Page 39 of Stuck on the Slopes

While Sasquatch obeyed, dutifully as ever, I mentally cursed myself as I leaned against the wall. In case someone turned the corner, I opened my phone and pretended to read through my emails while listening in on Rachel’s conversation. At least this way, I’d look inconspicuous.

Even though I knew I had to stop doing this, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop. I wasn’t sure if that made me nosy or an asshole.

Probably both.

I heard Mia first. “You know, I used to have the biggest crush on Juniper when he was a pro.”

“Not anymore?” Rachel asked her.

“No, now I feel sorry for him. But what do you think? He’s kinda hot when he’s not brooding, isn’t he? Even though that’s, like, all the time.”

My blood boiled at Mia’s words, but I was so curious my feet refused to move. I didn’t need her feeling sorry for me, nor did I need Rachel feeling that way either—though, I was sure she already did. As I willed myself still, I hoped one of my joints wouldn’t crack and give away my position. The likelihood of that happening was higher than I’d like.

“Between us?” Rachel said, her tone coy. “I think he’s hot even when he’s brooding.”

Both girls giggled. I couldn’t believe it.Rachel thought that?

“And besides,” Rachel continued, “I don’t think you need to feel sorry for him. He’s doing a great job around here. I’m not a hundred percent sure what compelled him to buy this place, but it’s clear he’s passionate about it. I really respect that, you know?”

“Fair!”

“We got off on the wrong foot, but he’s been really kind to me.”

“Wait, wait, did you say Juniper has beenkind?”

“In his own way, yeah. He shows it differently than others, that’s all.”

Then Mia giggled like they were schoolgirls. “Do you have a crush on your boss?”

Rachel scoffed. I heard a towel smacking an arm. “No professional comment.”

I couldn’t believe what I heard. That was as good as a confession from Rachel; AJ had filled me in on “girl talk” over the years enough for me to understand at least that much. Part of me was too stunned to even fully process the information, curious about exactly when this shift may have happened in Rachel.Did she always feel this way and I was oblivious, or did she feel a connection after our bad movie night?

Maybe I should call Mia Farrow and thank her.

Before they could go much further, I stepped forward, pocketing my phone and pushing open the back door to the laundry room. While Rachel worked on some new pool towels that recently came in, Mia worked on the kitchen rags for The Elk’s Head.

“Hey, Rachel.”

She looked up at me and smiled as if she didn’t realize I’d heard a word she said. “Hey, Juniper!”

“Can you help me with something?”

“Sure! I was wrapping up here, anyway.” She folded the last of the towels and tucked the basket under her arm. “See ya, Mia.” Once Rachel was in step with me, we carried on. “What’s up?”

At that moment, I realized I didn’t have an excuse; I’d forgotten why I’d come here, distracted by their conversation. I looked at her as we walked, studying her features. Her thick brows fit her face well, set above large, brown eyes like a doe’s in spring. Dark curls bounced with every step, noticeably healthier since her move to the mountains. She’d put on some muscle, too, likely from all the hard work she’d been putting in around here and getting used to the inclines—yet she still maintained a soft, feminine curve to her frame.

So, all I mustered was, “You look really pretty today.”

Pink crept up her cheeks. “Oh, that was unexpected. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You look pretty every day. But you’re looking refreshed now that you’ve been here a while. Colorado treating you well?”

“It has been. I really love it here. More than I thought, actually.” But her smile faltered. “Did you hear us talking in there?”

I said nothing, opting instead to focus ahead of me and to try to think of anything that I might need her help with. Her conversion with Mia had completely derailed any previous train of thought. As we passed the indoor pool, she dumped the laundry basket off by the door so she wouldn’t have to carry it further than necessary.

“Youdidhear us, didn’t you?”

---