Page 86 of Stuck on the Slopes

“I don’t,” Juniper said. “I just see you.”

My cheeks felt hot. Before I could reply, the front door opened with the first new hire. As we shook hands, she introduced herself as Beatrice: our pick for the front desk lead. Her blonde hair was back in a tight bun, which would have made her look like a ballerina were it not for the flannel tops and black slacks we’d established as uniforms. While the lodge was high class, we also wanted it to feel like a home away from home, so I came up with the flannel idea. Juniper, who always dressed comfortably to avoid any tight fabrics pressing into his nerve, hadn’t fought me on it.

“We’re going to wait for everyone to get here. There should be about twenty of you or so,” I said. “We’ll kick off with a team meeting, so to speak, and then break out into more individualized training.”

The rest of them funneled in: a few housekeeping staff, a General Manager that Beatrice would report directly to, the Rentals Manager, and a few others in varying positions. We had plans to hire more throughout the year, but for now, this team would do. The resort was a decent size, but not that big, so we’d be able to manage with a skeleton crew temporarily.

“Alright, everyone,” I said with a clap of my hands. “Welcome to The Fox’s Den! I’m Rachel Friedman, and with me is the lodge’s owner Juniper Hart. We’re super excited and grateful to have you all here. We value your skills and expertise, and we’re confident that together, we’ll be able to bring this old resort back to its former glory, if not better.” I inhaled and exhaled to steady myself, remembering everything I went through to get here. “The last thing we ever will want is for anyone to be afraid of making a mistake or to feel unsupported. I’ve been there and strive to provide a positive, inclusive work environment for all of you. I think I speak for both of us when I say that.”

Juniper nodded. “Come to us if you need anything. Though, Rachel will probably be easier to get a hold of than me.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he did. “This probably won’t be easy. We’re going to have to start off running, but it will get progressively better. We’re going to bulk up the staff as we go, so if anyone feels overwhelmed, tell us and we’ll do our best to prioritize a new hire to help you out. In all my years of snowboarding, I’ve seen how much the lodge staff busts their asses. The last thing I want is for this to be a grueling, temporary job. Hopefully, you all come to love it here as much as I do.” Juniper then said, “Oh, and this is Sasquatch. Don’t pet him if his vest is on. But it’s fair game when he’s not wearing it. He’s friendly.”

“So cute,” the Rentals Manager, a man in his early twenties named Avery, cooed under his breath. Avery’s hair was an ashy, dirty blond color that was almost as long as Juniper’s. His hair nearly covered one of his eyes.

“Luckily for you,” Juniper said, “you’re with me and him for our breakout sessions.” Juniper rattled off a few more names, taking charge of ski instructors and equipment, since he knew far more about that facet of the business than I did. “You’re with me. Let’s go. The rest of you are with Rachel.”

I looked at the crowd of half a dozen faces before me and smiled.

It was showtime.

Chapter 24

Juniper

WhenIwokeup,I stared at the date on my phone for far too long, in disbelief that January nineteeth was already here.

Opening day.

Everything should be fairly straightforward today. We scheduled a ribbon cutting at nine to give the press an opportunity to do whatever they needed until guests trickled in for their afternoon check-in times at three. Rachel scheduled everything so that way the staff could all break for lunch together in celebration.

When I finally made my way to the lobby, dressed in a button-up, blazer, and slacks instead of my usual flannel and baggy jeans or sweats, Rachel was already there. She had a glow about her she hadn’t had when she arrived. There was a flush to her cheeks, both from the cold and whatever blush she wore over her makeup. Her hair shone and her brown eyes sparkled like garnets. While winter was known for death, it seemed to have brought Rachel to life.

Her green dress was professional but form-fitting in my favorite places, making it difficult for me to take my eyes off of her as she spoke to a reporter who’d arrived early. That customer service voice of hers was long gone, replaced by her more natural tone and a natural smile, even when speaking to the press. And even with her more formal attire, she still wore funky earrings, as usual: this time, a pair of chairlifts like the ones outside.

As I approached them, I could better see the reporter: LeAnn Weiss from Action 6, the very same who’d run a feature on the upgrades we implemented to give her viewership a tour of the resort.

“I’m glad you could make it, LeAnn,” Rachel said.

“And I’m glad you invited me. Given not a whole hell of a lot happens around here, this is the story of the month, I think. Maybe even the year. And it’s all thanks to you.”

Rachel waved a hand in dismissal. “Oh, I mean—”

“No, no. Everyone’s going to give Juniper most if not all the credit because he paid for everything and he’s the big name. Right?”

“Sure, but—”

“But, I know. I’m sure he helped a lot. However, I also know a woman’s touch when I see it. I’d love to do a feature on you, Rachel. I’m thinking, ‘Ski Lodge Manager Brings Florida Warmth to Refurbished Resort.’”

“We can work with that.”

I stepped in beside her, our shoulders touching through our sleeves. LeAnn smiled and extended a hand to me. I shook it.

“Juniper. Congratulations on your opening.”

“Thank you. And my apologies for our rocky start a while back.”

“It’s quite alright. I understand. Consider it water under the bridge.”

I shifted my weight. “Also, LeAnn, I’m going to tell the rest of them the same one-liner, but if you wanted to do a deep dive, I’m willing to give you the story. An Action 6 exclusive, if you will.”

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