Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
MARISSA
Marissa hoped that William was right about the brewery. The cold mist from the partially frozen river brushed her face as they traipsed a treacherously icy sidewalk leading down the rocky hillside.
William stayed a couple of steps ahead of her, keeping his hand on hers so she wouldn’t bite it and fall.
It was a sweet gesture. She found herself wanting to trust him.
“So tell me more about the cheese business,” he said, watching his footing while maintaining a firm grip on her.
“What do you want to know?”
“Why cheese?”
“It’s not just cheese,” Marissa corrected him.
“It’s the experience of food. I love arranging platters because it perfectly balances art and nourishment.
It’s really about speaking to customers’ souls.
Food is a love language. There are so many layers that go into arranging.
It’s the symphony of flavors and how they pair and complement each other.
You know the saying ‘we eat with our eyes’?
” She could feel herself starting to gush.
This always happened when she talked about food.
William nodded, listening carefully.
“That’s what I love,” she continued. “It’s always something new. It’s never boring, and to be completely honest, it feels good to make other people feel good.”
“I get that.” He sounded almost wistful. “That’s how I feel about teaching.”
“Yeah, tell me about teaching.” She genuinely wanted to know how he had ended up in a classroom instead of a boardroom. “I’m surprised that you’re not in the family business. It seems more lucrative than education.” Marissa squeezed his hand tighter as she navigated a slippery patch of ice.
“Yeah, that’s what my dad thinks, too.” His tone shifted, the edge of something heavier starting to slip in. “Money’s not everything. Commercial real estate is his passion. That’s his dream. Not mine.”
“Really?” Marissa’s brows lifted. “Is he not okay with you teaching?”
William reached out, steadying her forearm with a light touch. “It’s complicated. Families, you know?”
“Yeah, I do. I worked in the corporate world before I started Yes, Cheese.” Marissa couldn’t believe she was opening up to him, and at the same time, she didn’t want to stop.
He was surprisingly easy to talk to, and they had much more in common than she ever would have imagined.
“The money was way better and I had great benefits, but I realized it wasn’t the right match for me.
I didn’t love the work, and if I stayed, I was going to end up there forever.
That’s why I took a risk and started Yes, Cheese.
It’s not exactly like arranging charcuterie boards is everyone’s dream profession, but it makes me happy. ”
“You could argue that being happy is the only goal. If you do something you love, you spread joy and pave the way for others to realize their dreams.” William moved his hand around her waist as they got to a set of stairs that were precariously coated in an inch of ice. “Careful. Watch your step here.”
“I never thought of being happy like that,” Marissa admitted, taking tiny steps as she shuffled downward; his hand anchored her, almost searing, and part of her didn’t want him to ever let go.
“Happiness is the dream, right? I think sticking it out at a job you hate damages you and everyone around you. I applaud you for recognizing that and following your dream.”
Marissa studied his face for any hint of sarcasm, but William’s eyes were sincere. Had she completely misread him?
“Careful.” He grabbed her as her foot missed the last step.
She launched forward, stumbling straight into his arms. He caught her with one firm grasp, steadying her body against his chest. He smelled like the forest, cinnamon, and hops.
His breath was on her neck. She couldn’t swallow.
It was like her airway had shrunk. For a minute, she thought they might kiss.
There was no denying the chemistry between them. It crackled like the ice beneath their feet, but Marissa forced herself to refocus. There was still a hunt to win.
“Thanks. Good save.” She pulled away and breathed the frosty air in through her nose.
“We can’t have our Snow Princess breaking a leg.” William winked, the tension easing a touch.
“Hey, yeah, speaking of that,” she said too quickly, grateful to shift the conversation back to the next clue. “You haven’t gotten any notifications for bonus challenges on the app yet, have you?”
“Nothing for this Jack Frost.” He pointed toward the brewery building. “Maybe we’ll learn more inside.”
“Hopefully. At least my nose won’t be frostbitten.”
“It’s cute.” William tapped the tip of her nose. “You’re like a real-life Rudolph.”
Marissa rolled her eyes and pressed her lips together. “Inside.”
“As you wish, Princess. As you wish.”
The brewery’s interior was cavernous, with high ceilings and shiny brewing equipment. A long bar and tasting area sat to the left. To the right was a newly expanded outdoor seating area.
“Can I help you?” the hostess asked.
“We’re wondering if there are any openings for a tour?” William emphasized “tour,” raising his brows knowingly.
The woman consulted her reservation list. “Sorry. I’m booked for tonight. You’re welcome to head over to the bar for tastings. Our water-view deck is also open outside. The fire pits and heaters are on, but we warn guests that you might get wet if you sit too close to the edge.”
“Might get wet,” William repeated.
“From the spray from the falls,” the woman responded with a sly smile.
“That has to be it.” Marissa nudged William in the waist. “Can we just find a table outside?” Marissa asked the hostess.
“Help yourself. It’s first come, first served.”
William’s eyes were bright with enthusiasm. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of the observation deck sooner. They were working on construction when I was here this fall. I didn’t know it was already operational.”
“It makes sense that the Chamber would hide a clue here.” Marissa followed him outside. “It’s great PR to show off the new space.”
“Exactly.” William held the door open for her, allowing a gust of cold air in.
The covered outdoor deck featured wraparound glass fencing, providing a spectacular view of the gushing river rapids and the winter waterfall below.
This section of the Deschutes flowed over rocky boulders, creating a churn of whitewater and a small waterfall.
Giant redwood and cedar trees lined the opposite side of the river.
There were tables with built-in firepits and heat lamps throughout the welcoming space. Even though the temperature was below freezing, it was surprisingly warm under cover.
“This is seriously amazing,” William said, admiring the viewing area closest to the rushing water. “I could hang here for a while. Can you imagine how cool this will be on a hot summer day?”
“Yeah, but we don’t have time to hang out. We need to find the clue.”
“Right.” William pointed to the see-through barricade. “It must be over by the river and the falls. That’s the only place we might get wet.”
“I’m with you.” Marissa was already squeezing past the tables. The glass encasing the edge of the deck almost made it feel like she was falling into the river. A wave of dizziness came over her.
William put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m not so good with heights.” Marissa willed her body to stop swaying as tiny little spots clouded her vision.
“Take a step back. I’ve got this.” He leaned over the railing, making Marissa’s stomach flop.
“Do you see anything?” She squinted and tried not to imagine him launching over the side.
“Give me a minute.” He bent near the precarious edge. The falls were at least two hundred feet below.
The clue had been correct. She could feel the mist from the water below. That’s probably why the tables were all arranged a few feet away.
“I see a candy cane.” William turned around and gave her a thumbs-up. “I’ve got it.”
Marissa looked around them. She wondered how many other teams had figured out the clue and found the next one. No one appeared to be interested in what they were doing. People nearby were enjoying sipping beers and munching on bar snacks.
“What’s the clue?” Marissa felt jittery. She wasn’t sure if it was from the anticipation of finding the next clue, the rushing water throwing her off-balance, or just being around William.
William pulled up the app on his phone. “There’s a winter snowflake banner secured to the boulders on the far side of the river. It says, ‘Santa wants to see your selfie.’”
“Are we supposed to take a selfie? Is that the paparazzi piece we’re missing?”
“I think so.” William handed her his phone. “Look, it says ‘upload the photo here.’”
“And Santa wants to see it.”
“That’s what the banner says.” William put out his arm. “Shall we?”
Marissa posed with him, trying to calm the whooshing in her stomach by taking slow, deep breaths.
“Say cheese.” He nudged her waist. “Or, should I say, Yes, Cheese?”
She couldn’t help but smile.
While William uploaded the photo, Marissa thought about the next clue. “The Santa breakfast is tomorrow. That must be it.”
“Isn’t that for little kids?”
“Yeah, but if Santa wants to see our selfie, that’s the most likely place to find him.”
“Smart thinking, Grazing Table.”
Marissa’s cheeks warmed at him using the first nickname he’d given her.
“What do you say, since we’re already here, you want to grab another pint and a bite to eat? I’m starving. It’s been a long day, and it doesn’t sound like we can do anything else until we track down Santa tomorrow.”
She hesitated. First and foremost, because her bank account didn’t support dinner and drinks out every night, she didn’t want William to pay for her again, and she wasn’t sure spending more time with him was the best idea.