Shaking her head slightly, she let out a shuddering breath. “It was six years ago, Elliot. It’s time for me to let it go and move on. I can’t hate you forever.”
“You haven’t moved on?” he asked, his lips forming a wicked smile as he grazed past her last comment.
“I’ve dated plenty of men,” Mia countered. “I was implying that I needed to move on from my anger.” And she did. It wasn’t healthy to hold onto the pain so much. Whether she could let it go or not was irrelevant; the back and forth of their conversations in just the last two days had worn her out. It was time for a truce. Mia could handle a few more days with Elliot, and then he would go back to LA and she could get back to her life. Inhaling, she offered him a smile. “It’s in the past now. We can be friends.”
He winced slightly and covered it quickly. But she’d noticed. “Friends,” he agreed. “Cool. Hug it out?”
Mia had to chuckle as she shook her head. “I’m not sure—”
“A friend would totally hug me,” he teased. “It’s only weird if you make it weird.”
“Fine.”
Elliot stepped forward, his hands coming around her back as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He felt much the same, only taller and broader. She tilted her head to look away from his face and rested her temple on his collar bone. Inhaling, Mia was immediately transported back in time to six years before by the spicy and masculine scent. She knew he didn’t wear cologne, but that he used the same soap this many years later was surprising to her.
Enveloped in Elliot, Mia was suddenly overcome by the strong desire to reach up on tip toes and kiss him, much as she would have when they’d dated years before.
She stilled. That thought had come out of nowhere, and it was not good.
Pulling herself from his grasp, Mia stepped back and allowed the cool to wash over her from his distance. Offering him a strained smile, she said, “I’ll see you around.”
Elliot just nodded, standing still as she turned to go. Picking up the projector box to put away, Mia promptly whistled for Pug. He jumped from the couch where he’d been snoozing for the duration of that interlude and they left the room.
She felt Elliot’s eyes like fire on her back until she stepped into the hall and out of sight.
Chapter Nine
Mia stood at the head of the long table in the Wasatch Room and surveyed her guests. She’d awoken that morning and checked on the roads, both disappointed and somewhat relieved that the bridge still wasn’t fixed and her guests would have to remain for another day. They’d managed to clear the avalanche though, so she knew it would only be a matter of time.
She had planned a cookie decorating activity for the late morning. Rosa had made almost one hundred sugar cookies in various shapes. Trees, candy canes, Santa faces and snowflakes all adorned the long table Mia had set up, surrounded by sprinkles and bowls of different colored frosting.
Mia took the supply of sprinkles Janice prepared for the Caldwell family activity, but she didn’t think either the hotel owner or the Caldwell family would mind, given the circumstances.
The door sat propped open and Ashlyn poked her head inside, grinning at Mia before snapping her gum.
“Unprofessional,” Mia chided.
Ashlyn crossed the floor, rolling her eyes. “You know I don’t do it when the guests are around.”
“Maybe you could teach that tact to some of our fellow coworkers,” Mia said under her breath.
“I heard that.”
Mia ignored her friend’s remark. “Want to decorate some cookies?”
“I’ll take one to go, but I should probably stay at the desk.”
“True,” Mia conceded. And despite their joking, she knew Ashlyn did her best to remain professional when the situation warranted it.
Ashlyn picked up a plate and placed a snowflake cookie on it. Spreading blue frosting over the cookie, she focused on her task as she asked, “Any developments with our VIP guest?”
Mia stilled. “What do you mean?”
“Aside from annoying teenagers asking for a selfie, I mean. Has anyone bothered him? Personally, I wouldn’t mind a selfie with the Brad Jenkins, but I know, I know. It’s unprofessional.”
Mia knew her friend was calling Elliot by his character’s name on the show he starred in. She’d seen every episode, herself. Not that she would ever admit it to him.
“We’ve had no complaints,” Mia said.
Ashlyn loaded her frosted cookie with sprinkles and then turned to go. “Keep me posted,” she called and then disappeared.
The Kirkpatrick family filed into the room and Mia greeted them, helping them to choose seats and get started on their decorating. Amy followed shortly with her husband and kids, and Mia had to force herself not to watch the door for Elliot to come behind them.
“Feeling better?” Mia asked Brandon as he chose a seat.
“Much,” he said with feeling. “I think it was food poisoning. We left home early so we could spend the day in Salt Lake, and I think I must have eaten some bad tacos.”
“Yikes,” Mia said. “I’m glad you’re well.”
“Well and starving,” Brandon said, eyeing the cookies.
A yapping dog ran into the room, barking at the tables and running underneath the guests’ chairs. Mrs. Bruin’s terrier was frantic, and Mia ran around the table to try and cut it off at the pass.
“Snookums!” Mrs. Bruin called, running into the room out of breath and glancing around with frenzied eyes for her dog.
Snookums? How had Mia not known the dog’s name before now?
Elliot jogged into the room right after Mrs. Bruin, searching the room as well.
The terrier barked again from underneath the table and Mrs. Bruin moaned. “Oh, my Snookums!”
Getting on her hands and knees, Mia lifted the red vinyl tablecloth and located the small dog where he’d hid himself between two table legs.
“Come here, Snookums,” Mia said, feeling both silly and helpless. The dog ignored her. “Snookums, come.”
The little dog turned to look at her and his beady, black eyes seemed to mock her. He barked once and she glared back, crawling underneath the table in between guest’s legs to reach him.
As soon as she got within snatching distance, Mia reached for the terrier. He jumped away and out from under the table, yapping. She watched underneath the tablecloth as wrinkly hands reached down and grabbed Snookums, scooping him into the air. Mia backed out from under the table, apologizing to the Kirkpatrick family for the fiasco and for crawling on the floor near their feet.
“Don’t worry about it,” Mrs. Kirkpatrick said, smiling kindly with her eyes. “At least he didn’t get the cookies.”
Just as she spoke the words, the little dog leapt from his owner’s arms and landed on the table, diving headfirst into a plate of Rosa’s perfectly baked sugar cookies.
“Snookums, no!” Mrs. Bruin wailed.
Elliot reached over the seated guests and scooped up the little dog, pivoting away from the table and carrying Snookums straight out the door. Mrs. Bruin’s worried gaze darted around the mess and the guest’s faces before landing on the door and chasing after her dog.
Mia picked up the platter of dog-smooshed treats and swiped the additional crumbs onto it before turning toward the group. “Well, that was an adventure. Please feel free to decorate as many cookies as you are able to eat.”
Turning away from the group, Mia carried the platter of crumbs and cracked pieces to the garbage and promptly dumped them in the trash. She then turned for the door and left at a calm pace, following the sound of Mrs. Bruin’s wails until she located the woman sitting on one of the overstuffed chairs in the lobby which faced the Christmas tree. Snookums was in her lap and she absently rubbed his back while Elliot appeared to be doing his best to soothe the older woman.
He glanced up as Mia approached and they shared a look.
This woman needed to calm down. The dog had gotten loose, yes. And he had tramp
led a platter of cookies, yes. But no one got hurt.
Except for Elliot’s ears as he had to sit and listen to this woman’s moaning.
Mia approached them and he was so grateful for her calming presence. “Mrs. Bruin, would you like to come to the kitchen with me for a cup of tea? I know we have peppermint in stock, which I heard you mention is your favorite flavor.”
Mrs. Bruin brought her head up. “I would love tea,” she said. “But I think I would like to stay right here.” She eyed Elliot in a way that proved exactly why she wanted to remain. Him. The older woman had developed a fancy for him, evidently.
“Of course,” Mia said. “Let me run and make you a cup of tea and I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Elliot watched her leave, wishing he could go, too.
“You know, I’ve seen you somewhere before,” Mrs. Bruin said, suddenly watching him with intent.
“Have you? How funny.” Elliot lowered himself in the other overstuffed chair and glanced at the Christmas tree. It was simple, but nice. Someone had strung their popcorn and cranberry garland around part of the tree, which brought a smile to his lips. It was incongruent with the remainder of the decor, but it fit his idea of Christmas decorations well.
“Do you ever go to Seattle in the summertime?” Mrs. Bruin continued.
Elliot paused. The sitcom he starred in was based in Seattle. But he’d only been to the actual city once, and it had been during the fall.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Is that where you’re from?”
“Oh, yes,” Mrs. Bruin said, petting her dog. “I come here each winter for the snow and then I go back home and enjoy Christmas with my rain.”
“Perhaps I’ve seen you here then,” Elliot said. “My family has spent Christmas in Hidden Hollow for the last five years. It’s become a tradition for us as well.”
“Perhaps,” the older woman said, though she didn’t look convinced. “Do you ski?”
Elliot hadn’t heard that question in a while. He was asked constantly right after he moved to LA. The moment he would tell anyone he came from Utah, they automatically assumed he was a snow sports expert. And they weren’t wrong.
Fortunately for him, he didn’t ski. So he could answer the question honestly. “No. I’ve never skied in my life.”
“Shame,” Mrs. Bruin said, sighing. “I’ve always wished I’d learned.”
Heels clicked through the foyer and Mia came around the corner, holding a mug and dipping a tea bag up and down in the steaming water. Mrs. Bruin accepted the tea and settled more comfortably in her chair before bringing the cup to her lips.
“I should get back to the activity,” Mia said. “But can I get you anything else first?”
“I am just fine,” Mrs. Bruin said, smiling contentedly. “Mr. James is here if I need anything.”
Elliot glanced up and caught Mia’s eye, careful to guard his expression before he gave away too much amusement. Mia lifted her eyebrows slightly and clasped her hands together, her smile restrained as though she was biting back laughter.
“Very well.” Mia turned to go and Elliot watched her walk across the foyer and around the corner toward the Wasatch Room.
“I think I’m going to enjoy this tea and then take myself upstairs for a nap.”
“That sounds like a lovely way to pass the afternoon, Mrs. Bruin,” Elliot said. He sat quietly by her side while she drank her tea and thought back to last year when his whole family had spent the day on the slopes, and he’d remained at the hotel “working.”
He’d watched movies and snacked on mustard pretzels the entire day, wallowing in his own self-pity. For someone who got his start on television from being an inspiration to others, he really didn’t know how to tap into that inspiration for himself. He’d broken his back and messed up his right leg so badly his doctors had told him he’d probably never walk again.
When he got up and took those first few steps eight months after the accident and a month before the Olympics, he’d been inundated with companies hoping to use his success story to sell their products.
He’d liked the dollar signs they threw at him, so naturally, he’d accepted.
Looking back on it now, he wondered if he ever would have said yes to repping that honey cereal had he known how things would have gone from there.
“Have a good day, Elliot,” Mrs. Bruin said, pulling him from his reverie. She was standing in front of him, holding her dog in her arms like a baby, and she’d left her mug on the table between their chairs. How long had he been lost in thoughts of the past?
“I’m sure I’ll see you around,” he responded. Elliot waited until the woman was gone before standing. He was glad Mia had called a sort of truce between them. Things would be easier now.
But the hug he’d gotten from Mia had knocked him back a peg. The feel of her in his arms sparked a yearning within him and he couldn’t even think of it now without his chest aching. He had dated and loved that woman for four years. Yes, they were young. But when he’d proposed to her, he’d meant it.
He just hadn’t expected depression to swoop down on him like a black bird and darken his thoughts and his senses. When he’d ghosted Mia, he hadn’t realized what he was doing. It wasn’t until he was settled in LA and accepting the contract from the network that he realized his foolishness.
And now she was here and offering him friendship, and he wanted more. He wanted to try again. And to prove to her that the childish actions of six years ago weren’t representative of the man he’d grown to be.
The only question was how?
Chapter Ten
Ashlyn sat behind the front desk, eyeing Mia as though she’d gone crazy. And maybe she had.
“If Janice was here, she wouldn’t be throwing together all these activities and orchestrating group meals and sleeping in the hotel to make sure everyone was happy at all times.”
Mia came around the counter and dropped into the rolly-chair beside her friend. “Are you trying to say I’ve lost my mind?”
“I am not trying. I am saying you’ve lost your mind. It’s just a hotel, Mia.”
“And it’s my one shot to prove myself,” Mia countered. “I can’t keep being an assistant manager forever.”
Ashlyn’s light red eyebrows pulled together, her head tilting to the side. “You haven’t even been here a full year.”
“Correct. But it’s my third hotel and my second round of being the assistant. I want to manage.”
Ashlyn pulled a packet of gum from her purse underneath the desk. “I’m sure you will. Unless Janice is freaked out by your over-enthusiasm like the rest of us.”
“Thanks for the support,” Mia said wryly, reaching over to steal a piece of gum. She removed the wrapper and popped it in her mouth.
Ashlyn was saving her money to go to cosmetology school in the city. She had dreams, but they didn’t revolve around the hospitality business. She just didn’t get it.
Mia wanted to succeed. She loved what she did, and she wanted to be even better. She got bursts of energy from successfully orchestrating the activities for the snowed-in guests or seeing people come together from different places to enjoy a meal who otherwise would have driven down to Park City and eaten at one of the restaurants there.
The elevator dinged and Mia looked up. Her shoulders deflated slightly when it was Mr. Kirkpatrick and his wife who stepped into the lobby. They waved on their way across the foyer and into the parlor.
“Who are you hoping to see?” Ashlyn asked.
“What?”
Ashlyn raised one eyebrow, pursing her lips with a slight shake of her head. “I’m not dumb. Every single time the elevator opens you look at it quickly. And every time someone walks out, you’re disappointed.” She gasped quietly. “Oh my lanta. Have you taken a liking to our resident VIP?”
Mia wrinkled up her nose. “What? Ew.”
Ashlyn chuckled, her mouth opening in delight. “You have! Your cheeks are turning pink. You like Elliot James, don�
�t you?”
Mia glanced away. She felt her cheeks warming further at the insinuation. Ashlyn didn’t know the half of it.
Ashlyn’s voice lowered and she slapped her hand on the counter, her head dipping. “Oh my…you are being awfully quiet and bashful. Did something happen between you two?”
Mia’s face whipped up. The last thing she needed was for rumors to spread among the staff that she’d been inappropriate with a guest. And a VIP guest, at that.
She’d lose the manager position for sure.
“I know him,” Mia admitted.
Ashlyn’s eyes grew wide. “I know, right? You watch someone on TV for long enough and you totally feel like they’re your best friend. And they are probably nothing in real life like their character, but you still think—”
“No, Ashlyn,” Mia said. “I know him. We went to high school together.”
Ashlyn’s chin dropped. “You know Elliot James in real life and you didn’t say anything?” Her eyes narrowed as if she had a hard time reconciling Mia’s claim as the truth. “Then why didn’t you tell me before?”
“Because it’s not that big of a deal.”
“Um, I beg to differ. He’s like one of the hottest guys on TV right now.” She raised her eyebrows. “Did he sign your yearbook? Because you could probably sell that thing for big money.”
He more than signed her yearbook, but Mia wasn’t about to admit to her previous serious relationship. Or that at one point she had referred to Elliot as her fiancé.
A shiver ran down her spine and shook her shoulders.
“Cold?” Ashlyn asked.
“A little,” Mia lied. “I’m gonna run upstairs and grab a sweater. Are you still good with covering the front desk for a few extra hours? I think the guests will really like tonight’s activity.”
“Sure thing,” Ashlyn said, turning toward the computer. Mia watched her friend locate Netflix and begin scanning the Christmas movies. Chuckling, she crossed the lobby and peeked out the window. Snow was still coming down in fast, heavy flakes. It was so thick Mia could hardly make out the buildings on the other side of the street. She’d watched someone drive through the road earlier in his truck with a plow attached to the front, but it was already covered again, and she was sure there was a heavy layer of ice underneath the innocent-looking blanket of powder. Either way, this snow was probably making it difficult on the crew trying to fix the bridge.
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