Just Perfect by Julie Ortolon

from inside you, not from dating emotionally needy men
.
    Oh, all right! I won’t date him
, she mentally groused.
Although for the record, Alec isn’t emotionally needy. He’s just undermotivated
.
    And fun loving. And happy. Gawd, she wished she had a life like that: carefree and filled with friends. She had Maddy and Amy, who loved her completely, but most people found her too intimidating to befriend for reasons she’d never understood.
    She wasn’t sure anything intimidated Alec Hunter. Or discouraged him. The memory of their dance and the kiss in the dark made her smile—until she realized the announcer was thanking him for his time. The next thing she knew, he was leaving the booth and heading up the bleachers straight toward her. She mentally scrambled for what to say. What if he tried to join them?
    Glancing frantically about, she gave thanks that the seats to either side of her family were taken. Even if he stopped to say hi, he wouldn’t be able to join them.
    Or so she thought.
    To her horror, Alec maneuvered down the line, greeting several spectators by name, exchanging handshakes, and asking half a row of people to get up and move down a seat. Of course they did. No problem. Anything for good ol‘ Alec.
    Honestly, the man could sell ice to Eskimos.
    “Hey, Chris,” he said when he reached her. “I see you got the passes I left at the gate.”
    “Actually, we bought tickets.”
    “You didn’t have to do that. So is this your family?”
    “Uhhhh.” Her mind went blank.
    “Hi, Alec Hunter.” He leaned across her to offer his hand to her brother. “You must be Robbie.”
    “Pleased to meet you.” Robbie shook his hand. “This is my wife, Natalie, and my father, Dr. Robert Ashton, Sr.”
    “Hello.” Natalie greeted him with a friendly smile. Robert Senior barely grunted, then turned his attention back to the course as they waited for the action to begin.
    “I hear you’re Christine’s ski instructor,” Robbie said as Alec took a seat next to her.
    Alec laughed at that, showing off those gorgeous white teeth of his; then his eyes went to her face with a long, admiring look. “Something like that.”
    Please God, don’t let him say anything else. Please
! She clasped her hands between her knees, jiggling slightly as if trying to stay warm. In truth, she was sweating inside Natalie’s coat and the strong mountain sun wasn’t helping.
    “I also take it you know something about snow-boarding,” Robbie said. “I don’t suppose you teach lessons on that as well.”
    “I might.” Alec sent her a flirtatious look. “For the right price.”
    “How much?” her brother asked.
    “Hmm?” Alec tore his attention away from her. “Oh, I didn’t mean money. If I did it, it would be as a favor to Chris.”
    “Oh really.” Robbie gave her a searching look. “ ‘Chris’?”
    “Look.” She straightened. “I think the first contestant is heading down.”
    Both men turned their attention to the slope. The next several minutes passed with all of them watching the snowboarders do aerial stunts that Alec proclaimed to be “huge” or “awesome” unless the boarder “biffed” or “bailed.” Alec and Robbie leaned forward almost constantly, talking around her, while
    Alec explained the language as much as the action. Hearing her brother pick up the lingo should have made her laugh, but all she could do was cringe. She’d heard Alec use boarding terms before, but never like this. Why did it have to be in front of her family?
    She tried to tune both men out, but felt Alec’s puzzled gaze land on her several times. Finally, he looked right at her. “Chris, how about going with me to the concession stand?”
    “I’m fine,” she insisted, knowing if she went with him, Robbie’s suspicions about them dating would return. “I don’t need anything.”
    “Or we could talk right here.”
    “Talk?” Panic shot through her. “About what?”
    He leaned closer and lowered his voice.