He’s made no mistake that he wants me back, even showing up at my old workplace.
“No, and that’s another thing, every memory I have around this neighborhood has to do with him. I need a change.”
“You might even find a hot lumberjack out there,” Viola laughs, biting into her slice.
“Or a ski instructor,” Jane pipes up. “What else do guys do in places like Alpine Falls?”
“I have no fucking clue,” I laugh. “But know this: I’ll miss you both so much, and once the holidays are over, I’ll be back to find a new apartment. It’ll be like none of this ever happened.” I hope I sound more cheery than I feel.
“Please tell meexactlywhat thathunky, hairy manfrom the tree farm is like .” Viola bats her eyelashes suggestively. She’s referring to the picture I showed them, noting Zane Lawless as the main attraction.
“He’s my boss,” I remind her. “So I can safely say he’s off limits.”
Jane pouts. “You’re no fun.”
Bailey also mentioned Zane is a little bit of a grump, but she downplayed it. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard her ever mention his name. While I’ve been to Alpine Falls a few times, I’ve never run into him, or any of the Lawless family.
“To new adventures!” Viola reaches over to the coffee table for her paper cup and lifts it up toward me and Jane.
“Yes! To new adventures with sexy cowboys, lumberjacks, ski instructors, we’re not fussy,” Viola giggles. “Just don’t have any run in’s with the local wildlife.”
“Ooh, yeah, they have wolves out there, Sade, as well as giant bison bigger than my apartment,” Jane warns.
“They also have grizzlies, coyotes, moose and elk. I’ll be fine, you guys. You’re forgetting I grew up in Colorado.” I take a nice long chuck of the bubbles.
“But you’re a city girl,” Jane reminds me. “Please tell me you packed some sensible shoes.”
I open my mouth, then close it again. Do I even own sensible shoes? “Shit.”
My friends’ eyes meet across from each other, and they both fall about laughing at my expense. I narrow my eyes but can’t help laughing too. I’m gonna miss these girls.
It’s only for the holidays,I remind myself. A month tops. Then I’ll be back here where I belong.Good plan.
CHAPTER 6
Zane
Why I left the hiring to my baby sister, who only sees the good in everyone — no red flags whatsoever and probably didn’t do any reference checks — is beyond me. But I can’t also refute the fact that I need to put someone in that office, like yesterday.
I’ve been informed by Isabelle that Bailey Owens has a friend coming to town for the holidays who’s interested in the job.
Way to go, sis.
“You could at least have found an actual resident of Alpine Falls,” I told her after I’d learned what Isabelle had been up to. It took some digging to find outwhythis new potential staff member couldn’t come in for an interview right away… she’s a New Yorker and not even in the damned state.
Of all the places. New York?
My sister clearly doesn’t see any wrong in offering the job to a woman who doesn’t even live in Wyoming, and a bonus; she’s never met her. I swear to god this just gets better.
At least I’ve had a week to get used to the idea since that conversation, even if we had no other applications. It’sthe first week of November, and people are lining up to order their annual Christmas trees. Me, Dad, Jed, plus two seasonal workers, Buck and Lars, are all hauling like our asses are on fire.
Still, our battle of wills continues when I trudge into the office after a long day, grunting at all the decorations Iz and Jo-Beth — the two self proclaimed Christmas fairies — snuck up while I was out hauling trees into my truck. I know it’s fucking Christmas, but do we have to gloat? Each year, they leave a Santa hat on my desk with some mince pies and a glass of milk. Just because I got roped into playing Santa one year, doesn’t mean I’m ever doing it again. Anyway, it was for charity. I was literally guilted into it.
I head into the small utility room behind the office to grab me and Jed a beer; he stayed back to help me with my truckload. I reach into the small fridge, knocking off the caps as I head back to the office.
With Isabelle being home for the holidays and the Lodge being short staffed, she’s trying to fit in as much as she can with her dog-walking, but I know she’s getting antsy being inside so much. My sister walks hail, rain or shine. She’s insane. She also chooses now to have our weekly meeting: a fucking Friday when I’d like to get home and crash on the couch.
“Don’t forget Sadie will be in on Monday for her formal interview,” she reminds me. “And before you have a big ol’ grumble, just remember how fun it was this week between the customers walking in and the phones going mental.”
