Chapter Ten
COLE
They didn’t talk about what had happened, and Cole was fine with that.
Aspen had needed a moment without judgment or words, and he’d given it to her.
They hadn’t stayed like that for long, wrapped in each other’s arms, her head tucked gently beneath his chin as they watched the sun rise.
But it had been long enough for Cole to realize there was something missing from Aspen’s life, and he was determined to help her find it.
Cole strapped his snowboard to his left foot, sitting on the bench beside Aspen as she did the same.
He already knew she was goofy-footed—something they had in common—but he didn’t want to break the comfortable silence between them.
The other tourists had already started their descent with the two other guides, leaving only Cole and Aspen at the top of the mountain for the backcountry drop she’d signed up for.
They both stood from the bench and shuffled—one foot strapped to their boards—toward the sign marking the drop-off point. Aspen broke the silence first, reading it aloud with a hint of mockery. “Backcountry access: Proceed at your own risk—recommended only with a guide.”
“Guess it’s a good thing you weaseled your way into the hike, isn’t it?” He gave her a devilish smile, and she shook her head, unable to hide her own smile this time.
“Yup, guess so. So lucky.” She crossed her eyes at him to emphasize her words, and he let out a small laugh.
“Well, are you ready to go then, Snow White?” he teased. Her expression twisted into confusion, her eyebrows drawing together as she searched his face for an explanation.
“Why did you just call me that?” Her head tilted to the side as she waited for his response.
“No more questions. Let’s do this thing.
” He clicked his boot into the snowboard strap, pulled his mask over his nose, and launched himself off the cliff, letting out a whoop as he sailed through the air.
Behind him, a high-pitched “Woohoo!” echoed as Aspen followed suit.
Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he tore down the mountainside, eyes scanning for her to make sure she stayed close.
He did this almost every week during the season and had never had an injury or an avalanche, but he stayed alert just the same.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Aspen take to the air, spinning with a nose grab, making it look effortless and graceful.
She was truly a beautiful snowboarder, landing with barely a spray of snow.
He could pull off a few tricks himself, but not while on the clock.
If anything happened to her because he wasn’t paying attention, he would never forgive himself.
He felt lucky to even be here, watching one of his favorite snowboarders fly down the mountainside next to him.
He watched as she launched into the air once again, landing a backflip 720 with an indy grab at the end. Good thing he was wearing a mask—his mouth was probably hanging open. Did he really just witness that? She truly was incredible.
It felt like only moments ago they’d jumped off the cliff together, and already they were nearing the bottom of the mountain. He didn’t want the ride to end, because it meant his time with her was almost over.
They stopped at the bottom, and she slid over to him, holding her hand up for a high five.
“That was so dang sweet! I’m a little jealous you get to do that whenever you want.
If I lived here, I’d do it every single day.
” She unstrapped her boots and spun around, tilting her head back to look all the way up the mountain to where they had started.
“Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. Now you know why I haven’t moved in ten years.” He unstrapped his boots, swung his backpack off his shoulders, reattached his snowboard to it, and put it back on.
She did the same, hoisting her backpack onto her shoulders. “So, how long is the walk back?”
“Nope. No walking necessary. I stashed a snowmobile under those trees.” He pointed toward the barely visible machine. “I have Jack, my tour guide buddy, follow me here on mornings I want to bomb the mountain. I leave the snowmobile, and then we head back to the resort for the hike.
“Smart man,” she said as they made their way to the snowmobile.
“That’s the second nice thing you’ve said about me. Guess you don’t think I’m a witch anymore?” He winked, and she gave him a playful push.
“Nah. Not a witch. You’re something else entirely. I’m just trying to figure out what that is.” She winked back as they slid their snowboards into the side racks and strapped their backpacks to the rear cargo.
“You okay with me riding shotgun, or do you want to drive?” Aspen glanced at the snowmobile, then back at Cole, hesitating for a moment before clapping her hands and hopping on.
“Normally I’m on the back of these things. Sure, I’ve driven a few times, but it’s been a while.” She wiggled in her seat, and Cole covered his mouth to hide a smile at her excitement as he approached the vehicle.
“So, that means I need to ride on the back. You okay with me holding on? I don’t want you thinking I’m being a creeper or anything.”
Aspen glanced back at him, gave him a quick once-over, shrugged, and waved him on. “Nope. I don’t mind. I mean, I kind of crossed the boundaries earlier, don’t ya think?”
He grinned and moved toward the snowmobile, swinging his leg over to settle behind her.
“Okay. Just wanted to make sure. You know, I wasn’t going to bring up what happened back there.” He lightly wrapped his arms around her waist and scooted closer. She was a spitfire on the mountain—who knew how she’d be on a snowmobile? He’d better hold on just in case.
“Oh, I still don’t want to talk about it.
Let’s just pretend it was the sunset, my eyes were watery, and I was dizzy, so you had to hold me just in case I fell.
Okay?” She pressed the start button, and the engine roared to life.
Before he could respond, she hit the throttle, and the snowmobile surged forward, treads throwing powder into the air, rendering him completely speechless.
His hands tightened around her middle as he held on, and he caught the slight shake of her shoulders when she laughed. He tapped her shoulder, pointing toward the direction she needed to go, and she leaned into the turn.
He was right in assuming she didn’t want to talk about what had happened on the mountaintop, and that was fine. Still, he wanted to find some way to help her while she was here.
He motioned toward another turn as ideas started forming—things they could do when she wasn’t busy with sponsorship work. The Mynt to Make a Difference event ran from today, December 18th, through the 23rd. That gave him six days. Six days to help Aspen find her Christmas spirit again.
Six days to remind her what it felt like to tear into gifts on Christmas morning, to laugh while building snowmen in freshly fallen snow, and to get a little too competitive over homemade gingerbread houses that never seemed to look right or stand straight.
To hang lights until the house sparkled, to search for the perfect tree, and to decorate it with ornaments that told stories of years gone by.
Six days to bring back the best parts of Christmas.
The joy, the wonder, and the heart of it all: Christ, the reason we celebrate.
They rounded another corner, and the resort came into view, a few people already out and about, some headed toward the slopes, others toward the lodge for activities.
The resort was known for hosting some great events, but today was the Mynt Mingle and Jingle, followed by the VIP Meet and Greet, so she was sure to be busy with those.
Still, maybe he could talk her into doing something else with him during his breaks.
He’d just have to see what he could conjure up.
The snowmobile slowed to a stop, and Aspen turned around, her brows scrunched. “Well? Where do I go now, Mr. Navigator? Or did you break or something?”
He gave her a smile and shook his head. “Sorry about that, I wasn’t paying attention. Let me switch places with you so I don’t get in trouble with the boss for letting you drive.” She hopped off the snowmobile, and he scooted forward as she took her spot behind him.
If she had driven just a little farther, she would have made it back to their cabins, but it was better this way. Mr. Mynt was a pretty cool boss, but sometimes he could be a stick in the mud. Better safe than sorry.
The cabins came into view, and he stopped at hers. She jumped off, grabbing her backpack and snowboard. “Well, thanks for the hike…and the drop. It was a lot of fun. I guess. I, uh…will see ya around?” Her words trailed off like a question.
“You can count on it. See you later, Snow White.” Before she could ask him about the name again, he sped off, kicking up snow that flew all over Aspen.
Her voice rang out behind him, “You’ll pay for that, Kringle!
” and he laughed, waving over his shoulder.
He had about an hour before his first snowboarding lesson, just enough time to plan something fun.
Maybe the holiday light trail. Whatever it was, he’d make it happen.
Project: Make Aspen Love Christmas Again was officially underway.