by Leah Sanders
“Yes, sir,” Roald answered cheerfully. “All in order. The lady has some questions about the local clothing boutiques and ski outfitters.”
“Very good.” Luca nodded and turned as if he would continue on his way but seemed to think better of it and pivoted to face Kate again. “I was going to drive into town to run a few hotel errands. Perhaps you would like to accompany me? I would be happy to stop at some of the shops in town that suit your needs.”
“That would actually be kind of perfect.” Since she didn’t have a rental car, she was going to have to catch the shuttle, and past that, she’d have to find her way around town on her own.
“Excellent,” Luca said and gestured toward the front desk. “We can go out through the back, or if you’d prefer, I can drive around to pick you up in the front.”
“The back exit is fine.” She nodded a goodbye to Roald and followed Luca through to the office area and the employee entrance. If she hadn’t already been rooming in the employee area, she might think it was weird that Luca was leading her through employee-only office spaces, but she was working, after all.
LUCA NAVIGATED THE SUBARU expertly through the streets of Huckleberry Falls, pointing out the different shops as they drove past them. He found an empty space in front of the post office and pulled the car in to park.
“Each year during the holiday season, Huckleberry Falls does what we call Adventfenster.” He pointed to the window in the second story of the chocolatier. It was decorated with lights and holly, and a giant numeral three, outlined with Christmas lights. Beside that was a silhouette of the three wisemen riding on camels following the star. “If you look around town, you will see many of the windows have already been unveiled.”
“That’s so cool! The whole town participates?” Kate asked. She took out her phone and snapped a picture of the display.
“Well, there are only twenty-four days of Advent, so the shops that wish to participate have to enter a lottery that is held in June. The winners design a window for Adventfenster. They have been working on their designs for six months. Some of them are quite exquisite.”
Kate loved Luca’s accent. She was sure she could listen to him all day. The key would be to keep asking him questions. On the other hand, she really did need to stay on task. Mrs. Hall would be calling her any minute to see what progress she had made. How would that conversation go?
“Kate, we want to go skiing. When might we expect you back with our things?”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Hall, I’ve just been seeing the village sights with my personal tour guide. He has an accent that makes my knees weak.”
“Oh, in that case, take your time, Kate! I completely understand!”
Yeah, no. It would not go over well.
Still, his accent though…
“There’s a ski shop across the street, and a general store down just a couple of blocks.” Luca got out of the car, walked to Kate’s side, and opened her door. “If you’d like, we can order the skiing equipment and have it delivered right away, then we will have a little extra time to walk through the square to see the other windows and the winter bazaar.”
The prospect of a leisurely afternoon stroll through town in present company sounded amazing. If the ski shop could deliver what was needed, Mrs. Hall and her son would be on the slopes for several hours. That would leave Kate with time to collect their other supplies at a more relaxed pace.
“How quickly do you think they can deliver?”
“I know the manager here. I’m fairly certain I can get him to drive it up himself if we play our cards right. Just follow my lead.” He held out his hand, gesturing for Kate to go ahead of him.
The bell on the door tinkled as she opened it, and the warmth and the aroma of hot chocolate from inside welcomed her. The shop was decorated in keeping with the Swiss tradition of Huckleberry Falls. Luca stepped in behind her and waved at the guy at the desk.
He was in the middle of a conversation with a customer, but he smiled and nodded to acknowledge them. Promptly, a girl who looked about sixteen approached, smiling.
“Luca! What brings you in today?”
“We are looking for ski gear for some guests at the Edelweiss. They are hoping to ski this afternoon.” Luca turned to Kate. “This is an associate of theirs — Ms. Curtis.”
“I’m Misty. I can help you find whatever you need.”
“I’ll just discuss delivery with Thomas,” Luca said, tossing this thumb toward the guy at the counter he had waved at when they had come in. “Will you be alright?”
“Yes, thank you.” Kate watched him walk away.
“Not a bad view, eh?” Misty said, her voice a whisper.
Kate felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “I suppose not.”
Misty raised an eyebrow. “Suppose? What do the guys look like where you come from? Because in Wyoming… that’s hard to come by, even in a resort town.”
Desperate for a subject change, Kate grabbed at the closest ski jacket and held it up for inspection. “Do you have this in pale pink?”
IT HAD TAKEN EVEN less time than Kate imagined it would to select the gear, purchase it, and arrange for delivery. In spite of Misty’s propensity toward conversation, they were finished in record time, and after a quick phone call to Mrs. Hall and about an hour in pursuit of the other things on Mrs. Hall’s list, Kate was free to roam the village to her heart’s content.
With Luca as her personal tour guide, it was shaping up to be a great afternoon.
They wandered through the village bazaar.
“How long have you been working with Mrs. Hall?”
“About five years. I took the job right out of college.”
“Seems like she really depends on you.”
“I guess. She definitely keeps me busy.”
“Do you get to travel a lot?”
“Surprisingly little. I mean, she does take frequent trips, but they are usually only for a couple days, so I stay behind to keep her office work from piling up. I’m pretty much on the phone with her 24-7 while she’s gone. This is the first time she’s taken a vacation in I don’t know how long. I was actually hoping she wouldn’t need me at all and I could get a little time off.”
“I take it the request was refused.”
“Yep.” Kate shrugged. “What ya gonna do?”
Luca pointed to a booth selling hot apple cider. “Want some?”
“That sounds good,” Kate said. “So, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” He cast her a sidelong glance. The look on his face told her he already knew what she was going to ask.
“Why? Why, of all the places on this earth, would you leave Switzerland to work in Wyoming?”
He laughed, and the warmth of it spread through her chilled bones.
“That is the question!” Luca shook his head, and the joy faded from his eyes just a bit.
“I mean, don’t you miss it?”
“It will always be my home, yes. I miss it. But—” Luca hesitated as if lost in a memory. “Sometimes you have to move on in order to move on.” He laughed again and handed her a cup of steaming hot cider. “Besides… Wyoming isn’t so bad. Look around!” He glanced around him at the skyline. “The mountains here are beautiful. The snow, the village, the people… it’s as close to home as I could hope for.”
“It is beautiful here.” Kate took the cup and held it to her lips for a moment, inhaling the sweet aroma.
“You say that like you can’t believe it.”
“Well, it’s hard to believe a place like this exists in Wyoming. I mean, I’m not gonna lie, I’ve driven through Wyoming a few times. There’s literally a sign on the freeway that says Point of Interest and it’s pointing to a large rock in the median. And that is about as exciting as the trip has ever gotten.” She sat on the café chair he held out for her and took a sip of her cider.
“And there’s always the danger of becoming hypnotized by the windmills on the side of the freeway, let’s not forget.”
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“Oh, my word! Right? That’s so dangerous! See? You know what I’m talking about.”
“Yes, I’ve taken that trip once or twice myself. It was more relaxing than you want driving on the freeway to be.”
Kate laughed. “So that really begs the question, doesn’t it?”
“Why Wyoming?”
“That should be the state motto.”
“I think it is, actually.”
Kate sipped at her cider and studied Luca. He seemed so at home here. Not just because he was sitting in a Swiss-style village bazaar sipping hot cider. But he belonged here.
And in that moment, she kind of felt like she did too.
“What about you? Where are you visiting from?” Luca asked, eyeing her over his mug.
“New York.”
“Ah! The big city. Have you always lived in New York?”
“Me? No. I’m actually from Idaho.”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise, then just as quickly drew together in confusion. “Idaho?”
Kate shrugged. “How would a girl from Idaho end up in New York?” She put what he was probably thinking into words.
Luca set his cup down and leaned forward expectantly.
“I wanted to be in fashion. When you want to work in fashion, you go to New York.”
“Do you miss it? Idaho, I mean.”
“I suppose I do. Like you said, it will always be home.” A twinge of homesickness surged down her spine. It had been a long time since she’d felt that, and she pushed it away. “My life is in New York now.”
“I see. Your friends… your boyfriend?”
It was Kate’s turn to be surprised. “Boyfriend? …no. I don’t have time. My job is pretty demanding.” She chewed her lower lip. “Actually, I… I don’t have friends there either. I mean, there are people at work that I…” No. That was a lie. She never interacted with anyone outside of the office. In fact, she never interacted with anyone other than Mrs. Hall and her closest associates inside the office. Her life in New York wasn’t much of a life.
Luca was staring at her. Waiting for her to continue. Waiting for the end of her sentence. When she hesitated, his eyes softened in understanding, and he cast a look over his shoulder.
“I see the pastry booth has brought out fresh Miroir. Would you like to try one?”
Kate traced his gaze to the cookie stall. The proprietor was setting a large platter of jam-filled cookies on the table. “I would love that.” She swallowed the last of her cider and rose to follow Luca to the cookies.
CHAPTER THREE
Sing We Joyous All Together
WHEN KATE’S PHONE CHIRPED AT HER before the 6:00 A.M. alarm could go off, Kate nearly jumped out of her skin. If she were at home in her own bed, it might not have scared her so badly. She might even have been expecting it. But waking up to it the first morning in a strange room and a strange bed threw her into confusion, and it was several minutes before she remembered where she was.
She grabbed the phone off the nightstand and squinted at the too-bright screen.
5:27.
What the actual heck.
Kate groaned and let the lead in her eyelids coax her back into sleep. Phone still in hand, hanging precariously over the edge of the bed, she lay back on the pillow and snuggled into her fuzzy blanket. A second chirp erupted, jerking her abruptly into consciousness, and she dropped the phone onto the floor with a loud thump.
She leaned over the side of the bed and reached toward the floor, swiping her hand from side to side trying to locate the device. When her fingertip brushed against the rubber casing, she shifted her weight to reach just a little farther. Just as she tightened her grip on the phone, her balance tipped, and she tumbled headfirst out of the bed onto the floor, managing to scrape her head on the corner of the nightstand on the way down.
For a moment, she just lay there in disbelief — a crumpled heap, legs still tangled in the blanket and face pressed into the abrasive carpet fibers, muttering, “What. The. Actual. Heck.”
Grudgingly, she clutched at her phone and drew it up to her face to see the notification screen.
Two texts.
From Mrs. Hall.
At 5:30 in the morning.
Oh, how Kate needed a new job.
CSA: YOU HAVE TO GO THE AIRPORT THIS MORNING. OUR LUGGAGE WILL BE THERE AT 9:00.
CSA: ARE YOU UP?
Not cool, Cynthia.
She tapped in her response.
ME: YES, I’M UP.
The irony of the word up was not lost on her. Kate rolled onto her back and kicked violently to free her feet from the knot of blankets and sheets.
The reply came immediately with a demanding chirp.
CSA: THEN GET DRESSED AND GET UP HERE. WE HAVE TO GO OVER THE SCHEDULE BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
Kate rolled her eyes and let another groan escape her throat. It was 5:30 in the morning… even the sun had better sense than to be up at 5:30 in the morning. She was almost certain that was true even in Wyoming.
ME: I’LL BE THERE IN FIFTEEN MINUTES.
CSA: FIVE.
“It’s 5:30 in the morning,” Kate said aloud to herself.
CSA: IT’S 7:30 IN NEW YORK.
Did she just—? No, there’s no way Mrs. Hall could have heard Kate’s objections.
She decided to risk it and added, “But we’re not in New York, Cynthia.”
Despite her verbal protest, she pushed herself up from the floor and grabbed her sweats off the chair. If Mrs. Hall wanted her in five minutes, she couldn’t be expecting perfection, just punctuality. Sweats, a hoodie, and a messy bun would have to do.
Luckily, at this point in the morning, there wouldn’t be too many people in the public areas that might catch her in such disarray. But maybe she would take the employee elevator just to be safe.
Kate slipped her room key and cell into her pocket and headed out the door into the dimly-lit corridor. She glanced up and down the hallway.
All was quiet.
She pulled the door closed behind her and heard the lock snap into place. She moved silently up the hall to the service elevator and mashed the call button.
The door dinged and rolled open; Kate stepped inside and pressed the button for the third floor. The doors began to close but stopped suddenly when a hand thrust in and swatted them back open. Before Kate knew what was happening, Luca joined her in the elevator.
His eyes lit up with recognition when he saw her.
“Good morning, Ms. Curtis. You’re up very early today,” he said. He tapped the button for the top floor.
Kate thought of her sweats and her messy bun, and she could feel the embarrassment warming her neck and ears. “I… I didn’t think anyone would be up and around. Sorry.”
“The day starts early for us. But don’t worry about it. You’re welcome to use the service elevator whenever you wish. Even if it is an ungodly hour of the morning.” Luca smiled, and once again, his grin warmed her.
Kate was beginning to love Luca’s smile.
“Mrs. Hall thinks we should still be operating on New York time,” Kate said and rolled her eyes before she realized what she was doing.
“The nerve of some people!” Luca’s eyes twinkled with irony as his gaze swept over her and seemed to be assessing her in all her early morning mess.
She brushed a stray curl out of her face and shifted onto her other foot self-consciously, feeling the weight of his stare.
“I really wasn’t expecting to see anyone. I kind of took the service elevator for that specific reason. I must look terrible.”
“Not at all. In fact, I was just thinking how nice you look.”
Kate frowned. “Sure you were.”
“Oh, come on. Why would I lie?”
“Oh, I don’t know… I’m sure being in the hospitality business would have no impact on your being nice to guests.”
“Touché. Well, if it helps, it is far too early in the morning to have to think of fake nice things to say.”
> “That’s just the sort of thing I’d expect a flatterer to say at 5:30 in the morning.” Kate hid a yawn behind her hand.
Luca chuckled in response. “May I just say, Ms. Curtis, you make early morning duties almost tolerable.”
“I was just thinking that same thing about you, Luca.” It was out of her mouth before she could stop it. Kate quickly looked away, feeling the burn of embarrassment coloring her ears, which were shamelessly exposed by the hair pulled up into her messy bun.
In that moment, the elevator bell chimed, and the doors slid open to Mrs. Hall’s floor.
“Now, that, I almost believe,” Luca said, and stepped aside to let her exit.
Kate didn’t look back until the doors rattled closed behind her. Her reflection in the steel doors met her, and she cringed at the sight. She lifted a hand to straighten her lopsided pile of hair, then swiped at the mascara smeared under her left eye.
“That’s just great, Kate. ‘I was just thinking how nice you look.’” She mimicked Luca’s comment in a deep voice, taking care to get the French accent just right. “Sure I do. That’s just great,” she muttered to herself.
Her phone chirped impatiently in her pocket.
“Alright, alright! I’m coming!” Kate whisper-yelled into the silence, spun on her heel, and hurried down the hall toward Mrs. Hall’s suite.
She knocked on the door and immediately heard the latch click. The door swung open. Mrs. Hall stood there looking gorgeous as ever. Completely made up and put together at 5:30 in the morning, as if she had an important photo shoot.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Kate, what are you wearing?” A frown creased Mrs. Hall’s forehead for an instant before she caught herself and smoothed her facial expression again. Mrs. Hall had amazing control over her facial expressions. It was rare that she frowned, and always when it happened, Kate knew that she’d be asked to make an appointment with Mrs. Hall’s dermatologist within the week. “Never mind.” Mrs. Hall shook her head. “Just come inside. We haven’t much time before you will have to leave for the airport.”
Kate followed her inside but waited before responding. The airport would surely deliver the luggage to them if they asked. Especially since it was their mistake that caused the problem in the first place. She hoped that Mrs. Hall would think of that solution on her own.
