Page 31 of Rise After Fall

“Their flight was delayed, and he called to cancel about forty-five minutes ago. He’ll check with you to reschedule when they arrive.”

“You know, in my day, the men bought the ladies a drink,” Leona muses.

“In this day, ladies can buy their own drinks and a man’s, too, if they want,” Brandee states.

“And from the thirsty look of those snow bunnies, they definitely want,” Erin says.

“Be nice,” Morris drawls.

He kisses his mother’s cheek before they join their new friends at the bar.

“Should they be fraternizing with the clients like that?” Brandee asks.

I shrug. “There aren’t any rules against it,” I reply.

“Maybe you should make some,” Erin suggests.

“I’m sure that would go over well. Morris would know instantly that we had a hand in it,” Anna says.

I look over my shoulder at the four of them enjoying themselves.

“As long as they are respectful and don’t break any laws, there’s nothing I can say. It’s part of ski culture. Hot instructors are always hooking up with the clientele.”

Erin sets her glass down and peers at me. “So, you think baby Tuttle is hot.”

My attention snaps to her. “I didn’t say that.”

She grins.

“You kinda did,” Jena agrees.

“I didn’t mean that. I was just saying it happens all the time.” I try to talk my way out of the corner I’ve found myself in.

“It’s okay. He is getting more and more adorable, the older he gets,” Erin says.

“Psst, he’s a whole grown-ass man now,” Jena says.

“Yep, and he has that Tuttle swagger and dimple,” Ansley points out.

“Handsome devil,” Leona agrees.

“My last heartbreaker,” Sara-Beth muses.

“Probably not for long,” I quip.

All their eyes come to me.

“We ran into a girl in town the other morning before breakfast. She was beautiful and very much interested in him.”

“What girl?” Erin asks.

“She had shoulder-length red hair. It was Kennedy or Kenzie—”

“Kinley Adams,” Sara-Beth guesses.

“That was it—Kinley,” I confirm.

“She’s a sweetheart,” Leona chirps.