Page 8 of A Secret Chance
Lauren headed into the empty kitchen and dragged her finger through the creamy pink frosting of the unicorn’s tail, discreetly enough that no nine-year-olds would be able to tell. “Could this day get any worse?” Lauren asked herself.
Chapter 4
THE LAST TIME BAXTERwas in Chance Rapids he was twenty-one years old, had long hair, and a beard. Ten years ago, Chance Rapids had a diner, a gas station, and well, that’s pretty much it. He looked up and down Main Street and couldn’t believe how much the little town had grown up. There were several outdoor shops and a café that served cappuccinos.
He had expected O’Hare Realty to be a dingy old real estate office with a little old lady at the front, probably still using a typewriter, but it was the polar opposite. The office was nicer than his, and Baxter’s was gorgeous. Whoever designed the place had been able to tastefully blend outdoorsy country with modern chic. The lobby had a huge cobblestone fireplace, herringbone hardwood floors, and floor to ceiling windows. Digital photographs of all their listings hung in the windows, suspended by wire cables.
The receptionist, a pretty blond girl named Maria, ushered the Caldwell team into a conference room and offered them drinks while they waited for the broker, Charlotte O’Hare.
“This is a gorgeous table.” Nicole ran her hands along the thick slab of wood with a rough edge. As she handed Baxter a file folder, the sleek glass door opened, and Baxter felt his steadfast hands start to tremble. It was the woman he and Thomas had just seen at the ski lodge.
“Have I kept you waiting?” the raven-haired woman asked as she pulled off her parka, revealing a simple black turtleneck and skinny black jeans. She kept her furry boots on and rushed to the table.
Baxter stood and stepped forward. “Baxter Caldwell.” He reached out his hand.
“Charlotte O’Hare,” she smiled and shook his extended hand.
Baxter introduced the rest of his team and everyone took their places at the conference table.
“What can I help you with?” she smiled.
Baxter couldn’t shake the feeling that he had seen this woman before today. And he felt a little let down that there wasn’t a glimmer of recognition in her eyes when she met him. Although, ten years ago, he had looked like a different person. Back then, he was young and naïve, but he felt like he and the girl, a cleaning lady at the lodge, had an instant attraction, and that in those brief hours they shared, they had formed a bond that he would never forget. He found it hard to believe that two people who had spent such a magical night together could forget what each other looked like. No, this couldn’t be her he rationalized. He knew deep down that if he ever saw that cleaning lady again, he would know it, instantly.
“Thomas is the principal in our land acquisition department.” I swept my hand toward my executive. “Perhaps he can start things off.”
Thomas cleared his throat. “Sure,” he said. He raised his eyebrows at me. I always took the lead in meetings, but there was something about this Charlotte O’Hare that had unnerved me.
“As you may have heard, Caldwell International is in the process of acquiring the ski resort here in Chance Rapids, along with several of the local heli-ski operations.”
Charlotte nodded. “It’s a small town. I’ve heard.” She smiled wryly and leaned back, crossing her arms across her chest.
“Right.” Thomas pulled out a glossy brochure. “You also may have heard that we are in the process of amending the town’s official plan in order to apply for an expansion to the existing mountain village. He pushed the glossy brochure towards Charlotte. She picked it up and quickly flipped through its pages, pausing at the center fold.
“Is this a high rise?” she pointed to the tower that was planned for the town square.
“It is,” Thomas said. “Twenty stories, with commercial units on the first and second floors.”
