by Elena Aitken
Shay.
Instantly, Ryan perked up. Maybe her mother was with her? He’d had more fun the night before fooling around with those crafts than he’d had in years and he was fairly positive it wasn’t the crafting that he’d enjoyed. In fact, thoughts of the feisty brunette and her killer smile had even made an appearance in his dreams. There was something about her. She intrigued him. A lot.
He scanned the ice again, but there was no sign of her.
“Hey, Carly?” His employee raised an eyebrow in response, so he continued. “See that girl over there?” He gestured with his head. “Is she alone? Or have you noticed anyone with her? Like her mother?”
Carly shook her head. “I think she’s alone. At least, I haven’t seen anyone with her, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t someone here. It just means I’ve been busy pouring hot chocolate. Why? Is she okay? Do you think she should have an adult with her? Because I thought she looked old enough for—”
“No.” He waved away her worries. “I was just wondering. No worries.” He’d already started to walk away, toward Shay.
She noticed him before he got to the ice, waved and skated over quickly, coming to a quick stop in front of him with a shower of frost. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself,” he said. “Don’t tell me you’re skating alone.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
“Where’s your mom?”
The smile fell from her face, shifting into a scowl instead. “Working,” she mumbled. “She’s always working. She promised me a holiday after the retreat was over, but she’s holed up in the suite trying to figure out some plans for the next one. I don’t know why it can’t wait. It’s not like anyone is going to book anything over the Christmas holidays. Besides, we’re supposed to be having fun together.”
Ryan felt oddly protective of both Shay’s point as well as defensive of Julie’s workload at the same time. It was a strange position to be in, particularly considering he didn’t know either of them. Not really anyway. “I’m sure she’s almost done and then you guys can have a little fun.”
“Whatever.” Shay turned and looked as if she was going to skate off.
“You know what,” he added quickly. She turned and eyed him suspiciously. “Why don’t I skate with you? It’ll be fun.”
“Aren’t you working, too?”
Ryan shrugged. He could take a few minutes out to skate with her. Besides, it was technically doing his job because he was all about making the customer’s wishes come true. It might not be a wish, but it was obvious Shay needed a little fun and putting a smile on her lips was definitely good customer service. “I have time. Give me a second. I’ll go grab some skates.”
Before she could protest again, he left her and went to the skate stand where he got a pair in his size. He expertly laced them up and only minutes later was on the ice, skating toward the girl. “So.” He came up beside her. “Let’s skate a few laps.”
She fell into rhythm with him and together they set an easy, relaxed pace.
“Why are you hanging out with me?” She didn’t take her eyes off the ice in front of her when she asked the question, but Ryan knew if he could see her eyes at that moment, he would have seen the sadness in them. The happy, teasing girl he’d met the day before was gone. Or at least in hiding for a bit. Growing up with two sisters of his own, he knew the drill. Something was bothering her and judging by what she’d said earlier, he was pretty sure he knew exactly what that was.
“I think you’re a good kid,” he said. “Besides, you looked like you needed someone to skate with and I was looking for someone to get me out and get skating. You seemed like the perfect choice. So technically, you saved me.”
“I did?”
“Of course. Maybe you do, but I don’t like skating by myself. You’re doing me a favor.”
That got a small smile out of her. Ryan counted it as a win. They skated in silence for a few moments before he said, “You know…I’m sure your mom would rather be out here skating with you than inside working.”
“That’s what you think.” She spun in a circle and faced him. “But you don’t know my mom. She’s a workaholic. All she ever does is work.” Shay skated off before he could respond and Ryan had to push off hard to catch up.
“Hey.” He grabbed her arm and spun her around. “Don’t be so hard on your mom. She’s only doing her best.” He didn’t know why he was defending her when he’d only just met her, but something told him that it was true. Julie seemed like a hard-working woman who put her kid first, above all else. “I’m sure your mom is just trying to make things happen for you and—”
“You don’t know that.”
“No.” Ryan skated around so he faced her again. “I guess I don’t know. Not really. But I’ll tell you something.” He didn’t really expect her to, but Shay turned on her skates and faced him. She didn’t say anything, so he continued. “My mom was a single mom and I remember how hard she worked. She put me and my sisters ahead of everything. Even though sometimes it was hard to see.”
Shay tilted her head, but was still listening. Even Ryan and his limited experience knew enough to know that was rare. “And did she always work?” she finally asked. “Or did she ever have a life?”
“And by life, you mean…”
“Did she have fun? Did she get remarried?”
Ryan nodded knowingly. He knew exactly where she was coming from. He’d been Shay’s age once and he’d wanted for his mom exactly what she wanted for hers. “You know what…she did. And he’s a great guy. Not necessarily the man I would have expected to see her with, but he makes her happy and that’s all that matters.”
“Right?”
Ryan nodded again. “Do you want your mom to date?”
Shay pushed off hard with her left foot and skated to the other end of the pond. Ryan shook his head, but he followed. It was a conversation he wanted to finish. Especially because it involved Julie.
“You do want your mom to date?” he asked again when he caught up with her.
“Of course.”
Ryan skated in front of her and skidded to a stop. “Really?”
“Why do you look so surprised? Of course I want my mom to be happy.”
He swallowed hard to stop himself from saying that he might just be the man to do that. But of course he couldn’t say that. He’d only just met her. How could he even pretend to be that man? He couldn’t. Not when he didn’t know a thing about her. But did it matter? He ran his hand through his hair and forced himself to play it cool. “Of course you do,” he said. “And what do you think would make her happy? Since you’re such an expert, what kind of man would it take?”
She narrowed her eyes. It was clear she could see right through him and his questions.
“One like you,” she said with a matter-of-factness only a teenager could muster. “She’s just too stubborn to know it.” Shay dodged to the side and skated around him so quickly Ryan couldn’t be sure whether it was her words or her movement that startled him. Either way, it took him a few moments to recover and skate over to where she spun in slow circles.
“Like me?”
She nodded and kept spinning. “But like I said, she doesn’t know it yet. Do you?”
“Do I what?” This girl was messing with him, but despite himself, he couldn’t seem to leave her alone. He needed to know more.
Shay skidded to a stop in front of him and looked him square in the eyes. “Do you know that you’re the type of guy she needs?” She waited half a beat before she continued. “Assuming you’re even interested. But something tells me you are.”
Ryan shook his head. This girl was something else. “Let’s say I am.”
“You are or you aren’t.”
There was no point playing games. Not with such a straight shooter. “Okay,” he relented. “I am.” He shrugged. “So what now?”
She grinned as if she’d been waiting for that question the entire time. “Now, we take action. I’ve heard that Castle M
ountain Lodge is magical.”
“You don’t really believe in magic, do you?” He couldn’t see it. Not from her. But he knew exactly what she was talking about. Castle Mountain Lodge had a reputation for making love connections. He’d secretly been hoping for one of his own.
Shay skated backward and Ryan pushed off to keep up. “I believe in love,” she said. “And I believe my mom deserves to find it. If she finds it here, well...” She shrugged again. “Are you up for it?”
He couldn’t keep up to her logic and it was starting to wear on him. “Up for what?”
She stopped and her face morphed into a mask of seriousness. “Look,” she said pointedly. “Here’s the thing. It’s Christmas. I want my mom to fall in love and you look like a guy who could help with that.” Before he could open his mouth in response, she added, “And even if you can’t, at the very least you can help us have an awesome Christmas, right? I mean, with all the cool stuff going on around here.” She waved her arms around and spun a quick circle on the ice. “If nothing else, this Christmas could totally rock.”
Before he could change his mind, Ryan found himself nodding, because even if it was a ridiculous idea—which it was—the girl had a point: he could help them have an amazing holiday and in the process, he’d have one too.
The fact that he’d be spending it with a gorgeous, interesting woman was just a bonus. One he definitely wasn’t overlooking.
4
“You’re not getting out of it, Mom.”
Julie shook her head and sipped her coffee. “But I really have no idea what I’m—”
“You don’t have to know anything about anything to go snowshoeing.” Shay reached across the table for another pastry at breakfast the next day. “It’s snowshoeing. You strap these racquet things to your feet and walk over the snow. Easy.”
It really did sound easy and she was just teasing. Julie wasn’t going to bail on any more activities with her daughter. It was bad enough that she’d worked the day before. She’d felt guilty about it all night and had woken up resolved to do whatever it was that Shay wanted to do. Somehow she’d been hoping it involved getting pedicures or something, but snowshoeing sounded fun too. Or at least that’s what she was trying to convince herself of.
“Honestly, Mom.” Shay shoved half a Danish in her mouth. “It’s going to be fun and from what I understand, the guide leading the group is the backcountry expert, so it’s not like there’s even a chance of getting lost in the woods or anything.”
“Oh good.” Julie lifted the mug to her mouth. “I thought you’d want to do something more Christmasy.”
“Like a sleigh ride?” Shay made a snorting sound. “That’s so lame. Sleigh rides are for little kids or mushy couples.”
She didn’t bother saying that she’d like to be one of those mushy couples in love. There was no point. Besides, maybe someday she’d find someone and they’d be able to take those sleigh rides. Maybe. “It was just an idea,” she said. “I think it would be fun.”
“Maybe I can find someone to go with you.”
Something in her daughter’s tone caught Julie’s attention but before she could say anything, Shay pushed up from the table and turned away. “Ready?”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. The first group goes out at ten. That way we can be back for lunch.”
Typical teenager: everything revolved around food. Julie just laughed, swallowed the rest of her coffee and followed her daughter outside where the group was meeting.
“You must be Julie.” A tall, dark-haired man dressed in a red Castle Mountain parka approached her with his gloved hand outstretched. She took his hand and was immediately struck by how friendly he was and how much he looked the part of a mountain guide. “I’m Bo Clancy, the head of outdoor excursions here at the Lodge. Your daughter tells me she signed you both up for the snowshoeing expedition. I think you’re going to like it.”
“Well, I don’t know about that.” Julie laughed. “But I’m willing to try anything once.”
“That’s all it takes.” Bo waved her over to the hut where a few others had already gathered and were picking out their equipment. “Jess will get you set up,” he said. “I’m still waiting for one more and then we can get going. Try on the shoes and get comfortable with them. I promise it won’t take long and you’ll be a pro.”
She still had her doubts, but it did look fun. And besides, Shay was excited about it and that’s the whole reason she was there. After all, it was Christmas and it might not be the most festive thing to do, but as long as she was doing it with Shay, it would be fun. It didn’t take long to get fitted for snowshoes. There was really not much to it. Too bad it wasn’t as easy to get used to walking in them.
“Mom,” Shay called back to her as she took off running ahead in the field. “You look ridiculous.”
If anyone looked ridiculous, it was Shay, who lifted her feet so high it looked as if she were jumping over barrels. “I think you should check yourself, little girl.” Julie laughed and took off as best she could after her daughter. Only she couldn’t seem to master the same technique as Shay. After only a few running steps, she found herself face down in a snowbank.
Before she could manage to maneuver herself into a sitting position, Julie felt two strong hands on her shoulders pull her up.
“Are you okay?” the familiar voice asked.
She wiped the snow from her face and blinked hard into the sun, directly at Ryan, who smiled, clearly trying not to laugh at her.
“I’m fine.” She met Ryan’s eyes and held them for a moment. It was only when Shay rejoined them that she realized he was still holding her arms. He pulled away and she instantly, and strangely, missed his touch.
“Mom, you suck.” Shay softened her words with a smile. “You need a lot of practice.”
Julie shot her a look. “Good thing I have some time.” Then she turned to Ryan again. “Thank you.”
Ryan nodded and smiled as if saving a woman from a snowbank was no big deal. “I just happened to be in the right place. You make snowshoeing look kind of dangerous. I might need to rethink my plans.”
“Your plans?”
“You promised.”
Shay and Julie spoke at the same time. Julie raised her eyebrows in Shay’s direction.
“He promised?” Julie looked between them. What was going on?
Shay looked down at the ground, and shuffled her snowshoe around. “It’s not that he promised…it’s more like he told me he was going to try and have some Christmas fun.”
Julie knew her daughter well enough to know when she was lying, but before she could call her on it, Ryan jumped in and confirmed her story.
“I was telling your daughter earlier that I was working too hard and wanted to try and enjoy myself more. That’s all. She’s obviously going to hold me to that.”
“Really?” Julie shot Shay a look.
“And I happen to have a free morning. So here I am.”
“Here you are.”
If she didn’t know better, Julie might think Shay was meddling with her love life again. It had been about a year since Shay’s last attempt at fixing her up with her English teacher, a situation that did not end well for anyone involved. Including Shay, who’d been so embarrassed that she’d transferred into a different class. But this didn’t really seem like a fix-up. Not really anyway. It was just Shay being friendly. Besides, even if it was a matchmaking attempt, it’s not as though it was actually going to turn into anything. It was a snowshoeing trip. That was it. And besides that, he was cute.
Stop it. Where had that thought come from?
“Well,” Julie said, in an effort to regain some level of composure. “I hope you’re better at it than I am.”
He offered her his hand and pulled her up to standing. “Let’s find out, shall we?”
* * *
As it turned out, Ryan was good at snowshoeing, not that it surprised her. He seemed like the kind of guy who would be good at all
kinds of things. But what did surprise her was how much fun she was having with both him and Shay. She always had a good time with her daughter, but Julie couldn’t remember the last time she had so much fun laughing and goofing around with a man. And that’s exactly what was happening. Despite herself, she was having fun, and Ryan was a big part of that fun.
There were six of them on the tour, but Ryan had managed to work his way toward the back, where Julie was definitely bringing up the rear. At first she thought it was coincidence, although she secretly hoped it was more than that. After the first thirty minutes, it didn’t matter whether it was coincidence or not; she was having a good time.
“It’s fun, right, Mom?” Shay pushed her way up beside her on the trail. Ryan had stopped to help another guest tighten up his shoe, and Shay was definitely taking advantage of the opportunity.
“It is,” she admitted. “And I think I’m getting the hang of it.” It was true—Julie hadn’t tripped for at least ten minutes.
“Yeah, Mom. You’re a total pro.” Julie didn’t even have to look to know Shay was rolling her eyes. “And Ryan’s cute, right?”
Seriously?
“Shay. This is not your job, you know?”
“My job?” Her voice took on an innocent tone that Julie knew from experience was anything but. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mom.”
“Right.” She shook her head. “Whatever it is you think you’re doing, you should stop. I don’t need a boyfriend.”
“Maybe not,” she said. “But you do need a man.”
“A man?” Julie shook her head. “Seriously, Shay. Stop it.”
“Whatever.” Shay bent and scooped up a handful of snow. “Hey, check this out.” Before Julie could stop her, she’d formed a snowball, wound up and thrown it behind her, in Ryan’s direction.
“Shay!”
Her daughter only laughed and took off running in the opposite direction. “That is so annoying,” Julie muttered under her breath. She dared a glance toward Ryan, and only narrowly avoided getting hit by the snowball he’d just thrown.