Page 65 of One More Chance
Charlotte wondered if she was right. She envisioned showing the cute little downtown houses and skiing with clients. “No. It can’t happen. I make too much money here.”
Lauren smiled and reached into her bag. “Chance Rapids is growing. You yourself said that the rich are coming because of the altitude and great snow.” She pulled out a copy of Glamzone magazine and set it down on the island. “Check this out. It’s an advanced copy.”
The kettle began to whistle, and Charlotte poured the hot water into the teapot. She picked up the glossy magazine but paused. “Lauren, I have to ask you something and I need you to tell me the truth.”
“Sure,” Lauren said. “You know I’m a terrible liar anyway.”
“Not that it matters anymore, but Logan said he wrote me a letter after I moved to the city. He said he left it in the mailbox, but I never got it.”
“A letter? What did it say?”
“He explained what happened that night, about how his mom was sick.”
Lauren rested her chin on her hand. “And you believed him, that there was a letter?”
“I did,” Charlotte said.
“Charlotte. I never saw a letter. I can’t imagine Mom hiding something like that from you, so it either got lost or never existed,” Lauren said.
“Well, it doesn’t matter now anyway,” Charlotte sighed. She turned to the page Lauren had marked with a sticky note and gasped. Staring up at her from the pages of Glamzone magazine was the welcome sign to Chance Rapids, along with a one-page article about it is the next ‘IT’ ski town, and a shot of the Sugar Peaks Café. The article highlighted the changes in the town and included the café as an example of the transformation from sleepy mining town to a trendy ski destination. Charlotte’s business brain went into overdrive. She’d be crazy to sell now. She could dominate the real estate market in Chance Rapids. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel. The town needed someone like her. Her mind raced: Could she be a small-town girl again? Could she live in the town where she was once labeled the town whore? Moreover, could she live in the same town as Logan motherfucking Brush?
Chapter 26
THE GARDENS WERE BUZZINGwith activity as Logan’s players took to the ice. The team had never played at such a big arena and Logan hoped that it wouldn't throw off their game. The air was electric. He looked high up in the stands to the VIP box and could see Freddie’s bright yellow hat. Freddie was pissed when he found out Logan’s VIP tickets were for the junior game, but Logan figured he would eventually forgive him since their trip to the city had landed him a date to a film premiere with a gorgeous model.
The arena staff was preparing for the opening ceremony, and they were starting with the rolling out of the red carpet.
“Hey, Tim,” he yelled to a man with a headset. “What's with all the Pomp and Circumstance?” Logan asked.
“The league is recognizing some of its major sponsors tonight.”
Logan hated the politics involved with the league but realized that they were necessary in order to keep things running. His stomach wrenched as he realized that with her massive donation, Charlotte was likely one of the major sponsors. His suspicions were confirmed almost immediately.
“You should see one of the sponsors... so smoking hot,” Tim said.
It had to be her.
