Chapter 1
Chapter One
THIRTY YEARS LATER
If Jessica Elsworth didn’t own this place, she’d be doing a happy dance right there in the middle of the dining room.
Look at this . The holiday tea was sold out, and everyone was having the best time. Cheerful red berries brightened the holly garlands draped along the dark wood-paneled walls, and the plate glass windows exposed a winter wonderland of snowy pine trees and a frozen lake.
She was just so relieved at the turnout. The tables were filled with multi-generations of women, dads with little girls, whole families, and romantic couples. Everyone was dressed in their holiday finest and enjoying finger sandwiches, iced scones, and decadent treats from the Singing Baker Patisserie.
But then, she remembered, and fear reared up and locked her joints. Because while the tea was a hit, the New Year’s Eve gala still hadn’t sold out. And it was less than two weeks away.
The total spend for this month-long opening was two million dollars—and she didn’t get paid until guests checked out. At this point, she needed a full house to break even.
Okay, stop.
You’re not spiraling .
You knew when you chose this swanky town there’d be competition for luxury resorts.
She also knew it took time to get established. But she trusted herself. She’d never failed before. She wouldn’t this time.
Okay, back to work . She had a flight to catch and presents to wrap.
The moment she entered the kitchen, the sous chef spotted her and headed her way. The anxiety in his eyes had her bracing for bad news. “What’s wrong?”
“Freezer’s dead.” A vein throbbed at the young man’s temple. “I told Chef something was wrong. I kept telling him it’s not keeping things cold enough. And now, it’s dead.”
This was the first she’d heard of the problem. “All right. Let me text maintenance.”
Jessica: Freezer’s lost power. Can you send someone over to fix it?
Bill: On my way.
Chef joined them. “Just put everything outside.”
“No, don’t do that,” Jess said. “We can’t risk the animals getting into it.” She’d seen Big Joe, the moose who lurked in the woods, when she’d come in that morning. And he was hardly the only threat in the Tetons.
“Then, where do I put an entire freezer full of food?” the sous chef asked.
She considered the outbuildings. They had a garage for large equipment like snowplows and excavators, cabins, a dormitory for the staff, and— ah . “In the shed.” Yes, perfect .
Relief softened his features. “Okay.”
They’d built it to store extra linens and supplies, but at the moment, it was mercifully empty. She shot off a quick text to her sister, the property manager, to let her know the situation.
Once inside her office, she grabbed rolls of wrapping paper and pulled the gifts out of the closet. Ugh . She had no idea if these people would like what she got them. Unfortunately, she’d been so busy with the resort that she hadn’t met her fiancé’s family yet, so she didn’t know their taste.
Normally, she wouldn’t even consider leaving town during an opening, but she had to get used to dividing holidays. They’d spend the next three days in California with his daughter and grandkids, and then be back to Calamity in time for Christmas with her family.
A loud shout had her bolting out of her office to witness a server dropping two platters of pastries. All activity in the kitchen stopped as everyone watched shards of porcelain skitter across the floor amid splats of cream and dollops of ganache.
“That’s it.” Chef’s deep, commanding voice bellowed. “You’re fired.” He pointed to the door. “Get out of my kitchen.”
Jessica was on the move, stepping between the great bear of a man and the petite server.
While she understood his anger—there was no time to make new batches of gourmet French pastries—firing someone in the middle of service wouldn’t solve the problem. So, she yanked the van’s keys off the hook by the back door and handed them to the young woman. “Go into town and buy every pastry you can from Harley Lu Emporium. Then, drive to Wild Wolff Village and clear out the shelves of the Singing Baker. I’ll call them both right now and let them know you’re on your way.”
The server nodded, cutting a glance at the chef.
“And don’t stop for coffee,” he shouted. “Don’t text your mommy about what a piece of shit your boss is. Get the pastries and come back here.” He glanced at the clock. “You’ve got thirty minutes before you tank the opening of this resort.”
“I’m so sorry,” the server whispered to Jessica.
“I know you are.” She gave a comforting smile and touched her arm. “Drive carefully.” Mid-December, the roads were snowy and crowded.
As the server headed out, Chef called, “Thirty minutes.”
Once the door shut behind her, Jessica approached him. “This is your kitchen, but it’s my world. Don’t ever humiliate someone again under this roof. Are we clear?”
The man’s jaw clenched, the muscle popping as he restrained himself. “We can’t keep her. You know that, right?”
“Of course.” The whole point of a soft opening was to work out the kinks with operational and staff issues and get feedback from guests who got to use the facilities for a deeply discounted price. By week three, a server should be able to carry a couple of platters. So, yes, she’d have to go. “But there are ways to handle it and humiliating her in front of everyone is not one I’ll tolerate. After the tea, we’ll pull her aside and deliver the news privately.”
He gave a curt nod. “I’ll check how many pastries we have left.”
But she stopped him. “You take care of dinner. I’ll handle this.” On her way into the walk-in refrigerator, she texted Grace at the Singing Baker Patisserie.
Jessica: Hey, girl. I know it’s a busy week with Christmas only a few days away, but we’re in the middle of the tea and just lost two dozen pastries. What goodies can you sell me? I’ll take everything you’ve got.
She’d run other properties, but this one meant the world to her. From the time she was a kid, she’d dreamed of living in Calamity, Wyoming, and she’d finally made it. She’d begun her journey with the lowest jobs in hospitality, and now, she owned a luxury resort.
Wild.
Of course, the original idea was to own a ranch, but she’d never known what that looked like. Would she and her ex breed horses? Run a B&B? Mostly, they’d imagined running wild on their land. Making love in front of a fire during a blizzard. Cooking together while their babies banged on pots and pans on the kitchen floor.
Damn you, Trevor .
He’d promised her forever, but he’d left and never looked back.
Even though she hadn’t seen him in thirty years, it still hurt.
Isn’t that crazy? That an old wound packs such a punch?
Ah, well. The power of first loves.
In any event, now was not the time to dredge up old memories. She had to text Lulu at the Emporium.
Jessica: Hey, there. Sorry to bother you during the busiest time of year, but we’ve just lost two platters of pastries—right in the middle of the holiday tea! I’d like to buy as much as you can sell.
If she didn’t hear back in fifteen minutes, she’d call them. She didn’t want them ambushed by her server.
Checking the desserts, it looked like they had enough to last them another hour or so. Fingers crossed her friends would be able to fulfill her requests.
This can’t fail.
It just can’t.
She knew she had something good here. Something unique. She’d done her market research, of course, and she’d developed a concept this ritzy small mountain town didn’t have—an exclusive, luxury wellness spa centered around a natural hot spring.
It had taken years of planning, saving, and researching, but when she’d discovered the thermal springs on a remote side of Lake Calamity, she’d known she had a winner.
From the moment she got her first permits, she’d begun the slow process of purchasing one parcel of land at a time. This was her baby. Her pride and joy.
And it would be a hit.
Her phone vibrated, and she quickly checked the screen. Oh, thank God. Grace responded.
Grace: I got you! And holiday or not, I’m always baking, so it’s not a problem. I’ll box up everything that’s not in the display cases. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.
Jessica: You’re the best! I can’t thank you enough. But I can give you and Jaime a night of decadence on the house whenever you can get a babysitter!
Grace: I like how you think!
No matter how much her friend loved baking, it was still a matter of days before Christmas Eve. And Grace was not only a stepmom to an adorable little girl but pregnant with her first baby. It was a big ask, and Jess would pay her triple for the inconvenience.
She pocketed her phone just as her sister poked her head into the walk-in. She looked anxious.
“Everything okay?” Jess stepped out, closing the door behind her. “What’s going on?”
“There’s someone out there.”
Shock blasted through her so fast the soles of her feet stung.
Because her sister wouldn’t make a big deal over a random guest. Only if it were someone significant like… Trevor Montgomery.
Is he here?
No, that’s ridiculous.
But her response highlighted how deeply she feared running into him. She knew he lived in town—it preoccupied her every thought—and she dreaded bumping into him at Calamity Joe’s or while out hiking the trails. How mortifying would that be? She could imagine his expression of pity, thinking she’d moved here to pursue him.
Uh, excuse me. Pity?
When he sees this place, he’ll be blown away.
Now, shake it off. It’s definitely not him. “Who is it?”
“You won’t believe this.” Her sister paused for dramatic effect. “It’s Cole.” And then, as if Jess didn’t know exactly who she was talking about, she said, “Cole Montgomery .”
For just one moment, the world stopped spinning. It lurched and rocked.
Trevor’s son ?
Is here? Now?
This is not happening.
Heat flashed across her body. “Who’s he with?” Please don’t say Trevor.
Do not say Trevor.
“It’s just him and four little girls.” Amber reached for her. “I can’t imagine how weird this is for you. You don’t have to go out there.”
“No, no. It’s fine.” Liar. It wasn’t fine at all. Disoriented, she didn’t know which impulse to follow. Either she turned back into her office and shut the door or hurried into the dining room to see him.
“Do you think he knows about you?” her sister asked.
“No.” Why would Trevor tell his son about some ex-girlfriend from thirty years ago? “He might’ve said something in passing. Like if he knew I opened this resort”—which, come on, would be impossible to miss considering the lengths she’d gone to promote it—“he might’ve said, ‘Oh, someone from my hometown owns it.’ But that can’t be why his son is here.”
Somehow, this was harder than seeing her ex. She’d thought the worst thing that ever happened was when he’d walked out the door of that motel room. But no. Seeing him as a father had broken her.
Because he’d gotten someone pregnant not even two years after abandoning her.
She’d never recovered.
Obviously. She’d never gotten married.
At least it had been the kick in the ass she’d needed to build a life for herself and stop waiting for Trevor to come back.
She owed this beautiful life to his cold, ruthless dismissal.
But her sister didn’t need to know any of this. “Let’s not worry about Cole Montgomery. We’ve got a broken freezer and a shortage of pastries to handle. Now, I’ve already heard back from the Singing Baker, so we should be okay. As soon as I hear from the Emporium?—”
“Sweetie.” Her sister set her hands on Jess’s shoulders. “It’s okay to be shook.”
That simple statement broke the dam, and a rush of tears filled her eyes.
Oh, dammit.
Not here. Not now.
She was so used to being a mother to her sisters that she rarely opened the door to her own emotional life. But for thirty years, Trevor had been a hard knot of pain in the center of her heart.
So, now, to know his son and granddaughters were out there…
That he’d had a whole family…
Without me.
And as much as she wanted to be over it, she simply wasn’t. Maybe it made her weak and foolish, but… It is what it is . “Yeah, okay. I’m shook.”
Because that man out there in the dining room? That should be her son. Not some random woman’s.
“You stay in the kitchen,” Amber said. “I’ll handle front of house.”
But a sense of urgency took over, and Jess shook her head. “No.” She had to see the boy—well, man. Cole was a father now. “I want to see him.”
Her sister nodded. “Okay. You go on, and I’ll handle the freezer issue.”
“Thank you.” She pulled her sister in for a hug. “I love working with you.”
Watching her sister leave, Jess knew she’d made the right choice all those years ago. Helping her sister navigate pregnancy and motherhood and getting their youngest sister through college had formed an unbreakable bond between the three of them. It had been worth putting off her own career to get them on the right track.
As she headed into the dining room, she drew a deep breath.
Here we go .
As a hockey superstar, Cole Montgomery’s face was plastered all over the news and social media. Until he’d married, he’d had a reputation for being a heartbreaker and a party boy.
Which, interestingly, his movie star father did not.
She steeled herself for the wallop of emotion she’d get from seeing Trevor’s son.
But it didn’t come. Because she didn’t see her ex’s lookalike. She saw a handsome, fit man sitting at a table with four little girls. Two were in highchairs. One of them patted her little hands on the tray, smooshing strawberry shortcake and bobbing her head along to a song only she could hear, while the other greedily shoved fistfuls of whipped cream into her mouth.
The other two were notably older—a definite age gap between the two sets. Cole sat perfectly at ease, handing a napkin to one daughter, offering a scone to the oldest, and chatting with them as though they were his buddies.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him.
Wholly focused on his girls, he didn’t seem concerned about being recognized. Which she appreciated. It meant he trusted this place. Given the level of luxury at her resort, she’d invested heavily in security. No one would be taking pictures of celebrities. Her highest priority was making her guests feel safe and at ease.
Watching him interact with his daughters, it was clear Trevor had raised a good son. A good man.
And dammit if her heart didn’t squeeze so hard it beckoned a second flood of tears.
Because she’d wanted to be the mother of his children. The boy she’d grown up with would’ve made a great dad.
She would’ve liked to have seen that.
Once, she’d imagined having a whole passel of kids. Turned out, she’d had none of her own.
My God. You have to stop this.
She didn’t usually wallow in the past. But being here in Calamity—where Trevor lived—dredged it all up. And now, seeing his son…
Enough.
Glancing around the room, she assured herself everything was going well. Her phone vibrated, and she blinked back tears to see Lulu had responded.
Lulu: I got you! Boxing it up right now.
Jessica: Oh, thank goodness! I appreciate you!
“Jess.” Her fiancé’s voice jerked her gaze up. Weaving around the tables, he made a beeline for her.
“What’re you doing here?” But she didn’t want to talk in the dining room, so she led him into the kitchen and over to an out-of-the-way spot. “Is everything okay?”
“Gabby’s husband left her.” He seemed frantic, and his salt-and-pepper hair looked like he’d raked his hands through it. But she understood. This is his daughter . “He just walked out the door.”
“Oh, no. That’s awful. What can we do?”
“I’m heading to the airport right now.”
Dammit. Why did I put off wrapping the presents until the last minute?
Well, no time to think about that now. She’d stuff them in her suitcase and finish in San Diego. “Okay, no problem. I’m already packed. Just give me fifteen minutes to grab my suitcase and tie up some loose ends.”
“No, no. I’m going by myself.” He looked distracted, like he wanted to be three steps ahead of this moment—checking his luggage and heading through security.
She’d been in tough situations with her sisters too many times to count. She got it. “I’m not leaving you alone right now. Let me handle all the details. I’ll call a car.”
“No.” He stopped her by covering her hand. “I’ve got one. It’s waiting outside. I just came to tell you I’m leaving.”
“Okay.” It was no big deal. “I’ll just meet you at the hotel. Let me know if I can do anything.”
“I’m not staying at a hotel. We’re all staying with my ex. My daughter, the grandkids. Me.”
What? She wasn’t so sure about that. “You want me to stay at your ex-wife’s house?”
“Jessica, no.” He pressed his lips together like he was trying to calm down. “Look, my daughter’s devastated. That bastard insisted she stay home with the kids. He kept her shut off from their finances. And now, he walks out on her, leaving her with nothing?”
“Well, he obviously forgot her dad’s an attorney because you’re not going to let him take advantage of her.” She rubbed his arm. “You’re not alone in this. I’m here. Remember, I have two sisters who’ve been through a lot.”
“Thank you for that.” He softened, brushing his hand across her cheek. “I got lucky with you.” He checked his watch. “Okay, I have to go. Your ticket’s flexible, so you can use it for another trip. Just call to let them know you won’t be on that flight.”
“What? You don’t want me to come at all?”
He shook his head. “She won’t want anyone but her mom and dad.” He smiled as though he knew she’d understand. “It’s a family matter.”
Stung, she reared back. I’m not family? “Okay.” She followed him to the back door.
Before he opened it, he turned to hug her. “I’m going to miss you.” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her on the mouth. “I’ll call you when I get settled.”
She was too stunned to reply, so she just stood there.
“Oh. Also, I’ve canceled my return flight. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
“What are you saying? You won’t be here for the New Year’s event?” That was the resort’s hard launch. It was the gala and the polar plunge.
It seemed trivial compared to what his daughter was going through, but she’d looked forward to sharing the special night with her fiancé.
“It’s unlikely. I’ll have to stay as long as she needs me.” He kissed her cheek. “I have to run.” He hurried off, his boots crunching in the snow.
Shaken, Jess stood there, letting the icy cold air wash over her.
Seconds (or was it minutes? Hours?) later, her sister pulled her into the kitchen. “What’re you doing, you nut?”
The sudden warmth made her skin sting. “Joel left. He’s going to California without me.”
“You broke up?” Her sister sounded surprised.
“No. He needs to be there for his daughter. Her husband walked out on her.”
“Okay.” She studied her. “Are we happy or sad about not going?”
“I understand where he’s coming from.” That might’ve sounded a little flat. Well, frankly, she didn’t know how she felt. Unsettled. A little…shaken, maybe?
Numb.
Amber made a circular emotion. “I don’t know what’s happening with your face.”
“I guess I’m hurt?”
“Well, yeah, that’s fair. I would be too.”
“But I’m overreacting. His daughter’s in crisis, and I’ve never even met her, so, of course, she wouldn’t want some stranger there.”
Okay, yes. This makes sense.
“Jess, it’s Christmas . And he’s icing you out? That’s… I mean, his daughter’s important, but you’ve been together a year. Aren’t you important too?”
Good question. “Apparently not.” She tried to laugh, but it came out a weird kind of honk. “I don’t know. We’d better get back to work.”
“Are you good?” Amber asked.
“Yes.” Not really. She was still reeling. Unsettled.
“Great, because our server of the year hit an icy patch and ran off the road. But don’t worry. She swears the pastries are fine, and I’ve sent someone out there to grab them. We’re all good.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Jess shook her head, but she wasn’t entirely present. Her mind bobbed like a buoy on the ocean. “Well, you handled it, so… Perfect. Thanks. Okay.” She started back to her office.
“Why are you talking like a robot?”
But she waved her sister off. “I have to cancel my flight.”
“Do you though?”
Jess stopped. “What does that mean?”
Her sister caught up with her. “It means you’ve arranged this time off. Why not go and have some fun? Do some Christmas shopping in New York City. Hang out by the pool in Florida.”
“Because it’s the opening.”
“And you’ve set it up so everything can’t help but run smoothly. Besides, there’s nothing between the tea and Christmas Eve. You deserve a break.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” She said it with a smile, but the vise around her heart tightened, and she didn’t know why.
“What? No.” Her sister’s tone turned urgent. “Jess, you’ve been working your ass off your whole life. And let’s be honest, you didn’t get a childhood because when Mom died, you stepped into that role. You raised us when you weren’t even an adult yourself.”
“I love you guys.”
“And we love you. More than you know. But you’ve trained us well, and between me and Kelly and our husbands, we’ve got this place covered. Even if you don’t want to leave, at least take a day or two off and go shopping. Enjoy the town you’ve wanted to live in your whole life. Visit Owl Hoot, take a spa day… go ice skating in Wild Wolff Village.”
“That does sound nice.” But something was niggling at the back of her mind. No, not just there. It ran like a current down her arms and legs. “Maybe I’ll do that.” She forced a smile and headed into her office.
Now, what was I doing? She tried to focus, but her vision swam, and she couldn’t see anything beyond the blur of her laptop, her water bottle, and the boxes of shampoo samples she needed to try.
Ah. The presents.
Well, no need to rush wrapping them anymore.
She glanced at her phone to see if there was something she needed to follow up on. As she scrolled, she noticed an unfamiliar name.
Chris Pullman .
Who’s that? She read the last text he’d sent.
Chris: Please! I’m desperate. I’ll pay you double what you normally charge!
Oh, right. The consulting job . His family owned a hotel in Iceland, and he wanted to turn it into a luxury resort. Normally, she’d be all over a job like that. But the timing was off.
And yet… there went her fingers, texting him back.
Jessica: Double, huh?
She didn’t know why she’d done that. Nor did she know how he could offer to raise her fees when he didn’t know what they were to begin with. She didn’t list them on her website. Her consulting business was strictly word of mouth.
Chris: Hello! Excuse me, I just choked on my wine. Let me go clean up my mess, and then I’ll come back and incentivize you properly.
She smiled. Who is this guy? While she waited, she swiped to the start of the conversation.
Chris: Hello. My name is Chris Pullman, and I got your name from Leizel Ramos. I stayed at her Maldives resort and fell in love with her aesthetic (well, and her, but that’s a story for another day haha. Fast forward to the ending: she didn’t love me back). Anywho, my family owns this fabulous hotel in Iceland—well, I suppose if I want to work with you, I should be transparent. It’s not so fabulous. But it can be. Can we talk?
Jessica: Thanks for reaching out, Chris. Normally, I’d be all over this project, but I’ve just opened my own resort in America and have to give it my full attention. Best of luck with your project.
Chris: Wait! Hear me out. What if you come out here right now (I promise to get you home in time for hot toddies by the fire on Christmas Eve) to walk the halls of this (potentially) glorious old dame, and then you can do the rest of the job remotely? Please? There’s no one else I’d trust with this place.
The temptation surprised her. Why was she even interested?
Was it to show Joel that she was wanted somewhere? That she wasn’t going to stay home and wallow in his rejection?
No, that didn’t ring true. Whatever was niggling…it wasn’t rejection.
Another text came in.
Chris: To be clear, I don’t want just anyone for this job. I want you. And since I know it’s a lousy time of year to ask for you to fly out here, I’ll pay you double what you normally charge.
She watched the three dots dance as he composed another message.
Chris: What’s the one thing you need for your resort’s success that you don’t have at this exact moment?
Jessica: Guests
Chris: Hahaha! I like you already. We’re going to get on swimmingly. What’s the deficit you’re looking at right now?
Even though she couldn’t possibly take this job, she was intrigued. So, she threw out a number he’d never be able to pay. Just because she wasn’t ready to end the conversation.
Jessica: Two million dollars.
Chris: You thought that would throw me off, didn’t you?! You underestimate my determination to make quitting my job and moving to Iceland mean something. I’ll pay you two hundred thousand for the week, and if you decide to take the job, I’ll pay you two million. How’s that? Did I win you over?
It was a wild offer. Still, she couldn’t take it. Not when she had so much to do here.
Jessica: Christmas is in six days. I can’t come for a week.
Chris: Fair. How many days can I get?
She glanced at the calendar she kept on her wall. The next three days had red slashes marking them. She took travel into consideration.
And just like that, she wasn’t playing with him anymore.
Jessica: Four. I have to be back for Christmas Eve. My niece is getting married.
Chris: Sold! But I’m carving your fee back to $199,999. So, when can you get here?
Would he seriously pay her two million dollars for this job? She kept her rates extremely high, not only because her time was valuable but to screen out people who weren’t serious.
This man was serious.
And in that moment, the niggling stepped out of the shadows and took solid form.
I’m never anyone’s first choice.
Trevor chose his career.
Her sisters loved her, but she wasn’t an actual mother to them. She’d just stepped into the role. They had their own husbands and children, and as much as they loved her, she wasn’t in the center of that.
And Joel, who was supposed to put her first, had locked her out when a crisis hit his family.
Were you ever really inside though?
You never even met his daughter.
She needed to think. And she couldn’t do that here.
Jessica: Sir, it’s Christmas. Don’t you have presents to wrap?
Chris: Sadly, no.
Her heart pinched. She might be the fifth wheel in her family dynamic, but at least she had them. She had her sisters, her brothers-in-law, and her nieces and nephews.
Chris: My assistant does that for me. LOL! But seriously, I’ll get you home in time for Christmas Eve. All I want is for you to look around, get a sense of the scope of the project, and get your brilliant mind working on ideas. Then, we’ll talk after New Year’s. Sound good?
She shouldn’t do this. Once she got into a project, she became obsessed. Her mind would start spitting out ideas, and she’d get lost for hours researching colors, styles, and drawer pulls.
God, she loved her job.
Jessica: What’s the urgency? Can it wait until spring when I’m clear of this opening?
Chris: If I were a normal sort of man, then, yes. By all means, it could wait. But there’s so much to do, and I want to honor the legacy of this place?—
Ping. He’d just roused the part of her soul that yearned for meaningful jobs like this. She loved history, loved family traditions… Yeah, he got her with that one.
Chris: Also, you should know, pretty much everyone in my family works in construction. We’ve got plumbers, electricians, architects, contractors…you name it. And they’re all on standby, ready to go. So, what do you say? Are you up for an adventure?
Jessica: I am. But to be clear, I’m not committing to the project just yet. At the very least, I can write up a report that will guide you through every step.
Chris: Yes! I’m sending you a round-trip ticket right now.
Huh. Guess I’m going to Iceland.