When the Snow Falls

by Fern Michaels

  “Then I’ll see you at eight o’clock,” William said before nodding and quietly leaving the room.

  She wanted to run behind him and lock the door, not because she felt unsafe but because she feared he would return and offer some other service.

  “This is the life,” she said out loud. “No, it’s not. I have the perfect life in Naples; close to perfect, anyway. I come and go as I please, I have a very successful business, I love my work, I love my friends. And if I wanted to live like this, I could. I certainly have much more than enough to support this sort of lifestyle.

  “Yes, Hannah, you are talking to yourself. Now go make the coffee.”

  She rummaged through the cupboards, finding them fully stocked. “Did I expect anything less?” she asked herself as she found a bag of Elevation Coffee. “Never heard of it,” she said, then read the label: Join the mile-high club.

  “Okay, let’s see if this merits joining the mile-high club.”

  Hannah made fast work of preparing the coffee. While she waited for it to brew, she found her cell phone in her bag and turned it on. She had a few voice mails, but nothing urgent. She punched in Camden’s cell-phone number. Her friend answered on the first ring.

  “I was starting to worry. You said you’d call when you landed in Denver and, according to my schedule, you’re about three hours and four minutes behind. What gives?”

  Camden was the most organized person on the planet. Hannah loved those skills in their professional relationship, but as her friend, she wasn’t so sure she cared for them. But she had promised to call. She’d been sidetracked. Big-time.

  “I’m in a condo in Telluride. I have a manservant, and Liam McConnell flew me here in his private jet,” Hannah explained as she made her way back to the kitchen. She found a dark green mug with black bears on it and filled it to the brim. She took a sip. Good stuff. She might consider joining the mile-high club, at the least the one that served such good coffee.

  “Slow down and start from the beginning. I thought you had a long ride ahead of you. Explain,” Camden said.

  For the next twenty minutes, Hannah told her about meeting Liam, and how Max seemed to have arranged everything so the two of them would be thrown together. “I’m having dinner with Max tonight at eight o’clock. William plans to escort me to dinner.”

  “And you’re wondering if Liam McConnell received the same invitation?”

  “I’m pretty sure he did. I would guess we’re going to discuss whatever it is that Max brought us here for.”

  “Makes sense,” Camden said, but she didn’t sound 100 percent convinced.

  “Is there something you’re not telling me?” Hannah asked. “Because if you’re up to no good, I will find out.”

  “Good grief, Hannah! What would I be up to? I have no clue what’s going on, at least no more than you do. From what you’ve said, it sounds like you’re attracted to Liam, and maybe you’re trying to read more into the situation than what’s really there. It has been awhile since you were in a relationship.”

  “Coming from Miss Hot Lips herself, please!”

  “For your information, and not that’s it any of your business, but I just so happen to have a date tomorrow night with someone,” Camden singsonged.

  “Someone? That could be a bird in your case,” Hannah teased. Camden truly didn’t get the meaning of the word date, at least not in the sense that she was using it now. She used the word as it suited her needs.

  “Well, it’s not. Remember Art Greenfield?”

  Hannah tried to recall the name. “No, I don’t remember him. Should I?”

  “Remember the guy who was caught stealing catalytic converters from the Lincoln dealership in Cape Coral last year?”

  Hannah almost dropped her mug of coffee. “You’re going out with a thief? Please tell me I heard you wrong.”

  “Not him. Art was his assigned counsel. He defended the guy,” Camden explained.

  Hannah gave a sigh of relief. “That’s good news. So, how did this come about?”

  “I was at the grocery store earlier, he was buying lox or something, and we started talking. He invited me over to his family’s house tomorrow evening to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. It starts at sundown.”

  Camden would make sure to bone up on any and all Jewish traditions before her date, of that Hannah was certain. Which was good. Camden needed a little bit of romance in her life, too. They both did. They worked too hard and too much. And neither was getting any younger. They’d discussed having families, and both wanted children and all the traditional things that went along with raising them. Camden was also an only child.

  “Good. I’m happy. I wouldn’t want you spending the holiday alone.”

  “Oh, stop it! You don’t give a hoot about holidays. Never have. Unless Liam has suddenly changed your mind,” Camden retorted.

  “No, he has not. And I’ve never said I didn’t like the holidays, I just think it’s silly to . . . it’s okay when you’re a kid.”

  “Sure, whatever you say, Ms. Scrooge,” Camden teased.

  Odd, since Hannah had referred to herself as Ms. Scrooge just a few hours ago. “Listen, I need to ask about Leanne, then I have to go. Did you see her at the hospital today? Was that brute of a husband skulking around?”

  “Leanne is okay. She’s still in a lot of pain, and no, that bastard was nowhere to be found. I think I’ve finally convinced her to take out an order of protection against him, but she’s really afraid of him and his family. I feel so bad for her.”

  “Keep trying to convince her, Camden. Do whatever it takes. Get ugly if you have to. It just might save her life.”

  “I can do ugly. I’ll stop by first thing in the morning to check on her.”

  “Thanks. Keep me posted.”

  “I will. And let me know how dinner goes with Liam tonight,” Camden added, then said good-bye before Hannah could respond.

  She poured another mug of coffee and headed for the master suite.

  A giant tub was filled with steamy, scented water. An array of bath products had been placed in a basket next to the tub. “Perfect,” she said before stripping down and sliding into the warm water.

  “Decadent, if I do say so myself. Colorado might be cold, but right now I’m loving it,” Hannah said as she succumbed to the amenities.

  Chapter 9

  The ride up the mountain to Eagles Nest was quite unique to the area, Hannah learned. She and William traveled in an enclosed snow coach, which he explained to her was an MPV, a multiple-passenger-vehicle type of sleigh with skis. They were pulled by a small, tractorlike contraption, and Hannah was delighted when she learned that the snow coach had heat. What she didn’t know, and William had neglected to tell her, was that Eagles Nest was one of the highest fine-dining restaurants in North America, at almost twelve thousand feet. She’d never been so high on a mountain in her life and wasn’t sure if she was a wee bit frightened or just a little bit excited at the thought that she might see Liam at dinner.

  Inside, she was greeted by a young man dressed in an elegant black suit, though he wore a Stetson on his head, which kind of ruined the image for her. But she remembered what part of the country she was in and knew this was accepted as normal. She tried not to laugh.

  The restaurant itself was beautifully decorated for the holiday. Several giant spruce trees were placed throughout the rooms, all decorated with bright-colored lights and western ornaments that blended perfectly with the western decor. Hand-hewn beams and what appeared to be furniture made from wine barrels gave the place a rustic ambience. Eagles Nest was inviting, to say the least. Several wood-burning fireplaces throughout made it comfortably warm, and the stone floors and exposed wood beams added to the frontier flavor. Sheepskin throws were tossed casually over the backs of sofas and chairs. Hannah found herself wanting to curl up and get comfy, but maybe another time. Tonight’s dinner was all about business. She’d dressed with that and warmth in mind.

  She wor
e her black tights and boots with a dark green wool skirt and matching sweater. Her burgundy coat, along with a matching scarf and gloves, completed her ensemble. She’d need a warmer coat if she lived here, but this would do since she only planned on running in and out of the cold; she certainly had no plans to frolic in the snow. Though she had to admit, it might be fun. It was the cold she didn’t like. If only you could have snow without the cold.

  The dressed-up cowboy, as she thought of him, led her to a small room that overlooked the mountain. A table for six was set, yet there was no sign of Max or anyone else. The cowboy must’ve seen her look of surprise. “They’re outside at the wine bar. Would you care to join them?”

  An outdoor wine bar? In these temperatures? Of course she wanted to join them.

  “No thank you; I’ll stay inside if that’s all right,” she said politely.

  “Of course. What may I bring you to drink?” the cowboy asked.

  Hannah had a brief flash of dipping beer from a trough and offering her horse the first sip but tried to erase the image from her mind as quickly as it came. Maybe she was suffering from a bit of altitude sickness. It wasn’t like her to have such bizarre thoughts. She did have a quick wit, but this wasn’t witty. This was nuts!

  “Your drink, ma’am?” Cowboy repeated.

  “I’ll have a glass of white wine,” she said, and gave him her sweetest smile. “Is that proper here?” she asked, exaggerating her Southern accent a bit.

  Cowboy smiled. “It’s mighty proper, ma’am. Now, if you will excuse me.”

  He’d gotten her joke or dig or whatever one wanted to call it.

  Hannah sat down at the table, not caring if it was rude. She was tired, and hungry, and really thought this dinner might be a quick bite, business discussed, then she could call it a night. Max Jorgenson was going to get a piece of her mind. She’d no more had the thought when the man himself walked through the doors that led to the outdoor wine bar.

  “Hannah, I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you. A couple of ski bums caught me and I couldn’t get away.”

  She stood up and offered her hand. This was a business dinner, not a social gathering. “That’s perfectly fine. It gave me a few minutes to admire the view.”

  “Please, sit down.” Max pointed to the chair she’d just vacated. “I know you’re tired, and with the time difference, I apologize, but I wanted to give you the heads-up as soon as you arrived.”

  Max sat in the chair across from her. Apparently, it was just going to be the two of them for dinner. Her heart sunk a bit when she realized the large table must be part of this semiprivate room. He wore dark slacks, a turtleneck, and a ski jacket with his name sewn on the breast pocket. She had to remind herself he was a world-famous Olympian. Of course people would want to pull him aside and talk to him about his gold medals. Which reminded her of a promise she’d made.

  “I know this isn’t the right time, but is it ever the right time?” she asked but didn’t wait for him to answer. “Today, the young man in the limo, Terrence. He was so kind, and sweet. He mentioned he’d lost his mother, though I do not recall if he mentioned how recently. He has a younger sister, Tasha.”

  “Of course I know Terrence and Tasha. He works for the limo service at the resort. Though I was unaware that his mother had passed away.”

  “Apparently, Tasha has high hopes for the Winter Olympics,” Hannah explained. “Terrence wants to find a good coach for her. He said she was extremely talented. Though I know absolutely nothing about the sport, I am a good judge of character. If Terrence says his sister has talent, I am inclined to believe that she does.”

  The cowboy brought her wine and placed it on a napkin in front of her. She took a sip, then continued with her story. “He’s working here in hopes . . . he didn’t say this, but I believe he’s hoping you’ll see Tasha ski and possibly coach her. If not, is there someone you would recommend? I’ll take care of the costs personally.” Hannah took a deep breath, then another sip of wine.

  “You remind me of Grace,” Max said. “A soft heart.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment,” Hannah replied.

  “As it was meant.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “Do you have someone in mind? I would love to be able to help those two kids, especially this time of year.” She couldn’t believe she had just said that.

  Especially this time of year. Whatever happened to Ms. Scrooge?

  Camden might be onto something with this holiday stuff. Maybe Hannah was getting a bit soft in her old age. Of course she wasn’t that old, but still.

  “I will personally invite Terrence and Tasha to the party we’re having Sunday evening. I’m lighting up a couple of the trails. Ella’s all excited this year. She’s at that age where everything is fascinating to her.”

  “I can only imagine,” Hannah said for lack of a better response. She knew that Ella was around three or four, and that was about it. “I really am serious, Max. If Tasha shows signs of talent, I want to . . . sponsor her, or whatever they do these days. In addition to all the stock Dad left me, I’ve got millions in the bank just sitting there earning a paltry bit of interest. I’d much rather see some of that money used to help Tasha’s career if she’s anywhere near as good as Terrence says.”

  “I will take care of your request, I promise. If Tasha really wants to ski, I’ll train her myself. Ella’s not interested yet. Patrick’s stepdaughters, Amanda and Ashley, love to ski, but I don’t think they’re interested in a career. I need something else to do besides run this crazy resort. Speaking of that, I want to give you some of the details, but Liam is late. Seems he got stuck in the Hummer, and I had to send Patrick to pick him up. That’s why I’m running behind. I should have told you. If you want to call it a night, I’ll certainly understand. I know Liam would, too.”

  “No,” she practically shouted. She lowered her voice. She didn’t want Max to see how excited she’d gotten at the mention of Liam’s name. “This is important. We need to get started as soon as possible. I’m not here to play,” she added.

  “I take it you didn’t open the box Mandy gave you?”

  The box! She’d forgotten all about it when she’d arrived at the condo. After having her coffee and talking to Camden, she’d taken a long bath, then had to rush to make sure she was ready promptly at eight o’clock. She hadn’t wanted to keep William waiting outside her door.

  “No. I’m sorry I didn’t get around to it. I was a bit rushed,” she explained.

  “No worries. You can open it later.”

  The cowboy returned to the table just in time to greet Liam and another man. When she saw him, her entire being filled with happiness. “Ms. Ray, Max, sorry I’m late. I couldn’t get that damned Hummer to move.”

  “Patrick is the resident Hummer expert. I’m sure he can take care of whatever it needs,” Max said.

  “Now that we’re here, let me introduce Patrick to you, Hannah.”

  She stood and held out her hand, “Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” he said, then they all sat down. Liam sat next to her, while Max and Patrick sat across from them. Perfect arrangement, she thought excitedly.

  “Patrick is the one who discovered the money missing from The Snow Zone. That’s our biggest ski shop. Stephanie, his wife, is the manager, but since they’ve had little Shannon, she hasn’t wanted to work too much, and I can’t say that I blame her. Candy Lee, her assistant, has taken over Stephanie’s position until she goes back to college after the New Year. She’s worked for me since she was in high school. I trust her implicitly, so we can rule her out.”

  Liam wore a dark gray sweater over a chambray shirt. She saw that he still wore the jeans he’d had on earlier, but he’d added socks and boots. And she’d seen him remove a heavy-duty black parka when he came inside. He wasn’t really dressed for this kind of weather, either. She liked that about him, too. He wasn’t a wuss. She’d dated a few of those and had vowed never to do so again.

 
; “And where do I come in? You said you’re being hacked. How do you know this, and what’s being messed with?” Liam asked.

  “All of the bank accounts associated with The Snow Zone. Every other day there is a wireless transfer. And apparently, the bank believes it to be legitimate. I’ve contacted the fraud unit, so they’re aware of what I suspect, but at this point they’re telling me there isn’t anything they can do since the transfers appear legit,” Patrick explained. “Max, Grace, Stephanie, and I are the only ones with access to the bank accounts. And I know for a fact that we’re not ripping Max off.”

  Did Hannah detect a trace of defensiveness in Patrick’s attitude, or was he simply at a complete loss, just as Max appeared to be? She watched him as Liam continued with his questions.

  “Of course you’re not, don’t even go there,” Max said, shaking his head.

  “When did the first transfer take place?” Liam asked. He pulled out the iPad he’d tucked inside the back of his jeans. His fingers moved across the touch screen so fast, Hannah could see why he was so skilled. He didn’t waste a second. “And how much was taken?”

  “Exactly one month ago today,” Patrick said.

  “And it was twenty-five thousand dollars,” Max said.

  “Whew! That’s a pretty hefty sum,” Liam said, as his finger continued to fly across the touch screen.

  “What about new employees? Do you perform background checks? Anyone you’ve hired who might have a bit of computer knowledge they forgot to mention on their job application?” Hannah asked. Though she’d left her laptop in the condo, she did have a small pad and pen in her purse. She removed it and started taking notes. When she saw Liam smile, she said, “I’m a pen-and-paper kind of girl.” As soon as she said it, she wished she could take it back. She wasn’t a girl at all. She was a grown woman and didn’t want to come off as some sappy, lovestruck kid. But he didn’t know that, so she felt she was safe for now.

  Lovestruck?