by Jo McNally
She hadn’t called back. She had no idea what to say. The idea of dialing the phone made her break out in a chilly sweat. He’d waited another day before calling again. She legitimately missed that one. She’d fallen asleep on the sofa after a near-sleepless night, and never heard the phone. This message was a bit more organized. And more resigned.
Jillie... Please don’t end us all by yourself before we had a chance to begin. I’m not going to harass you with calls you clearly don’t want, but we have to talk when I get back. I don’t know what the answer is, but there has to be one. I love you, Jillie.
After that it was just texts. One per day. He didn’t plead in his texts. He didn’t even ask questions, as if he knew she wasn’t going to reply. He told her what the days were like. He and Bryce had done some “gentle” skiing away from reporters one afternoon. Bryce’s interview had gone so well that they asked him to come back as a guest commentator. Other than the occasional accidental curse word on air, he was doing well. Matt said he and Shane had had some “good talks,” but he never said what they were about. He talked about the weather—cold—and the food—delicious. He told her Gary was doing a great job with the ski resort. And he let her know when his return flight was arriving that weekend.
She’d looked forward to the texts every night, but at the same time they made her sad. A relationship couldn’t survive on text messages. And she’d never be able to travel with him. She smiled at whatever her friends were laughing about. Mel had been talking, so it was probably a funny story about baby Patrick.
Except... Jillie had traveled before. Before she let her world shrink to only what made her comfortable. An international flight might be a step too far right now, but maybe she could try something...smaller. Easier. With some help.
* * *
“Seriously, Bryce.” Matt shook his head. “You could fall into a pile of cow dung and come up smelling like a rose.”
His brother raised his beer to meet his toast. The bar was packed with skiers and fans, and several women weren’t even trying to be discreet in their attempts to capture Bryce on their phones.
Shane laughed and clinked his beer against theirs in the center of the small corner table. “Hey, the kid earned this job fair and square.”
Matt shook his head. “I’m not denying that, although he had a lot of help from his new agent.” Matt clinked his glass against Shane’s. “It’s just...this has been the story of his life. Thrown off the team? No problem. He runs the race of his life and he’s back on. Gets caught drinking at three in the morning the night before a race...when he’s sixteen? No problem. He wins the slalom the next morning and suddenly no one cares. Starts a fight in the chute right before the world championships? Everyone covers for him, even the guy he gave a black eye to. Breaks his goddamn leg in Italy being a hot dog and has to miss an entire season? No problem—he’s got himself a job sitting in the commentator’s booth.” Matt gestured around the bar, where phones were still pointed their way. “And now he’s skiing’s sweetheart again.”
Bryce laughed before taking another swig of beer. You could almost hear the young women swooning at the tables around them. “I can’t help it if I’m a natural. Oh, hey—one of the guys I used to train with just came in.” He stood and plunked his empty mug on the table. “See you old dudes later.”
Shane clutched his chest as if he’d been shot. “Ow, that hurt!” He was clowning, but he caught Bryce’s arm before he walked away. “Remember our deal.”
Bryce rolled his eyes, but his reply was low and serious. “I had one beer, Pops. I’m allowed one more, and the alarm is set on my phone. I’ll turn into a boring little pumpkin at midnight and go up to my room. Alone.” He winked in Matt’s direction. “Probably. Shane promised he’d dump my ass if I got in trouble during an event or on the job.”
Shane nodded. “Yup. We made a deal that during events Bryce absolutely has to behave himself. Like a choir boy.”
Matt nodded toward the empty beer glass on the table. “Not exactly a choir boy.”
Shane gave Bryce a shove away from the table. “We compromised on the definition, but not on the enforcement.” Bryce waved goodbye and headed off toward the bar. Shane turned back to Matt. “I don’t usually compromise with my clients, but damn that kid is persuasive. He’d make a great agent someday.”
“I don’t know...sounds like you’ve got him lined up to be a sports announcer.”
“He’s a natural. He knows everyone in skiing and snowboarding, even outside his areas of competition. He’s cocky but self-deprecating at the same time, with a great sense of humor. And the camera loves the kid.” Shane shrugged. “I want him to be competing, of course, but when he’s not on the slopes, I think the network might be interested.”
“That’s a deal I never could have made for him. Or the sportswear sponsorship.”
“It was good timing. I knew the company was looking for a younger, fresher spokesperson. Your brother’s about as young and fresh as they get.” Shane grinned. “And don’t forget—this is what I do for a living. You did a great job keeping Bryce out of real trouble when you were his manager. You knew when to take him out of the limelight, and that’s a valuable skill to have.” Shane waved at a server and gestured for two more beers. “You kept his name clean enough that sponsors aren’t afraid of him. I might offer you a job.”
Matt started to laugh, until he realized Shane was serious. Shane nodded.
“Yes, really. Our agency manages as well as represents, and we do seem to attract younger stars who have...image issues...with the public. You’ve got the management part down pat. And my partner and I can do the money-making part.” He paid the server and handed Matt a glass. “You’ll probably have your hands full with the ski slope, but if you want to do some part-time consulting or troubleshooting, let me know. How’s Gary doing with the place this week?”
“Good, I guess. Dan and Blake have both been up there to check on things, and their reports line up with Gary’s. Busy enough to keep the lights on, and customers seem happy. Making snow every night, and the base is up to eighteen inches on some slopes.” He sipped his beer. “Looks like we’re going to land that high school mini-event you sent our way. Their original venue hasn’t reopened since the pandemic. It’s going to be intense to pull it together that fast, but we’ll do our best.”
“Let me know the dates,” Shane said. “I’ve got Bryce lined up to make an appearance in Davos, but he could hop back to the States between that and the Worlds in Italy and make an appearance. I’ll see if we can line up some press for it, which would make Bryce look good, and wouldn’t hurt your bottom line, either. Lord knows Gallant Lake could use the winter tourism. My wife’s boutique is still recovering from the pandemic shutdown.”
Matt had walked into Mel Brannigan’s Five and Design boutique one day by accident. He was on his phone and walking toward the liquor store but went in the wrong door. The place was nice—a former general store converted to women’s clothing and accessories. Mel had greeted him warmly and shown him around, her infant son propped on her hip. The second floor was a bridal salon, and she said her office was on the third floor. An office she shared with Shane. Matt remembered Amanda’s advice to him last week.
“Someone suggested I ask you about when you left Gallant Lake.”
Shane barked out a loud laugh, turning heads around them.
“Let me guess—it was one of Mel’s cousins. They will never let me live that down. But I deserve the roasting. I nearly chased the wrong dream.” His brows lowered. “Actually, I did chase the wrong one, at least for a while.”
Shane told Matt how much he’d scoffed at Gallant Lake when he’d first arrived there with a young golfing client, trying to keep her out of the limelight. Very similar to Matt’s plan for Bryce, actually. That was when he’d met Melanie Lowery, formerly known as supermodel Mellie Low. They’d had their share of disagreements,
but it didn’t stop them from falling in love.
There was just one problem. Mel had no intention of leaving Gallant Lake. After a life of globe-hopping as a model, she’d ended up addicted to pills and alcohol. Her continued recovery depended on being someplace peaceful and supportive. That place for her was Gallant Lake. When Shane got the job offer he’d been dreaming of, at the largest talent agency in the country, he’d assumed Mel would come to LA with him. Because they loved each other.
“The day I told her about the job—” Shane stared hard into his glass “—was the day she told me she’d bought that run-down old shop on Main Street. When I suggested she give up her dream for mine, she made it clear that wasn’t going to happen. Los Angeles represented everything she was trying to escape.” He gave Matt a somber look. “And she called me out on the misguided motivation for my life choices and what it was going to do to me.”
“But you left, anyway?”
“Yup. Just stamp the word dumbass on my forehead. I went to LA, got the corner office and the fancy title I’d vowed I’d have someday. I thought maybe Mel would follow me. But she knew what she needed, and it was in Gallant Lake. Whether I was there or not.” He took a sip of beer and his mouth slid into a crooked grin. “Turns out what I needed was her, so I came back. I had to grovel a little. We both had to compromise. We loved each other, so we worked it out.” His smile deepened. “And I’m guessing you’re asking me about this because of our mutual author friend on Watcher Mountain?”
Matt nodded. “But Mel still travels with you once in a while, right? Weren’t you two in London for the holidays?”
“Mel avoids stressful situations, but her situation is not as extreme as Jillie’s. She’s in a twelve-step program, has a great sponsor and even acts as a sponsor for another young woman in town. She’ll make the occasional trip with me, but it’s usually for vacation, not work. We have our own careers and we manage them separately from each other. But our marriage and our family is handled as a complete partnership.”
“Yet you’re here and she’s at home alone.”
“Yup. Your point?” Shane cocked a brow.
“Come on,” Matt protested. “It can’t be easy. Being in love doesn’t make it easy...”
Shane’s laughter rang out again. “Hoo-boy. No, being in love doesn’t make many things easy. Falling? That’s easy. Staying? Well, in relationships like ours, it takes a lot of communication and zero assumptions. Set expectations. Assume nothing.” He sat back and held up his phone. “Technology helps. We talk a couple times a day, and we’re constantly texting.” He chuckled and turned the phone around. “Look what she sent me this afternoon.”
It was a video of Mel and the baby playing in the snow. The little boy was laughing, and Mel was, too. They were on a plastic sled, sliding down a modest hill together toward the frozen lake. It was only a few seconds long, but judging from Shane’s expression, it had made his day. Could Matt and Jillie do something like this? Would it work if he was going to Bryce’s events and she wasn’t? Could he be happy with Gallant Lake as a home base?
He thought about what real estate agent Brittany Doyle had discussed with him—going into partnership and flipping properties in the area. With the resort expanding into vacation condos this summer and adding a major tournament to the resort’s golf course, housing was bound to be in demand. Brittany was interested in flipping some of the storefronts in town, too, in order to attract new businesses to Main Street. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t have work to do in Gallant Lake if he wanted it. Along with the ski lodge. Was that what he wanted? Was that what Jillie wanted? She hadn’t returned his calls. She hadn’t responded to his clumsy texts. She hadn’t told him to take a hike, either.
This week in Canada had proved that there was only one thing that mattered. He needed to have Jillie in his life. And if that meant she never left Gallant Lake, then they’d have to find a way to make that work. She was worth it. They were worth it.
Chapter Fourteen
“I told you to let me go.” Monica glared at Tiesha, furious to wake and discover she was still alive. Still had battles to fight. Without Robbie. As if reading her mind, Tiesha smiled, leaning over to whisper the words, “He lives. He needs your healing touch, but he lives.”
Matt had been back in Gallant Lake for a week. Jillie knew that because everyone had seen and/or talked to him. Everyone but her. Oh, he’d checked in with texts every day. He was so very busy getting ready for the winter break week coming up. They’d done a lot of promo for the junior Alpine event, he explained. It was very important. Bryce would be there. The press would be there. Crowds would be there. So important. So busy.
The crowds part should have freaked her out. But she was much more concerned with why Matt was avoiding her. It felt as if he’d firmly moved her into the friendly neighbor zone. Maybe he was presenting some unspoken ultimatum—if she wanted him, she’d have to go after him.
A flutter of tension tightened her chest. She looked around the living room and started doing inventory, as her new therapist had taught her. Blue lamp. Cherry table. Brown leather sofa with three cushions. Red-and-blue Oriental rug. Dark red leather wingback chair. Another red leather wingback chair. Photo of her on a horse. She took a deep breath, and felt better. The trick was working. Especially when combined with the new medication she was taking for her anxiety. Dr. Jackson assured her on their last video call that the medication would probably be temporary. That once Jillie learned new coping mechanisms and pushed herself outside her comfort zone—and survived—things would become easier.
Back to Matt. What was he up to? And why did all of her friends...her friends long before Matt showed up...seem to be conspiring with him somehow? Or at the very least, gaslighting her. So much talk about the “exciting” ski competition.
Had she heard that some of the top junior skiers in the country would be in town? So exciting! Amanda was raving about how busy the Gallant Lake Resort was. Nora was stocking up on that Costa Rican coffee. Mel was rushing an order of genuine Irish sweaters for the boutique. Wasn’t it exciting? Mack had moved the top-shelf liquor to the front of the store, hoping some of the wealthier ski fans would want to pick up some of the good stuff to take back to their rooms. She told Jillie that Dan had coordinated additional traffic assistance from the state troopers. It would be an exciting weekend!
They weren’t being cruel about it. It didn’t feel like taunting or teasing. They were all checking in on her regularly, making sure she was okay. Making sure she had what she needed. And she did...everything except Matt. And he was right next door. Being busy. Exciting, right?
She pulled on her down jacket, wool cap and warmest boots before taking Sophie for a walk. They’d had an extended cold snap, and it was supposed to last right into next week. More snow in the forecast, too. Perfect ski weather. Anytime she’d stepped outside lately, she’d heard the snowmaking machines. It seemed they were running around the clock this week. Getting ready for that exciting event.
She was sticking to one or two paths these days, so she could keep them packed down and manageable to walk. There was a lot of hammering coming from near the slopes as she and Sophie headed up Watcher Mountain. She’d heard that yesterday, too. Part of the ski course? A judges’ stand? Maybe the starting gates? Except it sounded so close. As if it was directly across from Jillie’s house. She looked at the ten inches of soft, new snow on the ground and then at her boots. They were tall enough to keep her dry, and curiosity got the best of her. She whistled to Sophie and headed through the trees.
It wasn’t long before she realized what was being built. A fence. A tall, sturdy wooden fence along the edge of her property. Jillie stood in stunned silence. The privacy would be nice. But it felt a little...insulting. Like a barricade. As if Matt was walling her off. Sophie sat in the snow and watched the people skiing on the slopes, but Jillie paid them no mind as she stepped out to look at the fence.
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The fence posts ran quite a way up the mountain, and down beyond the lodge’s parking lot. There was a team of four workers nailing the wood panels to the posts. They had a small snowblower with them, which they used to clear down to the grass before adding the panels. This was no temporary fence. The four-by-four posts had cemented bases. They must have started work on it days ago, but she hadn’t heard anything until the hammering began.
“Hey, stranger!” Bryce had been skiing down the slope, but turned and stopped a few feet away with a playful spray of snow. Sophie leaped up and ran to greet him. He laughed and roughhoused with her for a minute.
“Bryce! I didn’t know you were back already! How was Italy?”
“Hectic.” His face twisted a little. “And weird. I was there as a commentator, not a competitor, but people seemed to like it, so...”
“I saw you on television—you did a great job! You’re a natural.” She gestured toward his skis. “I bet you’re happy to be doing this again.”
“Yeah, the doc cleared me for whatever he thinks normal skiing is for me.” Bryce winked. “Which means I snuck out on the slopes in Italy after the competitions were done. Not racing, but it felt great to be back on a slalom course again. I met up with one of the US coaches, and he said I looked good, considering. I’ll start training in earnest in a few weeks.” He gestured toward the fence. “What do you think?”
“I...I don’t know what to think. Why is he doing this?”
Bryce’s eyes went wide. “For you.” When she didn’t answer, he continued. “There will be a fair number of people here next week. He didn’t want anyone wandering into your woods, by accident or on purpose. The fence makes it clear this is off-limits, and it’s far enough off the main slope so that it’s not a hazard.”
