Page 11 of Stuck With Mr. Frosty

“They don’t even know how to tie their shoes.” I brandish the fork like a wand, wishing I could poof away everything that’s stressing me out. “They don’t know how to do bunny ears, and he was teaching them how to secure a temporary shelter in case they get lost in the woods.”

Rosie laughs and shakes her head. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say that you and Aiden are going to end up sleeping together before the end of the season.”

“I’ll put money on that.” Ryder drops down onto the bench beside Rosie and slaps down his tray.

My cheeks feel like they’re on fire. Scratch that; my entire body feels like it’s on fire. I’m going to burn into a little crisp, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

“Nothing is going to happen between us because I can’t stand him. He’s horrible. He’s controlling and arrogant, and he’s sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

“Look, maybe he just wants to get to know you, and that’s why he’s being such a pain.” Rosie grabs her apple and takes a large bite. “I mean, you’re one of the new staff members?—”

“And he never bothers with them.” Ryder gives me a pointed look that makes me wish I was an ostrich so I could bury my head in the sand and pretend this isn’t happening right now.

“Okay, great, so he’s decided that I’m enemy number one.” I stab into more of my chicken, popping it in my mouth. “I have other things to do. Things that don’t involve me sitting and arguing with him all the time.”

Rosie takes another bite of the apple, licking her lips. “He’s got an intense schedule with all the rescue work. I doubt that you’re going to end up spending that much time with him. Definitely less than you think you will.”

“I hope so. I don’t know how I’m going to survive the season if I have to put up with that every time I turn around.”

Sighing, I lean back in my chair and glance around the mess hall, taking it all in. Mom used to sit here, near the window on the left side of the room in one of the worn leather chairs. She would spend her nights hanging out with the staff and reading by the fire.

I remember when I used to come with her when I was really young. There were endless nights spent sitting at her feet and playing with my toys or coloring. We would spend long days on the slopes together.

My chest aches as I finish my lunch, thinking about all the memories of her that Aspen holds.

Aiden can try to scare me off, but I’m not going to leave.

At least, I’m going to do everything I can to stay.

CHAPTER 6

AIDEN

The first week of being back in Aspen always feels like putting myself through the most excruciating training known to man.

It’s different than the other mountains I work on, taking up more of my energy and focus. Especially with Mia and Rosie constantly running around the cabin as if they own the place. I don’t know how many eyeliner pencils I’ve found on the coffee table. Or the tube of lipstick that somehow ended up in a kitchen cupboard.

Or there’s the fact that I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many bras in my life.

They’re everywhere. It’s an invasion of the bras. You can’t just toss them in the dryer to clean them. And you need different ones for different tops. I never wanted to be this involved in discussions about bras, and yet every time I leave the bedroom, there they are.

I sigh and look at Honey. “I don’t know how we’re going to last the season. Maybe we should go live at one of the watchtowers. It would be a little cold, but it would be quiet.”

Honey pushes to her feet and goes to the door, standing on her hind legs and hitting the knob down. The door cracks, and she claws at it until it opens.

Even the dog is leaving me to spend time with Mia.

There’s nothing I can do about that, though, so I grab a book and crack it open, burying my nose in the pages. This is one of two days a week I get to myself, and I plan on spending it in bed and finally finishing the novel I started on the plane ride over here.

However, all it takes is the pounding bass in the other room an hour later to send my head spinning.

I shift around on the bed, trying to ignore the music and turning to the next page. Unfortunately, all I can seem to do is read one paragraph several times. At this point, I think I could write it from memory.

And that’s when I can’t hold on any longer.

Rosie and Mia are getting on my last nerve. I don’t know how Ryder puts up with it, but the loud-as-hell music is where it comes to an end.

I can’t keep living like this and still do my job. If I’m going to be going out sitting in a watchtower every day and watching for skiers and snowboarders getting lost on the side of a mountain, or even the hikers straying too far from the trail claiming that they think they know what they’re doing, then I can’t be sitting here while they pound music all through the night.

---