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“No worries.” She opened the car and they climbed in. “I really enjoyed it. I’ll cover again tomorrow if Aileen can’t make it.”

Sam was silent for a moment as she started the car and pulled out of the car park. “Are you sure? I can do it if not, it’s my remit after all.”

She shook her head, unable to keep the smile from her face or the enthusiasm from her voice. “I loved it. It was amazing.” She sighed. “It feels so good to be back out there, teaching. You know?”

Running a hand through his hair in a familiar way, he smiled. “I know.”

Maya met his eyes, and a silent understanding passed between them, reminding her they were kindred spirits when it came to this stuff. She swallowed as she glanced away. Perhaps she was starting to believe that they were kindred spirits in general too, but that was a dangerous train of thought. “Tomorrow we need to look at the race plans. Time’s getting on.”

“That’d be great,” Sam replied, his eyes lighting up. “There’s an issue with one of the prizes, and I could use your help with that.”

“No worries. Let’s meet in the afternoon, before I start the kids’ class.”

“Awesome.” He sighed. “I hope the race comes off okay. I wanted it to be bigger and better this year, but I’m worried it’ll go in the opposite direction because I’ve spread myself too thin.”

Maya glanced over, touching his hand. Which she then regretted because every time she made contact with him, it felt like she’d been electrocuted. In a good, but intense way. “It’ll be fine. We’ll sort it. I was telling one of the students about it today—Brodie. He’s going to come.”

“Oh yeah?” His voice was a tad flat. “Is that the guy you were having coffee with?”

“Yeah, that was him. He manages one of the ski shops in town. The new one.”

He fiddled with the glove compartment. “Cool.”

They completed the journey to the usual spot where Maya had dropped him off after the butler gig. “I’ll pick you up here, tomorrow morning.”

“Thanks.” He hesitated, glancing down the street, then brushed his lips against her cheek.

For a second, she couldn’t catch her breath. She had to consciously pull herself together.

“See you tomorrow,” he said, and he was out of the car before she managed to respond.

Chapter

Twelve

Hanging up the phone with the garage, Sam breathed a sigh of relief that the car was fixed and would be ready for pickup early the next morning. But when he pondered that it meant the drive home that evening would be his last ride with Maya, a stab of disappointment quickly followed.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he realized he’d be sorry to lose their little nuggets of time. He got the feeling that she would too. But it couldn’t last forever, and at least he’d still get to see her at work. Somehow, that was cold comfort. He lifted his wrist to check the time and registered they were due to meet soon. His pulse kicked with excitement.

Standing and grabbing his jacket and laptop case, he made his way downstairs and through the back foyer onto the terrace, scanning the area for her coming off the slopes from the class she was covering again for Aileen. He didn’t know what he would’ve done without Maya’s assistance over the past few weeks. Probably have had a nervous breakdown.

Signaling Katie on her way past, he ordered them a couple of hot chocolates. Maya was a fan of the café’s signature hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows and cream.

On a whim, he asked Katie to bring their order to the fireside table in the alcove. He’d discovered it was Maya’s favorite place to sit too. Another thing they had in common.

He smiled, thinking about just how many similarities they shared and how lucky he was to have her as a friend again. Perhaps an even closer friendship than they’d originally had, and that was something he’d never thought would be the case.

He spotted her arriving at the bottom of the slope, followed closely by that Brodie guy. Something swirled sickeningly in his stomach.

The realization that, deep down, he wanted more than friendship with Maya rose up, and guilt overwhelmed him. That was why he was jealous at the thought of her becoming romantically involved with someone else.

I don’t have any right to be jealous. She’s a friend, not my girlfriend. Stop being a dick. He swallowed in an attempt to dislodge the feeling, but it didn’t work.

Brodie was lifting his hand to Maya’s arm, and Sam realized there was a large tear in her ski jacket. Maya smiled at Brodie, and nodded as he moved away. Then she spoke to her other students, doling out hugs and high fives.

Eventually she turned and saw him, a big smile spreading across her face, which sent a wave of heat through his being.

She crossed the snow toward him, her skis over her shoulder and her dark hair fluttering in the breeze.