Does she have to be so damn perky?
I don’t get what she’s got to be so happy about. There’s barely any tofu in this town, she can’t ride a horse and doesn’t know anything about Christmas tree farms. She might wear that Lawless Christmas sweater like no one’s business, but I feel like she may have lost her marbles, not just her mittens, somewhere between here and New York. When you couple that with chastising me about my meat eating habits and a mini lecture on lentils, I know this is going to be one long ass season.
“Oh, you know how to operate a snowmobile, right?”
I can play with her just a little bit.
CHAPTER 12
Sadie
“A snowmobile?” I blink, looking at the machine in front of me.
”Yeah, you’ve never ridden one?”
I give him a look. “Not in Manhattan, no.”
Is that a trace of a smirk? It’s gone before I can make it out. Oh, he’s a wise guy all of a sudden.
“When the snow gets really thick, which will be any day now, I’ll take you for a ride.”
I swallow. “Uh, okay. Am I expected to ride this deathtrap by myself?”
“Death trap?” For the first time, he chuckles. My heart races at the mere sound. “Not if you don’t feel comfortable, but it’s a handy skill to have.”
Skills.
I have skills! They involve office work and administration, not riding around on giant snowmobiles — I don’t care, it is another word fordeathtrap.Not for the first time, I wonder what I’m even doing here, then I remember my horrible life back in New York.
I glance up as Zane opens the gate to the tree farm.Yes, they have a security gate.
It seems the good people of Alpine Falls can get a little overzealous as soon as the farm opens its gates. And I’ve also learned there’s a waitlist, and people get told when they can come and collect their tree. You’d never get away with shit like this in New York, I love it.
The property is magnificent. The backdrop of mountains behind acres and acres of trees as far as the eye can see is not just mystical, it’s magical. Just as we’re taking a walk through the farm itself, little snowflakes begin to fall. We have snow in New York, but not like this. We also don’t have a lake that freezes over in the wintertime, turning Alpine Falls into a winter wonderland so people can ice skate and enjoy the festivities. This town goes all out as well. I’ve seen photos over the years that Bailey has sent me, and I have to say, this little haven takes decoration to a whole new level.
There’s tree decorating competitions, bake-offs, treasure hunts, cookouts, an ornament repair shop — and everyone is genuinely happy. Well, with the exception of my new boss. The only smile I got was when we went into the stables and he saw his horses. I get it. He’s not a people person, some people aren’t. But his frosty exterior doesn’t fool me. I’d be willing to bet there’s a heart in that big chest of his after all. Bailey didn’t give much away, aside from the facts we already know; he’s a grump who never smiles, but there has to be a reason for it. I make a mental note to ask her more questions, not that I care. I mean, he’s been polite enough — aside from the lettuce leaf comment, and the fact that I cried — but I get the feeling I’m more a thorn in his side, when really I’m just here to help. He needs to get over the fact his sister hired me and just trust in the process.
I check my phone and frown. Oh, no. It’s been going off for ages in my pocket, on silent but vibrating, and I didn’t want tocheck it in front of Zane. It’s not exactly a good first impression if all I’m doing is checking my phone on my orientation.
It’s my ex.
I don’t know how he got this number, but I recognize his. How in the world did he track me down? And why? I have nothing to say to that cheating asshole, so I don’t read the messages. Not yet. I don’t want to ruin my first day here on the farm.
I hum to myself as we walk through rows and rows of trees, the smell of pine needles permeating my senses. I don’t want to think about my ex, or what the hell he wants after all this time. All I want to do is enjoy walking around the farm with a clear path, physically and mentally.
“We have all kinds of trees,” Zane is saying. “The Douglas fir is the most common and popular because of its shape and size, and durability. Then we have a lodgepole pine, it’s hardy and traditional, but they get really tall. We’ve also have a new variety of blue spruce this year, and we’re trialing the white fir. It’s a Wyoming native and an evergreen. It’s gotta pass the Lawless test, but that won’t be for another season.”
I take mental notes because I’m probably expected to remember all of this.
“They’re so beautiful,” I say. “I can see how people get really into the Christmas spirit when they come out here.”
He grunts in response.
Zane is going to be hard work, that I’ve already worked out, but if he thinks he can sour my mood, he’s got another thing coming.
This town isn’t so bad. It’s small, but not tiny. And it’s quaint. I need to rethink my dining options, however, especially ifThePerky Porchis my only option for takeout. It looks like I’m gonna have to learn how to expand my culinary skills. I’m not the greatest cook in the world, but I try. It also doesn’thelp that New York has some of the finest vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the world, so I’m a little spoiled for choice.
Alpine Falls, Wyoming, however? Umm, not so much. Still, it’s not the end of the world. Eating out costs money, and I need to save every penny and take all the shifts I can get my hands on right now.
