by Natalie Ann
Her room had a nice queen-sized bed in the center, a flat screen TV on the wall above a large dresser. She unzipped her parka and took it off, then hung it up in a small closet. Looked big enough for winter clothes and skis to be stored in there. That was a nice bonus. Not that she had any equipment. She’d be renting it when the time came.
She popped her head into the bathroom, standard and good enough for her. There were a small fridge and a coffee maker on a counter against another wall, so that was a side benefit too.
She covered a yawn, sitting on the bed. She’d planned on unpacking, but maybe it wouldn’t hurt to lie down for a bit and rest. It was just nice knowing she’d be in one spot for a few weeks and she could take advantage of actually trying to relax...finally.
Break My Neck
Zeke pulled the snowmobile into the shed, shut it off, and pocketed the keys. Time had gotten away from him on the trail and he was in desperate need of food.
He walked through the back door, then went to his office where he removed the layers of snow gear he had on and hung it all up, then stored his helmet. Before he could make his way to the bar, he had to go see his sister. Erika called and when she did, he had to respond. She’d always been the boss of him, even if she said she wasn’t.
Why? Because all he’d ever wanted to do was ski and be outdoors. School wasn’t his thing; he didn’t take a lot seriously other than having fun. Sure, he worked at the lodge because he didn’t have a choice when he was younger, but he enjoyed that. So, yeah, still having fun.
But all those times he cut class or missed assignments, Erika had bailed him out, and never tattled once. Years later, he still owed her, he knew.
“You wanted to see me,” he said, knocking on her open doorframe. The two of them ran the Collins Lodge now. Their parents had put a lot of good years in and decided it was time to retire to a warmer climate. In the summer they’d come home and stay with him or Erika for a few months or so, traveling around, and then go back to North Carolina where his mother’s sister lived.
Him, he wasn’t going anywhere and was shocked his father had been willing after living here his whole life.
“Yeah. How was it out there? Any damage?”
“A lot of small branches around that were easy enough to clean up. I had to tow two larger pieces out of the way though. One on the sled trail, one on the cross country one. It’s all good now. No problems at any of the cabins or cottages.”
“That’s good. Did you let everyone know the trails are open now?”
His lips twitched. He ran the grounds and maintenance of the entire place, just like his father had. His sister did all the books, the paperwork, and the promotions. She dealt with customer service too. He dealt with hiring and firing of staff. It worked for them to split the duties up, but it still made him want to laugh when she asked about his responsibilities. Maybe she still felt he was irresponsible like he was as a teen, but he felt he’d proven himself plenty.
“Of course,” he said.
“Don’t get annoyed with me,” she said grinning. “Just because you’re thirteen months older than me doesn’t mean you’re the boss.”
He laughed. She always threw those thirteen months in his face. “I don’t get annoyed. You’re thinking of yourself.” She snorted, then cracked a grin. “So what did you want to see me about? Or is that it?”
“No. Of course not. There is a blogger staying with us for a few weeks,” she said.
“A blogger?” he asked, fighting the roll of his eyes. “How do you know that?”
“Because she came in to talk to me a little while ago. I sent you the link to her site and you can check it out. It doesn’t look to me that she has advertisers or anything like that, but she has one hell of a following. It would be good for us to answer any questions and be overly friendly at times.”
He laughed. “I’m always friendly. You must be talking about yourself. Or trying to convince yourself.”
This time she laughed. She was the more serious of the two of them. He was pretty sure he got the relaxed gene while she got the uptight one. “I know you’re always friendly. But sometimes you get your panties in a twist when people start asking a million questions.”
“True. So what’s so big about her following? Is she a travel blogger?”
“I haven’t had a chance to really look too far into her. She has thousands of followers on her blog. She does podcasts and has videos on YouTube. Some of her videos have gotten over a hundred thousand views within forty-eight hours of posting. By the looks of it, she only started doing this within the past six months. That’s a far reach in a short period of time.”
“Okay,” he said, pretty clueless about it all. “So she’ll want to talk to us?”
“At some point.”
“Do you know any background on her before she started traveling?” he asked. He liked to get all his ducks in a row, just like Erika.
“Not much more than a small section on her blog that says she’s an executive chef and on a sabbatical. Nothing more.”
“Well, if that is all you’ve got, then I’ll look into it tonight. I’m going to grab a late lunch before I finish up paperwork and then get out of here at a reasonable hour.”
Erika nodded her head. He walked out, stopped to see Shelly at the front desk to check if there was anything that needed his attention, then made his way into the restaurant.
He saw long blonde hair lying over the back of a chair attached to a woman at the bar. The woman that had been watching him in the lobby before he went on the trail. He’d felt the heat of her eyes on him even after she’d stepped into the elevator before the doors closed.
There was an empty chair on both sides of her. He went to her left. “Is this seat taken?” he asked.
She turned and grinned at him, her eyes assessing him more than most, but enough to encourage him that she might be alone. That heat again, it was right there warming him up better than any glass of scotch in front of the fire could ever do.
“Not at all. Have a seat. I was just looking the menu over for something to eat.”
“I’m about to grab a late lunch myself. I’m Zeke.” He held his hand out to hers.
“Kendall,” she said.
“Are you here alone?” he asked, figuring he might as well find out right away. Not that he made a habit of hooking up with guests, but it’d been known to happen in the past. Less than people accused him of, but he was always dodging offers. This time though, he saw something he was interested in and decided to take that first step.
“I am. Though I probably shouldn’t say that, but since you work here, I’m sure you’d be able to find that out.”
“I could find out anything I needed to here.”
She laughed at him. “You’re pretty cocky, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been told I’ve got a reason to be that way.”
“I can see you being told that a time or two.”
Marissa, his bartender, popped over quickly. “Are you ready to order?”
Kendall said, “I’ll take the California grilled chicken sandwich with a side of fries.”
“I’ll have the same, Marissa,” he said.
“Will do,” Marissa said, placing his soda in front of him. His staff knew what he drank during the day.
“So, are you a skier?” he asked Kendall.
“Nope. But I plan on renting some skis and giving it a try while I’m here. The same with everything else you offer. Hopefully I won’t break my neck on the horses.”
He laughed. “Ever been on a horse before?”
“Once when I was younger. My father rented a pony for my tenth birthday.”
He smiled. “Don’t all young girls wish for that?”
“They do,” she said, her voice having gone soft, the smile disappearing and tears springing into her eyes. “Sorry.” She lifted her hand and wiped a lone tear away. “I just recently lost my parents so I’m a bit raw. It was a great memory though.”
“
I’m sorry,” he said, not being able to imagine that. “Both of them?”
“Yes. A car accident. At least I know they’re together so that gives me some solace.”
“Are you an only child?” he asked. She seemed like a loner to him. Maybe they could entertain themselves a bit while she was here. He couldn’t remember the last time he was able to take some time and enjoy himself.
“I am. How about you?”
“One sister. We’re close, almost annoyingly so. You take the good with the bad. Or at least that is what she reminds me once a week.”
Zeke was lucky he and Erika got along so well, he knew that. He had a pretty tight-knit family and the thought of not being able to see his parents this summer, or talking to them when they called on Sunday night like always, was causing an ache in his chest he’d never felt before.
He reached his hand over and lay it on hers, the urge to offer her some comfort too great to brush off even though he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt something that strong.
“Thanks,” she said. “Most people tell me ‘sorry for your loss’ and I understand it’s the thing to say. But then they start asking a million other questions or change the subject. You just wanted to know if I was alone.”
“Family makes everything better. Most of the time. Even the worst of times, it’s nice to know you aren’t alone.”
“You’re right. Not that I’d know that because my family was small. I’ve got a few aunts and uncles, but they don’t live close by. My parents were modern-day gypsies, you could say. They liked to travel around until they found a place to call their own.”
“I’ve never lived anywhere but in Lake Placid. I’ve only been a few places other than New York and all by car.”
And though many from his small town wanted to leave and see the world, he was happy where he was. This was his life. His world. He had no intention of ever leaving. Even if he didn’t have the family business, he wouldn’t leave. He’d always felt he had it all.
All but a wife and kids and he wasn’t sure he’d want that either. Not yet. He was plenty young and still had time to sow some oats.
“I can’t remember the number of places I’ve lived. But my parents finally settled in Vegas when I was ten and that is where I’ve remained for the past sixteen years.”
“So this snow has to be something you’re unfamiliar with?” he asked.
“That’s putting it mildly. I had to buy winter clothes just to come here.”
“I guess you really want to experience all the lodge has to offer then, huh?” he asked, wondering if he would fall into the same category as the rest of the activities on the property she was wanting to experience.
Her blue eyes started to glow. “I think that might be just what the doctor ordered.”
***
Kendall sat next to Zeke while their lunches were served and she silently asked herself—what could it hurt to have an affair? She’d never had one before, so why not now? Wouldn’t that be part of this adventure?
She’d been traveling for months on end. She’d danced with men, she’d drunk with them, she’d kissed them, but she hadn’t had sex in almost a year.
Something about Zeke made her question why she hadn’t. Or think about the possibility.
Yes, he was a stranger, but he worked here. He’s lived here his whole life. He wasn’t some absolute complete stranger in this town like she was. Maybe she could ask Erika Collins about Zeke. Erika had seemed nice enough and took time out of her busy day to meet with her.
She’d never wanted to blog about any property or food without talking to the owners first and getting their approval. It’s not like she posted anything negative. If she had a bad experience, she just kept it to herself.
She was all about fun and sharing happy times right now. The nights of crying when she thought of her parents, or frustrating food service, bad hotel rooms, and nasty employees stayed locked up tight. There was too much in the world to annoy, upset, or frustrate people.
She didn’t want people to come to her site and worry about negativity or nastiness. Fun, happiness, and laughs. That was what she needed in her life...desperately.
In her mind, it was helping her grieve. And maybe Zeke could be another form of help too.
Sudden and Fierce
Zeke couldn’t remember the last time he enjoyed sitting at the bar with a stranger this much before. He and Kendall laughed and smiled and she even shed a tear.
The protectiveness that came over him was sudden and fierce. Unfamiliar even. But like everything else in his life, he didn’t fight it. Laid back and always going with the flow had been his motto. That’s why he was still single. Not one woman ever wanted to deal with that. Once adulthood set in, they’d wanted commitments and his only commitment was to the lodge.
If there was one thing he’d consistently done in his life, it was to give in to the moment. Live in the present. He loved the outdoors. He loved the indoors. He loved just about everything in life.
Some might say he didn’t take much seriously and they’d be right. He left all of that to Erika. She was wound up tighter than a sailor’s knot out at sea with fifty-foot waves.
Marissa brought Kendall’s bill over, but he reached his hand out and took it. “No charge.”
She looked startled. “You can do that?” she asked. “I mean I know you work here.”
“Yeah,” he said, grinning. He’d purposely kept his last name to himself. “I can do what I want here most of the time.”
“Well then,” she said. “Thank you for lunch, Zeke. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
“Oh, you’ll see me around.”
“Hope that’s a promise,” she said, then got off the chair and walked away leaving him to admire the sway of her hips in some nicely fitted jeans. She was one fine woman that didn’t really put herself on display.
He stood up and went back to his office to finish up some work and then call it a day. He’d been on site since four that morning and he was running on fumes now, reminding him that it should be enough for Erika to know he was responsible. That he put the lodge first and foremost at all times.
When he sat behind his desk, he pulled up his emails and saw the one from Erika about the blogger and decided he might as well get it over with so he knew who and what they were dealing with. He clicked on the link and just about fell to the floor when the smiling face of Kendall showed up.
It was a close-up shot of her with her hair blowing in the wind, her clear blue eyes matching the joy around her whole face as she sipped some fruity drink.
There was a look in her eyes inviting anyone who clicked on her site to come along and follow her through her adventures. He was going to do that right now.
He must have sat there for two hours scrolling through her site and reading about her travels. She’d been all over the world in six months’ time. It seemed to him that she was trying to live her life right now. He was wondering if the death of her parents caused her sabbatical from her job. Seemed that way, though she hadn’t specifically said when she’d lost them.
Whatever it was, she was here staying at his lodge and he had every intention of exploring some of her world with her just like her eyes were beckoning him in the bar. Fun…here he comes!
***
Kendall was sipping her coffee the next morning when there was a knock at her door. Breakfast, she thought, hopping up and opening the door wide. Instead, standing there was Zeke holding a silver dome in his hand. “Pancakes, my lady.”
She giggled. It was just too funny of a sight. There he was, his long hair loose and flowing around his shoulders, a nice fitted cotton shirt on that showed off how good of a body he’d had under all that snow gear yesterday—even in the bar yesterday he had layers of clothing on—and a huge smile on his face.
“Wow, you get around on site here, don’t you?”
“I do just about anything that needs to be done.”
“Come on in,” she said. “I’ve g
ot to ask you to stay and share breakfast with me since you delivered it. Unless of course you’ll get in trouble for doing that.”
“I wouldn’t get in trouble, but I’ve got a full day today so I can’t stay. I happened to be in the kitchen when I heard them say this order was ready for Room 210.”
“And how did you know it was my room number?” There was one thing about being friendly and another about worrying someone was stalking her.
“I told you I could find out anything I needed to here, but in this instance I was standing there when Shelly told you your room number.”
Her smile dropped. “I probably should be nervous about that.”
He placed the silver dome down on the table by the window. “To ease your mind.” He held his hand out to hers. “Zeke Collins.”
Her jaw dropped. “Oh. Erika’s brother?”
She felt like a fool for not seeing the resemblance now, but she’d just been so distracted by his good looks and her raging hormones that she didn’t pay attention to the fact that he looked like his sister. Erika had told her she ran the property with her brother.
“That would be me. I didn’t realize who you were until after our lunch. Erika had told me about you but didn’t give me your name. She did send me the link to your information though, which I spent some time looking over.”
“Does it bother you why I’m here?” He didn’t look it, but she wanted to know upfront. Before she decided if there was any reason to think of him on another level.
“Not really. I have to admit I thought it was a bit odd when Erika told me about it, but then after having lunch with you and listening to your story, it all kind of makes sense. You’re good at what you do.”
“What’s that?” she asked, lifting the dome. The blueberry pancakes were light and fluffy, cooked to perfection. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for breakfast?”
“I really can’t, but I’d like to take a rain check on that. And you’re good at reaching people. I can see it on your site. You have a huge following and a lot of interaction with strangers. I’m the friendlier of the two between my sister and me, so I tend to interact with the guests more.”