Page 1 of Snowbound Hearts
Chapter 1
Sydney
An all-expenses trip to Colorado isn’t worth all this fucking snow.
What the hell did I get myself into?
Driving my rented SUV down an icy road on my way to the ski lodge, where I’m supposed to be coordinating an elaborate wedding in a few days, I ask out loud to no one but myself.How on earth am I supposed to make the bride glow wearing white while surrounded by all this snow?
Six months ago, when Sarah begged me to be her wedding planner for her elaborate wedding at a ski lodge in the middle of the Colorado Rockies, I was all for a trip to the mountains since it was well over a hundred degrees in Hibiscus Harbor. This Florida girl wasn’t thinking that the wedding would be in December on Christmas Eve or about all this snow around.
As I turn down another icy road, the ski lodge comes into view with its massive snow-covered peaks and glowing interior lights amongst all the trees standing guard like sentries protecting the hidden gem. It’s beautiful.
My client has booked the entire ski lodge for the wedding party, family, and guests, but I’m one of the first ones to arrive. After parking as close to the front doors as I can, I grab my bagout of the back and rush inside to the warm and cozy lobby, stomp the snow off my boots, and hang my jacket on the coat rack. I look around and it’s nothing like I expected a ski lodge to look.
The ceilings are tall making the lobby seem bigger than it actually is, with cream-colored walls and pine accented trim. There’s a roaring fire in the corner and lots of overstuffed couches and chairs lined up creating cozy corners for enjoying the fire.
But the windows looking out to the mountain range draw me into the center of the room. Towering pine trees dusted with snow stand like nature’s Christmas trees and the setting couldn’t be more magical. I can see why Sarah and Kris wanted to get married here.
“Can I help you?” A gruff voice calls to me from around the corner.
“Hi. Yes. I’m the wedding coordinator for the Kone family,” I say as I head towards the voice. “I’m Sydney Winters…” Turning towards the check in desk, I stop in my tracks as my past smacks me across the face and I drop my purse which spills all over the floor. “Mason.”
A man I never thought I’d see again is standing at the desk wearing jeans, a blue plaid shirt, and a day-old beard. It’s been ten years since I saw him, but he’s more rugged than I remember. Those eyes, though. I’ll never forget those piercing blue eyes. The ones staring me down right now.
“Ms. Winters. Welcome to Aspen Pines Ski Lodge.” A woman says as she rounds the corner. She looks to Mason and then to me and I think she recognizes the tension in the room. “Ah. Right. Well. Let me get you checked in. My name is Emily.” She starts typing on her computer and then looks up at me with wide eyes. “Oh shit. You’re Sydney Winters. God, it’s been so long I hardly recognized you. You look amazing.”
She comes around the desk and pulls me into a hug while Mason and I just stare at each other. My heart is in my stomach as I never, ever thought I’d see him again after he left Hibiscus Harbor for the Marines. Last I heard, he was in the Middle East somewhere, but that was years ago. “It’s good to see you again, Emily. How have you been?”
“Great. Well, busy, as you can imagine.” She points to the desk. “It’s peak season for skiing, so this place keeps us pretty busy.”
I look away from Mason and really look at her for the first time. I can see the family resemblance and she has the same piercing blue eyes. “You look great, Emily. Really great.”
“You do, too, Sydney.” She puts her hands on her hips. “Wow. What are the odds of you being a guest in our ski lodge thousands of miles away from home, right?”
I nod in agreement. “Yes. Astronomical odds, I’d say, although I’m not really here as a guest. I’m here to make sure this wedding goes off without a hitch.” I attempt to stifle a yawn.
“Oh, god, you must be exhausted. Let me get you checked in.” Emily starts tapping at the keyboard again. “Okay, here’s your key. I’ve got you in the Big Bear suite. Upstairs, the last room on the left. Make yourself at home in any of the common areas. There’s a movie room down this hall to your left, a business center, and the exit to the hot tub and sauna. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask, okay?”
I glance at Mason as I take my room key. Yep, it’s really him standing there staring at me. “Thank you, Emily.”
She turns to her brother standing behind her. “Mason, take the woman’s luggage to her room for her.”
“No, no. I’ve got it.” I interrupt her. “Really. I’m fine. Thank you.” Bending over, I scoop up the few things that fell from my purse and dump them back inside before grabbing my suitcase. “See? I’ve got it.”
Turning around, I ascend the main staircase centered in the lobby as fast as I can drag my heavy bag up. As I get halfway up the stairs, my hand slips and I drop my suitcase. I stare helplessly as it tumbles down the stairs and bursts open sending all my belongings down a flight of stairs and all over the first floor, along with my ego.
Chapter 2
Mason
First thing this morning, the water pipe breaks in the kitchen, and no sooner do I get that fixed, an electrical circuit sparks and then shuts down the electricity to half the lodge. All of this on the day before an entire wedding party is about to check in.
Finally,finally, I get everything fixed and working again when in walks a blast from my past. Sydney Winters. I knew who it was the moment I heard her voice.
So did my heart and my gut.
I couldn’t believe she was standing there, right in front of me, after all these years.
