“I know, right?” Holly squeals. “It’s going to be an athlete buffet! You can have any of them except the hockey player. He’s mine.”
I roll my eyes at her antics. “You know that we can’t fraternize with the guests. Management would have a fit, and worse than death itself, they would fire us.”
“What management doesn’t know won’t hurt them.” Holly wiggles her eyebrows.
“There’s no way I’m risking my future for some ridiculous scheme. Besides, we both know from experience that most rich people don’t care about the help. We smile and try to be invisible, other than when they need something.”
Holly wraps her arm around my shoulders. “Would you just let me dream a little? For once, could you let me have a few minutes where I believe that my life could actually be a fairy tale?”
I pat her hand that’s draped on my shoulder. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer. I just appreciate normal people, the ones who aren’t trying so hard to be noticed. The ones who enjoy beauty in everyday quiet moments. The ones with a heart.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Holly squeezes me. “But wouldn’t it be exciting to stroll downtown with a world-class athlete? Twinkling lightsand falling snow guiding your path to romance. And then, to cheer them on at a big game. Probably get caught by the camera, kissing on the sideline?”
I sigh, getting involuntarily pulled into Holly’s enchanting, albeit completely implausible, scenario.
The buzzing of my phone wakes me out of my stupor. I look down to see “Mynt Management” pop onto my screen. My stomach clenches at the sight. “Why in the world would the management office be calling me? It’s gotta be bad…”
Holly’s tone is forced. “It could be good…” I can tell she’s trying to calm my nerves.
Last time management called my cell, they told me that someone had lodged a complaint against me. The wife of a guy who kept coming to ask me questions when I was working at the front desk alerted management that I was acting inappropriately. Turns out, the husband told her I was following him around and being flirtatious, when it was actually the other way around. Thanks to security cameras, management could see I was just doing my job, but they had to “have a conversation” with me anyway to appease the guest. I’m still furious thinking about it, but now I know to be extremely guarded.
“Are you going to answer it?” Holly asks, staring at my phone.
“I better,” I say, and walk away to find a quiet corner for a conversation.
A sinking feeling washes over me. This might not be a merry Christmas after all.
Chapter 3
Eddie
Thedreadedtimehascome. We are on our way to Mynt Peak Resort for their Mynt to Make a Difference charity event. I know it sounds heartless for me to hate Christmas, but I have my reasons. My fists clutch my phone. Since I can’t hold my preferred emotional support item—my tennis racket, my iPhone will have to do.
Our car rolls to a stop outside a building that reminds me of a gingerbread house. There’s a snow-covered rooftop, lights strung everywhere, and I can already hear the faint sound of Christmas music.
My chest begins to tighten and I shudder. I close my eyes and force myself to take a calming deep breath.
“Eddie, you good?” I sense Roger’s gaze boring into me.
My pulse races, but I try not to show it.
Roger continues, “C’mon, man. Staying at Mynt Peak Resort is what Christmas dreams are made of. Look at this place…It’s like we drove into a Christmas card. I hope they have hot cocoa.” Roger practically skips out of the car.
I frown. He’s a guy in his mid 40s, but he’s suddenly transformed into a twelve-year-old kid. What kind of holiday magic is swirling around this place?
Good thing I have antifreeze in my veins. This chilly winter wonderland won’t affect me. Not one bit.
A teenage boy working as a bellhop brings a cart out and unloads our luggage with a friendly demeanor. “Merry Christmas, welcome to Mynt Peak.”
“Thank you.” I nod.
“Right this way to check in.” He guides our luggage cart through sliding glass doors.
Breath catches in my throat. After traveling the world, I’m not easily impressed. But wow, the lobby could easily be mistaken for the North Pole…if I believed in that kind of thing.
“Would you look at this place!” Roger’s eyes are bright. “This is gonna be wonderful. I’ll go get our room keys. You just enjoy this magnificent view.” Roger nods toward a giant picture window framing snowcapped mountains.
The sun casts a warm glow. One might even say it’s majestic, but not me—I detest the winter. I prefer palm trees and beaches to evergreens and ice.
