.” He gazed at her so intensely it sent shivers through her.
Adriana wet her lips. How could she say no to those eyes and lips? “Just one.”
His smile was stunning. It lit up his whole face. This man was dangerous. He stepped out of his skis and helped her out of hers, then lifted both pair and ushered her through a door labeled Private .
It was a fancy coed locker room, with green cushioned benches between rows of wooden lockers. There was a large living room sitting area in the back with a fireplace that was ablaze. A few of the skiers greeted Val.
Val tipped his head toward a bench in the corner and Adriana sat down. She had the perfect view of everything. Most of the people coming in and out had Ski Patrol jackets on and the others were definitely pros. They had US Ski Team and sponsor patches on their clothes. “How’d you score this?”
He scratched the amber scruff on his cheek. “I know people?”
“I’ll say.”
They took off their boots, and Val secured them away with their skis. “Where are your things?”
Handing him her