Chapter 7
Melinda
Scarf? Check. Winter coat? Check. Adorable black Gucci booties? Check. All that was missing was a hot cup of coffee in my hand. There was a coffee pot in the kitchen in the chalet I was staying in, but I wanted to explore Breckenridge and see what shops they had. I’d already sent over a few proposal ideas to Ben and Chris to see what they thought of a few marketing strategies I had. I only had to send it to Chris, but I knew including Ben in on it would make Chris less likely to do or say anything to piss me off.
I pitched the idea of resort members. People who paid money to the resort in return for getting an "Avalanche" status—a cute play on words since they’d be on top of a mountain. Members would get special treatment and the best chalets. I was still waiting to hear back from Chris, but Ben loved it and thought it would bring more of an “elite” crowd that could put Bates Resort on the map.
I’d bet anything Chris loved the idea but didn’t know what to reply because he couldn’t admit that I had a good idea. It was alright. I was a patient woman. He'd come around eventually, and if not, I'd just keep kicking ass at my job.
Light patters caught my attention on the deck outside. I took one last sip of coffee, my pre cup to my actual cup, and set it on the table next to me. I kept the flannel blanket wrapped around me and stepped toward the French doors. Snow fell the previous night, and the white sheet covering the deck was uninterrupted for the most part. I squinted my eyes to get a better look and opened the door. Pawprints were disappearing to the other end of the house.
“What in the world…” I said to myself and closed the door, shuffling my feet against the slick hardwood floors to get to the window. Opening the dark green curtain, I turned my head left and right and saw nothing. “Huh?” I was stumped. The paw prints were there, but no animal.
Oh my god, what if it was a bobcat? Or a worse, a mountain lion? I yelped and run back to the couch, jumping over the arm, and bounced on the cushion, tightening the blanket around me more for safety purposes than to keep the cold out. Not that it’d keep me safe, but itfeltsafe. I wrapped it over my head until my face was poking out and darted my eyes around the house, wondering if I’d hear a yowl or worse, growl. Were there wolves here? Did I move from the city without thinking about wildlife?
My phone chimed next to me, and when I saw that it was an Uber notification telling me my ride was close, I didn’t know if I wanted to go anywhere after seeing those prints. What if whatever was out there attacked me when I opened the door? I didn’t want to be someone’s breakfast. Technically, wildlife was supposed to fear humans and—particularly—the sound of car engines, but still. We’d all heard about camping vacations gone awry.
But I wanted coffeeshop coffee enough to risk my life. I tossed the blanket off and ran to the front door, grabbed my purse off the hook, and slid my phone in my back pocket just when the Uber pulled up. A lot of my things were being shipped from New York, and my car was one of them. It wouldn't be here for another few days. Right now, I could walk from the chalet to work in the main lodge, or I could work from the chalet. Driving wasn't a necessity for me right now, but it would be when I got my own place. Another thing to add to the list of things to do today while I was out and about: find a place to rent.
I peeked outside to make sure there wasn't anything out to drag me into the woods and feast on me. Then I took my time, grabbing the rail as I descended the steps. The last thing I wanted was to fall again and bust my ass. I'd done that too much already.
“Hi,” I greeted, when I slid into the car, safe and sound. The world could suck it! I officially made it a few hours without tripping.
“Good morning. Off to Breckenridge?”
"Yes, please. Thank you." I buckled myself in and stared out the fogging window. I couldn't get over how a place like this existed. It was breathtaking. The mountains were so high that you couldn't see the top because they surpassed the clouds. The snow was everywhere. It constantly looked a holiday, and it made me feel like I was on vacation. What better feeling was there?
"So, does Breckenridge have any good coffee shops?" I asked, hoping the answer would be yes.
“Oh! Do they ever. I go to the same place every morning and get my low−fat, soymilk, two pumps of vanilla frappe! The place is called Bean Stalk. You’ll love it. Plus, it’s pretty Zen in there. You young people like that.”
My goodness, he had ruined that poor delicious coffee and turned it into an abomination. “You aren’t wrong. I do love having my coffee in a relaxed place,” I giggled.
“I’ll drop you off there, then. If you wanted to go to a coffee shop right now, that is?”
“Yes, please,” I replied.
He turned on his blinker and took a left. The miles of unoccupied land started to get crowded with houses, and soon we were pulling into Breckenridge. The businesses were side by side, looking like they shared one roof and an equal amount of snow. Percy pressed his hazards since the parking spots were plowed with heaps of snow so that he couldn't pull in.
“Thank you. Drive safe.” I climbed out of the car and shut the door, making a mental note to leave that man a good tip. I walked further down the road to look for a place to enter the sidewalk and spread my arms out when I hit a patch of ice. “Oh, boy.” I would not fall and ruin my Gucci booties, but perhaps Chris was right. I needed to be more practical.
I shook that ridiculous thought. No way. I’d prove myself in stilettos, and name brand shows and all. I’d like nothing more than to prove any notion he had about me wrong. I jumped over a small snow hill, landing on my heels perfectly. See? I wasn’t a total train wreck. I shoved my hands in my pockets and began to walk. A few businesses were setting up their signs on the sidewalk. Some said they had sales, and some said to come to try their homemade tomato soup. It felt so cozy. And every person I came across smiled and waved like this morning was their best.
Until I saw her. How was she everywhere? Bess had a warning look in her eyes that screamed for me to stay away. It was like this town was hers. Everyone that lived in it belonged to her, and anyone that threatened her little make-believe status would feel her wrath.
Well, I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. Just ask Chris.
I smiled and waved, grabbing the handle of the coffee shop door. "Hi, Bess."
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Don’t think this changes anything.” When she entered the shop, I got a brief glimpse of the bruise on her face. I felt bad about it last night, but now? Not so much. Not when she was a complete bitch.
Ignoring her bad attitude, I followed close behind, letting the smell of roasted coffee invade my lungs. I inhaled the glorious scent, letting it relax my limbs and suck all the stress from my body. Bess walked over to a nearby table with someone I had never seen before. Then she tossed her hair over her shoulder, turned her head, and gave me a dirty look. As if she was displeased with me. I guess she was. That bruise would take some time to fade away.
The coffee house was nothing like the one Lindsey and I went to in New York. This one was more mountain town, less city life. The walls were wooden panels, and a wood-burning fireplace roared on the right side of the wall. Black chairs and chaise lounges were placed strategically so someone had their personal space but were still involved with the crowd.
I ordered my coffee, the same way I always do, and walked back outside to the cold weather. While frigid, it wasn’t as icy as the bitch inside. If she dated Chris … well, I didn’t want to think about that, but the idea of having such a pain-in-the-ass stuck to my life wasn’t pleasant. Maybe I’d move again? Then, I didn’t want to let some bitch scare me away.
Taking a sip of the new brew, I groaned when the spice of the cinnamon hit my tongue. Wow. That was damn good. Percy wasn’t kidding. My breath puffed out in front of me, and every other building was colorful, bringing a pop of color against the white snow. I pulled out my phone and researched apartments in the area and started on my way. I'd like a two-bedroom, just in case Lindsey came to visit, and a view of the mountains—if possible.
