Last Summer(59)

“You can find whatever you need to know about our operation on our website. But please”—he presses his palms flat together—“ask me anything.”

“Will do,” Ella says, all but lunging into her seat when Scott slides open the courtesy van’s door, desperate to get out of the cold. Nathan sits in the front passenger seat.

Scott loads their gear and luggage into the back and settles in the driver’s seat, popping his arm over the seatback so that he can face both her and Nathan.

“So, friends, we have a situation. This season’s been epic. The lodge is at capacity. I don’t have an extra room. The one we booked for you”—he nods at Nathan—“can sleep four. You got a queen and a pullout sofa. I’ve secured a room at the B&B in case”—he looks at Ella—“you prefer separate rooms. I mention this now because we drive through town and can drop off your stuff before we make our way to the lodge.”

Nathan shrugs a shoulder. “I don’t mind sharing if you don’t.”

“As long as you take the couch,” Ella quips. After last night, it would be hard for her not to share a room with him.

“Great, then let’s get you guys to the lodge.” Scott shifts the van into gear.

“How’s tomorrow looking? Think we’ll get on the mountain?” Nathan asks as they leave the airport.

“We’ll know in the morning, but it looks promising. I expect we can get in eight or so drops.” For Ella’s benefit, Scott goes on to explain that with a fleet of three helicopters and over a thousand square miles of terrain that boasts runs upward to eighteen hundred vertical feet at fifty-five-degree inclines, weather must be constantly monitored for the safety of his pilots, guides, and guests. Any red flags in the weather pattern or risk of avalanche and it’s a down day. No flying.

“Is it even safe?”

“Heli-skiing? It wouldn’t be the most epic of skiing experiences if it was,” Scott retorts and Nathan grins. He gets it. Skiing fresh lines down a glacial mountain face comes with heavy consequences. But for thrill-seekers of big-mountain skiing, heli-skiing delivers. It’s the pinnacle of the recreational sport.

“Have you heli-skied before?” Ella asks Nathan.

“Twice. Silverton in Colorado and Ruby Ridge in Nevada. This is my first trip to Alaska.”

“You’re in for a treat, friend,” Scott promises.

Ella’s done her share of black diamond runs, but what Scott’s described sounds pretty dicey. Nathan might be an expert skier, but she’s nervous for him. She also wants to watch. She’ll ask him later if he can secure a spot for her on the copter. On Luxe’s dime, of course.

Backcountry Descents is ten minutes north of the airport and right on the water. The outfit used to be an old cannery and houses a lodge, helipad, and hangar. Scott tells them they have a restaurant on-site for their meals, and to finish off their days, the facility has hot tubs and saunas.

He parks the van and they get out. “Why don’t you guys get settled in your room. Dinner’s not for another hour but come down and have a beer. I’ll introduce you to my crew.”

“Sounds good.” Nathan shoulders Ella’s bag when she reaches for it. “I got it.”

“Thanks,” she says. A wall of ice-sharp wind coming off the channel barrels into her back. “My gosh, it’s cold.”

Scott grins. He unloads Nathan’s duffel and one of his two ski bags.

“Let’s get the lady inside.” Nathan grabs his other bag. Ella couldn’t agree more.

They follow Scott into the heated lodge. It feels like heaven. Nathan checks them into their room.

The sun doesn’t set for another hour, but the light is waning. Ella turns on the lamps in their small room. The queen bed and sofa eat up the floor space, which doesn’t give her and Nathan much room to move around once they set down their gear. The room’s style and color are tired but comfortable.

“You really don’t mind sharing?” Ella asks Nathan when he finishes in the bathroom. Aside from the inconvenience of having the courtesy van shuffle her back and forth to an inn in town, she doesn’t want to be too far removed from Nathan, not when they need to have one final conversation.

“No, what about you? You’re the one who’s married.” His tone is teasing, but Ella detects a note of ire. He doesn’t like that she’s attached.

“So are you,” she points out.

“Not for much longer.” He eases in on her, lifts a hand to her jaw. His long, wide fingers thread loosely in her hair. “You once told me you’d leave Damien for me,” he murmurs.

Her head draws back quickly.

“I fell in love with you last summer.” He whispers the confession.

“What?”

“How could I not? You spent almost a week with me on a trail living in the dirt and didn’t complain once. You ski, you run, you’ll get on the back of a snowmobile and have a blast. I bet you’d heli-ski if you were mentally and physically conditioned to do it. You, Ella Skye, love adrenaline as much as me.

“But more than that, you’re fun to be with. You’re witty and intelligent. We can have a deep conversation one moment and the next you’re telling me off. And the sex! Whoa.” He laughs the word, hands flaring out. “It’s mind-blowing with you. Last night was only a taste of what it was like between us before. Just wait until we get back into the groove.”