by Carol Ross
“Wowza,” Adele exclaimed. “This party is fit for...I want to say New York, but with the moose head on the wall and the antique fishing and logging gear I’m thinking maybe...”
“Seattle?” Hannah offered.
“Definitely.”
“Tess used to have a nightclub in Seattle years ago.” Tess was the owner of the Cozy Caribou, which she operated with her long-time companion, Mack.
Rankins’s very own band Rushing Tide had come home to perform and the entire town was abuzz with excitement.
“Look, there’s Shay,” Adele pointed toward the bar where Shay stood talking with the musicians among a group of people.
As they made their way through the crowd, Hannah felt herself relaxing. She was sure she’d never seen so many people inside the Cozy Caribou at once, and that’s what managed to circle her thoughts back around to Tate. Surely he’d be overwhelmed by the number of folks here tonight?
“Have you seen Tate?” she suddenly blurted to Adele. “Cricket said he was coming. In spite of everything, I can’t help but feel sorry for him. He doesn’t know very many people. I was thinking about asking Cricket to introduce him around a bit.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” Adele pointed across the room. “Your snowboarder seems to make friends pretty easily.”
She spotted him and felt her stomach sink to her toes. He was literally surrounded by people, talking and laughing as if he’d lived here forever.
Before long the band started and Hannah was amazed by how incredibly talented the musicians were. She’d always been away skiing the times they’d visited their hometown to perform. She did her best to enjoy the evening, but for some reason Tate’s presence was spoiling her efforts.
Apparently Adele had been correct and she’d worried about him for nothing because little more than two hours into the evening he’d yet to say a word to her. And the more she thought about that, the more it hurt.
She’d done an excellent job of keeping their differences with regard to Snowy Sky out of their personal dealings. She loved Lucas. She’d gone out of her way to help Tate out where he was concerned. And this was how he repaid her? She didn’t care, she reminded herself, she wasn’t sorry that she’d taken Lucas skiing so she wasn’t about to apologize for that. Lucas had enjoyed every minute of it; he’d been asking to go again.
Forcing herself to try to have some fun, she caught up with old friends, yet in spite of her efforts to ignore him right back, she was aware of Tate no matter where he went; seemingly at ease in a sea of people who until a few weeks ago, and some probably even until tonight, had been strangers to him. Hannah was talking to Cricket on the edge of the dance floor when the music suddenly stopped.
“Hey, everybody! Having a good time?” shouted Clark, the band’s lead singer. The crowd broke out in applause and cheers. “We want to thank you all for coming out to see us tonight. I can’t tell you what a blast this is for Ezra and me. It’s like we’re back in high school and practicing in one of your garages. Ouch, did we manage to tick off some parents back then.” The room erupted with laughter, many of them remembering that very thing.
“We’re getting ready to take a quick break, but before we do it’s a policy of ours when we play a local club to drag someone up on stage to sing a few tunes. Anyone have any suggestions?” The crowd went wild as names were shouted out amid hoots and cheers.
After a moment he held up a hand, quieting the crowd again. “Okay, okay,” he said. “The rumor mill tells me there’s a new, uh,” he looked down at a slip of paper in his hand and said, “professional snowboarder in town. And it’s about time, too, huh? Because Rankins has been in serious need of one of those for years.” More noise blasted from the audience.
“And,” Clark went on, “several young ladies have informed me that this dude is hot, hot, hot. So, in deference to our hometown boys I think we should try to embarrass the new guy. What do you say?”
No. A surge of horror rose within her. If he did this he would be a laughingstock. In a small town like Rankins, this was the kind of disaster that stuck with a person for life. People would never forget it.
She could see his tall form moving through the crowd toward the stage—and he was smiling. Tate obviously didn’t understand the implications of being humiliated like this in a small town. He would be branded as the guy who made a fool of himself that one New Year’s on the stage at the Caribou—like a bad reality-show audition. And he needed to be taken seriously if he was going to truly make this place a home for Lucas.
“Wait!” she yelled, turning some heads but not quite projecting over the noisy crowd to the front of the room.
She yelled again, “Wait!”
Cricket, who had been clapping and cheering along with the rest of the crowd stopped to look at her.
“Hannah? What’s the matter? Are you okay?”
“No, Cricket.” Grabbing his arm, she shouted the words to be heard over the din, which suddenly quieted to a murmur. “We have to do something! Tate can’t get up there.” The screechy fear in her voice carried this time, more heads turning their way. She didn’t care.
Taking a step forward, Cricket reached out and snagged her elbow.
“Hannah, hold on. What are you—?”
“We can’t let him be humiliated like this.”
“Will you relax.” He slid an arm around her shoulder and grinned down at her, effectively holding her in place.
“But, he, Tate—”
“Tate is a big boy. Hannah, listen to me.”
He was squeezing her shoulder to get her attention, but she couldn’t listen because it was too late. She put her hands on her cheeks as she stared dumbly at the stage. She muttered, “No, oh no.”
Soulful music began and after a few beats, which stretched on like an eternity, Tate began to sing and he was...good. Really good. Not Clark good. But his voice was rich and smooth and totally in tune and pitch—or whatever those musical terms were. Hannah couldn’t even carry a tune, but she knew one when she heard it.
A sense of relief flowed through her, only to be followed by an immediate and powerful embarrassment. Her cheeks felt hot as she stared at Cricket who was peering back at her as if he’d just figured out something very important. Which, to be fair, he probably had. She hadn’t exactly been quiet about it. Apparently she was the one destined to look like a fool tonight.
Quiet laughter spilled from between his lips. He dipped his head to her ear. “Clark and Ezra never choose anyone who can’t sing. I realize now that you didn’t know this because you told me earlier that you’ve never been to one of their concerts.”
She looked up toward the stage, her gaze locking on Tate’s. She saw, felt, the intensity in his expression. It was as though he’d pinned her in place with his eyes and she felt herself tremble with so many emotions that she couldn’t have moved even if she’d wanted to. Desire, longing, wanting—were those the same? Affection and a nearly overwhelming sense of loss.
He needed to stop with the mixed signals. She wasn’t equipped to play these kinds of games. She thought she’d made that clear.
Tears clouded her vision, but she refused to let them fall. She didn’t cry. She’d never been a crier. Reaching over, she gripped Cricket’s wrist as Adele suddenly appeared at her side.
“How bad is it?” she whispered. “How badly did I embarrass myself here?”
He winced. “Mmm... I’m not going to lie to you. Moderately. People are undoubtedly talking, but it’s also loud and busy.”
Adele added, “Plus, it’s New Year’s Eve, so someone is bound to top you on the make-a-fool-of-myself scale before the evening is over.”
She gave them both a weak smile. “Thank you, guys. I’m going to go home.”
“I understand.” Cricket bent and kissed the top of her head. “I’m s
orry, Banana. And for the record, I think he’s an idiot.”
Stupid tears pressed their way forward again. She swallowed them down. “Thanks, Cricket. Make sure Adele gets home safe. No drinking and driving.”
“I will.” He nodded. “I’m not drinking. And neither is Tag. Tag borrowed the fire hall’s wagon and I’ve got Janie’s Suburban. We’re driving anyone home who needs it.”
She hugged them both and slowly navigated toward the door avoiding curious glances and managing to keep things lighthearted. Finally finding her coat, she was ready to open the back door when someone stepped close behind her.
“You look gorgeous.” Tate’s voice next to her ear sent a shiver skittering across her skin.
She turned and his eyes flicked down the length of her and then back up again. And this time she could read the look loud and clear. He stepped even closer and a sizzling awareness surged through her.
“Absolutely stop-the-heart gorgeous,” he repeated.
Why would he say such a terrible-wonderful thing after she’d specifically requested that he not flirt with her? “Have you been drinking?”
“What?” A look of surprise transformed his features as he let out a chuckle. “No. I don’t drink. Considering my family history, I’ve never had the desire.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t known that. The revelation made her happy in spite of her current muddled state of mortification and sadness. “Neither do I.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
Narrowed, piercing eyes studied her. “Yes, Cricket told me. Because he said you were leaving and I was worried about you driving on New Year’s Eve.”
She tried not to read anything into that. “Well, that’s nice. But now you know I’ll be fine, because I don’t drink either, so...” She trailed off because she hated how nervous and frazzled she sounded.
“I do know, but I wanted to thank you for looking out for me tonight.”
Any hope that he hadn’t seen her display faded like a puff of smoke on a breeze. She didn’t respond, fantasizing that she, too, could disappear in the same manner.
Hannah confessed, brushing a hand over her face and letting out a tired sigh, “Clearly I watch too much reality television.”
“I liked it.” His mouth formed into a teasing smile and she felt another flush creeping over her skin.
“I did it for Lucas,” she returned, hoping without much hope that he would believe that. It was partly true. She went on to explain, “The stigma of something humiliating like that in a town this size...”
He grinned, obviously seeing through her half-truth. “Uh-huh, Lucas and I both appreciate it.”
“Okay. Lucas is welcome. I have to go now.”
“Hannah, don’t be like this, please. Don’t be mad at me.”
“Me? Be like this? I’m not mad at you, Tate. You’re the one who is mad at me, remember?”
He exhaled loudly. “I’m sorry about the skiing thing. It... I have my reasons for wanting Lucas to snowboard.”
Her voice was gentle when she said, “Your reason is pretty obvious. You’re not the first parent in history to dream of having a child follow in their footsteps. Just remember that sometimes kids’ feet want to travel in entirely different directions than what others may have planned for them.
“Besides, a little skiing doesn’t mean he’s going to give up snowboarding. What are you going to do, keep him from trying any sport but snowboarding? What if he decides he likes baseball or lacrosse or...badminton?”
His mouth tightened into a straight, grim line. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“I doubt it,” she answered, because she really didn’t see how it could be. “I think you’re the only one making it complicated.”
“We’ll talk about this later.”
She shrugged, as if it didn’t make any difference to her one way or the other.
He leaned an arm against the wall so she was enclosed in kind of a semicircle of Tate-ness. Her heart began to beat wildly.
“Hannah, I am sorry. I do care about you. Just like you obviously care about me.” He cupped his other hand on her shoulder and she felt the breath catch in her throat as his fingers shifted, his thumb moving toward her neck as if seeking the crazy fluttering of her pulse there. The feel of his skin against hers was so wonderful it was almost cruel.
She desperately wanted to deny his words, but in light of her little display that seemed rather pointless.
She drew in a shaky breath. “But nothing has changed in that regard, so what do you want from me, Tate?”
“What do I want?” He rested his head on his forearm for a few seconds before saying, “What I want...I’m afraid I can’t ever have.”
The pain in his voice managed to dissolve every remaining bit of anger she’d been harboring. She knew she could make him happy. And Lucas, too, if only he would let it happen.
She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Tate...”
He hissed in a sharp breath as he pushed himself away from the wall, away from his feelings. She could see him mentally shifting once again—away from her. She wanted to reach out for him, but the idea of further rejection kept her planted in place.
A chorus of shouts, whistles and laughter rang out as the band began to play “Auld Lang Syne.” Hannah stared at him—waiting. Finally she turned, pushed open the door and walked out into the night, letting the cold air of another lonely year seep into her.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
HANNAH LET HERSELF into the spacious suite she and Adele were sharing at Big G Lodge. Stepping forward, she lowered her bag and spun a slow circle, absorbing the lush surroundings; dove-gray and light blue walls perfectly complemented the dark wood furnishings. There was an extra-big-screen TV and a fully stocked minibar. Her spirits sank as she made her way toward the bed and examined the luxurious pillow-top mattress beneath the fluffy white down comforter and soft-as-silk sheets.
Large framed black-and-white photos featuring dramatic panoramas of the Canadian Rockies and charming scenes of the mountain town of Garner in the “old days” hung around the room.
She crossed the expanse, stopping before the picture window to take in the stunning view of the resort surrounded by beautiful white-capped mountain peaks. She let out a depressed sigh.
Big G was gorgeous. Tate was right. Everything about this place was comparable to Snowy Sky. The little town of Garner sat in a valley at the base of the ski mountain with a population even smaller than Rankins. Garner wasn’t quite as remote as Rankins geographically, but it may as well have been. It was many miles to the nearest city of any significant size, making Big G a destination resort, also like Snowy Sky.
“This place!” Adele gushed, breezing into the room a few minutes later and dropping the bag she’d had slung over her shoulder. Mimicking Hannah’s earlier action, although with perceptibly more enthusiasm than she had displayed, Adele twirled. Hannah couldn’t help but wonder how many guests before them had executed the same move.
Adele said, “I’m not trying to make you feel worse or anything, but wow.”
“I know,” Hannah said with another sigh. “I’m sure some of the board members are already calling for my replacement. Park is probably printing new business cards as we speak.”
Adele’s face scrunched with concern. “They can’t do that, can they?” She moved to inspect the bedding. “You said you had a counter argument for the money Tate and Park want to spend?”
Tate had emailed all the board members a summation of how much revenue professional competitions like this Super Big G Ski and Snowboard event brought in for the resort and the town of Garner every year. The number was substantial.
“I do, but I can’t deny that if we managed to get Snowy Sky up to competition regulations, events like this would bring in a cons
iderable amount of money. The initial investment coupled with the added insurance costs would be a burden and a risk, but I don’t know...”
She gave a helpless shrug before continuing, “I think most board members will see both sides. And we’ve got those business mavericks on the board—self-made entrepreneurs and risk takers who will like the idea of gambling like this. And now that we’re here, making this comparison in person? I have to admit this was a brilliant move on Tate’s part.”
Adele removed two plush white robes from the closet. “You want to know what I think?”
“What?”
Slipping into one robe, she wrapped the other around Hannah’s shoulders and gave her a tight sideways hug. “I think you should relax and enjoy a five-star vacation on Tate Addison’s dime. Deal with the rest of it as it comes up.”
Adele moved away, unzipped her suitcase and began removing articles of clothing. “Let’s get our swimsuits on and try out our hot tub.”
Hannah stared thoughtfully out the window, beyond the hot tub, to where soft snowflakes were now floating from the sky like tiny feathers from a pillow. She loved to watch it snow. She remembered the feeling when she was a little girl of that first snowfall of winter and asking her dad over and over again how long it would be until there was enough snow to ski.
“At the very least it’ll drive Park crazy. If you act like none of this bothers you, he’ll wonder what you’re up to.”
Even the weather had cooperated with Tate, dropping five inches of powder on top of a base that was already about as perfect as it could get. At least she could look forward to doing some skiing. She wasn’t going to let the pain in her leg spoil some time on the slopes, so why should she let Tate and Park ruin the rest of what could be a lovely vacation?
Maybe Adele had a point.
* * *
TATE HAD RESERVED a private room for dinner that evening for the entire board and their families. Wanting to make sure everyone got the most out of the weekend, he’d asked his employee, Stacey, to give the group an overview of the resort and all the activities that were available. If anyone needed rental equipment, or lessons, or a list of things to do or places to eat in the town of Garner, Stacey was the person to talk to.