He leads me to the wet room and hands me a ski suit.
“It belongs to Greta, my sister. She keeps her ski gear here for when she visits. You look about her size.”
“Where are we going?” I take the ski suit, and it does look about my size. But it’s dark, and there’s just been a snowstorm.
“There’s fresh powder and no one on the mountain.”
He’s shrugging his ski gear on, but I hesitate.
“But it’s nighttime.”
He gives me a broad grin, and it’s the grin I fell in love with two years ago when he was my carefree ski instructor.
“Have you never been night skiing, Allie?”
I shake my head, but the idea is thrilling. “Isn’t it dangerous?”
“Not when there’s a full moon and you’re with Wild Heart Mountain’s premier ski instructor.”
He’s grinning like a schoolboy, and my heart does a flip. This is definitely something my mother wouldn’t approve of. Excitement flutters in my belly, and I climb into the ski suit.
I haven’t been on a pair of skis for two years. After what happened with Hans, I lost interest. But now as I pull the heavy fabric around me, I realize how much I’ve missed it.
“If you get us lost…” I shake my head slowly, but I’m smiling. I’ll follow Hans anywhere, but I also trust him. He knows the mountain better than anyone.
Twenty minutes later I’m sweaty and panting hard as we trudge through the knee deep snow, carrying Greta’s skis in one hand and poles in the other.
“I thought you said this would be fun.”
Hans is a few paces ahead of me, his headlamp illuminating the ground. He turns around, giving me a chance to catch my breath.
“It will be, trust me. We just need to get to the top of the ridge.”
We’re walking through pines, and in another ten minutes we get to a clearing. I have to rest with my hands on my knees to get my breathing under control.
Hans rests his hand on my shoulder. “Look up, Allie.”
I straighten up, and we’re looking over the valley. The lights of the resort are laid out before us, and I can make out the huge Christmas tree in the center of the resort. Red and green Christmas lights are strung around the cabins, and from up here it looks like Santa’s village.
“It’s beautiful,” I say.
“I knew you’d like it. But lookupup.”
He tilts his head, and I follow his gaze. Above us, the entire Milky Way is spread out. The storm has blown all the clouds away, and the stars shine bright like a sea of diamonds.
“Oh wow.”
Hans takes my hand and we stare up at the night sky for a long time, not needing to talk. Even through our gloves his touch heats me up, and a warmth spreads through my entire body. It’s magical up here with him. I feel alive and something I haven’t felt in a long time:happy.
Eventually, Hans clips his boots into his skis, and I do the same.
“There’s a route down this side of the valley that’s all powder. It’s through trees, no ridges, but stay close to me.”
“We’re really doing this?” I’ve never been night skiing before, and my heart’s pounding. I’m itching to get on the fresh powder but a little nervous about skiing in the dark.
“Yup, we’re doing this.”
Hans flicks his headlamp back on, which lights the snow in front of him. With his light and the light of the moon, I can just make out the shapes of the trees. But I don’t know what else is under the snow.
