His attention flicked to the paper beverage cup in front of him. He lifted it and downed the rest of it in one gulp, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Then he tossed the cup into a trash can ten feet away.
It was an impressive shot, but not fast enough—I’d seen what he had clearly tried to hide. Mia had written the nameBlaiseon it. Which clearly poked a few holes in his story that this had all been on him. Apparently, it took two to role-play in the workplace.
And then something clicked. “Diego? The one who told Mia about The Fraser?”
Mia’s shoulders loosened as Diego nodded, and suddenly I saw him through a completely different lens.
I’d spent months trying to land an internship at a five-star resort for winter break. It wasn’t just a requirement of my major; it was the first step in getting the job of my dreams. With the end of the fall semester rapidly approaching and no offers in sight, I’d finally confided in Mia during a weak moment.
Later she’d told me how her roommate Diego had essentially created a job for himself where he saw a need. And through her, he’d even suggested that I try The Fraser, a luxury ski resort deep in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They’d never taken a hospitality management intern before, but I pitched myself relentlessly until they offered me the position.
“I got the job,” I told him.
The smile that lit his face warmed something inside me, and I could see why Mia liked him. Now that he wasn’t role-playing a stuck-up jerk, he was even better looking.
“Congratulations,” Diego said, sounding genuinely happy for me, as if I hadn’t just accused him of being a pervert and a creep.
He was smart enough to take his leave after that. When he stood, I had to tilt my head back to look him in the eye. Mia rose too, heading guiltily back to the counter after one last lingering glance.
“Apologies again,” he said, still determined to take the heat off my employee.
Mia was a lucky young woman, judging by the long look he gave her before he left.
I returned to the little office to work on the accounts, but I could practically feel Mia’s guilt radiating through the room as she scrubbed the counter, restocked cups, and cleaned the espresso machine.
After another hour, she relaxed enough to leanagainst the back counter when there was absolutely nothing left for her to do. And no customers, of course. I stood, stretched, and stepped out, intending to talk to her about professionalism in the workplace.
But her words stopped me. “You stood up for me,” she said, a note of wonder in her voice.
I frowned, unsure what she meant until she clarified, “When you thought he was bothering me, you defended me.”
I nodded crisply. “I couldn’t let him treat an employee like that.” Color rose in her cheeks, and I raised an eyebrow. “Of course—that was before I knew youlikedhim treating you like that.”
It didn’t come out as sharply as I’d meant it to, because my voice lifted at the end like a question. Because when I’d been back in my office, I couldn’t help wondering about the entire exchange. Did Mia really like that sort of thing? She hadn’t struck me as the kind of woman who would want a man saying such dirty things to her… not to mention sliding his hand up her thigh in public.
I couldn’t imagine taking that kind of risk in a workplace. And with graduation approaching, there was no way I’d even take time away from my studies to date. For the past four years, I’d spent every waking moment studying and preparing for my future. I was going to get a prestigious job at a luxury resort after graduation ordie trying. I wanted to prove myself and rise to the top. Relationships could come later—if ever.
“Still, I appreciate it,” she said.
“I’m your supervisor. It’s my job to make sure you’re not harassed at work.”
Mia waited, as if expecting more, but to me that was everything. This was work, not a nightclub. We were here to do the best job we could. That was all that mattered.
After a moment, she nodded, and I returned to the office. A few minutes later, I heard a buzzing sound. Breaking the rules yet again, Mia slipped her phone from her smock, flicked it open, and glanced at the screen. From the way her cheeks flushed pink, it didn’t take much guesswork to figure out who had texted.
I’d never met a man who could make me smile just from a simple message like that. And between the internship and my upcoming final-semester course load, there’d be no time for one even if I had.
But as the afternoon wore on, I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to have a man look at me the way Diego had at Mia.
2
ZOE
“I’m sorry,you want me to do what?” I stared at Helen Greer, my boss for the next three and a half weeks. We were in her office, and despite the fact that I was standing and she was sitting at her desk, she still somehow managed to look down her glasses at me. “Ms. Greer, I’m here for an internship, not a vacation.”
“I’m well aware of that, Zoe. And it’s Mrs. Greer. I’ve been married for twenty-two years.” She gave me a look that said she clearly wanted to addwhich is longer than you’ve been alive, but I wasn’t sure that was true. We’d have to compare what month she got married to my October birthday.
“Mrs. Greer, I’m here to help you. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to learn how to manage a resort like this.” I tried to adapt a humble tone, which wasn’t my strong suit. “It’s so beautiful here, nestled in themountains with the snow. You should be proud of what you’ve?—”
