Winter Heat, Part 2

by Larissa Emerald

  Okay, her workout was over. She showered and dressed, aware the main caveat of entering a relationship was that you couldn’t force what wasn’t there. But she was certain he had felt it, too, only he’d been the sensible one. The one who had brought reality to intrude on her fantasy.

  Should she track Jared down and demand a confirmation that he’d experienced the same attraction she had? Or should she pretend the wild-fire between them had never ignited?

  As she exited her chalet, she made her decision and promised herself one thing: she was going to have her way with Jared Michaels.

  It wasn’t like she had many chances to meet men while she was taking care of her father.

  But first they had to put the nagging problems of his sister behind them.

  Like a magnet to steel, she headed straight for Jared’s chalet, knocked, and waited, anticipating his smoldering brown eyes—Oh, yes, they had been smoldering yesterday, hot enough to melt the snow surrounding them. When he didn’t answer, she banged on the door again. Still nothing.

  She glanced about, disappointed, relieved, and curious. It was then that she noticed his Cadillac SUV wasn’t in the drive. Dammit. Had he left? Checked out?

  Her heart gave a heavy lurch.

  Kelsey tromped from the porch, trying to let go of her impatience by scowling at the landscape. As she headed for her office, she scooped up a handful of fresh snow and packed it into a ball. The mass rested cold and wet in her hand. She touched it to her face for a second. Increasing the tempo of her steps, she hurled the clump at a tree. Stupid. This was really stupid.

  Amy already had things running smoothly at the front desk. On Sundays, the resort had a late departure time of 2:00 p.m. The idea was for guests to spend more money eating lunch and using the facilities.

  “Has Dr. Michaels left yet?”

  “I haven’t seen him, but I’d like to,” Amy said, articulating the part last with exaggerated interest in her chirpy voice. She verified his status on the computer screen. “Nope, hasn’t checked out.”

  “Good. Give me a buzz if you see him, will ya?”

  At one end of the counter, Kelsey fingered through the small stack of mail she’d neglected to pick up yesterday. At first glance, there didn’t seem to be anything important in the pile, and she took the envelopes with her to review in her office. Amy’s poodle, Missy, let out a quiet yip. Kelsey paused and scratched the dog’s back.

  “Hey,” Amy called for Kelsey attention.

  Kelsey halted prior to entering the hallway and looked over her shoulder.

  “Is he as good-looking in person as in his online pics?” she asked, with a dramatic waggle of her brows.

  “Yes. Not that it matters.”

  “Well, it should. Young, wealthy, handsome, unattached men don’t frequent here every day. How else are you going to meet someone?”

  “Who says he’s unattached?”

  “He didn’t check in with anyone.”

  “That’s because he’s here about his sister’s accident. Speaking of which, if he has any questions, answer them. We have nothing to hide.”

  “Sure thing. Anything else?”

  “Yeah. Pull up a copy of the bill for Tiffani Michaels and her fiancé. Maybe the statement will show me what she did while they were here.” She needed to understand everything about Tiffani and her husband-to-be. Sometimes couples visited the resort because their relationship was in trouble and they needed to rekindle the romance. Were they one of those couples? Jared didn’t seem to like the guy. Kelsey allowed her mind to wander over the things she knew. Could the accident have been more than what it seemed?

  Or was she allowing the weird, threatening notes she’d been receiving to creep her out?

  Determined not to keep thinking about Jared or his sister’s accident, she deposited the letters on her office desk. She’d read through them later when she returned to pay the beginning-of-the-month bills. Her eyes swept the unfinished canvas sitting on the corner easel. She sighed. Her life seemed to overflow with unfinished things.

  One day she’d be able to concentrate on what she truly wanted to do.

  She settled into her chair, rolled to the desk, and cleaned the area, depositing a few stray pens into the gadget caddy. Amy entered with a perky swish of her short skirt and handed her a printed report. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks. You’re the best,” she said scanning the statement, noting the list of charges. The idea of snooping around made her recall the days of curling up beneath a throw while reading Nancy Drew. Ha! Those were the days.

  Concentrating again on the report, the couple had taken in the ice rink, restaurant, and lifts, as well as made two visits to the lover’s specialty shop. The latter sold sex toys and rented naughty play-things couples might enjoy—dress up clothes, Dom props. Perhaps the shop receipt might give greater insight into their relationship. She hesitated, feeling uneasy about prying into their private lives. She scrunched her brow in a moment of indecision, but finally accepted it was information she needed to know for the good of the resort. She grabbed her iPod and earbuds to take with her as she headed out again.

  Walking through the lobby, she said to Amy, “I’ll be roaming the resort. I have my vehicle and radio if you need to reach me.”

  With that, she pivoted and headed for the exit.

  * * *

  The receptionist had dark hair and a pierced eyebrow.

  Those were the first things Jared noticed as he strolled up to the front desk. The next thing was the champagne-colored poodle tucked inside a large basket set in the corner. The little pup sported one of those medical cones around its neck. Ah, the injured dog Kelsey had told him about. And then he noticed that Kelsey herself wasn’t around.

  To his disappointment, he realized.

  Fido barked at him.

  “Shh, Missy. No.” The receptionist acknowledged him with a smile. “Sorry about that. I’m Amy. May I help you, Dr. Michaels?”

  Now, why wasn’t he surprised she knew who he was. “Yes. I wanted to find out more about my sister’s stay—when she had her accident. Tiffani Michaels. Is there any way you can help me?”

  Amy paused for a moment, seeming to consider her options. “Sure thing. Kelsey gave instructions to assist you any way we can.” Then the woman disappeared behind the desk for a moment and, when her head popped back up, she presented him with a piece of paper. “A list of receipts from your sister’s stay,” she beamed.

  He glanced at the paper. “Thank you,” he said, even as he was stunned by the ease with which the information was handed over. Maybe the whole staff was artsy-fartsy.

  Yet, he didn’t want to analyze the unethical implications of his good fortune. Or how he strangely felt like she had a hidden motive for helping him. He shook it off. After all, he’d gotten precisely what he needed.

  It wasn’t until he was beyond the eyes of the receptionist that he paused to examine the receipt further. He scanned the paper and realized it only represented a basic overview of how Tiffani and her fiancé had spent their time during their stay. In order to know more, he’d have to visit each of the locations listed.

  Jared decided to begin at the top and work his way down the list in the same order they had traveled. First up, Sweet Beginnings lover’s boutique.

  CHAPTER TEN

  There were some things you didn’t need an audience for, Kelsey thought as she distanced herself from the register counter where costumers were lined up to check out. And researching a previous guest’s personal proclivities was one of them.

  The manager of Sweet Beginnings had discretely complied with Kelsey’s request for a copy of Tiffani Michaels’s receipt, saying, “I remember this couple. They were far from lovey-dovey. He seemed rather intense.”

  Kelsey thanked the manager and left. By the time she made it halfway to the exit, the door opened and in walked Jared Michaels. He clutched his own copy of a receipt list in his right hand, which Kelsey suspected Amy had provided for him. In any ca
se, she had given her the go-ahead to accommodate him.

  Was he tracking Tiffani’s movements, too?

  They were positioned smack-dab between the dildo and body oil displays. Kelsey groaned inwardly and tried to tamp down her embarrassment. It was one thing to be in this kind of store with a romantic partner, but an entirely different story with a new acquaintance. Especially one she wouldn’t mind sampling a few of the products with. She folded her arms over her chest and gathered her confidence.

  Jared’s gaze swept the interior of the shop. “Some place you have here.”

  Kelsey was not going to blush. She fought it with everything she had, glanced down at her wet boots, then back to his gorgeous, warm, chocolate eyes. A flutter of anticipation stirred in her tummy. “Thank you. The guests seem to like it.”

  “Hmmm. So Chalet Romance has way more going on behind the scene than I’d thought.”

  “What guests do is entirely up to them.”

  “I see. Care to look around with me to get a glimpse of what your guests are into?”

  “No.”

  He leaned in close enough so that the heat of his breath fanned her cheek. “Aw…where’s your sense of adventure?” he asked, then stepped back to catch her reaction.

  Convinced he referred to, and was mocking her about, their snowmobile “adventure,” anger flared within her. He had no right to judge her or make assumptions about the way she managed the resort.

  “I have your sister’s receipt. Would you care to step outside for a look?” she snapped. The words a bit sharper than she had intended.

  He shot her a where’d-that-come-from stare, but nodded. “Lead the way.”

  Out front, she quickly scanned the list of items prior to handing it over to Jared. Evidently his sister and her fiancé were into some pretty kinky stuff.

  Surprise flickered across Jared’s face as he read, then he sighed, long and hard. “I guess they were into some of that BDSM crap.” He hesitated as he peered into the parking lot, folding the paper. “This is more than I wanted to know about Tiffani.”

  “Sorry.”

  His bold, piercing eyes bore into her, and she thought about how she’d much rather have his wickedly raised brow and mischievous grin coming her way. He tapped the rectangular sheet against his opposite palm. “On to the next stop.”

  “Which is?”

  “Equipment rental. I don’t think the ice rink will reveal anything, but I’d like to know if she rented skis.”

  “What does the fiancé say?” They began walking toward their vehicles.

  “Good question. If I could find him, I’d have the answer.”

  “Mind if I tag along?” she asked. She was going to check it out, anyway.

  “That would be great. I’d appreciate the company.”

  “I’ll drive. It will be quicker since it’s my home turf.”

  “Okay.”

  He’d parked his Escalade next to her SUV with its resort logo. As they approached, she noticed a piece of paper tucked beneath her windshield wiper. So did he.

  “Looks like someone left you a note,” he commented.

  She tensed as she removed it and nervously scanned the area, searching for someone suspicious. Nothing. Even though she would have preferred to hide the note from him, it would have been difficult given his proximity.

  The message shouted at her with large, black letters that could no doubt be read from yards away:

  Last Warning.

  Kelsey sagged against the side of the vehicle for support. Maybe it was time to go to the authorities.

  Jared eased the message from her shaking fingers. “There have been other notes like this?”

  “Yes. This is the third.”

  He scowled. “Have you told anyone?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Do you have any clue who sent them?”

  “None.”

  Jared ran his hand over his face, and his worried look deepened. “After we check about the rentals, I think you should gather the messages and pay a visit to the sheriff.”

  “I don’t—”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  She blinked, astounded by his offer. What did he care if someone threatened her? At the same time, a spark of warmth lighted in her chest because he did. “But don’t you need to check out?”

  “I’m not going anywhere until I’m satisfied about what happened. Your new dilemma may figure into this somehow. Besides, I want you to be safe.”

  “Fine,” she said. “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “Let’s get done with it, then.”

  As they climbed into her Tahoe SUV, a quiver of anticipation ran through her at the prospect that they would be spending the afternoon together. The problem was—anytime Jared was in the vicinity, she found her heart went a little crazy and her body, well—her body had a mind of its own.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  From the moment he’d read that cryptic message, a thread of anxiety wound within Jared that he couldn’t label. Really, how many people received threatening notes like that?

  No one that he knew of.

  Yes, something strange was going on at Chalet Romance. Kelsey’s notes, her snowmobile incident, his sister’s accident—what if some wacko person were behind it all?

  When they arrived at the ski-rental shop, Kelsey acquired a receipt copy in record time. Back in the vehicle, she handed the receipt over to him. “Tiffani and her fiancé rented our skis.”

  “And Tiffani’s ski broke. So what happened to it?”

  She put the key in the ignition. “I asked the same thing. It seems to be a mystery. They can’t be accounted for.” With a raised hand, she headed off his next comment. “I gave an order to canvass the place and find them.”

  “Great. Thanks,” he said with a chuckle, then added, “Hungry?”

  She glanced at the clock on the dash. “Guess it is lunch time.”

  He raised a brow. “How about it? My treat, if that’s okay with you.”

  She gave a slow smile. “A girl has to eat.”

  “Good. And then we’ll find the sheriff.”

  She made a face, pulling that lovely dimple to the side, but said nothing.

  Jared didn’t want to compromise the reason he was here, and yet he was drawn to Kelsey like he’d never been drawn to any woman before. The way she answered his questions with direct openness was refreshing. He had to admit, he hadn’t met the evasiveness he’d anticipated. No, Kelsey genuinely behaved as though she had nothing to hide.

  Still, he didn’t like the way events were adding up. He rubbed his knuckles over his sternum. For the past twenty minutes, his gaze had kept returning to the note resting on the console. A protective surge flared inside of him, and he wanted to crush whoever wrote it.

  He’d studied far too many movies, as well as the psyche of the human race, to dismiss the warning as trivial. But Kelsey seemed unfazed, perhaps even naive to the danger it represented. It was a good thing he was here.

  * * *

  In the resort restaurant, Kelsey took the lead, selecting a table in the back corner but near a window. She enjoyed seeing her customers come and go, watching the telltale signs of love that set some of the couples apart.

  Shortly after they were seated, Maggie, their waitress came over to the table with menus. The woman’s eyes crinkled, framed by hashes of fine lines as she smiled. “What’s it gonna be, Kelsey?”

  She ordered a BLT on whole wheat, and Jared settled on a burger with the works.

  Maggie’s gaze bounced between them, and a satisfied gleam entered her eyes. “You two enjoy yourselves. The food’ll be right out.”

  As Jared unfolded his white linen napkin, Kelsey zoned in on his strong hands and long fingers. She swallowed hard when he set it in his lap.

  She grabbed her glass of water and took a long sip, forcing her attention outside and away from the sexy-as-sin man across from her.

  “So what’s your story, Kelsey Moore?” he asked.
“How did you come to manage the resort?”

  She set the water down with a shrug, then propped her chin in one palm, leaning her elbow on the table. “You know my dad had a stroke.”

  He nodded.

  “I was fresh from an art study abroad—”

  “Where?”

  “Paris.” She sat back and folded her hands in her lap. “Anyway, I was living in Atlanta. Had a business plan ready to open a gallery and framing shop. I was just about to sign a lease in a quaint Buckhead strip of antique shops when the doctor called me about Dad.”

  “Aw man.”

  She shrugged again. “And that was the end of that. I came here to take care of him six months ago. And I’ve been struggling to keep the Chalet afloat ever since.”

  Their food arrived, and she was glad the conversation fell away. It was time for a change of subject. But a few minutes later, she was frustrated when he resumed the thread. Plus, she had a mouthful of sandwich.

  “So did the resort always have a romantic theme or was that you?”

  She chewed, swallowed. “When I arrived the resort was in dire straits. I…I was heartsick over what I found. This is where I was born. I spent every summer here after my parents divorced. The thought of foreclosure was inconceivable.”

  “Enter the couples theme.”

  “Yes. Sex sells, ya know. I used some of the money I had saved for my shop and spruced the place up a little. Advertising on the Internet was easy and effective and, voilà, I had the turn-around I needed.”

  “I’m impressed.”

  “We’re not in-the-clear, by any means, but we’re holding our own.”

  “Still, I don’t think there are many daughters who would do what you’ve done. Instead, Dad would be living in a nursing home.”

  She shuddered. “My dad has always been there for me.” Including giving up the bulk of his savings to see her through college. Scholarships didn’t pay for everything, and he’d often sent her checks she hadn’t requested, but which she was nonetheless thankful for. She owed him. But more so, she loved him fiercely.