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you?’”
    He waited for Brenna to admit how she felt, and when she didn’t, he searched his brain for an explanation. “They are the stars of tomorrow.” He regurgitated something he’d read at the top of Jess’s school report and then decided he needed something more plausible. “And there’s no feeling quite like basking in the adulation of teenage girls. I don’t get anywhere near enough adulation around here, so I’ll do it.”
    “No.” Brenna finally found her voice. “We all know it’s not your thing. I’ll do it.”
    “I’m making it my
thing.
I’m doing it, and that’s final.”
    Kayla gave a delighted chortle. “I can see the headline now—downhill champion coaches losing high school team. Great story.” She started to pace, her enthusiasm and excitement visible in every tap of her heels. “I could see if it would interest someone as a documentary. Could I do that?”
    Tyler, who loathed the press after a particularly nasty piece about his alleged involvement with a stunning Austrian snowboarder, felt the hairs on the back of his neck lift. “Not if you want me to do the coaching.”
    Jackson was frowning. “Are you sure you want to do it?”
    “I’m sure.” Tyler thought of what he’d just committed himself to and decided Friday was now officially his worst day of the week. “Are we about done? Because staring at all those lines on the spreadsheet is making me feel as if I’m behind bars. I have work to do on some of the equipment. Proper work, I mean, not the sort that means giving presentations.”
    It was fun to wind his brother up, and it took his mind off the fact Brenna was hurting, a thought that made him restless and uncomfortable.
    “We’re nearly done.” Jackson refused to be rushed. “As you know, they’re predicting a big statewide snowstorm. A winter storm watch is up. According to the forecast, the storm will be right down the New England coast, which puts us in the sweet spot for snow, good news given that the snow pack is twenty percent down on the average for this time of year.”
    “Hey, it’s winter in Vermont. One minute you’re skiing on grass, then you’re slithering on ice, and if you get really lucky, you’re up to your neck in powder.” But the mention of snow roused Tyler from his state of boredom. “How much snow, exactly?”
    “Between twelve and fourteen inches. Possibly more.”
    “That is the best news I’ve had in a long time. I love a good powder day.”
    “So do our guests, and they’ll pay for a guide so you’ll be busy.”
    “Trust you to ruin good news. Do you ever think of anything other than work?”
    “Not with our busiest time of the year approaching, no. We’re a winter sports resort.”
    Kayla glanced up from her laptop. “And you’re our USP.”
    “I’m your
what?
”
    “Our unique selling point. No other resort has a gold-medal-winning downhill skier available for hire.”
    “I’m not for hire.”
    Ignoring his dangerous tone, Kayla smiled. “You are for a price. A good price, I might add. You’re not cheap. Have you taken a look at our new website? There is a whole page devoted to you.
Ski with the
best in the world.
”
    Tyler suppressed a yawn. “Can’t I give them a map and let them find their own way?”
    Jackson ignored that. “People will pay good money to lay down tracks in fresh snow and enjoy the silence.”
    “And with all those people enjoying it, there won’t be any silence,” Tyler pointed out, but Jackson wasn’t listening.
    “The snow will be fun on the slopes, less fun on the roads.” As usual, his brother focused on the implications for the business. “If it happens, we’ll need to find rooms for as many staff as possible because the snowplows will have trouble keeping up.”
    Deciding that logistics weren’t his problem, Tyler rose to his feet. “My bed is big enough for two. Three if they’re blonde.” He kept his eyes away from Brenna’s shiny dark hair. “I’m going now