Page 10 of Worth the Rush
“Down the hall over there are the offices,” he says, pointing behind me. “I can show you those when we get back from walking the grounds.”
“Sounds good. Where to first?”
“I thought we would start with each variety of cabin we offer and gofrom there.”
“Perfect. Lead the way,” I say, gesturing toward the glass doors.
After Jack’s small tour, I walk the property on my own, looking for inspiration as well as anything that can be improved upon. It’s beautiful here. I didn’t want to admit it, but even in my sleep-deprived state this morning, I found this resort to be incredibly charming, just like the other places I’ve been in the fourteen hours I’ve been here. The cabins are all so picturesque, mine included.
From all that I’ve observed, this place runs like a well-oiled machine. I haven’t seen any unhappy guests. The lodge is simple and tasteful. There are a few things that need some updating, but that was to be expected. The vintage feel of the Edgemont is special. So I plan to lean into that. Starting with a gift shop. The missed opportunity to have branded merchandise for sale is the biggest issue I’ve come across.
It’s nearing lunchtime, but I need to check out a class that’s being offered. My stomach growls as if it just heard me thinking about making it wait for food. No coffee, no sleep, now no food. My body is going to be so pissed at me. I don’t need to check my blood sugar level to know that I’m cutting it close. I’m walking down the back steps of the main lodge, looking out over the bunny hills. The snow is so bright out here. I spot a group of small children and walk toward the bottom of the hill where they look to be heading. Some more gracefully than others. Ichuckle to myself as I watch a couple of them pick up some speed.
I’m midway to where I saw the group starting to gather, and I’m jonesing for a coffee so badly I think it’s giving me a headache. That or the lack of food. I glance back at the cabin, contemplating if I can make a quick enough run. Could I make it back in time for this class if I hurry? Probably not, if I’m being honest; I’m not much of a runner. The question becomes moot when I’m hit. Hard. By something hard. And warm? I feel hands on my waist, twisting me around, and then we’re falling. Am I being attacked? I land chest-to-chest with my assailant. I’m not sure if that’s the right word yet, but I’m readying myself for a fight if I need to. The air rushes out of me in a harsh groan on impact.
This is absolutely not what I need today. Sitting up, I bring my right knee up and press it into my—attacker? But when I get a good look at him, I can see it’s the man who was standing at the bottom of the bunny hill with the kids’ gear a few moments ago. What the hell? The class instructor? He’s caught me at a bad time, and I’m not known for biting my tongue. I go to lay into him when he blurts out maybe the last thing I would imagine him to say.
“That’s a lot of purple,” he says, a little dazed, after my initialWhat the hell?I see red. I’m not even sure what I’m saying after a couple of minutes, but then he smiles at me. What the fuck is wrong with this guy? And what’s wrong with me that I might find the very firm body beneath me attractive? I’m beyond annoyed. At him, this situation, but ultimately, myself.
Hungry, in need of caffeine, in need of sleep. The perfect storm that he isn’t preparedfor.
After I let loose on him, he slides his goggles up onto his head. And are you kidding me right now? The man from last night? “Search and Rescue?” The nickname slips out. “What are you doing here?”
He speaks, and even though he’s right in pointing out that I’m still on top of him, the smug way he does it puts a bitter taste in my mouth. Not to mention, his breath smells like coffee. He brings up my outfit again, and I want to shove him back to the ground when he stands after me. We both dust off the snow that’s sticking to us. I’m ready to leave now. Not just this resort. I’m ready to leave Silverthorne. I’m ready to leave Colorado. I’m not meant to be here.
“So, was the getup you had on last night part of your pick-up routine? Do you prey on innocent women who get stuck in town often?” I snap.
“Innocent? I think it was you who wanted to hear about myunnecessarylist,” he accuses.
I cock my hip out and fold my arms over my chest. He’s got some nerve. “I remember it beingyouwho mentioned that list.”
“And I remember everything on it that we didn’t get to last night,” he says suggestively. Oh, believe me, so do I, action hero, I think, and then snap myself back to the present.
“That’s not the point, hotshot. What are you even doing here?” I redirect him back to my original question.
“I fill in as a snowboard instructor for the resort. My full title after all the courses and training I’ve done is an Alpine EMS Search and Rescue pilot,” he answers, then says, “I’m sorry I ran into you. There was a kid, one I’m responsible for, rolling down the hill. I was worried they might get hurt,” he tells me, and I thaw. Slightly. I hadn’t seen the kid falling. “I didn’t see you, though I’m not sure how I missed you in thisgetup,” he comments, and any thawing his earlier explanation caused is frozen solid once again. Jerk.
“Yes, yes. ‘That’s a lot of purple.’ I remember,” I say, flinging my hand in the air. “I thought you weren’t going to be in town very long,” I accuse.
“I did saytechnically. And technically, we’re notintown.” He gives me his flimsy reasoning. “You didn’t exactly say you would be here either,” he accuses right back.
“Right,” I huff out. “You said you had a class to teach. So, I’ll let you get to that. I have other things to do,” I bite out, turning on my heel, and make a beeline for the main lodge. Shit, shit, shit. Not only is Search and Rescue a resident in Silverthorne, but he’ll be here at the lodge, seemingly under my employ. Coffee. Immediately or this day will be going from bad to worse quickly.
Inside, I walk down the hallway that Jack showed me earlier and find a freshly brewed pot of coffee. Thank God. I think an espresso machine will be my first act of service as the hospitality manager. I take a sip. That’s pretty good. I grab my jar of candied grapefruit peels I left in here earlier and look around. It’s quiet back here. Walking further down the hallway, I spot a cozy-looking office with an extremely large window—and a couch. I’m not sure which office is mine, but after I see that, I know I’m moments away from sitting there. I just need to sit down for a minute. Rest up for the staff meeting in about forty-five minutes. I sit the jar beside me and lean back into the plush cushions.
Voices getting louder rouse me from sleep. Sleep? Oh, shit. I’ve fallen asleep. It doesn’t matter how many times I tell myself an alarm doesn’t need to be set. It always does.
“I haven’t seen her since I showed her around this morning,” I hear a man say. Jack, I think. “I’m going to check the front desk,” he tells someone else, and I try to clear my fuzzy thoughts.
“She wouldn’t have gone out on her own, would she?” another voice calls. A voice I have become intimately acquainted with when its owner was telling me dirty things last night, and it sounds like it’s getting closer. I sit up. Shit. Not again. Fatigue and fog still cling to me, but I stand up anyway. That was a mistake. The room spins, and my vision turns to static. There’s a breeze. Inside? I hear someone curse. Then warmth and a scent that’s comforting and familiar wraps around me. It all goes black.
It could have been seconds or minutes when I come to. I open my eyes to meet a pair of blue ones. Really blue. Pale, like I imagine a glacier would look.
“Those eyes are the prettiest shade of blue I’ve ever seen,” I blurt out. Shit. That’s going to be a thing.
“Yeah?” His question comes with a raise of his dark-blond eyebrow and a smile. Ugh, is that a fucking dimple out again? “Thanks, princess.” He calls me that again, and the attraction fades slightly into annoyance. “How you feeling?” he asks, then adds, “We should probably stop meeting like this.”
“I’m fine. Thanks for breaking my fall,” I rasp. Well, doesn't my voice sound nice and breathy?
