He opens his mouth to protest. Shuts it. Opens it again as he cocks his head to the side. “You don’t know much about snowboarding, do you?”
My spine prickles with agitation, and I lose control of my calm voice. “What’s that supposed to mean?”For real, why can’t I keep my emotions level around this guy?
Ryder leans forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “It means you’ve probably never done it, otherwise you’d know that all your weight and all your steering are on your front leg. Max rides with his real leg forward, so he doesn’t have to rely on his bum leg to ride.”
I have no idea what that means. No retort. But I can’t let him have the last word. “Don’t call it a bum leg. It’s rude.”
He throws his hands up in mock surrender. “My bad – hisprosthesis. Is that better?”
“Yes.” I smile with false sweetness.
“How are you even in charge of this place if you haven’t snowboarded? Shouldn’t you know how to do the things you offer?”
“We offer lots of things here, I can’t master them all.” I lift my chin up like some snooty elitist before I can stop myself.He’s getting to me, dammit.
“What have you mastered then?” The playful smirk is gone, replaced by a skeptical glare.
“I… Well… I’ve mastered creating and marketing several different options to meet the needs of our guests.”
Ryder snorts. “You create and market activities you don’t even know how to do?”
“I’m a passable skier.” I feel my shoulders rounding under the weight of his gaze.
“Unbelievable.” He shoots off the couch with raised arms, drawing my eye to the way his snow pants hug his lean hips. “You don’t knowwhat you’re talking about andI’mthe one out of line for telling that kid’s parents what I think he’s capable of.” He points to his chest, snapping me out of my lusty haze.
I hate that he’s got a point. Plus, he lookedreallyconfident on the board, so I can’t argue his talent or knowledge of the sport.
“We just have to be careful about over-promising.” I steer us back to the real issue while standing my ground. After all, I’d say the same thing to everyone else, they just wouldn’t take issue with it.
“I’m not overpromising,” he grits through a clenched jaw. “Maybe if you had an inkling of what it’s like to ride a snowboard, you’d know that.” He looks me over with barely contained scorn and grabs his board before stomping out the door, leaving me to wonder if it’s futile to think we’ll ever find common ground.
***
It’s dark out by the time I lock up, and though my recent trip to the grocery store means I’ve got plenty of options for dinner, I’m in no mood to cook. Ryder’s unpredictable attitude has a way of siphoning my energy, so rather than settle for microwave pizza, I head over to Murphy’s.
Sloan, who I haven’t seen since the day he invited himself into my office, waves me over to the empty stool next to him. Though I’m even less interested in being social than eating frozen food, my feet carry me in his direction. Apparently, my body knows it’d be impolite to ignore the boss’s boyfriend even if my mind wants to feign ignorance.
My tired smile is about a quarter of the size of his as I plop onto the seat.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been meaning to set a date for happy hour, but things have just been crazy. Have you met Lennon?” He gestures to a blond man wearing a wool skirt behind the bar.
“No.” I subtly wipe my suddenly clammy hand on my pants before reaching for the hand that extends toward me.I’ve never seen a guy in a skirt before, but what’s even more surprising is that it seems to work on him.
“How have I been missing you?” Lennon asks after the introductions are made. “I’m here every day.”
“I’ve only been in a few times, and I usually get something to go.”
“Not tonight,” Sloan declares. “Since planning happy hour was a bust, we’ll just have to do it, right now.”
Lennon tells one of the bartenders to cover for him—evidently, it’s a slow night—and the three of us slide into a corner booth with a bucket of beers.
The conversation is light, as it usually is when you’re just getting to know people, though both men are surprisingly easy to talk to. They’ve got the same habit I do of getting immersed in their work, though they’re trying to find a little more balance after years of putting their social lives on hold. Sloan is an accomplished skier, always looking for people to ride with, while Lennon and his boyfriend snowboard. Or try to, anyway. Evidently Lennon’s out of practice, and his boyfriend is learning. The boyfriend, Axel, is a pro dirt-biker getting ready to offer clinics, and a new mountain bike park is in the works for the summer season.
Listening to Lennon and Sloan tout all that Katah Vista has to offer, I realize I’m living in possibly one of the best hubs for outdoor activity in the country. Ironic, since I’m not overly good at getting outdoors myself despite the fact my entire career is based on getting people exposed to the outdoors.
It was never my intent to sit behind a desk all the time, just a byproduct of trying to honor my cousin’s memory with my work, so having a group of locals to help me remember to have fun will be a nice change of pace. Especially if they can teach me things I’ve got zero experience with, like mountain biking.
Halfway through our beers, Carter makes an appearance, and with my spirits lifted a bit from the conversation I don’t even mind that the first thing he says to me is about Ryder.
