1. Natalie
Chapter One
NATALIE
Five years later
"Can you repeat that, please?"
The guy is looking at me across the counter with an expression of disbelief.
I have to admit I wasn't concentrating on what he said because he is, beyond any shadow of a doubt, the cutest guy to walk into The Gingerbread Palace during my four month stint here.
And while Snowflake Falls doesn't have a shortage of cute guys, the only problem is that nearly all of them are devoted family men who've already found the girl of their dreams.
His gray-blue eyes meet mine and he squints slightly over the steam from the coffee machine. His eyelashes are surprisingly long. But his face is so defined - swooping cheekbones, sculpted jaw - that the effect is defiantly masculine.
"Two babyccinos, one macchiato. A bag of gingerbread cookies. Here are the cups." He's enunciating every word to make sure I can hear as he places three eco-cups on the counter. One of them has a cartoon cat on the side, the other has a space rocket and the biggest cup is plain and blue.
I hold up the cat one and try to make light of the situation.
"This one's the macchiato?" I smile, appreciating his height and broad shoulders. He must be 6'2" at least.
The gorgeous man sighs. He didn't get the joke. He taps the lid of the plain cup. "This one."
"Yes, I know. I mean, I'm sorry but I was making a bad joke.
We can't accept eco cups, company policy.
It has to be served in a Gingerbread Palace disposable cup.
" I hold one up. It's printed with a grinning - actually what looks like a leering - neon gingerbread man who appears to have spiky, sinister teeth.
Several customers have remarked on the creepiness of the cup, and I've offered to redesign it, but my manager Chad isn't interested.
Cute guy's expression of disbelief turns to irritation. It's crazy but all this direct eye contact with this gorgeous stranger is making me feel a little dizzy. I need to pull myself together.
"You're kidding. You only serve your drinks in disposable cups? Have you any idea how bad that is for the environment?" He arches an eyebrow at me. They're dark, like his thick, dark hair. I'm lost, just for a second, imagining what it would feel like to run my fingers through it.
The problem is, I do understand his point.
He's not the first customer to be annoyed that we only use our own disposable cups. But Chad is a dinosaur who drives a Hummer and believes the world owes him a favor, not the other way around. He’s the wrong boss for me, considering all my artwork is made from repurposed materials and reflects the natural world.
But I need to pay my rent and after art college this is the first job I could get.
Sometimes I look in the mirror in the evening and wonder how I ended up here.
"Look, I'm really sorry but that's company policy.
" I press my lips together to stop myself saying something which will give away how I really feel about the situation. This job is the pits. It feels like I’ve given an essential part of myself away for the chance just to make my rent every week.
My feet hurt and I can feel Chad hovering in the background, listening to this exchange but - as usual - being too much of a wimp to step in and handle it.
I brace myself for an argument but the hot guy just stares into my eyes for another moment. He picks up the eco cups from the counter.
“Forget about it.” He turns and walks away.
Wow.
That’s the first time someone’s foregone their morning caffeine fix because of our stupid policy.
At least this guy sticks to his principles.
Unlike me.
“You didn’t handle that well, Natalie. Did you see how expensive that guy’s watch was? You should have just given him his coffee in his cup.” Chad frowns at me.
I raise my eyebrows so far up my forehead that I’m surprised they don’t twang off the ceiling. “Chad, you gave me a verbal warning when I served Neva coffee in her thermos flask that time. Why is this different?”
“Look, I’m not in the mood for an argument. You need to use your own judgement, Natalie. Your business skills are sorely lacking. When I took over this place I put my own stamp on it. I changed the name, shook things up…” Chad looks pleased with himself.
I’ve been biting my tongue for too long.
Something inside me snaps.
“Is that why takings have consistently fallen? It used to be busy here all year round when it was Peppermint. But now we only get the tourist crowd and everyone local goes to Dasher’s. You don’t ask for feedback from your customers and even if you did, you wouldn’t listen to it.”
“Are you quite finished, Natalie?” Chad’s face is red.
“No, I’m not. You overcharge for the gingerbread and since you’ve stopped getting Alexis to bake it, nobody really likes it any more.
It’s tasteless. If you call yourself the Gingerbread Palace, you better make sure the gingerbread you serve is...
fit for a queen. And don’t get me started on the cups.
They’re tiny. And the design is awful. That gingerbread man drawing is creepy. ” Shit. I’ve definitely said too much.
“Well. Why don’t you tell me what you really think? I designed those cups myself.” Chad’s eyes narrow and I can tell he’s going in for the kill.
“Look, I’m not trying to be rude.” I’m backtracking here even though being true to myself and speaking my mind felt good. “It’s important to be able to listen to feedback. I’ve worked here for four months and I’ve seen a lot of the business. I think things could change for the better…”
Chad holds up a hand. “Natalie. The one change I can make for the better is getting rid of you. You definitely haven’t learned to keep your big mouth shut and you’re insubordinate. And your hair is out of control.” He nods at my curly hair, which I’ve subdued with pins and a hairband.
“You’re firing me because of my hair?” I can’t believe this.
“Amongst many other things. Just go. Give me your apron. I can handle it.” He points at the door.
I whip off my apron, grab my bag and turn back to face him.
“The reason you can handle it, Chad, is because there aren’t any customers.
For all the reasons I stated earlier. Good luck!
” I shut the door behind me, maybe a little too vigorously.
I’d asked Chad if he could replace the snowflake lights above the door, which were dangling precariously, and as I close the door one side falls off.
For some reason this makes me laugh hysterically as I peek at Chad’s angry face through the window.
Halfway down the street I stop laughing and slow my pace. This isn’t funny. How am I going to pay my rent?
A car beeps at me and slows down. My cousin Alexis Bells winds down the window and grins at me. “Hey trouble, what are you doing out of work? You must get, what, two customers an hour in the morning rush?”
“I’ve just been fired. I’m not really sure what I’m doing Alex. Trying to get a new job I guess.”
Thirty minutes later and I’m eating a cookie in Alex’s kitchen. The late summer weather is glorious and the gentle breeze that’s blowing in from the open window brings the scent of flowers in from her yard.
“This weather always makes me think of getting ready to go back to teach. The last big push of summer before the fall comes. But we still have three weeks to go. Dax has taken the boys swimming since he has the day off today.” Alex is folding laundry.
There’s a lot of it since her husband Dax is out on construction sites a lot.
Alex is one of five Bells siblings so I’m used to being in and out of my cousins’ houses.
“How will your boys handle it without you here?” I’ve babysat her sons Lincoln and Arlo to make some extra cash, so this house seems unnaturally quiet without them running around.
“I’m not sure they’ll notice! Arlo’s starting kindergarten so that’s the number one news story in this house. Lincoln got put ahead a grade, but he’s adamant that it’s not a big deal. But of course it secretly is a huge deal.” She laughs. “So we need to get you a job now, huh?”
“Yeah. I’m relieved I don’t have to work for Chad...but I’m not sure how I’m going to make my rent next month. My sculptures aren’t exactly paying the bills.” I grimace and reach for another cookie.
“Well, lucky for you Nat, I have the solution. Dax’s step-dad Magnus mentioned a friend of his is in town for vacation with his children and was looking for a nanny, since the one he lined up broke her leg.”
“I’m in. I mean, what choice do I have? Summer jobs are hard to come by in Snowflake. I'd rather be a nanny than work as the world’s most resentful barista. Kids are more fun.”
Alex grins. “Be careful what you wish for. This guy is kind of a big deal, like most of Magnus’s friends. You know the project Dax worked on, the big eco-house up the mountain, near your place? He had it built so his kids could stay near their grandma - he and his wife are divorced.”
“He had it built? For them just to stay near their grandma? Wow.” I can’t imagine having that kind of money. “Won’t he want some kind of uniformed super nanny?”
“I don’t think he has much choice. And it’s only until the kids go back to school I think. So a few weeks at most. I’m sure it pays well.” Alex is already texting Magnus to find out more. She doesn’t let the grass grow, that’s for sure.
“Well I’m interested. And I have four out of five of you Bells to vouch for my childcare skills. We don’t have to let him know we’re related.” I raise an eyebrow.
“You’re sneaky, Nat! He’s actually your next door neighbor, you know.
His land joins onto your backyard, but it’s all the way up the mountain so it would be a long walk to get through the forest.” Alex picks up her cell as it beeps.
“Magnus says Lucas has just got home and will give you an interview now. I told you he was desperate. ”
“Desperate. I love that word. Story of my life. How do I look?” I’m wearing jeans and a tank top - I hope this guy isn’t expecting some formal business suit or something.
“Gorgeous. Just take your hair down - it needs to be freed. And the sun brings out the auburn color, I love it. I’ll drop you off, we can’t have you walking hours up into the forest and getting all sweaty. Think cool, calm and collected.” Alex hands me a brush.
As we drive up into the mountains the air is slightly cooler, thanks to the tall pines lining the road.
It’s been a while since I’ve been this far up and I’ve forgotten how tranquil it is.
We go past Peppermint and Pine Lodges, turning onto a long driveway.
We’ve been on it for at least a minute with no sign of a building.
“Alex, are you kidding me? Where’s the house?” I turn to stare at her.
She smiles and points as the drive curves around to the right.
There in the distance is the most impressive house I’ve ever seen.
It looks like a Hollywood film star’s residence crossed with some sort of Scandinavian fantasy holiday home.
It’s built from the distinctive Snowflake Falls wood and stone that you usually see in the cozy smaller houses in town, but on such a grand scale it’s magnificent.
The house is hidden from view on three sides because of the forest, which makes it seem like something from a fairy tale.
Alex looks over at me. “Quite something, huh? I didn’t tell you too much because I knew you’d chicken out if you knew Lucas was a billionaire. He’s a nice guy apparently, he just has a lot of money.”
We finally reach the end of the drive and pull up in front of the house.
“Alex I’m underdressed for the splendor of this place. He’s probably used to the best staff.” I try to smooth my hair down, which is starting to frizz up in the heat.
“You have an advantage, Nat. He needs someone now. And you’re right here. And you come highly recommended. You’re great, I’m sure you’ll get the job. Think positive. And good luck!” She pats my leg reassuringly.
I get out of the car and Alex drives off quickly, probably because she can sense I want to get back inside and hide under the seat.
I walk up to the grand front door which has a knocker in the shape of a leaf carved from what looks - to my inexpert eyes - like gold. It’s shining in the sun. In the distance there’s the sound of a child screeching.
I take a deep breath and as I raise my hand to knock, the door swings open abruptly.
Standing there, even more gorgeous than he was staring into my eyes this morning, is coffee shop eco-cup guy.
Silence, apart from the birds tweeting and the child shouting.
He’s waiting for me to crack first.
Oh shit.