Chapter 5
Nicolette
The lodge door slams shut behind me with a loud crack, making me jump and slip once again in these blasted heels.
Unable to handle another second in them, I stomp off bits of snow and then pull them off in the doorway.
It’s uncivilized, but I don’t care anymore.
This day has been insane, and I can’t risk breaking my neck.
Silence greets me, and I glance at the clock, my stomach dropping when I realize just how long my little detour took. There aren’t many guests milling about, and it seems like I’m way too late. The dinner was probably a disaster without the flowers.
Missing its magic without the mistletoe.
Shit. Nothing I can do about it now. Feeling down, I wade further into the lodge on chilled feet, searching until I find my other half.
“I just met with the most annoying man in the entire world,” I announce as soon as I spot Wanda in the lounge.
She doesn’t glance up at me, and anxiety bubbles within me. Did the dinner end up being that bad? I never should have left.
“Congratulations. You’ve joined the club.” She finally glances up with a smile, allowing some of my stress to melt away.
I drop onto the recliner across from her and let out a long-suffering sigh. “I’m serious, Wanda. This guy was downright rude, ugh!” I set the flowers down on the table and then muster the courage to ask. “How did the dinner go?”
“Just perfect.” She smiles at me. “We were able to get poinsettias from Mrs. Larson’s hothouse, just like you thought, and then she found some fake mistletoe. It wasn’t all that realistic, but it was good enough to get the job done.”
My eyes widen in shock and pure relief. “Thank goodness!”
“Yeah, Greg pointed it out so loudly, then planted a huge overdramatic kiss on me.” Her eyes take on a moony glaze. “That got everyone laughing, and several made their way over to try their luck. My man was superb. It became a fun game for the less reserved couples.”
“That sounds lovely. You’re amazing. Thank you for taking care of everything.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t go well for you.” I look up at her and she explains, “Jerkface Mcrudeman—the guy you just met?”
“Oh, him?” I rub my temples and lean back in the recliner.
“I accidentally bumped into him outside the grocery store after shopping for the flowers. And by bumped, I mean that literally. BOOM. One second, I was walking, then sliding in those godforsaken heels. But Wanda, the way he looked at me. He was rude, grumpy, and grouchy, and yet, I found him unfairly hot. And that’s what pisses me off the most. Of course, I’m attracted to yet another asshole. ”
That grabs her attention, and she jumps onto the recliner next to mine, peeking up immediately. “Wait. Hot guy? Tell me more.”
“Nothing to tell.” I wipe my hand over my face.
“He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and gives off a rugged vibe like he’s been in the military or something.
I swear, his muscles had muscles. And that’s under a freaking coat.
And let’s not even talk about those piercing blue eyes that could practically see through me. ”
Wanda grins at me. “So basically, you met a knight in shining armor and you’re mad about it?”
“Yes! No! I mean—more like a grumpy hottie in flannel,” I groan, banging my head on the recliner. “Why does it have to be so confusing? Attractive and rude?”
“Because even roses have thorns,” she shrugs. Then, clapping her hands excitedly, she steers the subject in another direction. “Anyway, you’ve got to shake it off for your date tomorrow evening with suitor number two.”
“No, thank you.” I shrug. “I’m not going through that again. Ethan was a disaster.”
“He was?” Her genuine surprise shocks me. She has no idea how irritated I was at the restaurateur, who showed up just for the food.
“He was,” I confirm. Wanda’s face droops, crestfallen. And I’m pricked with guilt. All she wants is for me to meet a decent guy, so the least I can do is try. “Maybe this one will be better.”
“I hope so. Only one way to find out.” She grins giddily.
The day flies by in a whirlwind of matchmaking games and happy couples making connections. For all intents and purposes, this retreat looks to be going quite well. So, when evening arrives, I’m standing outside in the cold, bundled in a coat, hoping suitor number two does better.
At first, he impresses me, taking us on a crisp walk down the lodge’s moonlit trail that has twinkling fairy lights hanging from the trees, making the snow path glow—a kind of setting for a feel-good holiday romance. It’s a shame the company sucks.
“What a romantic walk,” I mutter to myself, watching my date walk ahead of me, without a glance back. I’m left to enjoy the scenery several steps behind, a bitter pit growing with every crunching footfall. “Another disaster.”
Suitor number two—James Holloway—ticks my first box by arriving early for the date.
But he has spent the last thirty minutes talking about himself, how childish his sister can be, his great enjoyment of fishing, and other bullshit.
Not a single question about me whatsoever, no witty banter or jokes. Dull. Dull. Dull.
Without bothering to wait for me, he just starts talking louder, his voice echoing through the quiet, snowy landscape. James prattles on, switching topics to real estate, giving a professor-worthy lecture on one of his latest properties, complete with price breakdowns.
For the first time in nearly ten minutes, he realizes I’m no longer walking beside him, and he stops, tapping his foot in the snow. “Have you ever thought about investing in real estate, Nicolette?” It’s the first question in fifteen minutes.
“Not given it much thought. Why?”
He chuckles as if I had made a joke. “Maybe that’s because you’ve never had a mentor to help.”
I fake a smile, immediately adding the name James Holloway to my list of Christmas disappointments. A few more minutes pass, and we continue the walk in silence until he halts.
“Let’s go this way,” he says, his finger pointing off the main path at a little trail to our right.
“That’s not marked, you know.” I frown.
“Exactly. I’ve heard there’s some kind of magical lake around these parts. It’s the lore of this tiny town. Let’s try to explore a bit.”
“James,” I hesitate. “I’m not sure we should do that. Besides, we aren’t dressed for hiking through the snow.”
James rolls his eyes as if to mock my lack of courage. “Live a little, Nicki. Don’t you want to have an adventure with me?”
His question takes me by surprise. When did I stop being adventurous and bold?
Had my previous relationships stolen that spark from me.
Although this man clearly isn’t right for me, perhaps this night doesn’t need to be a total bust. And he is right: Lustre Lake has beautiful forests and an enchanted lake (so they say).
Against my better judgment, I bury my common sense and follow him onto the path where the trees are thicker.
The moonlight barely filters through the leaves, and all we know for sure that we’re on a path is the snow crunching under our boots. For a second, I hope this doesn’t go south, that it turns out to be one of those magical moments people experience in their lives.
Almost halfway down the path, we follow another bend, which leads us to yet another path. Then, James freezes in front of me.
“Shhh—stop moving. What was that?”
I halt and strain my ears, hoping to hear any sound of danger. A low rustling sound accompanies quick movements through the trees. James stiffens. “That’s not a bear, is it?”
“No, there are no bears in Lustre.”
Before I can blink, he’s gone, running past me, through the trees, shrieking in fear without as much as a ‘good luck.’
Didn’t his file mention something about being a former Marine? Stunned, I stand there. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Before I can will my legs to follow, the rustling comes again.
This time it’s behind me, and my heart leaps, pounding in my chest. Instinctively, I run, hoping with my lack of geographic knowledge that I’ll find a path that intersects with this and be on the familiar twinkling light trail again.
It shouldn’t be that hard; I tell myself.
I flee, not caring that my fingers are almost stiff from the cold, my boots wet from standing in the snow. There’s no shining, romantic path ahead. Just miles of pine trees that I can’t see an end to.
Fear grips me. Why did I listen to James? The guy was such an asshole. I should’ve trusted my instincts. He’s probably halfway to the lodge, where he’ll have a drink by the cozy fire while I end up mauled by some kind of mountain wildlife.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
As if things need to get any worse, the wind begins to howl violently. “Unbelievable,” I mutter, fumbling in the deepening darkness. I take out my phone, put on the flashlight, and try to retrace my steps.
Everything looks the same, white and thick, an endless blanket and trees laughing at my terrible choice. A branch snaps, and I hold my breath.
What could it be? A wolf? A bear? A shape shifter? A lost serial killer on the run?
I grip my phone harder, like a weapon. The low-battery notification pops up immediately. Relief comes when I see a tiny rabbit trying to find its way in the snow.
“I’m losing it.” My breath comes out shaky. “You’re going to be fine, Nicolette. Just push on, you’ll find something or someone. And when you get back, Wanda is going to get an earful.”
“Oh, I hope she’s at least noticed I’m missing by now.”
With plans of revenge percolating in my mind, I push on, squinting through the thick snow at what’s ahead of me. Halfway onto the path, and there’s nothing. Glancing down at my phone, I see it finally shows a few bars of service, and I attempt to make a call to Wanda.
I rush at the chance, hoping I can call through before it goes off. Just when I think there’s a chance, I get a no-signal notification.
“Fuck, shit!” I curse, turning the light back on. “Why me? Why today? What if I die out here?”
Panic creeps in again at the thought of dying with no one by my side. I remind myself to keep calm and keep moving instead of staying in the cold.
People freeze to death all the time.
A sharp gust of wind pushes me forward, causing tendrils of my hair to float around me before covering my face. “Hello?” I call out, this time not scared of drawing attention. I just hoped James made it back after realizing he had abandoned an actual human alone in the woods.
Silence hits me.
I curse myself for agreeing to this stupid date in the first place. For ignoring my instincts, and coming out with James instead of sticking to my plan of staying in bed. I keep walking, praying silently for a sign that I won’t die of hypothermia.
Then, in the distance, my eyes find a gleaming light. It flickers like a candle in a window. Oh, please be a candle. Digging deep, I find some strength, and although my legs feel like Jello, I run towards it.
A cabin.
Relief floods me as I race toward salvation.