AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter One
Jenni
Jenni shivered as she scurried down the ramp from the plane at Mammoth-Yosemite Airport, California’s mini version of a real airport, which, she’d been informed, hosted two arriving and two departing commercial flights—max—most days of the year. Even though she’d arrived in spring, heavy snow lay all around, and the High Sierras had been pure white for most of the trip along the valley from LAX.
It was only an hour-long flight, but she was already a day late thanks to the previous day’s snowfall, giving her only a couple of hours to get ready for the “date” her friend had set her up for. And no time at all to ski—which had been the lure that convinced her to go ahead with the date despite her misgivings. Walking across the tarmac, she kept her footing with difficulty, cursing her stupidity in wearing heels for travel, but who knew there would be no nice, safe jetway between the plane and the terminal—a terminal smaller than the DMV at home. If she’d made the arrangements for a client, she’d have known a lot more. Would have made sure she did.
The air temperature had to be under twenty, and her leather jacket was intended for a lot warmer than that, so she stepped as quickly as possible inside and headed for baggage claim. Which was a four-second walk from the door. Okay, there were some advantages to the airport size. The matchmaker had promised her transportation to Mammoth Lakes had been arranged, so once she had her big wheeled bag and small overnight bag in hand, she started for the door. Even at this tiny airport, a few men in suits stood holding carboard rectangles with names typed, printed, or scrawled on them.
Scanning the cards, she didn’t see her name, so continued for the door, a niggling doubt forming in her mind. Suppose the agency forgot to inform the limo or shuttle company of her changed plans. She didn’t even have the details about the resort she’d be staying in. The previous night would have been spent at a rather banal inn she’d earned some points for, but tonight would be at PDA’s lodging of choice. She knew the name but hadn’t been able to locate it anywhere online. Polar Lodge…sounded a little bit like a low-budget motel, but from everything her friend told her, PDA, the agency setting everything up, was first class all the way, so perhaps the Polar Lodge was so exclusive, it didn’t even have a website. Or phone listing. Or appear on Yelp.
Pretty exclusive.
The doors opened, and she strolled outside into the same snow she’d strolled in on. Picturing the contents of her bag in her mind, she decided her sensible UGGs were buried too deep in her bag to get them out, and she’d just have to be careful until she got to the lodge. It was just after five, and she’d been told dinner reservations were made for her and her date at seven. While she watched, the shuttles for the resorts loaded up and pulled out. Private cars and a few town cars driven by the suit guys followed. In less than ten minutes, she stood all alone outside the terminal.
As a model, she’d often traveled to photo shoots and events, but always with every detail carefully planned and recorded. She’d never landed without knowing who was picking her up, where they were taking her, and the schedule for the entire venture. It brought out every insecurity for her not to have the information. Threw her right back into being a little girl, in limbo after her mother’s death. Years of foster homes where she wasn’t sure from one week to the next where she’d be living or under what conditions, followed by being on her own at eighteen, poorly equipped for independence, led to her embracing life in the model house. After years of hating her larger-than-average, curvy form, she’d been shocked to find work where her size helped qualify her and her looks were appreciated.
It offered a chance for job training, income, and several lifelong friendships. Including the one she was about to end by text if someone didn’t show up to pick her up in the next five seconds. In fact, she did it now, sending a spate of words to Matilda as fast as her frozen fingers could type, letting her former bestie know her opinion of someone who should know her better setting her up in a situation in which her need for control went to hell. She knew better. How could she do it?
Sure, she’d agreed to this one date before accepting Harold’s proposal. Just to make Matilda happy. Her prospective fiancé wasn’t much, but he was better than eternal loneliness.
Determined to get out of here and back home to Los Angeles as soon as possible, she tried to think if that was even possible. With only two flights a day, she might be stuck here until tomorrow. Sleeping in the lobby didn’t sound pleasant but better than the alternative of freezing to death outside. Did they even keep the place open at night?
Shivering in the cold, angry and tired, she spun on a heel, and her feet flew out from under her. As she struggled to regain her footing and finally plummeted toward the icy concrete, flailing and shrieking like a complete ninny, a big man raced toward her. He caught her, inches before her dignity struck the ground.
“Oof!” She lay in his arms, stunned for a moment before the humiliation of her situation hit her. “I could die.”
“Don’t do that.” Her rescuer grinned, pale blue eyes twinkling, but he made no move to put her down. Instead, he shifted her in his arms and strode toward the curb. “I’m Tyrone, but my friend call me Ty.”
How did one handle an introduction while being carried like a sack of potatoes. “Nice to meet you,” she murmured, clinging to his neck as he padded over the icy ground with complete confidence. “I’m Jenni.” He had dark hair with a white streak on one side, but not from age, she was sure. He couldn’t be older than his early thirties, barely older than her. And his dark scruff of a beard held not one pale hair.
“We know.” He stopped before a big SUV that had pulled up at the curb while she was distracted. Another man, equally tall and broad-shouldered, curiously also with a white streak in his hair. He hopped out and came around to open the front passenger door.
The driver?
When she hesitated, a strange feeling building in her mind, Ty waved toward the new guy. “Jenni, this is Clark. Clark, this is our Jenni.”
Before the words sank in, she held her hand out, and Clark enfolded it in both of his. “Jenni, so glad to meet you, and accept our apologies for being late. The snow plow gifted us with a heap blocking the end of our driveway and it took a few minutes to shovel out. I hope you weren’t worried.”
“No. Well, a little.” She allowed him to help her into the passenger seat and fasten her belt. “Thank you.” Nobody ever did that for her before, at least not since she was a little girl.
“Can’t have you getting hurt while we head up the hill. We’re above the resort, on a smaller road, and it gets icy even in spring. And this storm doesn’t help. Hope you don’t mind.” He closed her door and moved around the front of the vehicle to take the driver’s seat again while Ty stowed her bags in the back and settled behind her. “Let’s go!”
Clark handled the SUV like a race-car driver, working around slower moving vehicles as if they were standing still while seeming to have no trouble controlling the car on roads even she, with her L.A. driving skills, could tell were slick.
“So, how was the flight up?” Ty’s head appeared between the seats. Apparently, he didn’t feel the need to wear a seat belt. But that was none of her business. The heat blasted away, and she snuggled back in the seat that was also warm. Her eyelids grew heavy.
Wait, he’d asked something. The flight. “Oh, it was fine. Except for one guy who spent the entire trip bragging about his skiing expertise. The flight attendant said he does it every weekend.”
“We were worried with the storm coming in that you might not make it,” Clark said, signaling for a left turn just as they got into the picturesque town. “
“Speaking of which,” Ty added, “if you need anything, we should stop now.”
“No, as long as the lodge is stocked with food and drink, I should be fine. I’m a very efficient packer.
“Okay. Even the plowing service we pay can’t get in once the snow starts until it lets up.”
“You pay someone who covers your driveway exit?” Odd.
