Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 31

thirty-one

NORAH

A Few Days Later

When I arrive at the lodge, I hop out of the van and rush around the front of the vehicle. As usual, it’s colder with a stiff breeze up on the mountain. The first gust of air whips my unbound hair around my face, but the freezing temperatures do nothing to hamper my good mood.

Being with Gabriel makes me want to spin in a circle and sing at the top of my lungs. I choke back a laugh while striding to the side door. Maybe I don’t want to go that far and scare the guests.

An older woman steps out onto the circular drive and shudders against the wind, pulling her coat to her chest. She’s probably in her early 70s with white hair that still holds a hint of the black it likely was in her youth. The wind straightens the ringlets as they billow in the air. Her face is pale as she studies her black boots and the snow-covered parking lot.

“Ma’am?” I rush over to her with my hands outstretched. “I don’t want to alarm you, but if you need help getting to your vehicle, I’d be happy to help you.”

Her gaze jerks to mine, and she smiles in return to my greeting. “That would be so sweet of you. I didn’t realize it had snowed overnight. Of course, I saw snow from my window, but without looking down at the road, I didn’t realize there was more.

“It’s no problem.” I stride closer to her with the snow crunching under my boots.

She purses her lips together as she studies the van behind me. “Lips & Hips?”

I laugh at her confused expression. “I own a bistro in town that’s a parent company for the shop at the lodge.”

“Clever.” Her mouth arches into a grin. “I like smart females. There are so few in the world nowadays.” She lifts the hood and pulls the drawstrings tight with her gloved hands.

“Thank you for including me in the small ranks then.” I loop my arm through hers. “Are you in town long?”

“No….” She shakes her head. “I’m only in town for the week. My grandson moved here recently, and I’m visiting him and his wife. My grandson is an ex-football player. Well, actually, my other grandson is also a football player, and he’s also in town for the holidays.”

My heart skips in my chest. Did Gabriel know she was coming to town? “Are you talking about Marco and Gabriel Romano?”

“Yes.” She stops in the middle of the parking lot and studies me. “Do you know them?”

“Marco is married to my best friend.”

“Oh, really? Then you must be Gabriel’s girl.”

Gabriel’s girl. Somehow, that makes my insides warm and fuzzy even if it’s 10 degrees outside. “Yes, I’m dating Gabriel.”

“That’s so sweet. He’s such a good boy.” She frowns and shakes her head. “And that awful ex-wife of his, she’s no good. Called that one right from the start.”

I don’t say anything else. It’s not like I know Sloane, and I’m certainly not unbiased. I’ve heard stories and want nothing to do with the woman, which might be impossible in the future if Gino stays with her sometimes. But the sounds of how she treated him, that’s the last thing that needs to happen.

As we carefully maneuver across the parking lot, she says, “I love these little towns.” Her face tinges pink as the heat builds under her hood. “Everyone is so nice.”

“That’s what I love about this place myself. That and the view.”

She glances around the lodge. “You’re right. It’s a gorgeous place.”

I retrieve the keys from her after she takes them out of her clutch and unlock the door for her. Once she’s safely inside with the engine running, she grasps my hand. “Thank you for helping an old lady in her time of need. I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. Where are you headed?”

“To the little bookstore in town.” She frowns. “Read Between the Wines, I think it is. I saw it on my way in, and what two better things than wine and books to pair together?”

I sigh as memories of Gabriel and I’s trip to the bookstore replay in my head. Even that day, I knew there was something between us. But at the time, I’d been afraid nothing could come from it, or if it did, it would end in an epic disaster. “Enjoy.” I step back so she has room to shut her door. “If you’re hungry when you get done, stop by Lips & Hips. I’ll be back to the shop after I make my delivery. Your meal would be on me.”

“Thank you. You’re a doll.” She beams as she shuts the door.

Once she’s safely on her way, I gather my supplies and step through the sliding glass doors.

“Hey, Norah,” Tucker calls out from behind the front desk and waves.

“Hey, yourself.” I stop for a second with the rolling cart poised in front of me. “How’s today’s business?”

“A lot of the Thanksgiving holiday travelers have checked out, but we’re already seeing people piling in for the Christmas festival. It’s going to be a busy season this year.”

“Yes, it is.”

After telling him goodbye, I travel to the shop where Clarissa is busy removing the old, unsold content and boxing the items up. We take the leftover goods to the food pantry in town. All the food shops do. The items may not be fresh, but they’re welcomed, nonetheless.

When she sees me, she frowns and crosses her arms. “I thought you weren’t dating the big, hot football player brother of your best friend’s husband.”

I park the cart inside the shop and kick the brake down. “I wasn’t at the time.” I shrug. “And now, I am.”

“Lucky dog.” She glares and then smiles. “You two looked good together that first day. Even when you were snipping at each other. It’s good to see you happy.”

“Thank you. Tucker said business is getting ready to pick up. Do you think we need to increase any of the stock?”

“I’m seeing large numbers of the pre-made sandwiches going quickly.”

For several minutes, we discuss the upcoming season, which items to increase in inventory, and what to pull back on. Clarissa has been with me since I took over the bistro and was the first person I thought of when expanding to the lodge. She knows what she’s doing.

I gnaw on my bottom lip. I shouldn’t have given her a hard time the other day. She didn’t deserve it. She’s been an excellent employee and a good friend. If I’m going to visit Gabriel and Gino, she should be able to handle everything.

It’s not like I do anything outside of delivering the supplies and controlling the schedule and hiring. Someone else could make the food deliveries and Clarissa can handle those tasks. She’s the one working with them anyway.

“Clarissa?” The central heat kicks on, swirling the already delicious scent of baked goods around the room and causing my mouth to water.

“Yes?” She glances up from the binder on the counter in front of her.

“Would you be okay if I put you in charge of scheduling for the lodge? And conducting interviews with new hires?”

“Of course,” She shrugs. “I can handle it. If you need me to do anything else, let me know.”

“Thanks. When Gabriel returns to Kansas City, I’ll be going there to see him, so I’ll need you to take a bigger role here. I won’t be gone all the time, and I won’t leave you without guidance.”

“It’s fine. I’ve got it handled.” She raises her hands palms facing outwards as she reassures me. “Do you need more help at the bistro?”

“No, I’ve got plans in the works for there. I appreciate it. And of course, I’ll compensate you accordingly.”

We discuss pay for a few minutes and settle on an increase that satisfies us both. “You do a fantastic job. I’m sorry I was snippy the other day.”

She grins and waggles her eyebrows as she reopens the sliding glass door to the pastry display. “No worries. You were distracted by a handsome man who knocked you off kilter.”

I laugh and unlock the cart, standing behind it as I maneuver behind the counter. “After I knocked him off his feet.”