The next afternoon,I was walking across the lobby. Then suddenly, I was sliding across the lobby. My feet slipped out from under me, and I let out a shriek as I fell.
But then strong arms caught me, right before my ass hit the marble flooring. I clutched at the red ski jacket as he hauled me to my feet.
It was Landon. I would’ve known that even without the red ski jacket. He just radiated calmness, while his twin radiated chaos.
His smile was warm as he made sure I had my balance. “Remind me not to go ice-skating with you.”
I looked over my shoulder. “Was that what that was? Ice?”
“Or a bit of tracked in snow. Over the years, they’vetried everything to keep the foyer high and dry, but, well, this is snow country.”
He let go of me, and my arm felt cold at the loss of contact. “I’m sorry,” I said, looking into those bright blue eyes.
“It happens to everyone,” he said kindly.
“No, not that… about last night at the bar when I snapped at you. Kai said you were only trying to help.”
“Help? I’m not following. I could tell you were pissed off when you left, but I assumed that Kai had said something crass again.”
“No, it—” I frowned. I’d barked at him to stay out of staff scheduling or something like that, but perhaps he hadn’t heard me clearly as I stormed off. Which I’d been doing a lot of lately.
Landon put his hand on the small of my back, and I practically leaned into his touch. What the hell was with me today? If I were a cat, I’d be rubbing my face against him. “Come sit with me and tell me what’s going on,” he said.
I followed his gaze to the cream-colored leather sofas around the two-story high Christmas tree. But I was on the clock. The last thing I needed was for Mrs. Greer to catch me lounging around.
Landon, somehow, seemed to figure out the problem. “I know a better place.”
I blinked up at him as he nudged me forward. I’d heard that twins were supposed to have some kind ofmental connection, but I wasn’t his twin. Yet he seemed to have no problem figuring out what was on my mind.
He led me up the stairs to the upper part of the lobby, keeping his hand lightly on my back, as if afraid I’d slip again. I didn’t think that was going to happen now that we were away from the front doors, but for some reason, I didn’t want him to let go. We paused along the railing. The Christmas tree looked even more amazing up here. It was filled with gold lights and garlands and looked like it came from the world’s biggest jewelry store.
Landon led me through the hallways, past guests’ rooms, then a little coffee shop, then down another hallway until I was completely turned around. But at the end of the hallway he held a doorway open. Bright sunlight and lush greenery were just beyond it. I stepped out the door, expecting to feel cold, but the little room had glass walls protecting us from the cold air.
“What is this? A greenhouse?” I breathed, looking around in wonder. There were plants everywhere, and even trees, though not huge ones.
Landon closed the door behind us. “I’m not actually sure. I think it used to be a balcony, but at some point, it was enclosed and all of this was planted. All I know is that it’s my favorite place in the whole lodge. I think of it as a solarium.”
“Mine too,” I said reverently, then realized that didn’tmake any sense. “I mean, so far, it’s my favorite place in The Fraser, too.”
He chuckled. “But you haven’t even seen all of it.”
“Doesn’t matter.” There was a little path through the greenery, and I followed, passing a bench. When I rounded a curve, where was a little stone fountain with gurgling water.
“Come see the best part.”
“There’s more?”
He smiled at the awe in my voice. Then he slipped through the bushes, no longer on a path, heading toward the oversized windows. I followed, though I wasn’t sure we were supposed to be making our own path like this. But I shouldn’t have doubted him. He held back a branch and ushered me forward. There was a porch swing there, a two-person bench seat that faced the gorgeous view.
Eager to admire the mountains, I started to sit down and then took in the details of the seat. “It’s from the chairlift.”
Landon grinned. “Want me to lift you onto it?”
I was pretty sure my face flushed, but the little room was far too serene for me to mind. I settled on the seat, grateful that it only swayed a little. “I thought ski instructors weren’t supposed to lift and tell.”
Landon shrugged. “We’re twins. We tell each other everything.” Then, after a moment, he added. “Almost.”
For one alarming moment, I thought maybe Kai hadtold him what we’d done in the gym, but the sadness etched along his face made me dismiss that idea. He was such a nice man. I didn’t know him well, but I knew he deserved to be happy.
