Page 13 of Love Fast

“For you either, right? You’ll be back in New York as soon as this place is up and running?”

“Exactly,” I say. I have no intention of leaving New York permanently. But for the next six months, I need my focus to be here. There’s too much at stake for me to be on the other side of the country. I miss my friends and the anonymity of the city. I miss the energy, the constant hum of traffic and people. I’m not leaving for good. But in the meantime, the mountains aren’t such a bad backdrop. Mountains that have been here seventy-five million years and will tower over this valley for millions more. No matter how long I stay in New York, I know this view will be back here, waiting for me.

“How long until the VP of HR arrives?”

“Thursday,” she says. “But she’s coming from Switzerland. And before that, Paris. She’s not going to befolksy.”

“No, but she’s in the hotel business. She’ll do okay.”

“So I’m fired?” Janet looks hopeful.

I chuckle. “Not yet. But almost. I’ll get you back to New York as soon as I can.”

“And I’ll be going back to Miller Investments, right? Or am I fired from that too? You’re looking kinda comfortable here.”

“I’m not going to be back in New York for at least six months. I need to be on the ground here. But you’re not getting away that easily. I need you back here every month at least. Senior management coaching, one-on-ones…”

“I can cope with once a month. You never know, I might even start to look forward to a little mountain air.”

We stand and something catches Janet’s attention out the window. “The first shuttle from town just arrived.”

I glance down and see Rosey step off the bus. She’s no longer wearing a wedding gown. She looks like she could have been born in Star Falls, complete with hiking boots and a beanie.

“Looks like we have our first local candidate of the day. Don’t worry. I’ll get someone else to interview her so we don’t scare her off.”

“You think she’s here for a job?” I ask. This morning I convinced myself she was just passing through. She definitely said she only needed the cabin for a night or two.

“She doesn’t work here at the moment, and the bus isn’t for day-trippers,” Janet says, making a valiant effort at keeping theduhout of her voice.

If she’s looking for a job, she’ll need a place to stay.

“Is the staff housing finished?”

“Enough for staff starting this week. There’s another block due to finish construction this week. Furnishing will be complete at the end of next week.”

If she gets a job here, Rosey will need the cabin for a couple of more days. I can’t shake off the feeling of conflict in me. I like the idea of Rosey being next door for a few more days. But if she works here? That will make me her boss.

“We’re on track,” Janet assures me, bringing me back to the moment. Right—staff housing, the grand opening, our readiness to receive guests. That’s what I should be focusing on, rather than what it might mean to Rosey if I’m her boss.

Because it doesn’t mean anything. She’s just gotten out of a serious relationship, if her wedding dress is anything to go by. She’s running from god-knows-what. And I’m focused on making the Colorado Club a success. Failure isn’t an option. Everything I’ve worked for since I was seventeen years old is on the line. If this place doesn’t work?—

I can’t even finish the thought. Failure isn’t even a possibility I can contemplate. And not just because my fortune’s at stake. There’s something less tangible I could lose, too.

Despite the fact that I’ve been gone fifteen years, this town has a long memory. The Colorado Club is the key to Star Falls seeing me as a native son making good, not as the kid whose dad lost all the family money gambling and got killed in a bar fight.

The bus starts to maneuver around some crates that have been stacked in front of the main entrance of the Club. Presumably, now it’s dropped Rosey, it’s going back down the mountain to trawl for more candidates. I make a mental note to tell the project manager, Kathleen, to start clearing the entrance. We’re having a photographer come up in a week or so for publicity shots, and we can’t have it looking like a construction site.

As the bus pulls away, it reveals Rosey standing alone out front, looking up at the Club. She doesn’t see me, though she’s practically staring right through me. Maybe it’s the reflection or where I’m standing. I have to stop myself from waving.

“Should someone go down and check what she needs?” I ask Janet.

“If she can’t figure her way through the front door, I’m pretty sure I don’t want her working here.”

“Right.” I nod, pulling my gaze away from Rosey. “Will you interview her right away?” I ask. Maybe I should join the interview. It might help Rosey feel at ease.

Jesus, what is my obsession with making her feel better? I need to get a grip and focus.

“She may have to wait a little. I have to get Sally to conduct the interview, as you don’t want me doing it. But I’ll get her situated.” Janet eyes me suspiciously.

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