I truly was curious. All morning as I hopped from jobto job and checked in new guests and highlighted little maps of the property sothey could find their cottage, I wracked my brain trying to remember what Iordered and forgot about.
But I couldn’t come up with anything. I had decidedhalfway through my coffee that I would find time to sneak in the office andfind out what it was, but then there wasn’t time. Too many people needed myhelp or advice or credit card swiping skills.
By eleven, I was hungry and the insides of my fingerswere stained yellow from the highlighter I had been using.
The office door jingled and I pasted on myprofessional smile, expecting theGarcias. Insteadone of the most gorgeous men I’d ever seen in real life walked through thedoor. My shoulders slumped and my throat dried out as I watched him. Themorning light followed him inside, highlighting his tall frame, casting him ina soft gold halo. He tossed his head to the side in an effort to make hisgolden-brown waves stay out of his eyes. And his smile was bright—megawatt. Hewas all classic good looks and genuine smiles and no criminal record.
And he was here for me.
“Morning, Caroline,” he murmured as he approached thecounter. “You’re looking lovely as ever.”
Glancing down at my simple outfit of skinny jeans andabohoblack tunic, I could only smile at thecompliment. My long dark hair was braided over my shoulder and I was wearingminimal makeup today. I had been going for nondescript.
Not lovely.
“You’re sweet, Jesse,” I told him. His confident smilefaltered. I bit my bottom lip to hide that I noticed. Jesse Hasting had beenborn and bred in the Colorado Rockies and had the body to prove it. His familyowned a ranch not far from Frisco and he’d spent his formative years ropingcows and riding horses and whatever else it was they did on ranches. Now as anadult, he owned his own property adjacent to his parent’s gigantic estate withthe intention to someday take over the entire operation.
Town gossip had it that his old man didn’t plan onhanding over the reins until Jesse settled down. Jesse was in his latetwenties, looked like he’d been carved from the mountain itself and had a smallfortune of his own. It didn’t take a genius to see that he wasn’t planning on gettingmarried anytime soon. But the man did love to date. And recently he’d decidedthat he should date me. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m good.” He leaned on the counter, bringing uscloser together than I was ready for. “How are you this morning?”
My lips twitched with a reluctant smile. “I’m goodtoo.”
“Busy morning on the mountain?”
This man was trouble. Not just because he looked likesin and a good time, but because he was genuinely nice. His big brown eyes werenothing but sincere and open, and right next to that fun-loving smile was adeep, adorable dimple.
Thankful for something neutral to talk about, Ilatched on to a conversation of facts. “We are busy this morning. The holidayrush started early this year.”
“I’ve noticed. I think it has something to do with allthe Halloween activities in Summit County. We’re losing our off season.”
I wrinkled my nose. I had felt the same thing. “It’sgood for the economy, right?”
He made a sound in the back of his throat. “Sure.Let’s go with that.”
We shared a conspiratorial look. His family made moneyby means of their own, but most of the natives in this part of Colorado reliedon out-of-towners. November through March was considered the busy season, butsummer wasn’t much different anymore. We used to get a small break in April andMay and September and October, but lately we seemed to be packed year-round.
I traced a trail on the map in front of me with theclosed highlighter. “What’s up? Do you need to speak to Maggie?”
He leaned in closer. “I actually came to see you.”
“Oh, really?”
His smile turned irresistibly bashful. “Really.”
“Are you wanting to rent a cottage for the weekend? Orthe clubhouse? Perhaps an afternoon in a hot tub?”
I felt his low rumble of a laugh in my belly, sendingunfamiliar tingles buzzing through me. “You rent out your hot tubs for just theafternoon? I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
Keeping a straight face, I said, “I mean, we don’tgive everyone the afternoon special. Just, you know, those unique guests thatare willing to pay by the hour.”
His laughter died and the way his eyes widened wasmaybe one of my favorite things ever. “No way.”
I loosed a smile and finally shook my head. “I’mtotally kidding. Although let’s put a pin in that. It’s not a terrible idea.”
He laughed again and flicked the highlighter in myhand. “It’s most certainly a terrible idea. But please let me be there when yourun it by Maggie.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
