Page 6 of Tangled Up With You

Ifinished typing my last email of the day and sent it off before rocking back in my chair and pulling in a centering breath. Twisting toward the window to my left, I took in the beautiful view beyond the glass as twilight spread like a blanket over the valley. My office sat on the second floor of Second Hope Lodge, giving me an unobstructed view of the ranch stretching out below and the mountains beyond surrounding my small town. If I thought that it was beautiful just then, it was even better in the winter when everything was covered in fresh white snow, making it look and feel like the whole town was in a snow globe.

I was four years old when my mom moved us to Hope Valley, but the beauty of this place still managed to take my breath away all these years later. I might not have been born in Hope Valley, but it was home, and would be forever. I couldn’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else.

Standing, I placed my hands on the small of my back and arched my spine, giving it a much-needed stretch. I shuteverything down and grabbed my purse, flipping the light switch off as I exited my office and headed down the hall to the main staircase that would take me out into the great room.

The massive space was the main hub of the lodge. Everything about it screamed cozy country living, from the high wood-beamed ceilings to the stone fireplace that was big enough to warm the entire area in the winter. The room was decked out in buttery-soft leather couches the color of cognac, and the rich wood-paneled walls were covered in paintings or sepia-tinted photographs of vast fields of flowers or horses and cows. Those that didn’t contain art were lined with custom-built shelves full of books that spanned across any genre a person could want.

It wasn’t uncommon to find guests dotted around, either cozied up on the couches reading from our vast selection, enjoying a coffee from the restaurant off the back of the great room or a cocktail from our bar, Saddled and Spurred, off to the left.

The reception desk, where guests checked in, stood between the branched-off grand staircase. Tucked into a nook beneath the left staircase was the activities desk where I spent at least half of my workday, signing guests up for all the different excursions we offered on the ranch.

It would have been faster to go out the employee exit where my car was parked, but I liked to end each day here, taking time to feel things out and keep my finger on the pulse of the place. And more times than not, I’d run into a guest who had a question I was more than happy to answer.

“You finally heading out?” Becky asked as my heels clicked against the scraped wood floors at the bottom of the steps.

I turned to face the reception desk with a big smile. Becky Hightower might have been up there in years, but the woman didn’t know the meaning of the word slow. She and her husband, Bill, had retired a million times, first from the Tap Room, theirfamily’s bar. Then from this very ranch, handing it down to their grandson Zach. But none of those times ever seemed to stick for long. Hell, they were the brains behind opening Second Hope Lodge and played active roles in its day-to-day operations. Becky herself managed the place and had been the one to interview me before hiring me a few years ago.

“Yep. Just have to run home real quick to change before I meet up with Rae and the rest of the girls.”

Her grin deepened the smile lines around her mouth and eyes that had formed thanks to the long, happy life she had lived so far. “Good. I’m glad you’re getting out. You need to live, Ivy girl. You work too damn much.”

She wasn’t exactly wrong. Most days I didn’t leave here until the sun had already gone down, but you know what they said about doing what you love. “I like my job,” I said with an easy shrug. “I love it here.”

“And we love having you, sweetheart, but your work can’t be everything. You’re still young. You should be out living it up, having fun. Meeting fine young men,” she said with a waggle of her brows.

I tossed my hair over my shoulders on a laugh. “Don’t let my parents hear you say that. According to them I’ve had more than my fair share of fun. If it wasn’t for the fact this is a small town, I’d have the arrest record to prove it.”

“Okay, fine. Maybe don’t go buck wild, but this town is full of fine men who would give their left arm for a shot with you. You should be out there leaving a trail of broken hearts in your wake.”

Oh, if only it were that easy. What I didn’t bother saying was that IwishedI could put myself out there and start dating again. I’d always enjoyed it. Unfortunately, ever since Connor, it seemed a switch had been flipped and I couldn’t bring myself to accept any of the offers that had come my way these pastfew months. It was like that asshole had managed to break something inside of me, making it impossible for me to say yes to another man.

It was reason enough to punch him right in his perfectly proportioned face.

“Who knows, maybe tonight I’ll get lucky,” I offered, even though I knew I’d most likely end up going home alone like I had every single night for the past few months. That knowledge set me on edge, because after witnessing that kiss, it was obvious Connor wasn’t having the same issue.

“Fingers crossed, darlin’. Either way, enjoy yourself tonight, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you,” I said as I spun on the sharp point of my heel and proceeded to slam into a wall of firm, hot muscle. “Oh my God.”

“Whoa,” a deep, husky voice said as I dragged my eyes up the broad chest covered by a soft navy T-shirt. “You okay?”

“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” I insisted as I finally met the gaze of the man I’d collided with.

“It was an accident. You have nothing to apologize for.”

“Mr. Fine,” I greeted as a slight warmth filled my cheeks.

It was ironic that Becky and I were just talking about attractive men only moments before, because the guy standing in front of me certainly lived up to his last name, that was for damn sure. Tanner Fine had been at the lodge for three days, and everyone was losing their minds. The women couldn’t get over how attractive he was and the men were drooling over the professional athlete in their midst. Apparently the guy was a famous hockey player for a team in DC. He sure was built well enough to be one. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have the guy crash into you on the ice. He was the human equivalent of a brick wall. To say having him here had made things interesting would have been an understatement. He was all anyone had been able to talk about for days. I had to admit,even I wasn’t immune to all that he was. I’d been more than a little flustered during our brief encounters so far.

“Please, call me Tanner. And you’re Ivy, right?”

I nodded, the warmth in my cheeks intensifying beneath his gaze. In the past I wouldn’t have hesitated to shoot my shot with a guy like Tanner, but that was before stupidfreakingConnor. Still, I couldn’t help my body’s reaction to having the attention of such an attractive man. “That’s right. How has your stay with us been so far? Are you enjoying yourself?”

He grinned at me, and I waited to feel the flutter of butterflies in my belly, but it never came. It was a good smile. Agreatsmile, actually. But it didn’t have dimples. It didn’t have that tiny hint of wickedness that promised something wild and crazy and reckless.

“I am, thanks,” he said, his charm more All-American than the playboy type I found myself most drawn to lately.Damn it. “Did some fly fishing today. It was exactly what I needed. Quiet and relaxing.”

“Good, I’m glad. You know, if quiet is what you’re after, there are some incredible hiking trails all around here. I’d be more than happy to sign you up with one of our guides.”

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