Last Resort Love

by Holly Cortelyou

  As if on cue, Nick’s phone rang and the caller ID listed Wescott Elementary. It had to be Angie. How did she know he was back in town? Nick visualized her willowy frame and black hair and witchy attitude. He pushed back his old misgivings, prayed she wasn’t on the prowl for him again, and took the call. As they worked their way through the chit-chat and niceties, Nick waited for Angie to come to her point. She always had a point.

  “I sent you an email a bit ago,” Angie said. “Have you had a chance to peruse it? It is really for the most worthy cause.”

  “I saw it earlier, but I haven’t had a chance to read it,” Nick replied. And would really rather not, he added to himself.

  “Well, the gist of it,” Angie said, “is that the school needs new playground equipment and there is truly nothing in the budget to cover the extra expense. I won’t try to dazzle you with some fancy sales pitch since you can out negotiate me any old time. Plain and simple, I was thinking Wescott Springs Resort should really sponsor the new playground. It would be excellent for community relations and a nice piece of PR. What do you think?”

  Nick smiled in spite of himself. He wondered if he should make her work for his donation and then thought better of it. Best not to cross her with her stepfather coming soon. She was known to stir up trouble just for the fun of it.

  “Absolutely,” Nick agreed. “Just name the amount you need. Are we the sole donor or just the lead dog?”

  “You’ll foot the whole bill?” Angie’s voice held a hint of excitement. “Well, for that, we can put your name on a plaque and kids for generations will know you for the hero you are.”

  “Okay, now you’re laying it on pretty thick. Just email me the specs and the list of what you need. I’ll make it happen for the kids.”

  Angie rattled off her thank yous and wrapped it up by adding, “Are you coming to the Mid-Summer’s Night Ball in two weeks? Your sister’s holding it at Wescott Springs Resort this time.”

  Nick tried not to groan. His older sister, Dana, organized the annual charity event, and if it was at the resort, of course he’d have to play host or at least make an appearance and do some hobnobbing. He hadn’t even noticed the event on the meeting space schedules; all he’d cared about was that the ballroom was booked solid for the next two months, which would look good to his buyers. He made a mental note to have Hank procure him a suitable costume. Dana insisted that everyone dress up in wild and entertaining getups.

  “If I’m still here in town,” Nick said, “I’ll definitely attend. Will you be there?” he added cordially although he already knew the answer.

  “Naturally! I’ve been planning my outfit for the last month. Thank goodness for Internet shopping. I’ve managed to find the perfect little gold sandals with crystal studded straps that wind around my ankles and halfway up my legs,” Angie said in a smoky, lowered voice. “You’ll just have to keep dreaming about what else I won’t be wearing.” She gave a sultry laugh and ended the call.

  Nick stared at his phone for a moment. What the hell was that? He frowned and shoved his phone into his pocket. A few curse words floated through his brain and he rubbed his hand on the back of his neck.

  He had a sinking feeling that Angie knew her stepfather was interested in buying the resort and she was going to take full advantage of it. School playground was a likely story. Nick just hoped she wasn’t chasing him again. Angie had played him for a fool once and he had found out her gold-digging ways as a freshman in college, and then she had run after him again when he’d inherited the resort. What a bore. That annoying little conniver better not muck up his deal with Marindon.

  Nick’s phone beeped again. He scanned the text message about crushed cabin number twenty-three and a smile flickered around his lips. His mind filled with an image of his redheaded neighbor’s wide-eyed expression as he’d invited her on a tour of the grounds.

  Somehow, all he could remember was Krissa’s luminous eyes gazing at him with a hint of fire, flame, and passion. Life didn’t have to be all work and no play. Maybe he did have time for a little summer dalliance. A challenge was just what he needed.

  * * * *

  With a contented wave, Krissa shooed her students off as the last bell of the day chimed. Her students packed up their gear and drifted out of her classroom in a jumble of shouts, scraping chairs, and laughter. Even she was glad that lunchtime was the end of the summer school day. The summer sunshine filtering through the windows was luring everyone outside.

  On first acquaintance, her new kids seemed like good eggs and almost excited about learning despite the hot summer day brewing outside. She hoped it would last. A woman walked into the room with a younger boy, who looked maybe six or seven, trailing behind her. The woman was petite with medium brown hair in a swingy, A-line cut.

  “Hey, Mom,” Eli Anderson said as he picked up his backpack from his desk in the back row. “Come and meet my new teacher. She’ll even be teaching us next year!”

  Krissa smiled wryly and hoped that Eli’s enthusiasm for her lasted the whole summer, and then she surveyed the woman who was Nick’s sister.

  “Dana Anderson,” Eli’s mother said with her hand extended.

  “Krissa Courtland,” she replied. “It’s a pleasure.”

  Dana gave her an appraising look that eased into a friendly smile. “Eli was raving about you last night. It is good to meet you. Call me Dana.”

  “Call me Krissa.”

  “Welcome to our hamlet in the mountains. It must be quite an adjustment for you. Big city to small town,” Dana said.

  “Umm?” Krissa said with a startled look.

  “Oh, don’t look surprised. Everybody already knows where you used to live and where you’ve taught and what kind of jam you like on your toast.”

  “Oh!”

  Dana patted Krissa’s arm like an old chum and said, “We’re a fun, homey little village here in Wescott, and not quite as sophisticated as Vail.”

  “I’m loving it,” Krissa said firmly and felt herself warming up to this bold little lady. “It’s so beautiful, and I just love the chance to teach in a friendly school district.”

  “Oh, we’re a sociable bunch,” Dana said. “Just watch out for the rumor mill and gossip grind. But I sure don’t want to scare you off. We’re good people.”

  “Gino’s,” Eli announced out of the blue. His younger brother whooped.

  “They make the most awesomest pizza in the world!” the younger boy said. “I’m Logan.”

  “Very nice to meet you, Logan Anderson,” Krissa said. “And thank you for the pizza advice. I’ve been dying for a good slice and had no idea where to go.”

  The two women chatted for a few minutes about the best pizza parlor in town while Eli and Logan chimed in with their preferred toppings.

  “Well, Krissa Courtland,” Dana said with a laugh, “we’re having a barbecue this weekend for folks, family, and a few teachers. Why don’t you come on out?”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Krissa replied without hesitation.

  “It’s our welcome to summer gathering,” Dana said. “And as a plus, Brett and I can get to know you and we can butter you up so you’ll put up with our pack of wolves. We’ve got four so far and if you stick around here long enough, I guess you’ll teach all of ’em.”

  Dana winked broadly as Eli rolled his eyes and Krissa laughed. With a few scribbles on some paper, Dana wrote out directions and a time for Saturday and then herded her kids out the door.

  Krissa strolled around the room and tucked in chairs and picked up paper. Here it was the first day of school and she’d already met some parents and had a party lined up for the weekend. Back in Phoenix, she hadn’t met any family members until the first parent conferences, and there certainly hadn’t been any social invitations. She was liking Wescott Springs. She thought of Nick and his broad chest. Maybe she was enjoying it too much.

  As she turned off the lights, Angie poked her head through the doorway. After asking how her day had gone,
Angie fired off a series of questions about Krissa’s assignments and how she had seated her students.

  The slightly pursed lips and narrowed eyes of her principal made Krissa wonder if she had really done that rotten of a job on her first day.

  Angie turned and stalked off with a short wave and told her that she hoped tomorrow would go better. Krissa frowned and wondered what she had done to annoy the woman already. With a quick mental review, Krissa thought about her students and knew she’d done just fine. What was going on?

  Chapter 8

  WITH a contented hum, Krissa ate the last bite of her hamburger and decided that she loved family barbecues. It was a lovely June Saturday with lots of sunshine, blue sky, gentle breezes, and mild temperatures. It was warm but not hot and there was no humidity.

  Dana and Brett Anderson’s house was nestled between a meadow and a stand of aspens and maples with lush, green leaves in the prime of their season. The Andersons’ yard was comfortable and well-manicured with plenty of room for a deck, a swing set, a jungle gym, and a rambling lawn almost the size of a soccer field. While the adults sipped drinks and finished their plates, a jumble of kids whirled around the yard.

  “What a lovely party,” Krissa said to Dana.

  “Fun, isn’t it?” Dana laughed. “And this is just the lull before the next shift arrives. All of my husband’s co-workers usually show up and then a lot of the crew from the resort. Once the sun goes down, we really get going!”

  “You certainly have the place for it,” Krissa said with an admiring sweep of her arm.

  “Brett and I work at keeping it up for days just like this,” Dana beamed. “We love these get-togethers. It’s our reward.”

  “I like that attitude,” Krissa said.

  “Hey, babe?” Brett called to his wife. “I think we’re ready for the next round of kielbasa and chicken.”

  “Absolutely!”

  “What can I do to help?” Krissa asked.

  Dana squeezed Krissa’s hand and pulled her toward the kitchen. A few minutes later they emerged loaded with goodies for the grill and the table.

  With a kiss, Brett told his wife just how wonderful he thought she was. Krissa grinned at the couple and relaxed into the happy atmosphere. Sweet aromas of barbecue floated past her nose, and the joyful giggles and shouts of the kids playing tag filled Krissa with contentment.

  Three trucks rolled into sight down the long driveway from the main road. With pickup doors slamming, several of the kids came to attention.

  “Uncle Nick, Uncle Nick,” a core of four kids cried in unison as they dashed up to the vehicles.

  With her eyes following the stream of kids, Krissa spotted Nick looking comfortable in a pair of worn jeans and a snug, white pocket tee. Her heart skipped a beat, and she knew she was glad to see him.

  He strolled over with a pack of youngsters hanging on his legs and gave Dana a peck on the cheek with a one-armed squeeze.

  Dana looked beyond him and frowned. “Where’s Brie? I thought you were picking her up from the airport.”

  “Nope,” Nick said. “I got a text from her this morning and she said she had a project due on Monday, so she’s not coming out from Denver.”

  Krissa wondered who Brie was. Girlfriend? Why did Dana seem so irritated but Nick was unperturbed?

  “No Auntie Brie?” the towheaded Logan Anderson asked. His broad smile drooped.

  “She couldn’t make it this time, sweetie,” Dana said to her son, and she rubbed a hand over his buzz cut blond hair.

  “Aunt Brianna never comes out here,” Eli said to his younger brother. “She’s very important and has a very busy schedule. Just like Uncle Nick.”

  A sheepish smile hit Nick’s face.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, Brie is much more like her brother than I am,” Dana said with a quirked eyebrow at Nick. “I’m quite content to stay here and enjoy Wescott Springs.”

  Krissa suspected she’d just witnessed a snippet of conversation from a long-running family feud, and she felt a flicker of relief that Brie seemed to be a sister and not a wife or girlfriend. Krissa watched as Dana stuck her tongue out at Nick and laughed.

  Dana turned to Krissa.

  “Krissa, you’ve already met my brother, right?” Dana asked. “Eli said he was showing you around the resort.”

  “Oh, we’ve met,” Krissa said with a twinge of something almost like sarcasm. She avoided Nick’s eyes and smiled blandly. “And the resort is lovely.”

  “You actually rent one of resort houses on the Outer Loop, I think,” Dana continued. “Hey, Nick, which house does she have?”

  “She’s in the guesthouse,” Nick said with a twinkle in his eye as he grinned at Dana.

  “What?”

  “Didn’t you hear about the two rentals that got hammered in that storm the other day? Krissa’s was one of them.”

  “She’s in the guesthouse?” Dana said in surprise and then she glanced at them both and her smile widened. “I guess that makes sense. All the houses are rented and you can’t very well put her up for that long at the resort.” She shook her head and added, “I guess I don’t know everything that goes on around here!”

  “Exactly!” her brother crowed.

  Krissa watched a small satisfied smile play around the corners of Nick’s mouth.

  Dana huffed and planted her hands on her hips, but no one bought her pretend exasperation. Brett snickered and Nick leaned over and gave his sister a side-arm squeeze. Dana punched his shoulder and turned to Krissa.

  “Besides our little school, what brings you to Wescott Springs? Have you stayed in Vail before?”

  “Would you believe I sort of picked it with my eyes closed?” Krissa said. “My life has been a bit of a roller coaster for the last two years and I finally realized it was time for a change.” Krissa paused and wondered what had gotten into her that she was spilling her story so easily to these strangers. “I figured a new town and a new job were just the ticket. The very first job listing that popped up on my Internet search was for the sixth grade class at Wescott Elementary. What could be more different than trading the big desert metropolis for a charming mountain village? I got the interview right away and a job offer shortly after. I think I might have been the only one to apply!”

  Dana and Nick laughed.

  “Welcome to our hamlet in the shadow of Vail,” Dana said. “We love it here. It’s so lovely and I wouldn’t wish to live anywhere else. Is the guesthouse okay for you? I hope my cousin Josh didn’t leave it too dirty.”

  “My cleaning crew fixed it up last weekend,” Nick added.

  “It is such a charming cottage and I’m thrilled that it’s right on your gorgeous lake,” Krissa said.

  The memory of Nick helping her out of the lake and holding her tight against his body flooded her brain. Krissa thought of his arms holding her close and she found herself stifling a blush. She was thinking very un-schoolmarmish thoughts. She glanced over at Nick and his eyes looked a little unfocused. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear Nick was thinking the same thing.

  “Come on, Uncle Nick,” Logan interrupted. “Come play football with us. Eli and his buddies will let us play if you join too.”

  “Logan, don’t be rude,” Dana said. “He just got here.”

  “I’ll join you in a bit; let me have a bite to eat,” Nick said with a quick grin to Logan. “I haven’t eaten all day and I’m starved. We’ll make our own team then, okay? We’ll take out Eli, what d’ya think?”

  Logan cheered and sat down on a bench to wait; he swung his skinny seven-year-old legs impatiently. Dana laughed and apologized for her progeny, but declared that it was Nick’s fault because he was such a great uncle.

  Krissa watched the camaraderie between Nick and Dana and wondered if she’d ever find such a comfortable balance with her brother. It was hard to imagine. She’d been saving David’s bacon for so many years that he viewed her as a rescuer, not a sister. With a crinkled brow, Krissa shooed off thoughts
of David’s latest escapade and scrape with the cops. No more trouble, please, she whispered to herself.

  Krissa watched as Nick loaded up a plate full of barbecue. No more trouble indeed. He was too good-looking and too nice by half. She wished he didn’t seem so interesting. She felt her heart beat a smidge harder, and a tingle wiggled its way down from her heart to the warm apex between her thighs. She almost squirmed. Yes, indeed. Nick was interesting. At least that must mean she was well over old Tim the cheating jerk. That put a little smile on her face.

  Without a backward look, Krissa slipped down the deck steps to the lawn. She had a whole party of new friends to make here in her new town. With a resolute expression, she headed over to mingle with a group clustered around a picnic table a few yards away.

  She tried hard not to look around for Nick or notice him throwing back his head in laughter or grabbing another beer and leaning against the deck railing looking for all the world like a magazine model with that head of ridiculously thick, glossy dark brown hair. She deliberately turned her back to him and listened to a group of women chatter about their summer vacation plans.

  For the next hour, she kept up a vigilant watch and each time he’d get close to her, she would shift away and join another group. As he played football with the kids, she blocked out all the sounds of their hooting and hollering and goofy gamesmanship.

  Sighing, Krissa plunked down into a low, wooden Adirondack-style chair next to the brick and stone fire pit. She slipped her feet out of her sandals, wiggled them through the cool grass, and stretched out her legs with her feet crossed at her ankles. She was tuckered out from all of the gossip and meeting and greeting with such a large group. She gazed up at the first few stars twinkling in the indigo sky.