“I am. But I think more than being hungry, I’m just excited to try out the menu. It’s not what I typically eat.”
“Same.” Lance laughed softly. “A little different from the other night when dinosaur-shaped nuggets and French fries were our only options.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about that kind of culinary experience, too.” She stepped into the grand lobby of the restaurant, appreciating the thoughtful gesture when Lance held open the door. “It’s just nice to go out and feel like a woman sometimes, not just a mom.”
Before they reached the hostess podium, Lance stopped, deliberately making eye contact with Sarah. “I would never want you to feel otherwise,” he assured her. “I enjoy every aspect of who you are, Sarah. Whether it’s the devoted mom, the hard-working woman, or the incredible friend I’ve always known you to be. You’re a beautiful blend of all of those things.” He swallowed thickly. “And so much more than even that.”
Was it too soon to feel like she could be in love with this man? Because hearing the sincerity in Lance’s words was enough to make her come close to speaking that truth. She’d known him for so long that it wasn’t just a casual crush. But the last thing she wanted was to scare Lance away or overwhelm him with premature declarations of adoration. She kept her mouth buttoned but smiled and reached out for his hand.
“Mr. Major,” the blonde in a sparkling green cocktail dress greeted, her tone warm and welcoming. “We’re delighted to have you dine with us at The Peak this evening.” She pulled two paper menus from the stack, each bearing the restaurant’s insignia embossed on the top, and reached behind her to retrieve a lengthy wine list. “I have it noted on your reservation that you’re celebrating a special occasion?” She spoke that last phrase like a question.
Celebrating? Sarah wondered what Lance could have told them, or if today was an important date that she had overlooked.
“We are,” Lance affirmed with a nod, acknowledging the hostess. As they followed her to a table for two positioned by massive windows that offered a breathtaking view of all of Snowdrift Summit, he continued, “We’re celebrating the success of Sarah’s first official work project.”
Sarah squeezed his hand and whispered, “We don’t know that it will be a success. It hasn’t even happened yet.”
He squeezed back. “It will be with you in charge. There’s not a single doubt in my mind.”
CHAPTER 18
Lance couldn’t look at anything other than the stunning woman sitting across from him. Though the chairs and table were angled to provide a picturesque view through the large windows, he found himself solely captivated by Sarah. The falling snowflakes outside the glass, the gondola ferrying passengers up and down the mountain in the distance, and the glittering stars in the indigo sky all faded into insignificance. Nothing could divert his attention away from the only woman who had ever truly captured it.
“And when I asked Dahlia,” Sarah continued her story, “she said it was a no brainer.”
He could hear the passion in her voice, see her excitement in the crinkle of her eyes as she spoke about her future plans with the library.
“Don’t you think that would be a good idea?” she asked, lashes fluttering as she blinked rapidly.
“I think a reader’s retreat is the perfect next step. People will love it.”
She gave a quick nod of agreement. “Especially in these winter months when there isn’t much else to do around here besides curl up with a good book.”
That was one aspect where Lance had to disagree. In his opinion, there were infinitely more wintertime events and happenings in Snowdrift than in the summer months. It never quite got warm enough for water sports, and things like swimming and sunbathing weren’t very popular with the locals. Winter was their prime season.
“I think reading is always a good idea, so don’t get me wrong.” He thumbed the condensation beading on the side of his water glass. “But there’s actually a lot to do in January and February—even March—around here. They’re arguably our busiest months at the rental shop.”
Sarah gulped down a mouthful of her dessert wine. “Oh my gosh. Of course. You’re right. I’d completely forgotten about all of that. The snowmobiling and the skiing and all that wintery fun stuff.” She settled her wine glass back onto the white tablecloth and mindlessly twisted its stem. “You haven’t talked much about those things lately, so I honestly just forgot about them. Of course, there’s more to do than just read. Lots more.”
The jovial tone in which she said it indicated she didn’t intend for the words to sting, but it couldn’t be helped. Yes, Lance had become an avid reader. And yes, most of their conversations lately did revolve around books and retreat planning. But a huge part of Lance—arguably the biggest part—was still very much tied to the mountain and all of the thrill it provided. And just because he had to take some time off of the slopes, that didn’t mean the Summit was any less important to Lance.
He struggled to find the words to phrase his thoughts without hurting her feelings.
“I’m sorry.” Sarah dipped her head to meet his eyes. “I’ve said something wrong.”
“No,” he responded quickly, eager to reassure her and dispel any hint of insecurity caused by his momentary pause. “Youhaven’t said anything wrong. And you’re right. I haven’t talked much about work activities lately. It’s understandable that you would think all of that isn’t as important to me as it once was.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Sarah’s hand shot across the table to cover Lance’s. “I know so much of who you are is wrapped up in your career. And I don’t want to insinuate for one second that things have changed just because you’ve been forced to take some time off. That was insensitive of me, and for that, I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t insensitive, Sarah,” he assured her. “And maybe those things shouldn’t be as important to me as they once were. I mean, realistically, if things don’t improve with my knee, I might have to rethink what it is that I want to do with my life. Running a shop where I can’t even participate in the activities we offer might not be the best fit.”
Sarah looked practically grief-stricken. “No, Lance. That’s not an option. You love what you do.”
“I love what I was once able to do.” He shrugged. “Will I still love it if I’ll be relegated to a desk while all the other guys get to do the fun stuff?”
He could tell it pained her to hear him express this. He got it. It pained him to say it out loud, even though it was something he had been thinking for quite some time.
“Have I ever told you that I want to write a book?” she asked seemingly out of the blue.
