Daring to Love: A Contemporary Romance (The Armstrongs Book 3) by Jessica Gray Read Free Book Online Page B

and home?” she asked.
    “About three hours from Chicago,” he answered, releasing his grip on the safety bar as they neared their destination. Suddenly, the lift stopped and he looked up ahead to see that it was not major, just the attendants helping a skier with a disability get off the lift.
    “They’ll get it going again in a moment,” she told him.
    “So, what do you want to do? Do you always want to be a ski instructor?”
    She shook her head and her eyes took on this light he hadn’t seen before. “I want to open up a ski school for kids. Everything designed to help kids learn to love the sport, in a safe and fun way.”
    “You sure have big dreams. From what age onwards would you take the kids?“
    “Three. Off course it wouldn’t be the whole day with three year olds.“ She said it in an almost apologetic tone.
    “Three? Most everyone thinks that’s too young.” Not him, though, but he wanted to hear her reasoning. If it were up to Evan he’d teach kids to ski the minute they could walk.
    “Three is the perfect age. They are so trusting and don’t have any fear of falling.” With every word, she became more excited.
    Evan watched her talk about her dream and began to see her vision. He loved kids and had already planned to teach his niece Happy to ski next winter – if he had the time, that was. But what worried him to the bone, was that he saw her teaching their common kids in the not too distant future. You’re much too irresponsible for a  family, remember? Bob reminded him. Shut up!
    They exchanged ideas, and were so wrapped up in their discussion and brainstorming session, they didn’t even realize the lift had begun moving once again.
    “Hey, are you two getting off the lift?” the attendant hollered at them when he saw the safety bar was still in the down position.
    “Oh, crap. Yes! We’re getting off,” she hollered back, trying to lift the bar in a hurry and not lose her poles in the process. Evan helped her and they got the bar up with just a few seconds left to put their feet down and exit the lift.
    She was so flustered and in a hurry, she accidentally crossed her skis, bumping into and sending them both sliding down the small slope to land in a puddle at the bottom like a couple of newbies.
    They both began laughing so hard, there was no thought of trying to get up.
    “Can I help you up?” came a request from an elderly man.
    Evan was so perplexed, he could only nod. The man reached down for Charlene first, and both of them helped him back to his feet.
    Just as he wanted to politely thank the man, Evan saw the recognition in his eyes, “Hey, aren’t you Evan Armstrong? I saw your race last week, you were terrific, how you pulverized the competition.“
    The man couldn’t believe his good look when Evan nodded. “That’s my lucky day today! Could I get a picture and an autograph for my grandson? He idolizes you. He’ll be over the moon if I tell him what happened.”
    Evan agreed, and Charlene quickly snapped a picture with the man’s phone. “What’s the name of your grandson?“
    “William,“ the man answered and then Evan scrawled “Happy Skiing, William“ and his signature across the back of the man’s ski glove.
    “Thanks so much. He’s going to love this.”
    Evan smiled at the man and then glanced around at the crowd that had begun to form. Great! Now everyone will want a photo and an autograph.
    Evan sighed, chalking it up to the price of fame. Normally, he would handle it with grace and even enjoy it, but not today! He glanced over at Charlene and could see how uncomfortable she was with the situation. I need to get her out of here!
    He leaned over and whispered into her ear, "We have to get rid of them. Follow me!"
    Without looking back, he raced down the slope, taking the first crossing he came to. He looked back once to make sure she was behind him, but he wasn’t worried about her keeping up. She was a good skier and he had no doubts that she was