Page 13 of When You Were Mine

Jess stopped. “What does that mean?”

Her sister caught up with her. “It means you’ve arranged this time off. Why not go and have some fun? Do some Christmas shopping in New York City. Hang out by the pool in Florida.”

“Because it’s the opening.”

“And you’ve set it up so everything can’t help but run smoothly. Besides, there’s nothing between the tea and Christmas Eve. You deserve a break.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” She said it with a smile, but the vise around her heart tightened, and she didn’t know why.

“What? No.” Her sister’s tone turned urgent. “Jess, you’ve been working your ass off your whole life. And let’s be honest, you didn’t get a childhood because when Mom died, you stepped into that role. You raised us when you weren’t even an adult yourself.”

“I love you guys.”

“And we love you. More than you know. But you’ve trained us well, and between me and Kelly and our husbands, we’ve got this place covered. Even if you don’t want to leave, at least take a day or two off and go shopping. Enjoy the town you’ve wanted to live in your whole life. Visit Owl Hoot, take a spa day… go ice skating in Wild Wolff Village.”

“That does sound nice.” But something was niggling at the back of her mind. No, not just there. It ran like a current down her arms and legs. “Maybe I’ll do that.” She forced a smile and headed into her office.

Now, what was I doing?She tried to focus, but her vision swam, and she couldn’t see anything beyond the blur of her laptop, her water bottle, and the boxes of shampoo samples she needed to try.

Ah. The presents.

Well, no need to rush wrapping them anymore.

She glanced at her phone to see if there was something she needed to follow up on. As she scrolled, she noticed an unfamiliar name.

Chris Pullman.

Who’s that?She read the last text he’d sent.

Chris: Please! I’m desperate. I’ll pay you double what you normally charge!

Oh, right. The consulting job. His family owned a hotel in Iceland, and he wanted to turn it into a luxury resort. Normally, she’d be all over a job like that. But the timing was off.

And yet… there went her fingers, texting him back.

Jessica: Double, huh?

She didn’t know why she’d done that. Nor did she know how he could offer to raise her fees when he didn’t know what they were to begin with. She didn’t list them on her website. Her consulting business was strictly word of mouth.

Chris: Hello! Excuse me, I just choked on my wine. Let me go clean up my mess, and then I’ll come back and incentivize you properly.

She smiled.Who is this guy?While she waited, she swiped to the start of the conversation.

Chris: Hello. My name is Chris Pullman, and I got your name from Leizel Ramos. I stayed at her Maldives resort and fell in love with her aesthetic (well, and her, but that’s a story for another day haha. Fast forward to the ending: she didn’t love me back). Anywho, my family owns this fabulous hotel in Iceland—well, I suppose if I want to work with you, I should be transparent. It’s not so fabulous. But it can be. Can we talk?

Jessica: Thanks for reaching out, Chris. Normally, I’d be all over this project, but I’ve just opened my own resort in America and have to give it my full attention. Best of luck with your project.

Chris: Wait! Hear me out. What if you come out here right now (I promise to get you home in time for hot toddies by the fire on Christmas Eve) to walk the halls of this (potentially) glorious old dame, and then you can do the rest of the job remotely? Please? There’s no one else I’d trust with this place.

The temptation surprised her. Why was she even interested?

Was it to show Joel that she was wanted somewhere? That she wasn’t going to stay home and wallow in his rejection?

No, that didn’t ring true. Whatever was niggling…it wasn’t rejection.

Another text came in.

Chris: To be clear, I don’t want just anyone for this job. I want you. And since I know it’s a lousy time of year to ask for you to fly out here, I’ll pay you double what you normally charge.

---