An Avalanche of Love

A company that wants to build a new ski resort approached me a few months ago. They didn’t have a specific location in mind, but they wanted me to scout the right one and make the deal as smoothly as possible.

My research gave me lots of options, but one little comment in a forum on some of the best-kept secrets in skiing led me to Bear Mountain. There wasn’t much to go on, other than an old website that was no longer taking reservations. I could have given it up and showed the company a number of other recommendations, but it wouldn’t leave me alone. I had to ask around, and through word of mouth, I got Natalie Thompson’s number.

I’ve developed a reputation in my world as someone who gets a yes every time. Only this time I’m not getting what I want. Which is why I’m going to Bear Mountain myself to make Natalie an offer she can’t refuse.

Maybe Josh is right and it will take a few more days than I planned, but in the end, I’ll close the deal.

Grabbing my coffee and my suitcase, I look around my apartment. Josh said it was tiny, and that was being generous. Here in the city I could have afforded an entire floor to myself, but what was the point? It’s only me, and there’s not enough stuff in here to fill up one big box. It felt like a waste of money and a waste of space. I hate reminders that it’s just me living here, even though all of my stuff could fit in one box. The furniture is rented along with the space, and within an hour, I could make this apartment look like I’d never lived here.

There’s a feeling in my chest as I lock the door and catch a cab to the airport. Is it longing? Is it fear? Am I only feeling this way because Josh put all those dumb thoughts in my head? It’s all his fault that I’m doubting my skills and remembering just how lonely I am. I’m going to fire him for real this time when I get back.

It’s not until hours later when my plane has landed at the bottom of Bear Mountain that the feeling in my chest changes. It doesn’t go away, but instead of it making me nervous, it makes me feel calm. Maybe for the first time ever in my life, or at least that I can remember, I feel sure. It’s like this is where I’m meant to be, and I’m heading on the right path.

That’s how I know that this deal is going to go my way.

Right?

Chapter Three

NATALIE

“It’s white chocolate. That’s it!” I declare, thinking I’ve finally solved the mystery. Bear opens one eye to look up at me. He’s been snoozing at my feet, and my excitement woke him up.

“Nope,” Betty says from behind the bakery counter. It’s midafternoon on a Monday, so it’s only her and me in here right now. She’s wrapping up for the day, and I’m not doing crap but wasting time. My house feels more empty than normal, even with Bear in it.

“Really? Damn it.” I take another sip of my hot chocolate. It’s the best hot chocolate in the whole world, if you ask me. Not that I’ve had many others, but since I dream about this one, it must be good.

“Better luck next time.” Betty smirks.

I pull out my little notepad and jot my guess down. Betty will never give out her hot chocolate recipe, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to figure it out. I get one guess a week that she’ll answer, and I swear I’m close. There’s just one ingredient I’m still missing, and it’s driving me insane. Not as insane as Walker, though, because it’s been radio silence from him.

Putting my notepad back into my purse, I check my phone. There’s nothing on the screen, so I guess he really has given up. It’s a bit disappointing because as much as I hated it, it was fun sparring with him. I don’t know why this sense of loss fills me.

“Natalie!” Jen comes rushing into the bakery at full speed. We went to the same school, but she was two grades ahead of me. That doesn’t mean much in a small town like ours. We still had a ton of classes together.

“What’s going on?” I ask. Nothing ever happens around here to get her this excited.

Jen once tried to publish a town paper, but there was never anything to report. She’d even print them off on normal paper from her printer and left them in stacks all over town for people to read. That lasted for about two months. I read them, and actually, I kind of miss them. Now she blogs online about reality celebrities, and she makes good money at it.