“Both of you need to relax a little. Don’t put this all on Jefferson, Mom.”
“You’re right. I worry right along with him, but this will be my first grandchild. That’s so special to me.”
Mom pressed her hand to her heart and smiled sadly. “If only your dad was here to see this. He’d be thrilled for Jefferson and love that baby to pieces. He already loved Polly so much.”
“Daddy sees everything,” I assured her, wondering how disappointed in me he must be right now. I gave Simon too much of myself, my effort, and money that I needed to make something of myself. I fucked that up and needed to make things right.
Perhaps this was just the place to do that.
I hugged Mom and left the house to head to the lodge. She told me she’d be along later, and I drove the car down the road, thinking about the birds I heard outside this morning as I got ready for the day. They were so cheerful, and it was so different from what I’d gotten used to.
I was home.
I knew this place well and there was nothing intimidating about the work I’d be doing soon, apart from the fact that it had been a while for me. Seeing Charlie threw me a bit after I’d had such a crush on him for such a long time when I’d been younger.
We were adults now, though. Jefferson probably still warned his best friend off from me like he used to, and I’d never go into the forbidden zone.
I parked in the employee lot and looked around as people entered the lobby, ready for a day on the slopes. The staff was perfect, and I smiled as I watched the hustle and bustle of this place I’d loved since I was a kid.
I walked through the massive room past the enormous fireplace with couches and tables, making my way to my brother’s office.
I paused when I noticed Jefferson stood in the doorway to his office, talking to someone I didn’t recognize. I looked at the man, seeing him laughing at something Jefferson said.
He looked like a lot of the guys that hung around this place to ski and get their adrenaline rush, but there was something more serious about this man.
He was gorgeous, without a doubt.
He had a chiseled figure without being too muscular and had these baby blue eyes that I could stare in forever. I took in his straight dark blonde hair that fell into his face and appreciated the fitted ski shirt that showed off his figure, smiling when he looked my way.
“Hello there. Are you new here?” The man asked as Jefferson looked my way with a scowl on his face. “My name is Jack Lundy, and I help Jefferson around here. I’d love to give you a tour.”
Jack’s smile was crooked, adorable, and far too easy to get lost in.
Jack who?
“This is my sister, Avery. She grew up here, so she won’t be needing a tour, Jack. Avery knows this place better than you do.”
My brother’s tone took me back to high school when he stood guard in the halls for me, vowing to protect me from the dangers of boys.
I wanted to remind him I was a big girl now and shook my head in slow surprise. “It’s nice to see you too, big brother.” I greeted him, looking into his light brown eyes that matched my own. “It’s nice to meet you, Jack. I’m going to be helping around here for the next few months.”
“I thought I’d send you Ben’s way, Avery. He’s the facilities manager and in charge of the outdoor events. I thought you could assist with the holidays, since you were so good at that before.”
He probably thought it might keep me away from Jack. I looked at the yummy skier again before glancing back at my brother. “His office is at the other end of this hallway. Last door on the right.”
“Sounds great, Jefferson. I’ll see you both later,” I told them, turning to walk down the long hallway. I couldn’t resist another look and the smile that Jack flashed me made my heart melt into nothing.
Damn. The guys around here only got hotter with age. This might be fun.
CHAPTERFOUR
JACK
I left Jefferson’s office with my camera strapped around my neck. I needed to get some pictures of the lodge onto their social media pages to push the business further, even though it seemed to be doing well to me.
Peak’s Lodge was well known and popular, but Jefferson just wanted to keep it as the place that had been the reason this town did so well.
It was in the family, after all. What a family that was.