“And then I saw this woman in a red wrap dress and realized she was running the whole show. She had a headset on and I just observed her, cool and confident, overseeing every detail from food presentation to service to music and announcements. It was the first time I realized that behind a successful party was a lot of structure and a very savvy person running the whole show.”
“And you wanted to run the show.”
“I so wanted to run the show! I did some research and found out what it would take to get that job, and that’s what I’ve spent the past seven years of my life doing.”
“You needed a bachelor’s degree.”
“You can become an event planner without a degree. But I wanted to work for the best—and Glitter requires a degree in hospitality management.”
“I admire your ambition.”
She tossed him a glance and got caught up staring at that face. “Really?”
“It’s very attractive. Does that surprise you?”
She huffed. “Most of the men I’ve been around consider it more of adetraction.”
“I admire people who have goals and go after them—menandwomen. And speaking of goals, you’ve been in New Hampshire for three months, and as far as I know you haven’t even left Pinehaven. The state might not have much in the way of art museums or theater, but we have natural attractions that are a real treat for the senses. What would you think about heading up to Flume Gorge?”
She’d seen the granite gorge in brochures and had even recommended it to guests. “When?”
“Now, unless you have something better to do.”
“Don’t you have to oversee things here?”
“Meg’s in the office. She won’t mind taking the reins.”
“Oh.” The trail was over an hour away. The thought of spending the afternoon with Jonah made her a little giddy. It was certainly more tempting than the chores she’d been planning to catch up on.
“Do you like to hike?”
“I have no idea.”
“Well, it’s not too rigorous and the mountains are beautiful. It’d be a shame if you came to New Hampshire and never visited the White Mountains.”
Good point. Plus there was that whole giddy thing. The hopeful smile he sent her way was her undoing. “All right. But I’m paying my own way.”
“Deal.”
An hour later they were well on their way, chattering about this and that on the drive. Jonah shared a bit about his mom’s reluctance to believe he truly wanted to run the resort. He’d also mentioned that Tom and Tammy were actually his aunt and uncle who’d adopted him after his mom passed. He mentioned it so offhandedly, but it surprised her. But then most people probably wouldn’t guess she’d been raised in foster care.
That was the goal—to rise above her upbringing, such as it was.
She was becoming comfortable with Jonah. He was easy to talk to. He was smart and funny—and she couldn’t stop herself from stealing glances at his freshly shaven face. Who knew there were such attractive features under all that hair? Not that his appearance mattered. They were friends and it had been a long time since she’d had a male friend.
The drive passed so quickly she was surprised when they turned into the parking lot. After buying tickets they entered the forest, walking side by side on the wide pebbled path. It was quiet back in the woods except for tweeting birds and an occasional rustle in the underbrush. They’d only passed one couple so far. Hemlock trees stretched to the sky above them. The earthy scents of pine and decaying wood filled her nostrils, and soon the distant sound of rushing water reached her ears.
As they hiked down a slope, a red covered bridge came into view and she gasped.
“You can’t come to New Hampshire without seeing at least one.”
She stopped and snapped a photo. “I have to send this to Sydney. She loves to paint covered bridges.”
“Run up ahead and I’ll get one with you in it.”
She handed him her phone and ran down to pose in front of the bridge. A minute later he met her on the boardwalk where she snapped a shot of the creek running beneath the bridge. The water tumbled over boulders, making the most relaxing sound.
“Just listen to that,” she said. “I need that sound effect on my phone.”
