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Ruben shook his head. “No. I did have breaks in the afternoon. But you were never in your room. You were always out and about with your students.”

“So it was a success?” Why was I nervous and desperate to know his answer?

“It was a real success. I was even invited to join my boss at a guest’s table once.” I must have shown concern on my face, because Ruben immediately clarified. “To praise the food in my presence. Not to complain.”

Relieved, I laughed.

Before I could reply, Chloe called across the table to Ruben. “Hey, Ruben, this nut stuff is new, right? You’ve got these things in everything now. In bread, in muesli, in pancakes, in cookies.”

Next to me, Ruben turned bright red. He waved his hand dismissively. “They’re not nuts—they’re pistachios.”

Chloe continued talking. “Anyway, whatever. It’s fine. But I don’t need them in my pancakes. Just wanted to let you know.”

“Good to know, Chloe. Do you want to cook tomorrow?” Chris interjected with a wink.

Chloe quickly shook her head. “Oh no. Forget I said anything.”

“It was only a test. To see what they go with,” Ruben muttered.

“Don’t get me wrong—they’re delicious, Ruben,” Chloe insisted. “I just noticed.”

I leaned slightly against Ruben. “I like them. No matter what form they come in.”

He smiled slightly. “I know.” He spoke softly so that I could barely hear him. He had said the same thing on the beach. What was I doing with this guy?

He cleared his throat and turned back to me. “Anyway. That trip to the highlands on Friday.”

I laughed out loud. “That was hardly it.”

“Whatever. Anyway, it was exactly what I needed. Even though my thighs are still hurting. That was a different kind of pain.” He put his hand on my thigh and continued, lost in thought. “I can’t even imagine how hard you had to work to get where you are in your profession. It’s not a joke. You have to stay physically fit all the time.”

Surprise shot through me, and my eyes zoned in on his hand on my thigh. As if he had burned himself, Ruben pulled his hand away. Too bad. Too, too bad.

But I couldn’t let him get away with it that easily. “A massage helps with sore muscles. Or a hot bath. Maybe some time in a Jacuzzi.”

“Hmm.” The tips of Ruben’s ears turned red. “We’ll see.”

“Maybe I can help you with that.”

Ruben didn’t wait to hear how I wanted to help but instead checked the table with excitement. “I really have to get going now. I’ve been sitting here long enough.”

It definitely wasn’t long enough for me.

I could only guess what Ruben was thinking. But slowly I got the idea that he might not find me as repulsive and uninteresting as I had assumed.

I was sweating. I never sweat when I was out with beginners. Normally, I had to make sure I didn’t get cold while the newbies hoisted their heavy behinds out of the snow again, only to land back in it every other turn. The turning point always came when they lost their sense of body awareness, leaving them unable to carry their momentum. Instead, they fell back onto their backsides, while I stood there and offered words of encouragement.

It didn’t bother me much. Hopping up the mountain with a board attached to my feet was excellent training.

Today, however, I had a different problem. My mid-forties adrenaline junkie had no problems with turns. Or Maria didn’t let them become a problem for her. Without regard for the consequences, she raced across the entire width of the slope, paying no attention to other snowboarders or skiers.

“Fuck!” I cursed under my breath as I apologized to a piqued skier whom Maria had cut off, while at the same time chasing after my student, who wasn’t following any of my instructions.

“Edge!” Damn it. “Edge! Slow down.” But my words went unheard. Or they were ignored. The panic of what she could do sent a new wave of sweat over me.

With her butt sticking out far behind her and her arms rowing in front of her, Maria managed at the last second to avoid crashing into a group of children.

I braked sharply beside her that snow sprayed up.