“And the worst part is I’m considering helping the man who humiliated me and broke my heart win over the town to save his ski resort. Is that strange?”
“Yes, because you’re supposed to be relaxing. Did you not get my email?”
“I did. But I’m starting to suspect self-care is a little more involved than getting fresh air and a solid eight hours of sleep.” I shuddered. “I might have to heal old wounds.”
Delia laughed. “No kidding. Do you think the agency initiates Operation Merry Reset because you don’t use your vacation time? You have past trauma, babe.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I grumbled, punching the pillow behind my head.
“Because agent 101 is to let the subjects discover their journey organically. Remember when I told you to date, and you told me you wanted to marry your job, or something equally nasty? You can’t tell someone what to do. They have to figure it out for themselves.”
I blew out a breath and kicked off my boots. They hit the carpeted floor with a muffled thud. “You know, you’re pretty good at this agent thing. It’s only a matter of time until you get your first case.”
“From your mouth to the division head’s ears. So what are you going to do about your dilemma?”
“Good question. If I don’t help, and the lodge goes under, my parents will lose the chance to earn extra money to replacetheir retirement savings. So there’s plenty of guilt there. And I don’t want to see the town lose another piece of its character. Even if that means helping Leo.”
There was also the uncomfortable realization that I missed the person I’d been when I was with Leo and the way he made me feel. I pressed my lips into a frown. “Leo and I are adults now. I suppose I could lead with forgiveness and maturity.”
Delia snorted. “That’s a choice. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for maturity, but have a little fun first.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Well, Leo publicly broke your heart and made you question his sincerity. If you’re planning to help the man, stuff a little payback in his Christmas stocking first. It’ll make you feel good. You’ll take back your power, and it might stop the snow. Then you can get your butt back here and help me get a date with Simon.”
I shook my head. Delia was persistent, I’d give her that. “I’m hanging up, now.”
“Okay! Good luck with healing your wounds. Bring me back a souvenir. Something expensive. Bye!”
Take back my power, huh?If there was one thing absent in my life, it was a certain level of joy. And joy seemed like a mandatory quality for someone responsible for doling out miracles. Somewhere along the line, I’d become so consumed with proving myself, I’d forgotten to have any fun.
Revenge might be exactly what the doctor ordered.
I grabbed a notebook on the bedside table and opened it to a blank page. If the town wanted an agent of the year, they’d get her.
Chapter 7
Leo
The microwave beeped, andI carried my turkey dinner to the lobby, dropping the plastic dish onto the reservation counter. Gravy puddled around the mashed potatoes and steam rose from the small scoop of stuffing. It looked edible, but far from the home-cooked meal I longed for. Then again, I had to make do with what was in the freezer aisle.
We only had a couple of rooms booked and we closed the lifts early, so I sent the staff home for the holiday, planning to man the hotel myself. No one questioned the strange, last-minute cancellation of my dinner plans. Because they knew the truth. My big, fancy Thanksgiving dinner was about as real as my mashed potatoes.
There was no baked brie and no mozzarella Caprese. No one wanted to share a meal with the man who ruined the town.
My father was overseas with his mistress, and my mother had checked herself into a spa for an extended stay of exfoliation and seaweed wraps, as she did for most holidays. That left me to the microwaveable feast cooling on the counter.
I checked my phone and loaded my fork with a chunk of rubbery turkey. Sage hadn’t responded to my offer. I’d decided to call it that because the term blackmail bothered me.
What didn’t bother me these days? It was hard to stay positive in the face of so much negativity. I never expected to return home, hoping for a clean slate, only to spend the holidays alone in my empty ski lodge.
Been there, already bought the T-shirt.
Maybe this was a mistake. Both coming home and buying this frozen dinner.Rock bottom—it turns out—is just a lake of gelatinous turkey gravy.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
I paused, the fork suspended in the air as Sage’s voice echoed through the lobby. She dusted fresh snow from her jacket and peered at the vaulted ceilings. Then she did a slow circle, admiring the polished hardwood floors, oversized sofas in front of the hearth, and finally the giant stone fireplace. Her gaze remained fixed on the vintage skis I’d mounted over the mantel.
