Snow fell in fat, lazy flakes against the windshield. Ruby's profile was striking in the dashboard light—the slope of her nose, those light freckles, the way she worried her bottom lip slightly as she looked out the window. Her hands gripped her purse a little too tightly. Nervous, maybe. I found that endearing.
I'd noticed her before, obviously. Hard not to when someone parks their truck fifty yards from your main entrance. But we'd never actually spoken. Never been closer than opposite sides of a parking lot.
And now I had her for an entire weekend.
Six months of watching her from a distance, wanting this chance. And now she'd chosen me.
Beautiful. Intriguing. And mine for the weekend.
"So," I said, keeping my tone casual. "How long have you had Rise & Grind?"
"About six months." She turned to look at me with a slight smile. "It's been quite the adventure."
"You like it? The business side of things?"
She shrugged, the smile widening slightly. "It has its moments. Gets me out among people, lets me do what I love. Can't complain too much."
"What about you?" she asked, turning the conversation back to me. "You're not from here originally, right?"
"Colorado. Denver, then Boulder for business school. Spent the last twenty years moving around—wherever the properties were. This is my first real home in a long time."
"That must be nice," she said. "Putting down roots somewhere."
We pulled up to the main entrance of The Pinnacle. The building was lit up against the snow—warm golden light spilling from the windows, the stone and timber facade I'd spent months perfecting.
Ruby's breath caught. "Wow. It's gorgeous."
"Want a quick tour?" I asked. "Or we can head straight to the cabin."
"Tour," she said, and when she looked at me, there was genuine interest in those green eyes. "Show me what you've done."
I led her into the main lobby, my hand finding the small of her back as we stepped through the doors. She didn't pull away. Leaned into it slightly, even.
The stone fireplace dominated the space—massive, hand-built, the heart of the original building. I'd made sure it stayed exactly as it was, just cleaned and restored. Around it, everything else gleamed with careful renovation. Leather furniture,local timber accents, floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the mountain views.
"We used as many local materials as possible," I explained, gesturing around the space. "Sustainable practices, eco-friendly upgrades. The goal was to bring the property into the modern era while respecting what was here before."
Ruby turned slowly, taking it all in. When she looked back at me, there was something softer in her expression. "It's really well done. You can tell someone cared about the details."
"I can show you more tomorrow in daylight," I offered. "The ski runs, the spa, the guest cabins. But for now..." I nodded toward the back exit. "My place is this way."
We walked through snow-covered paths, pine trees heavy with white. The air was sharp and clean, cold enough to see our breath. Ruby walked beside me, close enough that our arms brushed occasionally. At six-two, I was used to women feeling small next to me, but Ruby—barely over five feet—fit perfectly under my arm when I guided her around an icy patch.
My cabin sat tucked among the pines, private and separate from the guest accommodations. Lights glowed through the windows—staff had been through earlier to prep everything.
"Let me grab your bag," I said, reaching for her overnight bag.
"Such a gentleman," she said, and there was flirtation in her voice.
Inside, the fire was already crackling. "Make yourself at home," I said, nodding toward the living area. "I'll just put this in the guest room for you."
I carried her bag down the hall, set it on the bed in the guest room, made sure she had fresh towels in the attached bathroom. When I returned to the main space, Ruby was standing at the back windows, silhouetted against the glass.
"Come here," I said. "You can see it better from this angle."
She crossed to where I stood, and I pointed through the windows. Steam rose from the hot tub on the back deck, mountains dark shapes beyond.
"Now that," she said, moving closer to me, "is quite the setup."
