Chapter 17
Zane
The storm passed, covering Alpine Falls in a thick blanket of snow overnight. Despite everyone’s opinions about me, I do like this time of year. I don’t love all the people mingling around town, cluttering the place up, but it keeps us in business, so I shouldn’t complain about that.
I spent the entire evening watching the girls decorate the town tree, while helping Mr. Mackie with the lights.
Larry was nowhere to be seen, but that doesn’t mean anything.
Last year, he put a full display in his front yard — covering the entire roof — there were so many lights he blew out the power, much to Mr. Mackie’s delight, but it was his wife he had to be really scared of.
She wasn’t happy about the power going out while baking Christmas cookies.
I think he’s still saving face from last year.
I still have the resort to contend with for the light decorations, and my idea to put up a huge Frosty snowman, just like they did one time in Silver Pines — and is now an annual tradition — isn’t beyond me. The resort has it coming, that’s all I can say.
Sadie is dressed in a woolen white roll-neck sweater and tight jeans, a matching white bobble hat and scarf, and yet again, she’s misplaced her mittens.
I don’t know what it is about her and those damn things, but I’ve ordered a dozen pairs from the outfitters so she doesn’t freeze to death and have her fingers fall off.
She and my sister are sipping eggnog, laughing about some joke my grandpa is telling them.
Of course, both of my grandparents love her already.
George bumps my shoulder. “Penny for your thoughts.” He zeroes in on my gaze, then gives me a very obvious eye roll. “You still got googly eyes for the new chick?”
I sigh. “I don’t have googly eyes. I’m makin’ sure Bailey didn’t spike the eggnog, Sadie has to work tomorrow.” God, I sound like her father.
“Uh, huh.”
I switch my attention to him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He holds his hands up in surrender. “Nothing.”
“Not like you to keep it to yourself.”
“Fine, I think she likes you, too.”
I frown. “What do you mean, too?”
“I’m a cop. It’s my job to notice these things, and she keeps stealing glances over here when she thinks you’re not looking, the same as you’re doing to her.”
Why does my heart thump in my chest that much harder hearing that? “She’s probably wondering how she can escape this hellhole and get outta here without her ears fallin’ off from those two yabberin’.”
George casts a glance over at my sister and mom. “Iz sure likes to yap. You think the new girl’s fitting in?”
“For a city girl, yeah, she seems to be right at home.”
“You think she’ll stick it out?”
I run a hand over my face. “I don’t know, but now we’re gonna be roomies.”
His eyes widen as I take a chug of my beer. “What in the fuck?”
“Courtesy of Mom and Dad. The east wing windows are screwed and lettin’ in the cold, Martie can’t repair them for a few weeks because he needs special glass he can’t get here.
Sadie was supposed to move into the staff quarters.
I called everywhere in town, but everything is booked out for the holidays. ”
He chuckles to himself. “I can’t imagine it’ll be a hardship.”
“I like my space.”
“Yeah, but she’ll be under your roof. Don’t tell me you don’t think she’s cute.”
“Even if I did, there’s cute, and then there’s crossin’ the line.”
“Since when did that bother you?” The traitor laughs.
I shoot him a glare. “She’s my employee.”
“So? She’s easy on the eyes, in fact, wait a minute, she’s single right?”
I point a finger in his face. He may be the sheriff, but Sadie is off limits. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Woah, big guy,” he laughs harder this time, holding his plans up. “I thought you didn’t care?”
“I don’t.”
“Uh-huh. Well, there goes Bailey givin’ everyone more eggnog. Pretty sure Bail’s emptied a bottle of rum into the bowl when nobody was looking.”
“Jesus.”
“She’s a wild one.” He tips his bottleneck over to the girls at the same time Sadie glances over. She quickly looks away and my best friend smirks. “See.”
“If I’d known you’d be here givin’ me the third degree, I would’ve taken off ages ago,” I mutter.
“But instead you’ve been sippin’ on that beer all night because you’re the responsible one drivin’ loved ones home.”
I swallow. “It’s what I do.”
He grips my shoulder. “Buddy, I say this with all sincerity. It’s time.”
I frown. “What’s time?”
He sighs. “To move on.”
I double back. “I’m over all that shit. Was over it a long time ago.”
“What they did was rotten to the core, and good fucking riddance to both of them, but bud, you’re holding out, don’t tell me you’re not.”
I shake my head. “You’re a fruit loop.”
“Don’t deflect. I know you. You don’t want anyone to see you’re a good person with a big heart, just in case they get too close.”
I don’t look at him. “You’ve had too much eggnog. Next you’re gonna tell me I need to get in touch with my feminine side.”
“Hey, nothing wrong with that, either, but don’t let a good thing get away because you’re afraid of getting hurt, you know what I’m saying? Whether it’s Sadie or some other girl. You’re not gonna be young forever.”
“Speak for yourself. You’re like two years older than me and you’re still single.” I take another pull of my beer. We don’t talk like this, but George has always been able to articulate feelings and shit way better than I have.
“I’m single and looking, there’s a difference.”
“Got it. You done with the lecture?” I huff.
“Not even close.”
“Anyone told you you’re annoying?”
“Nope.”
I scoff. “Right.” I run a hand over my face again.
His heart is in the right place, and he was there for me when I fell apart.
Without him and most of the people in this town, I don’t know where I’d be.
Even though the townsfolk can be up in your business most of the time, they keep their prying eyes away and gossip to a minimum. “Appreciate it.”
Even I can admit tonight was pleasant. Despite my family telling stories and being embarrassing, they mean well. My mom would invite complete strangers into our home in fear they’d be alone for the holidays. Like Sadie.
I think about what George said and brush it off. His words resonated and made sense, but I don’t want to think about it right now.
By the time I drive Bailey and Sadie home, Bails is asleep in the back of my truck, snoring like a grizzly bear.
“She could wake the dead,” I say, taking the mountain road slowly. Even in my truck, these roads are slippery at this time of year.
“I can hear her through the walls,” Sadie giggles. “I invested in some earplugs.”
That somehow makes me chuckle ever so lightly.
Now is probably as good a time as any to approach the impending elephant in the room. “Listen, I tried to find you a room to move into, but everywhere is booked. If anythin’ comes up, I’ll be the first to know. For now, looks like it’s my place.”
“I hate the thought of imposing on you,” she says. “But I promise I’ll stay out of your hair, though I can’t say the same for Mindy, she’s needy, and she loves cuddles.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Yeah, I hope you’re not allergic?”
I shake my head. “I’m kiddin’. Animals love me, remember?”
“Thanks for doing this.” She’s looking straight ahead when she continues, “Like I said at the interview, I had a shitty time of late, and I did love my job before they fired me.”
I pique a brow. “I’m sorry they let you go, they sound like assholes.”
“I worked hard,” she goes on. “But corporate don’t care. You’re just another ass in a seat, ya know? I don’t know… maybe being here has made me realize my worth. After being here and feeling like I’m part of something bigger, it feels... I don’t know, different.”
“That’s what small towns do to you.”
She gives me a little chastising slap on the bicep, more like a tap, and my body reacts. My jaw sets, my hands grip the steering wheel, and my dick hardens. Fuck, I love her touch, even when it’s a slap on the arm. I’ll take it.
She notices. “Zane, are you okay?”
I nod. “I’m fine, the road is slippery.”
“You look so tense.”
“Like I said, the mountain is dangerous at nighttime.”
I swallow hard as she stares at me. “I’ve had a bit to drink,” she confesses. “And I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but you’re a good boss.”
I frown. “I am?”
“Yep.”
I laugh into my fist, pressed against my mouth. “How do you figure? Most people won’t work for me in this town.”
She shrugs. “You’re set in your ways. Most of us are. You’re not a big grump, you’re just who you are because you self protect.”
My heart races in my chest. Then I realize Bailey probably told her about my past. Fantastic. Just what I need — more sympathy.
I don’t answer before she continues; “You could say I hit rock bottom until Bailey told me about Alpine Falls. The job came along at the right time. Plus, my ex keeps messaging me.”
My brow furrows hearing that last part. “Well, he better not come around here. I have a sharp ax,” I say, meaning every word.
“Now, now, we don’t need to resort to anything like that,” she sighs. “But yes, he was a cheating douchebag. I didn’t know until I, uh, found his Tinder and Snapchat profiles.” She shudders in response.
“Cheaters are fucking jerks.”
“Such jerks. I don’t get it. If things were so bad, why didn’t he just leave? I’m not saying I’m a perfect person, far from it, but I would never cheat on anyone, no matter how bad things were.”
“I’ll never understand it.” I clear my throat. And I don’t know why, but I blurt out, “I guess you heard about my situation?”
She nods slowly. “Bails told me. I’m sorry. You seem like a nice guy, it sucks when people you trusted betray you. She clearly wasn’t worth it, and your friend? What an asshole.”
“You can say that again.” I grip the steering wheel.
“What an asshole,” she repeats. “Or is it asshat?”
She turns her head, and we both share a small private joke.
Man, it feels good. I haven’t allowed myself to feel this good in a long time.
I never wanted to get close to a woman ever again because I didn’t want to feel pain like that again in my life.
Maybe I can’t admit it out loud, but I feel as if she understands.
We’ve both been cheated on, she knows the drill.
It fucking sucks.
“Well, for what it’s worth, the guy is an idiot,” I say. “And your roommate? No fucking excuse for doing that to you with your money. She’ll get what’s comin’ to her.”
“I guess this is what happens when you trust people,” she sighs. “You get burned.”
“Not all people.”
Our eyes meet again. Her eyes soften. “You’re a good man, Zane Lawless, a very good man.”
Her words echo in my mind for longer than they should.
It seems to be only now that I’m realizing I haven’t let anyone in since my ex.
George has tried to make me aware of it, Rich too, on more than one occasion.
But having that conversation with Sadie felt different.
She knows exactly where I’m coming from because she has been through the same situation herself. That really struck a chord with me.
And there’s more than a cord being struck later in the week when we arrange for her to have a key to my place. In no time at all, she’s bringing some of her belongings over.
Granted, she doesn’t seem to have too much stuff, a couple of suitcases with clothes and shoes, but it sparks something in me watching her moving her things into the house.
I cleaned out the spare room to make sure I didn’t have any of my shit lying around, not that I have too much stuff, I’m a pretty minimal kind of guy.
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll spend a couple of nights here before I head off to see my folks with Bailey,” she says when I’ve helped her haul the last couple of boxes with Mindy’s stuff from the truck. “Get Mindy used to her new surroundings and all. Are you still okay with looking after her?”
I did offer, after all.
“Sure thing,” I say. When she bites down on her lip, unsure, I raise a brow. “You don’t trust me?”
“Of course I do, Mindy is just… fussy, I guess.” Right as she says it, Mindy brushes up against my legs back and forth. I reach down to pick her up because I’ve learned fairly quickly she likes a cuddle.
“You were sayin’?”
I’m still getting used to this new arrangement; I also don’t usually have employees staying at my house. With Sadie, however, it feels weirdly natural. I fucking like it.
I clear my throat, feeling awkward by my wayward thoughts, because now I can see the indent of her teeth on that bottom lip. And that isn’t going to help matters.
“I appreciate it. Mindy isn’t great in the car,” she goes on. “Thanks, Zane.”
I nod. “No problem.”
It feels like we’re on mutual ground, and I’m A-okay with that.