Page 4 of Sunshine for the Grumpy Grizzly

I close my eyes.

The Tweet that will never die. The time I almost sunk the company in 145 characters. The most humiliating moment of my life.

“Uh huh,” I mutter, as a truckload of adrenaline shoots through my veins.

“Well, if anyone asks you who picked this place, you tell them it was you, okay?”

I stiffen.

Her nails dig deeper into the flesh of my shoulder, and I force myself not to yelp.

“Yes, o-of course, Natasha,” I gasp out.

“Good,” she purrs. Then she turns on the heel of her six-inch Manolos and stalks off.

Sheesh.I would’ve done that if she’d just asked me nice. She didn’t have to hit me right where it hurts.

Everyone is huddled together, glaring at the lodge and muttering to each other:

What a dump.

Looks like that hotel from The Shining.

Did Lucy pick it?

What d’YOU think, bro?

My cheeks burn, but I shove my shoulders back.

These are not criticisms, Lucy Cole, they’re incentives. And every sentence is gonna motivate you to provide the greatest team-building weekend that ever was.

The driver peels out of the lot like he can’t wait to get away, leaving our bags in a heap in the dirt. I squint at the lodge. Anyone coming to help us with our luggage?

Guess not.

I grab my bag and someone else’s, and drag them up the porch steps to the reception.

Yeesh,those ol’ front doors are heavy. I turn sideways and put my shoulder into the unforgiving wood. But suddenly the door disappears and I’m pushing at nothing…

Instead, I’m flying into the lobby like I’ve grown a pair of wings. A sound like a dying squirrel escapes my lips.

Then I’m no longer flying, but plunging right into something.

Someone.

A grizzly bear in a T-shirt and jeans.

Huh?

No, a man. But a real big one. Like double the size of a regular guy.

Shoot, this is confusing.

And now his arms are around me. He’s holding me up so I don’t hit the deck.

“Thank goodness you were here!” I blurt out.

“Didn’t you see me opening the door, lady?”

---