But Maddie disappeared through the door of the lodge without face-planting, leaving Ian and Jacob to park the machines properly and bring in the snacks and empty wrappers from the bags. It wasn’t easy, but Ian forced himself to take his time because he’d thought about nothing but seeing Nola again for at least the last two hours, but he didn’t want to make his kids feel as if they didn’t have his attention. Spending time with them was the entire reason he’d planned this trip.
“I wonder what’s for supper tonight,” Jacob said as they walked toward the lodge. “I bet whatever it is, it’s good. Rosie sure can cook.”
It wasn’t until Ian stepped through the door and was hit with the aroma of something hearty and home-cooked that he realized how hungry he was. “Still not sure what it is, but it smells good.”
Jacob was halfway through the process of taking off his heavy snowmobile boots, but he pulled his phone out of the pocket of his bibs to see what time it is. “There’s time for a shower first.”
“I have dibs on the shower.”
His son snorted. “I’ll be out of the shower, dressed and my hair will be almost dry by the time you get those boots off.”
He was going to argue, but Jacob ripped the second boot off and after setting the pair on the rubber mat next to the door, ran in his stocking feet toward the hall. With a sigh, Ian sat on the wooden bench and tried to ignore the twinge in his back when he bent to unhook the laces of his boots. The kid probably wasn’t wrong.
His stomach was growling and his hair was still wet when the dinner bell chime sounded through the lodge. Jacob practically ran him over in his rush to get to the door and then Maddie almost plowed into them leaving her room. They were both in good moods, despite their obvious hunger, and he felt more at peace than he had in a long time. Despite the divorce, the hectic schedules as everybody went different directions and the bickering, his kids were happy and they were as close as ever. He even caught himself humming a Christmas tune as they walked past the twinkling Christmas tree.
When they walked into the dining room, Jacob jabbed him with his elbow and leaned close so he could keep his voice low. “Maybe I should invite Nola to come sit with us.”
Ian’s sense of peace popped like a bubble as his cheeks heated. “Maybe you should leave Nola alone because she’s working.”
She wasn’t working so hard she couldn’t pause when he walked in, though. Their gazes locked and he knew he was a fool for thinking the smile that warmed her face and made her eyes crinkle at the corners was just for him, but that’s what it felt like.
An hour later, he probably should have been embarrassed by how much of Rosie’s beef stew and homemade bread he and his kids had managed to pack away, but it had been too good to resist. It was probably a good thing they were only there for a week. Much longer than that and he’d have to drive back to Connecticut in his boxer briefs because his jeans wouldn’t fit.
He didn’t want to leave the dining room. Not only because he was so full he didn’t feel like making the walk to the other end of the lodge, but because he knew he was going to end up back in this room before the night was over anyway. He could see that Nola would be busy for a while helping Rosie and Andy clean up, however, so after another smile passed between them, he left the room.
“I’m going to go FaceTime Charlotte,” Maddie said, and he knew she’d be a while. Her girlfriend had gone home to Pennsylvania for the school break and, thanks to the holidays, they weren’t getting as much time to talk as they liked.
“I’m going to put on a movie and then fall asleep halfway through,” Jacob mumbled, sounding tired, so Ian parted ways with them in the living room.
After shoving his feet into his unlaced boots and grabbing his coat from the rack, he joined the guys smoking out on the porch. He didn’t smoke, but he introduced himself and in the way of guys with snowmobiling in common, found himself with instant friends. Eventually the sled talk moved back inside and they insisted he sit with them and have a drink.
He didn’t want to. He wanted to sit at the bar and give Nola his undivided attention, but he bided his time and waited for the guys to finish their drinks and head out for another smoke break. Rather than join them this time, he took his glass to the bar.
“The kids turn in early?” Nola asked while she refilled his vodka soda and made a checkmark in the book.
“Maddie’s holed up in her room talking to her girlfriend and Jacob’s probably asleep by now.” He chuckled. “Maddie’s a night owl like me, but Jacob’s always been an early to bed and early to rise kid. Even through his teens.”
“From what I’ve heard about teenagers, that’s pretty rare.” She set the glass in front of him and he wanted to ask—if she had kids and if not, why—but it was too personal a question. But she must have seen the question on his face because she laughed and gave a casual shrug. “I just never got around to wanting children, and my life’s pretty full of kids—little ones I can give back to their parents when I’m worn out. Did you guys have a good ride today?”
“Yeah, we did. We definitely didn’t do as many miles as those other guys are putting on, but we stop a lot more, I guess.”
“Isn’t the stopping the best part? Finding a picturesque spot to have a snack and talk to each other. It’s like going out with friends, but with no crowds or annoying music.”
“Do you ride a lot?” His machine wasn’t set up for a passenger, but he’d trade it in tomorrow if he could get her out on the trails with him. Her arms wrapped around him and his body nestled between her thighs. He cleared his throat and it sounded loud in the big room. “I mean, everybody around here snowmobiles, right?”
She laughed. “It seems that way. All of us at the lodge can drive the groomer, so I probably spend more time helping maintain the trails than I do enjoying them, but sometimes I’ll borrow a machine and go out with Rosie and Andy or Laney and her husband, Ben. There isn’t a lot of downtime here when the snow is good, though, so it’s usually early or late season riding, for the most part.”
Eventually the other guys returned for another round, but Ian waved them off when they called for him to join them. He was perfectly content right where he was. In fact, he couldn’t think of anyplace else he’d rather be than sitting at the bar with Nola. Other than in Nola’s bed, of course, but he was going to keep that need in check no matter how painful it was. He wasn’t a five-night-stand kind of guy any more than he was a one-night-stand kind of guy.
They talked until the other group called it a night, and then talked some more. Random things. Movies they liked. Elementary school friends. Pets they’d had over the years. And what they’d wanted to be when they grew up.
“I wanted to be a Las Vegas showgirl,” Nola confessed, her cheeks practically glowing with embarrassment at the confession.
Ian’s brain had no trouble providing an instant mental photo of her in sequins and fishnet stockings, and his face suddenly felt as warm as hers looked. “What stopped you?”
She laughed and waved a hand over her body. “Well, thank you for not jumping to the obvious conclusion it was my lack of height and…other attributes.”
He fumbled for a way to assure her he thought herother attributeswere in no way lacking without sounding creepy. “I would have sprung for a front row ticket.”
