Chapter 5
Noelle
The first thing that hit me when I opened my eyes was the peace.
No buzzing phone, no alarms, no calendar reminders blowing me up.
Just quiet. The peaceful quiet that made me lay there for a minute and actually breathe.
A faint smell of pine drifted through the cabin from the wreath hanging near the door.
It was subtle, not loud, but it reminded me I was nowhere near my usual chaos.
I checked the time. Almost ten. Back home in Atlanta, I would’ve already handled six different fires by now.
Here, my notifications were light. Promo emails, a shipping alert, and one message from Bree.
Bree: You made it. Breathe.
I smiled and put the phone facedown. I told her I was leaving work alone this whole week, and for once, I meant it.
My body felt loose and rested, but under all that calm was a slow throb in my thighs reminding me what I did last night.
I shut that thought down fast because if I didn’t, I’d end up back in that damn tub thinking about a man I didn’t know.
I sat up and reached for the Winter Haven brochure on the nightstand.
Bree sent the digital copy before I came, but I never opened it.
Last night, I flipped through it and circled a few things; massage therapy, a thermal spa, a couple hiking trails, and the mixer tonight at the lodge.
A “holiday social warm-up for the week,” complete with a little snowflake logo next to it.
Cute. I needed the massage, I needed the spa, I needed…
the break. Today, though, I just wanted something warm to drink and a walk around the resort so I could get my bearings.
These mountains were beautiful as hell and the fresh snow from last night made everything look like a post-card, but I wasn’t trying to get lost in no winter wonderland by myself.
I showered, moisturized, unwrapped my hair, and slipped into leggings, a cream turtleneck, boots, and my camel coat. Outside the window, soft flakes drifted down like the mountains were dusting themselves off. I grabbed the map, locked the cabin door, and stepped outside.
Cold air met me instantly, making me pull my jacket a little tighter.
Snow lined the path and crunched under my boots as I walked.
Tall evergreens wrapped in subtle white lights lined the walkway…
it felt different from the city. I pulled out the map and tried to make sense of it.
Whoever designed it needed their ass fired.
None of the symbols matched what I was seeing.
I flipped it once. Then again. Then again as the irritation started rising.
“This don’t make no damn sense,” I muttered.
My mind drifted back to last night when I shouldn’t have been thinking about him at all. The stranger at the bar… those eyes. The way he was staring at me like he was undressing me with them had me clenching my thighs tight.
“Get it together, Noelle,” I whispered.
“You lost?” The deep voice came from behind me.
“Yeah. I—”
I turned around mid-sentence and the rest of the words got stuck in my throat.
It was him… Mr. fine ass from the bar. The same one who had me in the tub last night cumin’ so hard to just the thought of him.
Damn. He was even finer in the daylight.
His face, his body, that cocky, rich confidence he carried…
my whole body reacted before my thought could catch up.
He stood a few feet away, dressed in a black thermal and joggers, shoulders broad, eyes locked on me like he could see straight through whatever front I had.
I swallowed lightly. “I’m trying to get to the lodge.”
He nodded once toward the trail behind me. “You walking the wrong way.”
Of course I was. I glanced back at the path then folded the map before I embarrassed myself further.
“Figures,” I said.
He smirked. “You here for the week?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Solo?”
I met his eyes. “Yeah.”
He studied me for a second, and it felt like he saw more than I wanted him to.
“That’s what’s up. You headed to the lodge?” he asked.
“Um… Yes.”
“I’ll walk you.”
My instinct said I don't know you like that. But the way he said it shut down whatever excuse I had ready. I nodded. “Okay.” We walked side by side, quiet but not awkward. Something about him pulled at me without feeling forced. My body was aware of him in a way I couldn’t hide if I tried.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Elise,” I said, remembering the fake name Bree booked under. “Yours?”
“Caleb,” he answered without hesitation.
Caleb. That name didn’t fit him worth a damn. Sounded like somebody’s nice neighbor, not this fine, dangerous-looking man standing in front of me. But I tucked it away anyway, right next to that stare he gave me last night.
“You from around here?” he asked.
“Atlanta,” I said. “You?”
“Dallas.”
“Mmm.” I nodded. “You’re a long way from home.”
We reached the lodge and stepped inside.
Warm air wrapped around me instantly, smelling like coffee, cinnamon, and whatever fresh pastries they had baking.
A big Christmas tree sparkled in the corner; gold lights, silver ornaments and ribbon tucked in neat spirals.
Not a combination I would’ve put together, but whoever decorated it knew what they were doing.
It was simple, but it worked. My eyes drifted over the garland along the banisters and the wreaths above the fireplace—subtle, all matching the same color story.
Someone definitely hired a professional.
I caught myself evaluating it like I was on the clock and had to mentally tap out. Girl, you’re on vacation.
Couples chatted by the fireplace. A few people worked on laptops. Everything felt calm and easy in a way I wasn’t used to. We ended up near the hot drink station, and I grabbed a peppermint mocha. He leaned beside me, watching me take a sip like it was the most interesting thing in the room.
“You coming to that mixer tonight?” I asked.
He shrugged lightly. “Shit like that ain’t really my cup of tea. All this Christmasy shit.” He looked around at all the garland and lights. “Is too extra for me.”
“What? You don’t like the holidays?” I questioned
“Not at all.” He mumbled.
“You don’t like people either?” I teased.
“I like peace,” he said. Then his eyes dropped to my mouth for a second before meeting my eyes again. “But if you’re gonna be there, I might show up.”
My stomach flipped. My pulse did something I didn’t approve of.
“Oh, really?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “Really.”
Heat ran through me and I had to look away before my face betrayed me.
“Well… I should head back and change for the day.” I cleared my throat, trying to sound normal. “Thanks for walking me.”
He nodded once. “Anytime.”
I turned to leave, barely holding myself together from being so close to him.
“Elise.”
I stopped and faced him again.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
My thighs pressed together on instinct. Damn.
I managed a small smile. “You will.” Then I made myself walk away. I was calm on the outside, but I was melting on the inside, heading back toward my cabin to get ready for the night mixer, already knowing I wasn’t going to be able to think about anything except him until then.