Page 18 of Love in the Details

It was just hard to think that hundreds, if not thousands, of lives would be affected by his final decision. The factory was more than a collection of facts. It would be easier to keep her heart wrapped up than to have it broken when the decision was final and he left town.

“How do you like working for him, Kass?” her father asked over the top of his newspaper. It was later than his usual time to read through everything the local town had going on, but he’d been up early helping Easton with some cattle that got stuck on another piece of property across the creek.

“Well, it hasn’t been bad over the past two days. He’s very…efficient when he talks to me. I used to think there was no way someone could be tired from working behind a computer. But I think he’s mentioned at least three conference calls he’s had to make just in the time I was there.” Kassidy took a sip of water from the cup she’d filled at lunch, allowing her to ponder her father’s question a little more. “I’m just glad it’s not me.”

“Busy man. But I bet you’ll be good for him, to loosen him up.”

Kassidy’s mouth dropped open. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Her father looked like he was trying to keep from smiling or laughing by opening his mouth wide, stuttering out a defense. “I’m just saying that you’re usually one to find the fun. Maybe he could use a little help with that as well.”

Kassidy shook her head. “He’s my boss, Dad. We all remember how things turned out with Trace.” She paused, tilting her head a bit to make sure he knew she was serious. “And I’m not sure I want to get involved in a friendship if he’s going to just move back to LA after the holidays, which it sounds like that’s his plan.”

“There are ways of making him stick around,” her dad purred.

“David!” Kassidy’s mom said in shock. “She’s trying to establish a career, not woo the man.”

“Thank you, Mom,” Kassidy said, feeling grateful she had at least one parent on her side. She couldn’t help but add, “Although, we’re not in a Jane Austen novel.”

Her mother tossed a wadded-up label at her. “Well, he is attractive. Maybe a little distraction would help him see how important this valley is. Keep him around a while.”

There went all the sympathy.

Kassidy picked up her notebook and computer, tucking them under her arm. She schooled her face to keep the leap of excitement at their words from showing on her face. She had to be crazy to even think there could ever be a possibility of something between her and Dustin.

“I’m not dating him or anyone, all right? I’ve got to get working on this, so I’ll see you later.” She turned and ran up the stairs to the loft, hoping her parents wouldn’t notice just how red her cheeks were.

“Dinner will be ready in thirty,” her mother reminded her as she hit the top stair.

Kassidy flopped down on her bed and opened up the ClipBoard app. Hopefully, working on the gala would be enough to get stray thoughts of kissing Dustin Wakefield out of her mind.

Chapter 12

It felt like forever since Kassidy had been tubing down the slopes with her family. They’d missed a few years because of the NFR and the craziness of the holiday season, but with the new snowfall lasting Thursday night into all day Friday, there wasn’t a better opportunity than that Saturday.

Guilt welled up as she thought of all she still needed to do to organize for the gala, but she wanted—no, needed—to do something physical to keep from going crazy trying to keep track of everything she’d decided on and the things she still needed to do for the gala.

She glanced out at the countryside as she sat in the back of the truck on the trip up the hill. One of the homeowners who lived up the old country road would pack the snow down after a storm, allowing the people from around town to enjoy the perfectly straight road with plenty of incline.

Pulling the sleds out of the back of the truck, she made sure everyone had what they needed.

“Just get on your sled, Mother Hen,” Hunter said, laughing at her. It was just her brothers, younger sister, and Lauren who’d made the trek up the mountain that early morning. Their dad was in charge of the drop-off truck that was heading down the snow-packed road at the moment.

She scrunched her nose and rolled her eyes at him. The twins got away with murder when their mom was around, but Kassidy called them out on their shenanigans enough that they were always giving her a hard time.

Glancing down at the sled she was left with, she realized a large crack ran along the side and down the middle of the sled from the previous run.

“Okay, who broke the sled?” she demanded. No one met her eyes until she turned toward the other twin, Colter. “You had it last time. I get that one.”

“Um, no,” he said, pushing off and heading down the hill.

“Get in, Kass,” Easton said, scooting to the back of his sled. Luckily, it was a double-rider, but there was very little room up front for her in addition to his bulky frame.

“Go!” Walker called out, racing next to his wife down the hill.

Easton and Kassidy pushed off, the weight of both of them causing it to speed along the snow, closing the distance from the other sleds.

They picked up even more speed right as they were supposed to stop at the bottom of the hill where their father had parked the truck.

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