He let his gaze settle on her, but she wouldn’t look at him.
He caressed the back of her neck with a thumb. “If you let them, they’ll make you a victim. If you take that power away, they’ll treat you the way you’ve deserved to be treated all along.”
The server appeared with a tray. She delivered Doc Holloway’s food in a to-go box, then passed out the rest of their meals.
Lorenda tapped a fork against her glass of tea. “Before Doc leaves, I want to propose a toast.” Not only did she speak loud enough for everyone at Joe’s to hear, but the restaurant down the street could’ve probably heard his sister, too, which had Langston smiling. “The entire town owes Sandra Edwards a huge thank you for bringing this snowboarding championship to Red River. It’s pouring even more money into our local economy, gaining Red River international recognition and exposure, and putting us on the map as one of the most beautiful resort towns in the Rockies.” Lorenda lifted her glass. “Heck, I’ve sold more real estate this winter than the last five winters combined, and Brooks Real Estate owes it all to you, Sandra.”
Miranda lifted her glass. “I love Red River, but I especially love that we’ve got people like Sandra working hard to make our town a better place.” Her voice was just as loud as Lorenda’s had been.
The whole table toasted, each with something nice to say about his girl.
Hell, in a matter of minutes, they’d become Sandra’s own private cheer squad, and the rest of the customers had seemed to lose interest and had gone back to their own conversations.
His stare settled on Sandra again, and his chest tightened.
They’d been together long enough for him to know when something was bothering her. He bent and whispered in her ear, “Crisis averted. Look around. No one in the restaurant seems to care that we’re together. And my friends and sister wouldn’t be doing this if they disapproved of us seeing each other.”
Sandra blinked, staring up at him, and wetness shimmered in her eyes.
He wrinkled his brow.
They were free. No more hiding. No more secrets. No more misleading others.
So why did the expression on her face say that she was more worried than ever?
Chapter Eight
Two days before the championship began, Sandra got to the shop extra early to put out new inventory from her storeroom and continue training the new temporary employees who would be manning the store during the event.
Every night since they’d been stranded on the chairlift, she’d left the shop and spent those hours in bed with Langston, without having to sneak into his place or smuggle him into hers. It was magical and surreal, and she didn’t want it to end. So she’d kept telling herself that it would be best to wait until after the championship was over to confess that she’d been planning to leave Red River without telling him. She was too preoccupied with running a business and organizing the snowboarding championship. He was too busy being magnificent.
Truth was she hadn’t had the heart to hurt him all over again now that their relationship was finally out in the open.
Hell.
She dropped her face into her hands. That wasn’t even the whole truth. The whole truth was she’d been too chickenshit to tell him, because of the betrayal she knew she’d see in his beautiful chocolaty eyes, and because of the shame she felt.
With a box cutter, she opened one of the few containers of new winter gear left in her storeroom.
Her goal to reduce her inventory before shutting the shop’s doors had worked beautifully. Tourists and competitors had poured into town during the past week, and every store and restaurant along Main Street was busy from the moment they opened until they finally flipped off their lights and went home at the end of the work day.
She tossed a handful of hangers into the box and hauled it to the retail area. She stuffed a hanger inside the neck of a ski jacket and jammed it onto a rack. Then the next, and the next.
“I’m such a loser,” she mumbled out loud as she worked her way through the box of new gear. The she went and got another box.
She’d finally gotten the things in life she never thought she’d be lucky enough to have—acceptance from a close group of friends who supported each other, and a real chance to have a life with the man she’d loved since she was a teenager—and she’d screwed it up already.
As the sun rose higher and spilled through the shop windows, the doorbell jingled. One of her new employees walked in to work the morning shift.
“Morning, Avery,” Sandra said.
Avery was already on her phone. “Morning, Ms. Edwards.”
Sandra rubbed the corners of her eyes with a thumb and forefinger. “I told you to call me Sandra.” Ms. Edwards made her feel like a little old lady who should be using a walker. It also highlighted the fact that she was still single and might always be, unless Langston could eventually forgive her.
Of course, to earn his forgiveness, she’d actually have to take responsibility and tell him everything. And that group of supportive friends? They might not be so supportive once they found out she’d planned to leave their buddy without so much as a parting goodbye. Sandra doubted any amount of explaining that she’d had his best interest at heart would help.
“Finish restocking the racks for me. I need to make a few calls, then I’ll watch you open the register.” She’d just shown Avery the opening procedures yesterday, and it might take a few tries to remember all of the steps.
Avery swung a denim purse off one shoulder and stored it behind the register, then Sandra handed off the hangers to her.
Sandra went to the register and got her phone from behind the counter. She’d been trying to reach her landlord all week. She’d left messages. Sent emails. Gone to the landlord’s office personally. But hadn’t gotten a response except an auto generated email that said Sorry, I’m out of the office until…
Today. Mrs. Tillerson would be back in town today, and hopefully open for business at the ass crack of dawn since she’d been on vacation for what seemed like an eternity.
Sandra tapped in Mrs. Tillerson’s phone number and listened to it ring. Once, twice—
It went to voicemail again.
Sandra blew out a frustrated sigh and leaned a hip against the counter to wait for the tone. “Um, hello, Mrs. Tillerson. It’s Sandra Edwards again. I really, really need to talk to you about letting this retail space go. I’ve changed my mind and would like to discuss renewing my lease.”
What if it was too late? What if the space had already been leased to someone else?
Sandra discarded her phone onto the counter. She was being ridiculous.
If Mrs. Tillerson had been on vacation and couldn’t return Sandra’s messages, then she hadn’t been around to lease the space to anyone else either. It was going to be fine. It would all work out, and she’d renew her lease, order new inventory, and she and Langston would live a long and happy life together. Because he loved her and knew that she loved him, and love conquered all.
And unicorns were real.
Now she wasn’t just being ridiculous, she was being down right stupid.
“All done with restocking, but we’re running low on ski gloves and there’s none in the storeroom.” Avery joined her at the register.
Sandra nodded. “I’ll order more this week.” Just as soon as she spoke to the landlord and knew for sure she’d still have a shop to sell them in. “I’m a little behind because of the championship, and we’ve sold more than I expected.”
“Probably because you’ve been running such great sales,” Avery said.
Right. “Speaking of, when I’m gone to the daily staff meeting over at the lodge, take down the sale signs. All the new merchandise goes back to full price today.”
Sandra watched Avery open the register and go through the rest of the opening procedures. As soon as the shop opened for business, customers filled the store.
Twenty minutes before she had to leave for the morning event staff meeting, she fin
ished fitting a pair of snowboarders with new top-of-the-line goggles. As she rang up their purchases, the front doorbell jingled.
Langston stepped inside, looking like his usual rugged, hot self and holding a white bag from the Ostergaard’s and a coffee carrier with two cups in it.
Her insides sighed, and she felt it down to her toes.
“I thought we could have coffee, then I’ll give you a ride to the meeting.” He gave her that smartass, sexy as hell smile that she loved so much, and held up the coffee and paper bag.
“God, I love you,” she said to Langston as she handed the customers their merchandise.
As soon as the shoppers left the store, he said, “You just want me because I give you scones.” He sat the treats down on the counter. “Among other things.” He waggled his brows at her.
She shrugged playfully. “Mostly the scones.”
He laid a smokin’ hot kiss on her, then breathed against her lips, “I love you, too.”
Saying it out loud with customers in her store and an employee within earshot was even more incredible than she’d dreamt. But she had to bust his chops anyway, because he liked it when she challenged him. “When I said ‘I love you,’ I was talking to the bag of scones.”
He reached around and pinched her ass.
The tinkle of the bell didn’t faze either of them. They stayed toe-to-toe, their noses touching and their eyes locking.
“Good morning, Sandra.”
A familiar, frazzled voice had Sandra’s head snapping back like she’d been slapped.
“Mrs. Tillerson!” Sandra stumbled back and had to grab onto the counter to keep her balance.
“Hello, Langston,” the landlord said. “As soon as I got back into town yesterday evening, I heard about you two. Congratulations! You’re the talk of the town.”
Of course, they were.
She looked at them thoughtfully. “You know, I never would’ve thought of getting you two together, but you make the perfect couple.”
Oh, what those words of acceptance meant, coming from a respected member of Red River’s business community. Except Sandra couldn’t enjoy the victory. Not now, when her whole world might crumble.
“I wasn’t expecting you.” Sandra sidestepped around Langston and hurried to Mrs. Tillerson, trying to hustle her to the door. “How about I stop by your office in a few hours.”
Creases appeared between Langston’s eyes as he watched her.
Mrs. Tillerson didn’t budge. “Oh, no, hon.” She waved a hand in the air. “Your messages sounded more and more frantic as I listened to each of them late last night.” She reached into her satchel. “All twenty-four of them.”
“No.” Sandra fought to control the desperation in her voice. “I mean, no, I should come by later.” She pushed the front door open. “The shop is busy right now, and we’re about to leave for a staff meeting. I’ll stop in as soon as I’m done. Promise.”
“Sure, sure.” Mrs. Tillerson withdrew a manila envelope from her satchel. “I’ll just drop off the new lease now, and you can bring the signed copy by whenever it’s convenient. I’m just glad you changed your mind about staying in town. We need savvy businesswomen like you in Red River.” She held out the envelope.
Sandra’s eyes slid shut.
When she opened them, it wasn’t Mrs. Tillerson’s encouraging smile that had Sandra’s blood kicking wildly through her veins. No, that would’ve made her life too easy. It would’ve made the moment too good.
It was the hurt in Langston’s eyes and the betrayal in his expression that had her heart doing double time. Slowly, she reached for the envelope as though it might burn when she touched it.
“Well, see you later.” Mrs. Tillerson gave both of them a friendly smile. “And good luck to you with everything. The championship…” Obviously, confused by the sudden tension that filled the air around them, her gaze shifted between Sandra and Langston. “And with each other.”
When she pushed the door open and left, the cold gust of air that blew in was nothing compared to the ice pumping through Sandra’s veins.
It took Sandra several long moments to tear her stare from the envelope in her hands.
“Langston.” She took a step toward him, trying to explain.
He lifted a hand. “Don’t. Just don’t.” He stepped around the counter and walked in her direction.
Her heart filled with hope.
But he didn’t come to her. Instead, he stepped up to the door and put his hand against it, obviously to leave.
And Sandra knew he wasn’t just leaving the shop. He was likely leaving her.
“You were going to desert me. After all the years I…” He blew out a breath and shook his head. “All this time, you’ve been telling me that you were my dirty little secret. It hasn’t really mattered to you that I’ve never considered you anything less than the love of my life.” He stared at the floor for a beat.
She reached out to touch his arm. “Langston—”
He took a step back, and her heart jumped to her throat. “I was waiting for the right time to tell you. I’m sor—”
“Do not tell me you’re sorry,” he said through gritted teeth, the pain and anger in his voice nearly knocking her to her knees. “Not after it turns out that I’ve been your dirty little secret. I was just too stupid to see it.”
Sandra watched him push through the door and vanish, along with her happiness and her future.
Chapter Nine
Sandra got her game face on.
She stood in front of the soaring two-story glass window of the lodge. A crowd formed on the bunny slope, where the opening ceremony was set up and ready to begin in less than an hour.
It was early March now, and today was the day. She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders.
She’d done it. She’d pulled off an international event with very little time to plan and limited resources beyond her wits and work ethic. More importantly, she’d done an extraordinary job that just might keep the ISA coming back every year, and might even catch the eye of other professional winter sports organizations.
Even better, she’d exceeded the council’s expectations, which stopped just short of signing an oath in blood. Her blood, so she’d take the win like a champion.
If only she felt like a champion, instead of the biggest loser on the plant because of how badly she’d hurt Langston.
She looked down at her clipboard, staring at the checklist but not really seeing the words.
“Hello, dear.” Chairperson Clydelle stepped up to the window, startling Sandra. The old woman leaned heavily against her cane.
“Good morning.” Sandra smiled.
“You’ve done a fantastic job, just as I knew you would,” said Clydelle.
Sandra’s head snapped around. “Um, what?” Confidence wasn’t at all the vibe Chairperson Clydelle had given off when Sandra pitched the idea to bring the extreme snowboarding championship to the city council. Or any other time for that matter.
Clydelle waved a gloved hand in the air. “Oh, I know I was hard on you, but I’m only that way when I see great potential. You have it.”
Wait. What? “Potential?” Sandra thumbed her own chest. “Are you talking about me?”
Clydelle chuckled. “Of course, I’m talking about you. I’ve seen it in you for years. You just didn’t see it in yourself until now. You’re different. Something’s changed. And it looks good on you.”
A flash of color had Sandra turning back to the window. Regret vibrated through her as Langston emerged from the equipment storage room across from the lodge with the entire ski patrol following in their bright red jackets. With skis and poles bundled over their shoulders, they trudged into the opening where they had room to snap their high-tech ski boots into the bindings of their skis.
She hadn’t done Langston any favors, as she’d foolishly thought she was doing. She’d hurt him terribly. A mistake she’d likely pay for dearly for years to come. Or however long it took for her to get
over losing him. She’d tried to talk to him, but he wanted nothing to do with her. Had stayed distant and cold during the staff meetings and when they’d had to work together on the event.
Unless it was strictly professional, today wasn’t the day to approach him again. Tomorrow might not be the right time either. Or next week, or next month, or next year. But someday, maybe he’d forgive her enough to at least let her apologize.
“I’m proud of the work I’ve done.” But instead of pride, she felt sadness all the way to her bones.
Clydelle followed her gaze. “The love of a man makes us do crazy things sometimes, but you’re one of the most resilient people I’ve ever met. You’ll figure it out.”
Sandra shook her head. “I don’t think so. It’s too late.”
A snowmobile pulled up in front of the lodge.
“A lot can happen in a day,” said Clydelle. “That’s my ride. I’ll see you at the ceremony. The whole city council will be there.” She waddled to the door, her cane clicking against the floor as she left.
Sandra watched the council chairperson climb onto the back of the snowmobile and hook her arms around the driver’s waist. Clydelle waved over a shoulder as the snowmobile pulled away from the lodge.
Sandra turned her attention back to Langston.
His lips moved, and his ski patrol listened. When he was done talking, they put on their goggles or sunglasses and headed toward the bunny slope.
It was time. She drew in a deep breath, gathered her courage, and stuffed the clipboard into the backpack at her feet. Just as she slipped her arms into the shoulder straps, her phone rang.
She pulled it from her jacket pocket. “This is Sandra.” She pressed the phone against her knit pink, gray, and black Neff winter beanie cap that covered her ears.
“Sandra! Will Carlisle here.”
Ah, the International Snowboarding Association’s representative who had been assigned to check in with Sandra on the event’s progress. Really, he was mostly assigned to keep an eye on her and make sure she got the job done.
“Good morning, Mr. Carlisle. Everything okay?”
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