“Nate’s got it.”
I hesitated, searching for Cooley. He wasn’t far from where she landed, but he waited, too.
She hadn’t moved.
“Does this happen every time?” If so, why in the hell would she do this sport? The Olympic dream suddenly seemed like an Olympic nightmare.
“No. Well, not that bad. That was a bad fall. But they’re usually okay.”
“Usually?”
Nate got to Veena around the same time another ski patroller did. The two men crouched over her. After a minute, they helped her up.
“Look, see? She’s okay.” Connor glanced at my hand where I was clutching his sleeve. I let go.
Everyone around the pipe clapped, and Veena waved weakly. That’s when it hit me. I was hired to protect this girl from the extortionists who were threatening her family. But the greatest danger to Veena’s life might actually be . . . Veena.
“Hope she has some ibuprofen around. She’ll probably have a wicked headache later,” Connor said, wincing as he watched Veena gingerly take her board off. “I have to get back to work. You can ride the lift back down or walk. Downhill’s not so bad.”
“Thanks for the lift lesson.” My eyes were on Veena. Cooley had taken his position again as Veena and Nate glided slowly down to the lift together. She looked shaken up.
“You know, Nic, if you’re interested . . . I could teach you to ride,” Connor said.
I thought about it. Learning to ride was part of my cover story. But learning from him, with his warm brown eyes and sexy smile would be way too distracting. I couldn’t afford to have friendships—or any other kind of relationship—on the job. I was already too close to Veena.
“No, thanks.”
He rubbed his jaw, looking puzzled. “You sure?”
I nodded. “Thanks for the offer, though.”
He still hesitated like he couldn’t believe my answer. What, had no one turned him down before?
“Okay. Well, good to see you, Nic.” His tone was definitely cooler.
“You, too.”
I moved on down the deck. On my way past Cooley, I texted him to call if he needed me.
A few minutes later I was back in the clubhouse. A couple of older people chatted at the desk, a noisy group of kids in ski gear were getting hot chocolate in the kitchen, and one middle aged guy sat at a table in the middle of the room, reading a newspaper and drinking coffee. Must be nice to be so rich you could hang out here reading the paper in the middle of the afternoon.
I grabbed a cup myself and parked by the window. The sun blinded me every time I looked out. It was a Tuesday afternoon, but plenty of skiers and riders swooshed down the slopes. What did any of these people do for a living that they could ski mid-week?
I wished I’d brought my books so I could study. Veena said she did homework after training, but I needed extra time if I had any hope of pretending to pass. I called Brown to check in instead. He answered straight off. In a quiet voice, I told him about Veena’s fall, but Cooley had beaten me to it. He didn’t have much to say, except to stay out of trouble.
“Thanks, Dad,” I muttered after I hung up.
I called my mother next. She should be getting off work early today. Sure enough, I heard the car start as she answered. She sounded absent.
“Nicole . . . How are you? How is Colorado?”
“It’s fine, Mom. Different from home, but okay.”
The coffee guy glanced at me over his paper. I must be talking louder than I thought. I made a mental note of his appearance. Trim, russet skin, salt and pepper hair, and a watchful expression. I couldn’t place him from any of the photographs I’d seen, but I doubted I’d been provided shots of everyone connected to the club. I stepped outside so I wouldn’t be overheard.
“Is it snowing?” she asked.
“Not right now. How was your day?”
“Oh, fine. We were busy. Teeth in, teeth out.” That’s how she described most days.
“Use your heat pad if your neck hurts.” She often had neck and shoulder pain from leaning over open mouths all day.
“I will.”
I glanced around and lowered my voice. “Did you see the money I put in your account?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you go buy yourself something nice with it? There’s more coming in two weeks. Plenty more. When I get back, I might be able to take you car shopping.”
“No, Nicole. You should save your money.”
“Mom, I want to help.” Now that I finally can.
“I don’t need help.”
Oh yeah? Her twenty-five-year-old Toyota said otherwise. Silence crept between us. I wish she’d ask how my job was going. Something. But she didn’t.
“I gotta go,” I said.
“All right.” Her voice dropped.
“I’ll call you in a few days.”
“Be careful.”
I guess her telling me to be careful was the closest I’d get to any acknowledgment of my work. I hung up and went back inside to my little table. Feeling sad wasn’t easy with all that sunshine, blue sky, and healthy recreation happening all around me, but I managed.
Veena and Nate were back promptly at four. I stood and waved to her. She tore off her helmet and slunk over. Her black and blue braids looked like they’d been tortured, and her LED smile had shorted out. Nate watched her walk away, shook his head, and went in a different direction.
“Are you all right?” I asked her.
“No.”
“That was a bad fall. Does your head hurt?” I automatically scanned the room. Kids streamed in with their coaches, talking and laughing. Coffee guy was folding up his paper to go. Nothing else seemed amiss.
“It was a bad session all around. I’m going to the locker room to shower.”
I followed close behind. Xene warned us to take our leads from our clients. If Veena wanted to talk, which had been the case so far, then talk. If she didn’t, give her space. I waited on a bench in the locker room while she got
