Probably not. Wasn’t the first time Hayley hadn’t made the best of first impressions. No, that was a regular occurrence in her life, only this time, it was the second impression that had done her in.
The melancholy began to settle over her again, and she didn’t bother to fight it. She was used to it. She sat down at the tall dining table near the small kitchen and took a bite of her burger—which was so frigging delicious, she moaned with pleasure. A glance at the far corner of the living room reminded her that she’d brought enough of her equipment to take her mind off her day, off the panic and the incessant feeling of being inadequate.
Might be just the thing she needed.
* * *
“She has no clue what she’s doing.” Olivia took a sip of her gin and tonic, grimaced because it was stronger than expected, then shook her head in dismay. “Not a clue. She looked like the proverbial deer in headlights all day long.”
“How did she get the job, I wonder,” Tessa said, swigging from her beer.
The two friends sat side by side in Rosie’s, a bar that had been in business in Evergreen Hills since before Olivia was born. And the bartender who waited on them looked like he’d been there since day one, all grizzled face and graying beard. But his eyes were kind, he knew Olivia’s and Tessa’s drinks by heart, and he was generous with his pour. Rosie’s was where they went when they needed to talk about work but didn’t want their discussion being overheard by other employees.
“I have no idea, but I’d sure like to find out.” Olivia scowled into her cocktail.
“It was only her first day. Benefit of the doubt?” Tessa’s voice was hopeful. “I mean, the girl did ask you out this morning.” Tessa rolled her lips in and bit down on them.
“God, right? What’s with that? Does God hate me? Because that was just mean.”
Tessa let her laughter go, took another sip of beer. “Nah. He’s just messing with you. I’m pretty sure he’s got a sense of humor. Have you ever seen a platypus?”
“Well, I don’t think he’s funny.” Olivia sipped, then shook her head. “That job should’ve been mine. I don’t understand.” This time, her anger had evaporated and only sadness came through in her tone. She was pretty sure Tessa could hear it.
“I know, babe.” Tessa closed a hand over Olivia’s forearm. After a moment passed, she said, “Maybe you need to start looking at other places? The Marquez is big. Maybe they’re looking for somebody. Or Mountain View?”
Olivia shrugged in a noncommittal way. She appreciated Tessa’s attempts to help, but the truth was, she didn’t want to get a job someplace else. She’d been at the Evergreen for seven years as assistant manager. Before that, she’d worked summers and holiday weekends at the front desk. When she’d gone to college and studied hotel management, it was with the Evergreen in mind. There was something about the place. It was part of her. It was in her heart, in her blood, and she had no desire to leave. Evergreen Hills was her home. Unlike many of her friends, she had no wanderlust, no need to leave and see the world or live in a big city. She loved it here. Her mother was here. She had a house, a dog, and a job she loved. No, Olivia couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
“I’m good at my job.”
Tessa made a humming sound. “You rock at your job.”
“I do.” And Olivia knew it.
They were saved from further discussion about it when the door opened and Mike Keller walked in. Tessa quickly ordered him a beer as he spotted them and crossed to take the stool next to her.
“Ladies,” he said, getting comfortable. He nodded at the bartender when his beer was delivered. “Sorry I’m late. The newbie didn’t know how to make a martini.” Mike indicated how he felt about that by rolling his eyes. Mike was the head bartender at the Evergreen and, like Olivia, was a lifelong Evergreener. They’d known each other since the third grade.
“I noticed your not-so-secret admirer, Mrs. Graves, is here for the holiday,” Tessa said, a teasing note in her voice. She leaned against Mike.
“Jealous?” Mike teased back.
“Maybe,” Tessa said, then sat back up.
“She’s the one who only drinks Manhattans and only if you make them, right?” Olivia asked.
“That’s her.” Mike took a pull from his bottle.
Tessa scratched at the side of Mike’s face, then ran a finger along the hair at his jawline. “And you cleaned your beard up.” Turning to Olivia, she explained. “Mrs. Graves made a comment about Mike’s beard being too…what was the word?”
“Scrappy,” Mike supplied with a laugh.
“Scrappy. Yes. So he obviously listened.”
With a shrug, Mike said, “Hey, she’s a really good tipper.”
“Mm-hmm.” Tessa finished off her beer and ordered another.
“What do you guys think of the new manager?” Mike asked.
Olivia groaned and Tessa laughed.
“We were just talking about that,” Tessa said, then filled him in on the discussion so far.
“Wait, she asked you out?” Mike’s eyes went wide as he turned to regard Olivia.
She drained her drink in response and ordered a second. “Yep.”
“At least she’s got good taste,” he said, and Olivia turned to him, her entire demeanor softening.
“Aww, thank you, Mike.” She picked up her fresh drink.
Mike shrugged, held out his drink in front of Tessa so Olivia could touch her glass to his bottle. “I just call ’em like I see ’em.” They clinked. “So, she was less than impressive, huh?”
“Ugh,” was all Olivia could manage.
“Maybe she just needs time to settle in. Get her shit together, you know?”
Tessa scoffed. “You’re just saying that because she’s pretty.”
“She’s not pretty,” Mike said, clarifying. “She’s hot. Big difference.” He leaned forward so he could see Olivia. “Right, Livvy?”
Tessa tipped her head from one side to the other. “The man has a point.”
Olivia blew out a frustrated breath. “Fine. She’s hot. If only she was also competent…”
“Hey, benefit of the doubt, remember?” Tessa raised her eyebrows expectantly.
Olivia gave a reluctant nod. “Yeah, okay.”
She could do that. Everybody deserved the benefit of the doubt until they proved that they didn’t. Right? Even if that somebody took the job that was rightfully hers. It was fine. She could do this.
Couldn’t she?
Chapter Four
Hayley’s plan had been to take another walk in the woods before work. The way it had relaxed her the previous day…it was a feeling she’d like to have again, would be a nice way to start her Tuesday. And she wasn’t going to lie to herself: She also remembered Olivia saying she and Walter walked there every morning. Maybe she’d run into them again, in a place where Olivia didn’t hate her. Maybe…
But she’d stayed up late the night before. Much later than intended. So, when her alarm went off at 5:00 a.m., she very nearly threw the phone across the room. Instead, she managed to reset it to give her another hour of sleep.
Or so she’d thought.
When she opened her eyes again and the sun was shooting through the window onto her face, she growled in irritation and disbelief, knowing she’d overslept again. As usual. A glance at her phone had her swearing as she rolled onto her back and threw her arm over her eyes. She started to doze again, but caught herself and sat up. With a stretch and a yawn, she managed to pry her eyes open wide enough to navigate to the bathroom and turn on the shower.
That’s what I get for staying up until after two. She shook her head as she squeezed shampoo into her hand and washed her hair. She’d gotten so lost in her work that she’d lost track of time, which wasn’t unusual. Hurrying was probably the best course of action, but knowing she was already late and her father would probably hear about it eventually, she figured what was the point?
Interestingly, it wasn’t thoughts of her father
finding out she couldn’t seem to get to her job on time, even from the same damn building, that had her feeling slightly dejected. It wasn’t concern about disappointing him—some more—with her irresponsibility or proving him right that she was flighty and spoiled. No, that wasn’t what sat on her chest like the lead vest you wear when getting X-rays at the dentist. No, it was the idea of putting that disapproving expression on Olivia’s face for a second day in a row that had Hayley taking her time. She should’ve been downstairs and in her office twenty minutes ago, but it might as well have been an hour.
Once dried off, Hayley quickly brushed her teeth, dried her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail, and pulled on clothes. A coat of mascara and a bit of gloss on her lips, and she stared at her reflection.
“Ready to go disappoint the world?”
She pumped her fist in the air, grabbed her things, and headed out the door.
It was 9:43.
Hayley closed her eyes as the elevator doors slid shut.
“Damn it,” she whispered, realizing she hadn’t made herself any coffee. Detouring once she hit the lobby level, she headed to the Starbucks and waited in the fairly short line.
“Right on time again, I see.” The voice was soft and came from behind her, and Hayley recognized it immediately.
Hayley turned to face Olivia, and those dark, dark eyes seemed to suck her right in. Make her knees a little weak. Make her palms sweat. She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. I was up late, and I thought I set my alarm. My phone is new and…” She let her voice trail off because it was obvious by the expression on Olivia’s face that not only did she not believe Hayley, she’d actually expected this. Expected Hayley to show up late. Hayley waved a hand. “You know what? Never mind. I’m sorry I’m late. Let me just grab some caffeine and we can get started.”
With a nod, Olivia clicked off toward the front of the hotel, smiling and waving to various guests she passed. Hayley tried not to watch for too long, the sway of her hips, the smile that seemed so readily available. She stirred things in Hayley…
The winter season. Hayley blew out a breath. That was how long she had to stay here and do this job. Through the winter season, her father had said. That was the busy time of year for the Evergreen. So that meant once March was over, Hayley could get the hell out of this godforsaken place and go back to the city.
She counted the months on her fingers. The rest of November, December, January, February, March. A little more than four months.
Her groan had the barista looking at her quizzically. Hayley gave her a sheepish grin. “So much to choose from,” she said with a shrug.
Pumpkin spice latte in hand, Hayley headed for the lobby and the front desk where Stephanie smiled at her while on a call. A younger woman was at the desk next to her, checking in a family of four. Another group was coming in the front door, and a car was pulling up in the circle outside. Things were bustling at the Evergreen Resort and Spa. Hayley headed to her office, passing Olivia’s empty one as she did, and shut the door with relief. She flopped down into her chair, sipped her coffee, and used her feet to spin her chair so she could look out the window.
It really was beautiful here. Hayley could admit that, even being a city girl at heart. The trees that weren’t lush evergreens were all bare of leaves, but snow still covered many of the branches, and the combination of brown trunks and green branches and white snow made for some gorgeous contrast. She bet it was even more striking to look out this window in the summer when everything was green and lush…two things she did not get in the city.
The knock on her door startled her back to the present.
“Come on in.”
The door opened and Olivia stood there, a thick manila folder pressed to her chest. “You ready to go over a few things?”
“I am.” Hayley gestured to the two chairs across from her desk. “Have a seat.”
Olivia set the folder on the still-empty desktop and opened it. Pausing, she looked up at Hayley with those eyes and said, “You can bring personal items in here, you know. Photos or knickknacks. It’s your office.”
Hayley nodded, knowing she’d brought none of those things. “Okay. Cool. Thanks.”
For the next two hours, they went over the pile Olivia had brought with her, and she’d forgotten nothing. From a list of all the staff and their departments to the profit report for the year so far to the menu for Thanksgiving dinner, it was all there. Olivia went over each thing in painstaking detail, as if she knew Hayley needed it explained that way. Just when she was pretty sure her eyes had crossed in her head, Olivia closed the folder and sat back.
“That’s probably good for now. It’s lunchtime. Why don’t we meet back here at 1:30 and I’ll give you the basics on the computer you have yet to touch.” Her half-grin took out much of the sarcasm in her words, and Hayley felt a small wash of relief.
“Sounds great.”
Olivia patted the folder as she stood. “I’ll leave this here for you.”
“Thanks.” Again, she watched Olivia walk away. Becoming a regular thing, apparently. Hayley told herself it had nothing to do with Olivia’s amazing ass. Nothing at all.
* * *
“Hi, Mama.” Olivia put the phone on speaker and set it on the counter of her kitchen while she pulled ingredients for a turkey sandwich out of her fridge. “What’s new? How are all the teeth?”
Angela Santini chuckled at the question, as Olivia asked it every time she called her at work. Olivia could picture her behind the horseshoe-shaped desk of the dentist’s office where she’d been the admin for nearly thirty years. “So far, everybody has kept them in their head today.”
“Then it’s a good day.”
“It is. How’s my Walnut?”
Olivia peeked out the window into her small, fenced-in backyard. “Your Walnut is currently rolling in the snow, which he will then track all over my nice hardwood.” She smiled, though, as not much made her happier than seeing her dog happy.
“And the new manager?” Her mother knew all about the work situation.
“Ugh,” Olivia said with a groan, spreading mayo on bread. “Utterly incompetent. She’s been late two days in a row. She looks at me blankly half the time when I’m explaining something to her. I swear, she’s never done anything like this before. I can’t understand how she got hired. Over me.”
“Are you being nice, Olivia?” Angela’s voice held a subtle undercurrent of scolding. “She’s probably nervous being in a new job and all.”
“Yes, Mama, I’m being nice.” Was she? Furrowing her brow as she constructed the sandwich, she tried to be honest with herself. With a resigned sigh, she said, “You’re right. I could probably be a little nicer.”
“Mm-hmm,” her mother said, as if expecting exactly that answer.
“It’s so frustrating, though.”
“I know. But this is life. You can’t control anything anybody else does, only your own reactions to it.”
It was advice her mother was famous for; Olivia had heard it more times than she could count in her life. And like now, it pretty much always fit. “I know. I’ll try to be a little more empathetic.”
“That’s my girl.”
They talked for another minute or two, then said their good-byes. Olivia took a bite of her sandwich while watching Walter run around the yard in the snow, which was melting in the above-freezing temperatures and turning into a wet, sloppy mess. Which was exactly what Walter would be when he came in.
She let her gaze wander to the trees that separated her house from the house behind hers, and her mind took her back to the previous morning, walking in the woods as she did every day and running into Hayley. There had been something oddly tangible about those—how long did they walk? Twenty minutes? Half an hour? Whatever the amount of time, there’d been something about it that Olivia couldn’t shake. Something good that had stayed with her. Something palpable. She couldn’t explain it, but she wished she could go back, relive that short span of time,
before she’d actually understood who Hayley was in the grand scheme of her life.
Olivia was lonely. She could admit that. There was no shame in it. Her last relationship had ended over a year ago and she’d definitely needed some time on her own. Now, though? She’d had enough of time on her own. In a small town like Evergreen Hills, finding a date was a task in and of itself, but finding a gay date? Exponentially harder.
She finished her sandwich and checked her watch. There was time for a quick run before she had to meet back up with Hayley and explain more stuff to her that she should already know but probably didn’t. With a roll of her eyes, she opened the back door and called Walter inside.
* * *
Hayley took a sip from her can of Diet Coke, which she was using to wash down the Snickers bar she’d had for lunch, as she wandered the different floors of the Evergreen. She’d reached the sports bar and grill—which was different from the fancy restaurant downstairs—and was peering through the open double doorway when her phone rang. She pulled it from her pocket and smiled as she saw her brother Jason’s name on the screen.
“Hey, dickhead,” she said joyfully, but lowered her voice as she caught the look of disapproval on the face of the older woman walking past. “Sorry,” Hayley said, on a whisper.
“I decided to wait until day two before I called to harass you,” Jason said. “How’s it going? Why are you whispering? Should I be whispering, too?”
“I was walking past a guest just as I called you a dickhead, and she was not impressed with my vocabulary.” Hayley continued to wander as she talked.
“Oh, yeah, you gotta be careful of that kind of thing. Managing 101. Are you wearing your name tag?”
“I don’t have it yet.”
“Then you’re home free. This time. Once you have it on, you’ve got to watch the language. And smile. And say hi. To everybody.”
One Walk in Winter Page 4