Listen to Your Heart

by Mona Ingram

  He considered her question for a moment. “I can’t think of anyone who’s ever gone back.” He grinned. “But it’s always there when we get older.” It was clear he thought that day would never come. His gaze landed on Karen and softened. “I’m going to give Karen a few tips next weekend when I have a day off. See if I can convert her.”

  Karen flushed again. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Chance watched the interaction, smiled, and then turned to Morgan. “If you’re not here for the skiing, why are you here?”

  Morgan set down her hamburger and wiped her mouth. “I’m here for the concierge training programme. It’s something I’ve always wanted, and I finally have the chance.”

  Karen gave her a surprised look. “That should be interesting. You’ll like Klaus.”

  “That’s Klaus Drescher, the concierge, right?”

  Karen nodded.

  Morgan decided to jump in. “While we’re talking about personnel, what about Colin Wynn-Jones, the manager?”

  Karen exchanged a quick glance with Tyler. “You’ll find out for yourself soon enough, but let’s just say he’s not very popular with most of the employees.”

  “Oh?” This wasn’t what Morgan had hoped to hear. “Any specific reason?”

  “I don’t know. It’s hard to put your finger on it. He’s one of those people who expect you to take responsibility, but when you do he’s quick to jump all over you if he doesn’t like your decision. I suppose that wouldn’t be so bad ‘cause it’s all part of the learning process, but he loves to do it in front of the guests, or the other staff.”

  Morgan winced. “I can see where that would be annoying. Thanks for the warning.” She looked up as Rob left the restaurant, one arm around a thin, elegant blonde in the latest après-ski gear. He whispered something in her ear and she gave a low, sexy laugh. He pulled open the door and ushered her out then turned back to look at Morgan. For an irrational moment she wished that she was the one heading out into the snowy darkness with him. Then sanity returned and she broke eye contact, but not before his mouth curved in a knowing smile.

  “Well,” she said, somewhat breathlessly. “It’s been a long day for me. I think I’ll head up to my room.”

  “I’ll finish your fries.” Chance pulled over her plate. “Probably see you around tomorrow. Let me know if you need help getting down to the Lodge.”

  Morgan was deep in thought when she entered the lobby. Table lamps illuminated the room with golden pools of light and a fire crackled softly in an open fireplace. When compared with most hotels the lobby was small, but it was elegantly appointed.

  “Goodnight Morgan.” Adrian’s greeting broke into her thoughts and she turned to see him standing behind the desk. He didn’t have the dark, sensual looks of Rob or the casual friendliness of Chance and Tyler, but his quiet, old-fashioned manners seemed just right in this setting.

  “Goodnight, Adrian.” She continued toward the elevators, then paused and went back to the desk. “I’m sorry if I sounded like I was prying into your private life earlier. My friend Dale is always telling me I ask too many questions.”

  “No.” He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “I enjoyed our talk.” He replaced the glasses. “Please let me know if you need any help getting to the Lodge tomorrow.”

  “Thank you. You’re the second person who’s offered to help.” She thought for a moment. “I do get to stay here tomorrow night, though?”

  “Yes, but most people move in on the second day. It’s your choice.” He glanced toward the concierge desk. “I hope you enjoy working here. See you tomorrow.”

  Chapter Three

  Bright sunshine flooded the restaurant with light the next morning. Designed with a wall of large windows, patrons could watch as skiers and riders ascended the massive mountain. Line-ups had already formed at the base of the lifts.

  “Amazing, isn’t it?” Chance appeared behind her and guided her to the same table they’d occupied the night before. He raised a hand for two coffees and they appeared moments later.

  “Shouldn’t you be working?” Morgan glanced toward the ski shop, but couldn’t tell if it was open.

  “We usually don’t open until eleven on Sundays.” He shrugged. “Most of the retail outlets do the same.” He blew on his coffee. “Calgary, huh? Why would you want to work in hotels when there are so many other opportunities in Calgary?”

  She frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “All those big oil companies. There must be lots of good jobs.”

  She nodded. “You’re right, but I’m not the office type.” She thought for a moment. “I’ve always wanted to work in hotels. Ever since I was a small kid.”

  “Really?” He seemed genuinely interested. “Tell me about it.”

  “My Dad owns a car dealership, and Mom and Dad travelled a lot when I was growing up.”

  Chance grinned. “Don’t tell me your father is Boomer Dempsey. I’ve seen his commercials. They’re great.”

  She nodded again. “Yes, that’s him. His name is actually Andrew, but everyone except Mom calls him Boomer. Anyway, when they travelled, Mom would bring home matches from the hotels they visited as souvenirs for me. She kept them tucked away in one of her drawers, but I was allowed to look at them.” Her eyes grew misty. “She kept them in a black tin box. I can still see it. It was from Black Magic chocolates and to me those faraway hotels represented something different; something that wasn’t about cars and trucks.”

  She pulled back. “Don’t get me wrong. Dad provided us with a great living, and one of my brothers runs a second dealership in Calgary. Even the twins will have their own places soon, but every discussion around our dinner table had to do with the automotive industry. I’ve always wanted to do something different.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You have three brothers? That’s a lot of testosterone.”

  “No kidding. They’re great, though.”

  “Names?”

  “Ken is the oldest. He’s the one who runs his own dealership. The twins are two years older than me. Grant and Gareth.” She turned to him. “Why do people do that? Give twins names that are so similar. It’s hard enough to tell them apart as it is.”

  “What about your friend. What’s her name?”

  “Dale.”

  “Has she always been interested in hotels too?”

  Morgan realized she’d never thought about that before. “Not always. You see, she lived with us and we’ve been besties almost all our lives, so when I first went to Banff to work, she went to Lake Louise.”

  “Is she adopted? It sounds like there’s a story there.”

  Morgan pulled back a bit. “No, she’s not adopted, but as to the story, you’ll have to ask her.” She smiled to show him that she hadn’t taken offence. “But be careful. She’s a fierce one.”

  “Sounds interesting.” He looked deep in thought. “I heard you tell Karen that she’s in housekeeping.”

  “That’s right.”

  “When does she arrive?”

  “I’m not sure. Could be as early as tomorrow. She’ll probably call although she’s awfully independent. If she arrives late enough I’ll go to the bus depot and meet her. If not, she’ll grab a cab.”

  “Or I could meet her.”

  Surprised at the offer, Morgan stared at him. “Why would you do that? Besides, she probably wouldn’t appreciate being met by someone she doesn’t know.”

  “Why not?” It was a reasonable question, and Morgan found she didn’t have an answer.

  “I don’t know. It’s just the way she is. Besides, how can you get away from the store?”

  There was that dimple again. “My staff will cover for me.” He checked his watch and stood up. “I’m opening this morning, so I’m going to hit the buffet. Coming?”

  Morgan watched him weave his way through the tables, pausing to greet several locals. Chance Larson was obviously well liked, but if he thought he’d charm Dale with a dimple and a smile he
had another think coming. Too bad, really, because he seemed perfect for her friend. She put down her coffee mug and followed him to the buffet.

  * * *

  They ate in silence, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Chance pushed his plate away and stood. “I close the shop at four this afternoon. Would you like a lift to the Lodge?”

  “That would be great. I’m going to check out all the shops in the Village so I know what’s available, but after that, do you have any ideas?”

  “You could use your lift pass and go up the Express Gondola. There’s a great view from up there.”

  “I’d forgotten about the passes.” She gave him a sheepish smile. “I suppose if I was more interested in skiing I would have been all over that. But thanks; that’ll fill the time nicely.”

  “Great. See you at four, then?”

  “I’ll be in the lobby. Bye.”

  * * *

  “I have room for a single.” The lifty scanned the line. “How about you?” He gestured to Morgan.

  Jammed in with a group of riders, Morgan looked around for something to hold.

  “You look nervous,” said one of the young men. He stood. “Here, take my seat.” It was only a narrow bench, but it was better than trying to stand in the swaying gondola.

  “Thanks,” she said. “It’s my first time here.”

  “Glad to help.” He went back to exchanging insults with the others and left Morgan to take in the amazing scenery. In a short time the village was far below and she could see the frozen surface of Green Lake in the distance. The snowboarders continued their chatter and for the first time since she could remember, she felt lonely. It seemed like a long time ago that she’d left home to start working at Banff. In no time at all, she’d learned the name of every staff member; they had become her extended family. But here she knew no one, at least not yet.

  Once at the top, she purchased a coffee, took the cup outside and stood at the railing overlooking the town below. It was hard to make out the buildings, and she wondered which one was Zimmerli. How long it would be until she felt comfortable here in this new environment?

  She yanked off her gloves, shoved them in her pocket and held the cup in both hands. Tears burned behind her eyes and she shook her head, angry at herself for feeling this way. She’d always known what she wanted to do, and this sudden attack of self-doubt had unsettled her.

  A group of riders launched themselves down the hill with whoops of joy and she watched until they disappeared. The gondola continued to disgorge eager skiers and boarders, and yet her life seemed to stand still as her thoughts took her back to that day six weeks ago when she’d gone home to tell her parents about getting the job in Whistler.

  * * *

  Her father had looked at her as though she was speaking a foreign language.

  “Whistler?” he’d said, not attempting to hide his disappointment. “But that’s in British Columbia. I thought working in Banff would cure you of that nonsense.”

  “Now, Drew.” Cynthia Dempsey was not a forceful woman, but the one thing she asked of her family was a peaceful atmosphere at the dining table.

  Morgan forced herself to remain calm. “It’s not nonsense, Dad. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time now. I’ve never made a secret of it.”

  Her father had opened his mouth to speak, but one look at his wife had him rethinking his words. He glanced at the twins, who’d been silently following the conversation.

  Boomer Dempsey was nothing if not a practical man. He spread his hands in a gesture of acceptance. “It’s just that I’d hoped you would join us at the dealership.”

  Morgan hated to disappoint her father. He’d always been larger than life, but that was part of the problem. He ran over everyone without realizing it and she’d determined long ago not to become like her mother, who invariably agreed with every utterance that came out of his mouth.

  “I know Dad, and I’m sorry, but I want to do this on my own.”

  He forced a smile. “Well I just hope they realize they’re getting a top-notch employee.”

  Morgan smiled at the compliment. It had been years since she’d helped out at his office during summer holidays, but his words meant a lot. “Thanks, Dad.”

  * * *

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  Morgan looked up, startled. She hadn’t seen Rob approaching. He faced her, one arm resting on the railing. God, but he was good-looking, in an edgy, dangerous way.

  He looked at her with eyes that seemed to see right through her. “You’ve been crying.” It wasn’t a question.

  “No I haven’t.” She turned away, embarrassed at being caught out. “Maybe a little.”

  He raised a hand and brushed back an errant wisp of hair. “Can I help?”

  She almost laughed. “No, but thanks.” She looked into those blue-grey eyes and the words started to spill out. “I was feeling lonely, that’s all.” She gestured down the hill toward the village. “Everything is new and I don’t know anyone.”

  “Of course you don’t. You just got here.” He gave her an indulgent look. “Besides, you know me. What else do you need?”

  She laughed. It felt good. “You’re certainly not lacking in confidence, are you?” She looked around. “What are you doing here, anyway? And don’t tell me you followed me.”

  “I did actually.”

  Her heart lurched in her chest.

  “I saw you get on the gondola.” His gaze moved slowly over her body as though taking inventory. “And here I am.”

  Butterflies took up residence in her stomach as he continued to look at her.

  “Too bad I can’t stay.”

  She came crashing back to earth. “You can’t?”

  He gave her that knowing smile again, much like last night, and she wanted to smack him. He glanced at his watch. “No. I’m due to give a lesson in five minutes.” He looked toward the gondola and zeroed in on a slender woman who was looking around expectantly. Morgan couldn’t tell if she was the same woman he’d left with last night, but it didn’t matter. He pushed away from the railing and looked into her eyes. “See you later,” he murmured, and before she could react, he’d cupped her chin and brushed his lips against hers. He pulled back a fraction and she opened her eyes to see him still looking at her. “Sweet,” he murmured, then turned and left.

  Morgan clutched at the railing as he made his way through the outdoor tables, grabbed his skis and waved to the woman. Every instinct she possessed told her that Rob Taylor was a heartbreak waiting to happen. She knew that as certainly as she knew her own name, and yet her body ignored the warning. A sucker for punishment, she waited for him to turn back and give her that smirk, but today it didn’t come. Perhaps he wasn’t predictable after all but somehow she doubted that.

  Chapter Four

  “Here we are.” Chance pulled up in front of a long, narrow building. “As you can see, Zimco used every square inch of land, but then everyone in Whistler does the same.” He jumped out and hauled Morgan’s suitcase up the short walkway to the front door. ‘Sorry I can’t stick around, but Jamie got sick quite suddenly and it seemed best to send her home.” He stopped inside the front door. “You’ll be all right, won’t you? You looked a bit shaky back there.” The concern in his eyes was almost her undoing.

  “I’m fine. You get back to the shop.” On the short drive to the Lodge, he’d mentioned that sales often picked up when people came down from the ski hill after daylight skiing. She also knew without being told that retail shops in high profile locations scrambled for every dollar of business just to meet expenses.

  “Okay. What time does your shift start tomorrow?”

  “Thanks Chance, but I’ll find my way there.”

  He brushed her words aside. “I’m going in anyway and I’ll be leaving at eight. If you’re down here, I’ll give you a ride. Okay?”

  She smiled up at him. “Okay. To tell you the truth, I’m a bit nervous about my first day.”

  “Even mo
re reason to let me give you a lift.” He pushed open the door. “See you in the morning.”

  * * *

  Tension knotted Morgan’s stomach as she reported for work the next morning. Karen was on the desk and greeted her with a warm smile. She looked very European in her black jacket, skirt and white blouse.

  “I was surprised to see you checked out,” she said by way of greeting. “Did you get settled?”

  “Yes, thanks.” Morgan had done little more than unpack her overnight bag. She’d been too nervous and excited to do much else.

  Morgan glanced at the concierge desk, then back at Karen. “Where should I report?”

  “Mr. Wynn-Jones is expecting you.” She gestured to a narrow hall between the front desk and the elevators. “You’ll find his office down that hall.”

  Morgan looked around for somewhere to leave her coat.

  “Here, I’ll show you.” Karen pressed a paneled wall and a door swung open. “We keep our things in here.” She took the coat. “Good luck.”

  An older woman looked up as Morgan pushed the door open. The nameplate on her desk identified the woman as Enid Blacklock.

  “Good morning. You must be Miss Dempsey.” Cool eyes assessed her. “Mr. Wynn-Jones is expecting you.” She gestured to an open door. “Go right in.”

  The man behind the desk didn’t rise when she entered the room. He looked her over and narrowed his eyes. Morgan wondered if she was dressed inappropriately, but she’d followed the Zimco instructions to the letter. Black skirt, black tailored jacket, white shirt and black shoes. The black seemed to bring out the highlights in her tawny blonde hair; she was pleased with Zimco’s clothing dictates.

  “Hello Sir.” She crossed the room and held out a hand. “I’m Morgan Dempsey.”

  She realized her mistake when he was forced to stand but she met his angry gaze calmly. “I’m glad to be here.”

  He gave her hand a perfunctory shake and settled back in his chair, indicating that she should sit.

  He opened a file and looked down at it as though reading it for the first time. A ridiculous ploy designed to make her feel insignificant, but she was determined not to let it work. She waited calmly while he read.