Last Resort Love

by Holly Cortelyou

  Krissa detected surprise in his voice and saw him shake his head as if to dispel the sentiment. He sounded like the mountains were part of his blood.

  They both looked around and realized there were several shoppers trying to leave and that they were completely blocking the way out.

  “I’d better get going,” Krissa said in a tumble of words. “I’ve got a lot to unload—two weeks of groceries and a ton of staples just to get me started.”

  She grabbed the plastic handle and pushed the cart out of the store.

  “Do you need any help?” Nick asked. “If you recall, I do live really close and I’m on my way home too.”

  Oh crap, she couldn’t avoid him, could she? Surely she had another errand she could run. That would delay going home and seeing him again so soon. No, the milk might spoil. Double drat.

  “No, no, I’ve got it. I’m sure you’re busy with the resort repairs. But that’s really nice of you.” Krissa pushed her cart a little faster. Nick matched her stride.

  “No problem,” he said. “If you do need anything, just send Shasta over and I’ll take that as a cry for help.”

  Nick gave a smile that reached all the way to his warm, blue eyes, and Krissa felt her heart contract and skip a beat. And with that, Nick gave her a quick nod and made a beeline to his pickup.

  Krissa felt a silly, school-girlish grin on her face as she stowed her bags in the back of her car. She grimaced at herself as she plopped the last sack down and snapped the hatchback shut. When was he leaving town? He was too distracting.

  She thought about her wet T-shirt contest look last night and flushed a rosy red. Krissa snorted in disgust as she slid into her car. Yes, indeed, Nick had liked the looks of her assets. Yup, he was a player. He was making all nice and practically sacking her groceries.

  “Well, Mr. Olin,” she said to her image in the rearview mirror, “I’m no booty call and I’m not interested.” Her eyebrows flared up as if she dared him to even try to mess with her. “I’m done with all men. And that, as they say, is that!”

  Krissa popped her car into reverse with her head held high and her back straight and proud. With a last look around the parking lot, Krissa spotted Principal Angie Jarrett staring in her direction as the raven-haired woman drove by her.

  Krissa waved. The principal merely inclined her head before she bounced over a speed bump and whipped a quick right turn onto the main road.

  Krissa’s shoulders sagged a few inches and a sigh snuck out of her once-smiling mouth. What kind of trouble was looking for her now? Maybe running away from Arizona and Tim Finchley weren’t really good ideas. Maybe she was just destined to find trouble. Or maybe she was the problem?

  Krissa tried to shake off the gloomy thoughts. Life was not all smooth sailing and it was the waves and storms that made it interesting. Right? Yeah, but some calm seas would be a welcome relief…at least for a little while.

  Chapter 5

  WITH his long legs stretched in front of him, Nick rested easily on the edge of his tailgate and waited for Krissa to show. He checked his phone for any new emails and felt a hint of irritation that the financials on the two Belize properties still hadn’t found their way to his inbox. What was the holdup?

  He tapped out a text to his assistant in Denver to follow up with his counterpart at the tropical resort. They were locally owned and were probably busy with day-to-day operations. That deal would probably take its own sweet time to develop.

  A blur of red caught Nick’s attention. He slipped his phone into his pocket and watched Krissa’s SUV inch down the driveway. He waved casually and received a brief hand salute from Krissa. He smiled to himself. Her expression looked almost harassed.

  There was no denying that his new neighbor was pretty easy on the eyes, and she seemed like a nice little distraction from all the pressure of prepping the resort for sale. A vision of her dripping wet from her lake splashdown popped up in his mind. Her shirt had clung like a second skin and he could see her sweet waist and firm, round breasts. He tingled with the memory of her taut, hard nipples pressed against his chest. He’d gotten another eyeful in the kitchen as the cool air of the house had put those lovely nips on high alert.

  Yes, Krissa had his attention. Nick shifted, and the hardness between his legs told him just how long it’d been for him. When had he broken up with Vanessa? Sheesh, six months. Damn, that was a long time. He shrugged and felt surprise that he hadn’t thought about her at all. She’d been fun and gorgeous, but once she started hinting around at something permanent, well, he’d taken the assignment in Singapore. It was as far away as he could get.

  With a quick glance at his watch, he knew he had an hour to spare before the manager meeting at the resort. There was still plenty of time to find out more about the luscious redheaded schoolteacher. Nick felt a twinge of conscience. He usually avoided nice girls like her. He stuck to the city socialites.

  Well, he’d mind his manners. He could be a gentleman and a helpful neighbor. She was new to town and her plans had just been massively disrupted. She probably deserved another good deed. Her attitude told him to back off, but he read a different story in her eyes. Those warm amber eyes looked a little bit defenseless and just a little lost.

  He pushed off the tailgate and ambled over to Krissa. Her eyes glittered and shot a few daggers at him. He almost laughed.

  “I’m here to help,” he said cheerfully. “Just point me in the right direction and I’ll carry everything in for you. That way you can focus on putting stuff away.” Nick flexed his arms and added, “I’m much bigger and stronger and can bring it all inside in half the number of trips it would take you.” He grinned and gave her a look that dared her to argue.

  “I’m fine,” Krissa replied. “I’ve got it covered. You take your stuff in.”

  “I’m all done, and nothing to do,” Nick said. “I’m yours to command.” He watched Krissa’s eyes lock on his and he grinned. “Everybody needs help when moving.”

  Krissa snapped her mouth shut and Nick was sure she plastered a wooden smile on her face.

  “Why thank you, that would be so helpful,” she replied stiffly.

  Nick watched her march up the pathway with her arms laden with grocery bags. He liked the snug lavender tank top and denim shorts that hugged her curvy behind. Her red-gold hair was in a high ponytail and swishing back and forth with each step almost like an agitated cat tail. He chuckled to himself and geared up for a battle. He loved the chase.

  On his second trip, he lugged in the final mound of supplies and plopped them on the crowded countertop. He glanced at Krissa to ask for his next set of orders. His gaze locked on hers and he marveled at the golden flecks in her eyes that matched the glinting gold in her fiery mane. As he stared, he could see Krissa’s cheeks flushing a gentle shade of rose.

  A small frown tugged at the corners of her mouth and then she dove into the heap of bags. Nick watched her whirlwind of activity as she flew through sorting and stowing all the new provisions. Her cheeks kept getting pinker.

  “Are you hot?” he asked.

  Krissa whipped her attention to him. He put on an innocent expression. She was smoking hot, he thought. Nothing like a prim little schoolteacher.

  “Air conditioning?” Nick added finally. “You want me to turn it on? I think it might get up over eighty today.”

  “Sure,” she replied and buried her head in the fridge. Nick tried not to laugh and went around the corner to fiddle with the thermostat. He was intrigued with Krissa. Every word out of those curvy lips seemed to tell him to go away, but her body was talking a whole other language. His teasing seemed to fluster her, but he guessed it was her good manners that kept her from chucking him out the door.

  With a little pop and a metallic whir, fresh, cool air blew in from the wall vents.

  “How’s that?” Nick asked.

  “Better…and, um…thank you,” Krissa said.

  Nick noticed that her cheeks were now a normal shade and her eye
s had a firm, business-y look to them. Ah, this is where she works at pushing me out the door, Nick thought. He knew he should be a gentleman and take his cue from her, but there was something about Krissa that made him want to linger and see if he could get a rise out of her.

  “Is there an Internet connection here?” Krissa asked blandly. “I looked around and didn’t see a cable outlet.”

  “Not here in the guesthouse,” Nick replied. “I have Wi-Fi at the house. I think the signal is strong enough to reach over here.” He pulled out his phone and checked for the small curved pie bars. “The signal’s weak. Do you use it a lot?”

  “Actually, I do,” Krissa replied. “I try to use it to save on data usage for my cell, but I need a high-speed connection for my side job.”

  Nick leaned forward and let his eyes ask the question. Krissa hesitated for a long moment, and Nick watched her lips almost form the words to make him leave, and then a small sigh escaped her lips and her shoulders relaxed.

  “My day job is teaching in a bricks and mortar school, but I also help kids learn online. Some tutorial stuff and classes for homeschoolers. I like the extra money and it keeps me busy.” She hesitated and added, “I really love exploring new ways to help kids understand the world.”

  Nick whistled. “Nice gig. That’s pretty awesome. Do you do live video sessions and things like that?”

  “That’s one part of it.”

  “You need a good connection for that. I’ll make sure we get someone out here quickly to get you all set up.”

  Krissa’s phone beeped, whistled, and wiggled a little dance on the kitchen countertop.

  “Speaking of class,” she said, “that’s my warning that I have a half hour before I have to jump online and monitor some class discussion. It’s still school time online even if most kids are enjoying summer break.”

  Nick glanced around and tore off a piece of packing paper, scribbled some letters and numbers on it, and handed it to Krissa.

  “Here’s the passcode to the Wi-Fi,” he said. “This ought to be enough to get you through a few days until we can get you a dedicated line here. Let me know if you need anything else.” He pointed at the love seat and added, “Especially if you need help with the big items.”

  “That’s very kind, but I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she said and waved her hands as if to ward him off.

  Nick stood for a moment at the sliding glass door and turned back to Krissa.

  “Let me know if you’re going for a nighttime walk,” he said solemnly, “and I’ll bring my pole to fish you out of the lake.”

  Krissa squeaked in outrage. She wadded up a piece of packing paper and hurled it at his retreating back. Nick slipped out the door and the paper bounced uselessly against the glass.

  As Nick trod the path back to his house, he could have sworn he’d heard Krissa’s foot stamp. Yep, she was easy to tease; sometimes she got flustered and others she lost her temper. He was never quite sure what response he was going to get. Nick ran his fingers through his hair and knew he was eager to find out.

  She was certainly different than the women he’d been dating for the past few years. She was as sexy as any of them, but he wondered what made her stand out next to all of the elegant and sophisticated ladies he’d been escorting to parties, soirees, and weekend getaways. A vivid image of Krissa’s amber-and-gold-flecked eyes drifted through his mind.

  Those eyes of hers hinted at a vulnerability. One moment she was soft and the next she was crusty. So far, she’d kept him guessing. Must be the challenge, he thought.

  Nick grabbed his briefcase, jumped into his pickup, and headed off to the resort.

  He tried to put Krissa out of his mind. She looked like the type of woman who only had serious relationships, and he was definitely not that kind of guy. He was way too busy. Besides, a summer fling would only distract him from his main goal for the next few weeks. The reps from the hotel group would be visiting in three days and he wanted to make sure Wescott Springs Resort was in a state of perfection.

  If he could sell the property to the investors, it would give him the cash he needed to buy into the partnership. A satisfied smile played at the corners of his mouth. He’d been offered a full partner share. Just five years ago, he’d joined TR Robinson Properties as a junior account executive. His hundred-hour work weeks had brought so many lucrative deals to the table that he’d gotten himself promoted multiple times. And now, finally, he had a golden ticket to the boardroom. But it came with a substantial price tag.

  He was going to have to sell Westcott Springs Resort. Wescott Springs was his ace in the hole. His uncle’s baby and his only inheritance. Nick felt a twinge of guilt. He knew he couldn’t sell it to his firm because they only handled tropical resorts and the surrounding commercial properties. They had no interest in adding a ski resort division. The family resort would have to go.

  A fleeting sensation of sadness whispered over Nick. He would miss the resort. There was no denying that he loved Wescott Springs. The resort had been his training ground. It had given him most of the knowledge that he needed to launch his globe-trotting, deal-making life finding financially vulnerable resort properties that were primed for purchase and a five-star renovation.

  The resort seemed like it had always been part of his life. He’d practically grown up around the place that his uncle had built from scratch. He’d spent long summer vacations playing in the lake and helping his Uncle Ross manage the property. It’d be hard to part with it, but hell, he barely had any time to supervise it properly. Nick gripped the steering wheel a bit harder and blocked out thoughts about how Wescott Springs had been his anchor as a teenager when he’d been so adrift after the death of his parents.

  Nick reminded himself that the best way to bust a deal was to take it personally. Emotions clouded judgment. Hell, even Uncle Ross had been ready to sell it and retire on the proceeds. Nick rubbed the back of his neck and thought of the smiling face of his uncle. He tried not to feel the shock of his sudden heart attack and finding out the whole resort now belonged to him at the ripe old age of twenty-two.

  Nick pushed back the pain. He was a businessman and investor. Wescott Springs was a great property, but it no longer fit in with his strategy. It had to go.

  It was with a stern and determined face that Nick handed his keys to the valet attendant and marched into the heart of the Wescott Springs Resort main lodge.

  * * * *

  With one last thump of a hammer, Krissa put the finishing touch to the decorations in her new classroom. She grinned as she looked around at the cheerful two-tone yellow walls with the green zigzagging accent line springing around the room. It might only be summer school, but her kids deserved a happy, fun room for learning.

  Her Monday morning meeting with her new colleagues had gone well, and she’d made a particular point in spending time with her two fellow summer session teachers. They’d been quick to let her know that this was the first extra summer session in years and if they didn’t do well, they might lose the grant that made it possible. Hmphf. No pressure there.

  She’d even survived Angie’s short new teacher introduction, which was a trial by fire littered with random barbs and putdowns. Krissa wondered what she’d done wrong, but then the principal had doled out snarky tidbits to each of the other teachers, and Krissa decided that perhaps Angie was a classic “mean girl.” She huffed and hoped she wouldn’t have to read any self-help books on how to survive and win over a mean supervisor. Miss Jarrett had been charming, if rather regal, during her interviews. Now, not so much.

  Krissa gazed around her room with satisfaction and her smile returned. She was a good teacher. Maybe even great, she mused. She blew a wispy curl of hair out of her eyes and felt gladness creep into her. Moving to the little hamlet of Wescott Springs felt very right. She felt a tingle of excitement and wondered what her new students would be like and how she could help them learn and explore the world.

  Krissa twirled a little pirouette of happi
ness and danced down the empty hallway with her purse and supply bags in tow. As she left the school building, the sun blazed in the sky and a wave of heat poured over her. She squinted and fumbled for her sunglasses.

  No wonder no one else was still here—it was way too nice to be indoors.

  “I deserve a treat,” she said out loud and decided to head to the Wescott Springs Resort to see if they had an early dinner or a late lunch table by the lake or maybe poolside. Just about all the other teachers had recommended the resort as the best place in town for food and entertainment. It was high time she discovered what everyone raved about.

  A short time later, as she pulled off the highway onto the long driveway of the Wescott Springs Resort, Krissa’s mouth fell open in awe.

  The tree-lined drive was a canopy of stately red oaks that wove through a field of tall waving meadow grasses and a dazzling rainbow of wildflowers. As she rounded the final curve, a magnificent timber lodge sprung into view with a mighty log and gable entrance framed by two long wings sporting an army of dormers dotting the roofline. It was charmingly rustic and amazingly grand.

  Krissa strolled through the lobby with her head twisting left and right, marveling at the soaring ceilings, iron railings, and enchanting mountain décor. Without any trouble, she found herself seated at a cozy dining table next to a picture window. The pool and patio were framed gorgeously by the deep green forest and the occasional hints of blue lake peeking in between the firs and pines.

  An hour later, as her waiter cleared away the remains of her meal, she wriggled her toes in her sandals and contentedly sipped her wine and let the citrus tang of the pale yellow elixir slip across her tongue. She almost purred with happiness. Through the wide picture window, she watched a pack of kids bat a volleyball around the pool. She grinned. Who wouldn’t be happy with a view like this on a languorous summer day? Life felt deliciously comfortable here.

  “Are you ready for dessert, ma’am?” a familiar voice asked.

  She looked up and there was Nick Olin. Larger than life and grinning. “No one can resist the Berry Blast Crumble with vanilla ice cream,” he added and paraded the fruity confection in front of her nonplussed eyes.