Page 34 of Landing Liam

“It’s a small mountain,” he replies with a teasing wink before taking a seat and leaning back in a chair as if he owns the place. “Hard not to bump into you when you’re everywhere I want to be.”

“Smooth,” I say, arching a brow. “Do you practice these lines, or are you just naturally insufferable?”

“Both,” he admits with a laugh, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “But you like it.”

“Debatable,” I reply, though the small smile tugging at my lips betrays me.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “So, what’s a serious journalist like you doing holed up in the lodge instead of braving the cold for the women’s runs?”

“I can multitask,” I say. “Besides, I can see everything I need to from here.” I gesture to the large windows behind him.

“Convenient,” he says, his tone playful. “But if you’re looking for the real experience, you should hang out with me and my friends. We’re grabbing some food in the lounge. You should come.”

I blink, caught off guard by the invitation. “Me? With you? And your friends?”

“Yeah,” he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Unless you have a better offer.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why do I get the feeling this is some kind of trap?”

“It’s not a trap,” he insists, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Think of it as research. You can meet a few other snowboarders, get a feel for the culture, and maybe you’ll even enjoy yourself.”

I tap my pen against the table, pretending to consider it. “And what’s in it for you?”

“Good company,” he says, his grin widening. “And the satisfaction of knowing you’re not freezing to death out there.”

I sigh dramatically. “Fine. But if this turns into some kind of bro-fest where everyone just talks about protein shakes and gear, I’m out.”

“You wound me,” he says, standing and offering me his hand. “Come on. I promise you’ll have fun.”

Reluctantly, I slip my frozen fingers in his, letting him pull me to my feet. His palm is warm and rough, and I try not to think about how nice it feels as he leads me toward the lounge.

When we arrive, three guys are already gathered around a large table, their laughter carrying over the low hum of conversation in the room. Liam greets them with a nod before turning to me.

“Maggie, meet the guys. This is Bryce, Carter, and Floyd. We’ve been competing together since… forever, basically.”

“Forever is an understatement,” Floyd says, standing to shake my hand. He’s tall and wiry, with a kind smile that immediately puts me at ease. “It’s nice to meet you, Maggie. Liam mentioned that you’re covering the competition for Pine Cove.”

“He has?” I ask, shooting Liam a pointed look.

“We love reporters,” Bryce interjects, grinning as he leans back in his chair. His dark hair is messy, and there’s a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Well, mostly.”

“Don’t listen to Bryce,” Carter says, rolling his eyes. He’s the most serious-looking of the group, with a sharp jawline and an intensity that contrasts with Bryce’s easygoing demeanor. “He’s just mad Liam scored higher than him today.”

“Barely,” Bryce retorts. “And I’ll still crush you in the finals.”

“Sounds like friendly competition,” I say, taking a seat.

“Friendly’s a strong word,” Carter replies, but there’s a glimmer of humor in his eyes.

“Don’t let these guys scare you off,” Liam says, sliding into the chair beside me. “They’re harmless.”

I smirk. “Good to know.”

As the conversation flows, I find myself relaxing. The banter between Liam and his friends is quick and full of inside jokes, but they include me effortlessly, making me laugh more than I expected. And every so often, I catch Liam glancing at me, his eyes warm and filled with something I’m not quite sure I’m willing to admit to myself.

For now, I enjoy the moment, ignoring the nagging voice in the back of my mind reminding me that this is all supposed to be strictly professional.

Bryce leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “So, Maggie, do you want to hear about how Liam got the nickname ‘The Bad Boy of Snowboarding’?”