Melanie McLaughlin, her landlord’s daughter, had just finished her last year of college when she answered Stephanie’s ad for a sitter, explaining that she wanted to take a break before she headed out into the business world. Stephanie was delighted, and the girls adored her. Two mornings a week, Stephanie had to open the shop early for deliveries, so she’d needed someone to see the girls to the bus stop and be there when they returned. Melanie had been a godsend the past two years. She’d started a computer graphics business from her new apartment, which allowed her to continue caring for the girls. This week, they were out of school for Thanksgiving break. Melanie, ever the trouper, was bringing the girls to Maximum Glide later in the day to spend the afternoon on the slopes.
That night was the official lighting of the resort’s main Christmas tree. Stephanie had promised the girls they could attend. It would be a long day for all of them, but fun. And she would see Patrick. He’d asked her out several times when she first started working at the shop, but she’d always told him no, saying she wasn’t going to date until her divorce from Glenn was final. He’d said he respected that and would ask again. The day her divorce was final, she called to tell Grace, who informed Max, who then let Patrick know. That evening, he’d arrived on her doorstep with flowers for her, two Disney movies for the girls, and a piping-hot cheese pizza for all. She hadn’t the heart to turn him away. They’d been out three times since then.
On their last date, they’d gone to the movies. She remembered the movie was a romantic comedy about a couple who each had six kids and married in spite of the antics the kids pulled hoping to keep the couple apart. As expected, the movie ended happily. Stephanie had enjoyed the movie immensely and remarked to Patrick how wonderful it was that the children finally accepted their new stepparents in spite of their earlier misgivings. He hadn’t called since. Something was up with him, though she hadn’t known what it could be and didn’t ask. He was her boss, and she wasn’t going to jeopardize her job by asking him why he hadn’t called again. If she were completely honest with herself, she would admit it’d hurt her feelings when he hadn’t bothered to call or offer an explanation for his sudden lack of interest in her. Even worse, Amanda and Ashley continued to ask when Patrick was coming over again. She’d put them off, telling them it was the busy season at the resort. They’d accepted her answer, but Stephanie knew it was more than that.
Putting all thoughts of her personal life aside, she inspected the store one last time. Everything seemed to be in place. Last but not least, Stephanie plugged the extension cord into the outlet, filling the small shop with bright twinkling lights on the eight-foot blue spruce. Candy Lee Primrose, a bright and witty high school senior and part-time employee, had spent the day before Thanksgiving decorating the tree. Tiny sets of skis, tiny snowboards, miniature sets of ski poles, scarves, brightly colored mittens, and hats hung from its branches. Fresh pine perfumed the air, reminding Stephanie of the giant pines that flanked her favorite blue run, Gracie’s Way.
Glancing at her watch for the umpteenth time, Stephanie booted up the computer, clicked a few keys to record the time, then counted out the cash drawer. The credit card machine was up and running for a change. She replaced the white spool of paper with a brand-new one, then went to the alarm panel and punched in the security code to turn off the alarm.
Twenty minutes later, Candy Lee raced through the back door. “Smells wonderful in here,” she said as she removed her snow boots and replaced them with a pair of tan Uggs.
“It does, doesn’t it?” Stephanie said as she took in the shop, decorated in all its Christmas finery.
She took a deep, cleansing breath.
Here we go, she thought, let the season begin.
Chapter 2
Edward Patrick Joseph O’Brien, Patrick to his friends and family, placed a gloved hand on the dash of his most beloved possession, his bright shiny black Hummer. The love of his life. His passion, his reason for getting up in the morning.
Shit!
He was losing it. Too much cold weather had warped his brain, he figured, as he cranked the engine over. He’d become obsessed with Hummers ever since he purchased this baby two years ago. Couldn’t get enough of them. He knew just about everything there was to know about the vehicle. If asked, he could tell you there were six different styles; they were originally designed for the military; some were equipped with caterpillar tracks for use in heavy snow and were nicknamed the Snow-Vee. He could go on and on, and did when asked, but mostly he appreciated their performance in the often harsh Colorado winters.
He adjusted the rear-window defroster, then clicked on the fog lights as he maneuvered the Hummer out of the narrow drive at the base of the mountain where he lived in a newly constructed log home. Today was usually one of the busiest days of the season at Maximum Glide, where he was the general manager. He wanted to get an early start before he was bombarded with lost skiers, missing skis, snowboarders monopolizing the slopes, and the broken bones that were sure to happen to some poor unlucky souls. Glancing in his rearview mirror, he caught a glimpse of himself. His coal black hair was in need of a trim, big-time. His dark blue eyes were shadowed with gray half-moons. He’d spent too many late nights carousing with the guys. But what the hell? He was a single guy. What else was there to do after-hours? Currently, there was no special female in his life, no woman for whom he really cared. Not really, or at least no one that he would admit to. He’d been out with Stephanie Casolino-Marshall, the manager of Snow Zone, a few times, but he’d put a stop to that going anywhere real quick-like. Not that he would admit this either, but that woman had touched a part of him that had remained untouched for all of his thirty-nine years. He wasn’t about to involve himself with a woman whose past was as dark as his black Hummer. No way. Women like her did nothing but cause pain and heartache. At least that was what he believed. He’d seen too many of his best buds go down that path. A woman with kids and an ex was pure trouble with a capital T.
That last evening he’d spent with Stephanie had sent him running. That damned movie with all those kids and that Brady Bunch happily-ever-after stuff was definitely not for him. He’d never asked her out again, and she’d never questioned it. She probably knew she wasn’t prime meat on the for-sale market, but hey, that was her problem. She’d been sweet, and in spite of all that she’d been through, there seemed to be a hint of innocence about her. That part had touched him. Before he allowed himself to explore exactly what that meant, he’d boogied his way right back to his old tried-and-true rule. If he hadn’t slept with the woman by the third date, she was history. He’d been on four dates with Stephanie and hadn’t even kissed her. Definitely time to move on. A vision of dark eyes and long brown hair caused him to veer off the road. And those two girls of hers, well they were absolutely adorable, but kids were totally off-limits for him. No way. His sisters’ three boys and one girl were enough kids for an overprotective uncle. Besides, he’d seen what had happened to his sister Colleen. Kids were not on his life list.
“See! This female/kid crap is for the birds,” he said. “I’ll wreck the Hum if I keep thinking along those lines.” He shifted into low gear before turning onto the winding road that led to Maximum Glide. It was still early; the lifts didn’t start running until nine. As it was one of the busiest days of the year at the ski shop, he wanted to check in early, make sure Stephanie and Candy Lee had things under control. He didn’t want another episode like last year. He’d thought Stephanie had been ready to take over all the duties at the ski shop. Patrick had insisted she order all the stock for the upcoming season. She’d been doubtful, but said she would do her best. And dammit, her best had cost the resort big bucks. Her order was modest, not near enough to cover them for the month of December. He hadn’t been too hard on her because she was so damned…well, she was so kind and apologetic. He hadn’t the heart to scream and yell at her as he was known to do when things didn’t run smoothly. Patrick simply wanted to do the best job possible. As general manager, it was his responsibility to make sure his employees knew exactly what their jobs