Page 6 of The Christmas Accomplice

“And what business might that be?” Nick asked, also lowering her voice. “The business of love?”

“You’re impossible.” Reece turned his back and strode away.

“I shall not be denied this knowledge!”

Reece ignored her and followed the hallway to Edward’s office. The door was open, and he leaned around the frame. “You wanted to see me?”

Edward looked up and removed his reading glasses. He was in his mid-fifties with dark hair steadily turning silver. His dark brown eyes saw pretty much everything that went on around the lodge, and he had better hearing than anyone Reece had ever met.

“I did. Sit down.”

It was going to be a long enough conversation that Reece was going to need to sit down for it. That didn’t bode very well. He sat and tried hard not to fidget too much. Edward was nice and fair, but authority figures overall made Reece nervous.

“Am I in trouble, sir?”

Edward chuckled. “Sir? You don’t need to call me ‘sir,’ for God’s sake. And no, you’re not in trouble. Though I do want to know why you left the lodge to take a guest to his cabin.”

“The guest had just come in on the shuttle and took a little longer getting outside with his luggage, so he missed the other carts.”

“I see.” Edward sat back, interlocking his fingers over his small paunch. “Thank you for taking that initiative.”

“Glad to do it.”

“I’ve been looking over the activities you and Graham submitted.” Edward arched one eyebrow. “Are you prepared to assist me next week with these activities?”

“Absolutely. I have some great ideas for the piñata challenge, and the elf toss.”

Edward smirked and sat forward. “I’m sure you do. But I think I’m going to change things up a bit.”

Reece hoped his expression remained neutral and didn’t give away the sudden flood of panic rushing through his system. “Oh?”

“I’m going to have you assist me with the activities Graham submitted, and I’ll have Graham assist me with the activities you submitted.” Edward smiled, and it almost looked as if he were enjoying himself a little too much.

“I didn’t think that was how you were going to run things,” Reece said. “I thought we would assist with our own activities.”

“Yes, and Graham was under that impression, too. But as the Assistant Activities Director, you will be required to assist with activities you may have only just heard about. Or, even better, made up on the spot. Do you understand?”

Reece hoped his smile appeared genuine. “I do. I’m just glad you think I may be a good candidate for the job.”

“I do indeed,” Edward said, then added, “and I feel the same about Graham.”

Reece managed to keep from making a disgusted sound. “Of course.”

“I’ll gauge guest participation and enjoyment during and after each activity. And on Christmas Eve, I’m going to have you each run one of the other’s submitted activities on your own. I will be an involved observer, if that makes sense. I’ll make my decision about the position after Christmas. Understood?”

“I understand.”

“Good. Now get back out to the desk. We’ve got a lot more guests checking in this afternoon.”

Reece left Edward’s office and blew out a breath. Okay, so things weren’t going to be exactly as he’d planned, but this was his chance. He’d worked the front desk for almost three years now, and he was eager to take on something new. Maybe Edward would score them on the ideas they submitted as well as how they managed an unknown activity. He’d read some of his ideas to Nick before he’d handed them in, and she’d given him some good feedback. He’d been so focused on what supplies and instructions he’d need for his activities, he’d never once considered the twist Edward had thrown at him.

Reece couldn’t believe he was going to have to run Graham’s activities. And that Graham was going to run his. That bastard had better not do anything to mess with Reece’s ideas. To get this promotion, Reece was going to have to really be on his A-game through the holidays. So, as enticing as Welton was, Reece needed to keep his mind on work. Snowcapped was the number one employer in this area, and he wanted to continue to work at the resort. He’d fallen in love with the mountains and snow since moving there right out of college. After waiting tables and bartending at restaurants in town, he’d applied for a job working the front desk and was hired. He enjoyed talking with guests and meeting new people, but he wanted to do more. During the past year, he’d helped out with a few activities and found he had a knack for working them and helping people enjoy themselves. From the positive feedback he’d received from many of the guests, he’d done a good job.

There was a line at the desk, and Reece quickened his pace, using his card to let himself behind the desk where he signed in at an available station next to Nick and waved the next guest forward. All thoughts about the position up for grabs and cute and nerdy Welton Monroe were pushed aside as he focused on the immediate task. Within half an hour, they’d checked all the guests in and were able to take a breath and talk.

“Which do you want to tell me about first,” Nick said. “The meeting with Edward, or your sweet and romantic cart ride with the hot nerd?”

Reece frowned. “It wasn’t romantic.”