Listen to Your Heart

by Mona Ingram

  She picked up a slice of pizza and started to pull off the pieces of pepperoni and eat them. “Mrs. Dempsey was always there for me.” She looked up. “Morgan’s mother.”

  He nodded.

  “Never once did she criticise my mom. She explained to me that being an addict was a disease, and that Mom really loved me, but by then I was really messed up. I don’t know why she didn’t give up on me, but she didn’t. She was there for me when my mother finally took an overdose and died.” She looked into the distance, nodding as though reliving those days. “She fought to have me live with them. Now she’s my mother.”

  Chance put a slice of pizza on his plate and stared at it. “She sounds like a good woman.”

  Dale smiled. “She is.”

  They sat in comfortable silence while Chance ate his pizza.

  “Thank you,” she said eventually.

  “For what?” he grabbed another slice but waited for her to speak.

  “For not saying all the trite things that most people would say right now. Like you’re not my mother, that I can trust you...yada, yada, yada.”

  “Oh, that.” He smiled and took a large bite. “What if I had said something like that?”

  She glared at him. “Don’t go there, Chance Larson. I may have to hurt you.”

  He very deliberately wiped his mouth with a napkin. It was disconcerting the way her eyes lingered on his lips, but he rested his forearms on the table and leaned forward. “I’ll just repeat what I said before. I’m attracted to you, Dale, and I’m not going anywhere.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “That’s a deposit until I can kiss you properly.”

  Her eyes widened. “You didn’t say you were attracted to me before.”

  “No? Well I am.” He kissed her hand again, brushing his lips across her knuckles. “I intend to stick around and see where this goes.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, let it go and reached for his pizza. “I have a feeling I’m going to need lots of energy to keep up with you.” He gestured to the pizza. “Eat up. I don’t want anybody saying I don’t feed my girl.”

  She smiled and started to eat. Chance’s heart turned over; he’d won the first battle. If there were more, he’d win those, too. This was a woman worth fighting for.

  Chapter Eleven

  “I see Mr. Glasser arrived last night.” Morgan looked up as Karen arrived at the front desk. They were expecting a small group over the lunch hour and it would take both of them to handle the check-in. “I can’t remember. Did you meet Mrs. Glasser yet?”

  “She came to the desk the other night.” Karen made sure Mr. Wynn-Jones wasn’t lurking around and rolled her eyes. “Very demanding.”

  “Maybe she’ll be different now that her husband is here.” Morgan smiled. “Her little boy is a charmer, though.”

  Karen nodded. “So I hear. I also heard you got into trouble for taking him for ice cream.”

  “No secrets around here, huh? Speaking of which, how are things with Tyler?”

  Karen shrugged. “Fine, I guess. I’ll be seeing him on the weekend, but there’s no future there, Morgan. He’s working his way around the world. He’s made that pretty clear.” She raised an eyebrow. “How are things going with Adrian?” She glanced toward the concierge desk, but he wasn’t there. “I hear you two went out last night.”

  “Just for a drink after our shift.” Her heart started to beat a little faster. “Why, are you interested in him?”

  “No. Besides, I think he’s got his eye on you.”

  “Really?” A warm glow suffused her body. “Huh.”

  Karen laughed. “You look like you don’t know how to take that. But it sure looks that way to me. In the meantime, I’ll be happy to cover if you want an early lunch.”

  “Good idea.” Morgan headed for the restaurant.

  She was ahead of the lunch crowd, and the usual table was empty. She sat on the bench behind the table, lips curved in a smile as she considered Karen’s comment about Adrian.

  “Thinking about me?” startled, she looked up to see Rob approaching the table. He slid in beside her and suddenly she was having difficulty breathing. His thigh pressed against hers and desire bloomed in the pit of her stomach.

  “Hi, Babe.” He turned toward her, raised a hand, and toyed with her hair. “I was hoping to see you here.”

  She was afraid to look at him. Afraid she might get lost in those blue-grey eyes. She pretended to study the menu. “You were?”

  He touched her chin with a finger and turned her head. They were so close she could see the individual whiskers on his cheeks and for one wild moment she wondered what they would feel like against her skin. Would they be soft or scratchy? Would they...

  “Yes. I wanted to invite you to the party tonight.” He rubbed his thumb against her bottom lip and she was glad she was sitting down. “Tyler says his latest batch is outstanding and we’re going up top to try it out.”

  “You mean from his still?”

  He gave her that grin that was half mocking, half intimate. “You got it.”

  She couldn’t possibly. “Okay, what time?”

  “We thought we’d head up around six thirty. Do you have something warm you can wear?” He leaned closer. “I like my women hot.” He brushed his lips against her neck and then slid off the bench. “Gotta run. I have a lesson that was supposed to start five minutes ago.”

  Movement by the entrance to Zimmerli caught her eye. Adrian was watching Rob leave, his expression unreadable. He looked at Morgan, blinked a couple of times, then turned and walked back down the hallway.

  Tess chose that moment to stop by with coffee. Morgan pushed her cup across the table to be filled. “Thanks, Tess. Just soup for me, please.”

  The server put down the coffee pot and stared out the window after Rob. It didn’t take a mind reader to see what she thought about him.

  “I suppose he’s asked you to go to the sampling party.” She stood with a hand on her hip. “You be careful now. That stuff’s powerful.”

  Morgan hadn’t considered that. She wasn’t much of a drinker, but she’d be careful. “I’ll be fine,” she said, watching the spot where Adrian had disappeared.

  “I’m just sayin’.” Tess was still mumbling as she walked away. “But it seems to me you chose the wrong fella.”

  Morgan glanced toward the now-empty hallway. What had Adrian thought when he saw her with Rob? He hadn’t come right out and said so, but she was fairly sure he didn’t like the ski instructor.

  That didn’t surprise her; the two men were polar opposites. Rob, with his dark, edgy good looks that left her breathless every time she saw him. And Adrian, with his green eyes and courtly, almost old-fashioned manners. Rob exuded a sensual confidence, whereas Adrian’s self-assurance was different. In his quiet way, he knew who he was, and didn’t need to prove it to anyone.

  “You’re acting as if you have to choose between them,” said the voice in her head. “When that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Relax and enjoy yourself.”

  Dale appeared in the hallway and she looked up, welcoming her friend. When she’d returned to the Lodge last night, Dale and Chance had been sitting on the sofa, his arm around her shoulder. The television was on, but the sound had been turned down, and she could see that they weren’t watching it. Dale had crept into their room long after midnight, and Morgan was surprised when she’d bounded out of bed this morning a few minutes before her alarm.

  “How’s your day going?” There hadn’t been much time for conversation while Chance drove them to work this morning. There was something different about Dale today, and she searched her face. In spite of her lack of sleep, the dark smudges that usually rimmed her friend’s eyes seemed to be diminished. Her eyes had always been hard to read, but today they glowed. Everything about her seemed softer.

  “I’m fine.” She looked at the soup that Tess had just delivered. “I’ll have some of that, please.” She went into her professional mode. “All of the rooms for that incomi
ng group are ready. We should have clear sailing for the rest of the day.”

  “Good.” Morgan nodded absent-mindedly. “But I was wondering about Chance. You guys getting along okay?” The answer was obvious, but Morgan was eager for confirmation. In spite of their closeness, Dale had never been forthcoming about the men she was dating.

  “Yes, actually, we are.” Dale looked up as a group of skiers came through the door and seemed disappointed not to see him. “We did a lot of talking last night.”

  “Anything in particular?”

  Dale’s expression softened. “No. You know how it is in the beginning. We’re just getting to know each other.”

  It was difficult not to be jealous. It had been a long time since Morgan had been at that stage in a relationship. Maybe that’s why the thought of being involved with Rob was so appealing. Except that a relationship with him would be like stepping from the calm into a whirlwind of emotions.

  She laid a hand on her friend’s arm. “I’m happy for you, Dale. I really am.”

  Her friend gave her a goofy, very un-Dale-like smile. “We’ll see. It’s early days yet.”

  “Hello, ladies.” Chance approached, and Morgan heard her friend suck in a breath of air. “How is everyone?” He included Morgan with a quick smile, but his attention was focused on Dale. The air sizzled between them and Morgan spooned soup into her mouth, trying to hide a grin.

  “We’re fine.” Dale didn’t object when he sat next to her and gave her a fleeting kiss on the cheek. “How about you?”

  “The store is busy today.” He ordered without looking at the menu, then turned back to her. “The new staff have settled in, thank goodness. It looks like we’re going to have our best season yet.” He toyed with the cutlery for a moment. “The owner came to me this morning with an interesting proposition.”

  Morgan listened with interest. She’s been brought up in a household where business was discussed regularly.

  “He asked me if I’d like to buy him out over the next couple of years. He’s American and he wants to concentrate on his locations down there.” He looked at Dale. “It’s a big decision, but I’m already thinking of ways I could expand the business. For example, he’s not here enough to appreciate the amount of traffic we get in the summer.”

  “Really?” Morgan was interested.

  “Yes.” He gestured toward the lifts. “In the summer, every second lift is filled with mountain bikes.” He made a chopping motion with his hand. “Riders, bikes, riders, bikes. The mountain is covered with some of the best trails around. And trust me, those bikes are costly.”

  Morgan looked outside. Only the base of the mountain was visible from here, but she could easily imagine it in the summer, crowded with bikers. “I’ll bet they need a lot of repairs,” she murmured, almost to herself.

  Chance shot her an appreciative look. “Exactly what I was thinking. They ride ‘em hard, and are always needing repairs. I’d love to set up a shop on the side to handle parts and repairs.” He paused for a breath. “Sorry, but ever since I talked to Randy the ideas keep coming. Would you like to go out to dinner and we can talk about his some more?” He looked over at Morgan. “You too.”

  Morgan pushed her soup bowl away. “Sorry, kids, but I have plans.”

  Chance didn’t look pleased. “Are you going up top for the sampling party?”

  “Sampling party?” Dale looked confused.

  “Yeah. Tyler is throwing a party on the patio up top to sample his new product from the still.”

  Dale’s eyes widened. “The patio? Is it really outside? Won’t they freeze up there?”

  Chance gave a reluctant laugh. “Not for long. I hear this batch is potent.”

  Dale turned to Morgan. “You be careful, okay? Who are you going with?”

  “Rob asked me.” She stood up. “I’ll be fine. See you guys later.”

  Dale watched her walk away. “She’s a big girl, but I think she’s in over her head with him.” She picked up her spoon, then set it down again. “Am I being silly?”

  Chance considered her question. “No, but she’ll be with a group of people. Tyler may come across as a wild man, but when it comes right down to it, he’s sensible.”

  “It’s not Tyler that concerns me.” She picked up her spoon again. “I think I’ll mention it to Adrian. I have a feeling he’ll want to know.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “I was wondering about that.” Adrian frowned as he listened to Dale. “I saw them together at lunch, and I put two and two together.”

  “So you already knew about the still? I didn’t want to spill the beans if it was secret, but I’m more concerned about Morgan.”

  “Spill the beans?” He looked around cautiously. “You mean because of my father.” He shook his head. “We don’t own the restaurant, although the lease is coming up for renewal and I think he’s looking into it.” He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “I’m glad I don’t have to deal with the still, though. I’m already enough of an outsider here.”

  Dale had no compunctions about speaking her mind. “I don’t agree. Everybody likes you, but you’re different than the rest of us, and that’s good. We’d feel the same if we were working in Switzerland.”

  “I suppose so.” He put his glasses back on. “Anyway, thanks for the heads up.”

  * * *

  Morgan stamped her feet to ward off the cold and searched Skier’s Plaza for Rob. She should have asked him for better instructions on where to meet. It was already past six thirty, and the boarding area was almost deserted. A gust of wind threw ice crystals against her face and she stepped inside the loading area.

  “Hey, are you meeting the gang up top?” The lifty made a drinking motion.

  “Yes. I was supposed to meet Rob.”

  The lifty motioned her closer. “Might as well grab this gondola. He’s already gone topside.”

  Morgan frowned. So this was the way it was going to be. She should have known better. The gondola lurched ahead and she looked back at the receding Village, wishing she’d stayed there.

  There were hardly any skiers on the mountain. The lights were on, banishing the early winter darkness, but most people would be down below, stoking up on energy before tackling the mountain at night. The wind whistled through the gondola door and she huddled in a corner, wondering what had prompted her to accept Rob’s invitation.

  Envy played a big part in it. She hated to admit it, but she was envious of Dale’s growing romance with Chance. They seemed so comfortable together, and the way he looked at her was enough to make any woman’s heart beat a little faster. She couldn’t imagine Rob ever looking at her like that. She gave a strangled laugh and braced herself as the gondola reached the top.

  Someone had cleared the snow from the tables and benches. Candles in squat glass jars graced the tables, their flames flickering.

  “Morgan!” Tyler waved her over. “Over here, mate. We were afraid you weren’t coming.”

  She shook her head at the sous-chef’s exuberant greeting. He was like Chance in that regard; she’d never seen him without a smile on his face. He presided over a makeshift bar and Karen stood at his side, a glass in her hand.

  “Have a cocktail,” he urged, handing her a glass. His speech was slightly slurred, and she wondered how long they’d been up here. “You’ll love it.”

  “What’s in it?” She peered into the glass, then smelled it.

  “Don’t ask.” Tyler listed slightly to one side. “Spoils the fun.”

  It smelled fruity. She took a small sip and the concoction took her breath away.

  “See?” Tyler poured some more into her glass. “I told you you’d like it.”

  Karen looked over her shoulder and frowned. Morgan turned to see what had attracted her attention.

  Rob was coming up the steps from the building housing the restaurant, his arm around a tall blonde. They stopped at the top of the steps and he nuzzled her neck, then pulled her body hard against his. M
organ felt like a voyeur as she watched him kiss her, his hands roaming boldly over her body. Staff from many of the Village businesses sat at the tables enjoying Tyler’s offering, but nobody seemed to notice them.

  Karen shrugged. The gesture summed up perfectly everything Morgan suspected about Rob. He took what he wanted, and if the woman of the moment refused, there was always another willing one, waiting to be mesmerized...and more. She drained the glass and held it out for a refill. Tyler complied, and filled it to the rim, looking puzzled when a few drops trickled down the side.

  “Hey, Babe. You made it.” Rob appeared at her side, took the glass from her hand and placed it on the table. Damn him, but he looked even more appealing here in the flickering light.

  “No thanks to you.” His beard was darker than usual; she ached to reach out and touch it. “I was waiting at the bottom.”

  He pulled back from her. “Did you think I was going to stand around waiting for you?” he gave her that mocking smile. “This wasn’t exactly a date, you know.” He leaned over until his lips were an inch away from her ear. “But if you’d like to make it one, we can hook up later.”