It may have been awhile, but I still remembered a few things about mountain life. And one of those things was that I knew a storm when I saw one.
And I didn’t see one.
The sun was sinking low already, the way it did in the winter, but the clouds that filled the skies didn’t look very threatening to me. Sure, we were probably going to get some snow. But a little bit of snow was very different than a full on storm.
No doubt Ryder Wolf was just trying to get out of doing a little extra work tonight. He did say he was the one in charge of the excursions.
I was definitely going to put that in my review.
But first, I was going snowshoeing.
CHAPTER THREE
Chloe
It’s a good thing the lodge isn’t very big. Definitely a positive for my review.
After asking the older woman who appears to be restocking towels, I’m able to find the equipment room without any problem. I grab a pair of snowshoes and some poles. Lucky for me, a giant map is printed out and posted on the wall of the room, so I can easily see that the Lodge Loop will be a good choice for my outing.
It doesn’t look to be too long or hard, and I’ll be able to see most of the grounds in one go.
Perfect.
I set out on the trail, moving as quickly as I can away from the lodge, and soon I’ve lost myself in the exercise and the fresh air that never fails to spark my imagination.
It doesn’t take long before I have the entire plot of my next romance novel sketched out in my head. The hero bears a striking resemblance to Ryder Wolf.
Only, in my story, the hero won’t ever say no to the heroine.
I’m so caught up in my thoughts, that I don’t notice that the sun has really started to set. Or maybe it’s that the clouds have grown darker and morestorm-likethat they’re blocking out what remains of the daylight. Either way, I hate to admit it, but Ryder may have been right about a storm coming in after all.
I pause and take a minute to assess my surroundings.
I’ve somehow left the trail that mostly follows a meadow around the lodge, and I’m now in the trees. When I turn, I can’t quite see the lodge or where I’d come from. Just trees.
So many trees.
And snow.
The storm Ryder had predicted—and I was stupid enough to ignore—has come to fruition. And the snow is starting to fall. Fast.
I have to make a choice quickly. I can stand there and freeze to death or I’m going to have to choose a direction, trust my instincts, and get back to the lodge and a hot bath before anyone realizes I’m even gone.
I take a breath and turn right.
Ryder
I feelbad for being so dismissive about the snowshoeing with Chloe.
I know I was gruff with her, but it truly was for her own good. The snow I’d forecasted had already started, and it was only going to come down harder. We’ll be lucky if we don’t get snowed in.
Still.
Just because I promised my brothers I’d stay away from her doesn’t mean I have to be a dick to her.
Leaving the front desk unattended—all our guests have already checked in for the next few days—I go in search of Chloe to apologize. Maybe if I buy her a drink, we can discuss going on the snowshoe trip as soon as the snow stops and it’s safer. Being out in the woods when a storm comes in is never a good idea.
She’s not in the restaurant, so I move up the stairs to the end of the hall where her room is. I’m about to knock on her door when Jane, our resident housekeeper, stops me.
