Page 42 of Mountain Grump

“Just thinking about all the different ways I could have you kidnapped and forced to stay at my resort.” He chuckles and offers a sly grin. “In all seriousness, I’m going to miss you. In case you couldn’t tell.”

“You’ll miss carrying me to dinner and through the lodge for everyone to watch and wonder what is going on, and when do they get a turn?”

“I’m not carrying anyone else,” he says gruffly. “That’s reserved just for you.”

I rest my hand on my heart. “I’m honored that you’d make me the one and only girl you carry through the resort. Is that something I can get on a plaque?”

“No,” he snorts, and shakes his head. “How about you help with the salad? There’s a head of lettuce in the fridge. Can you rinse that and just tear it apart. Put it into three bowls.”

“Wow, you really don’t trust me with a knife.” I’m only partially joking. And I don’t blame him. I’ve been clumsy enough this week. Let’s not add severed finger to the list of things that went wrong at the resort.

“I don’t want us to have to fly to the nearest hospital which is on the other side of the mountain,” Logan says.

I open the fridge and retrieve the lettuce, rinsing it in the sink.

“What are your plans for Christmas?” he asks, glancing at me.

If I tell him that I don’t do holidays, especially Christmas, he’ll think I’m Scrooge. “Nothing special,” I say, and force a smile.

“Are you spending it with anyone?” he asks.

“No, I have to get home to finish the video for the vlog and splice it together. Bridget wants it first thing the day after Christmas, so I need to focus, record the voice-over, that sort of thing.” I hope he isn’t going to ask me to stay for Christmas.

I’m not ready for that level of commitment.

I like Logan, a lot, but he has a daughter, and shouldn’t they spend the holiday together, as a family? Besides, his brother is here, and after the spectacle between Wyatt and Logan at the bar, it’s better if the three of us don’t hang out together.

“That’s too bad,” he says, his gaze not leaving mine. “I’ll have to fly down sometime, visit you when you have time off.”

“I’d like that.”

A smile grazes his features. “We’ll try long-distance …” His voice trails off, like he’s leaving something off, although I’m not sure what.

I let it go, not wanting to push too hard. I’ve never felt that long-distance relationships last. They may survive for a duration, but not forever. Logan just bought a ski resort and I’m happy in sunny Los Angeles. I don’t see us working out in the long run.

The bedroom door squeaks open and Julianna shuffles into the living room. There’s a roughness between Logan and his daughter, a tension from the earlier fight that I wish I could let dissipate by opening a window.

I finish with the lettuce and Logan orders his daughter to chop up the other ingredients for the salad. Julianna doesn’t argue. Her shoulders are slumped, and she does as he asks without a fuss.

“Dad, do you think maybe we could build a game room on the property?” Julianna asks.

“Do we not have enough video game systems that collect dust around here?” Logan gestures to the living room.

“I mean like arcade-style games. Pacman. Air Hockey. I was asking Izzie if there’s an arcade around here for us to go to sometime and she said there isn’t any place nearby.”

Logan exhales a heavy sigh. “I’ll think about it.”

“It’s a great investment opportunity,” Julianna pushes the idea, not backing down. “Teens love to hang out without their parents. It would be a good place in the summer when business is slow for the lodge, or maybe even the evenings. I mean, we don’t close for the off-season. The hotel is still open. Why not build an arcade?”

“You’d rather have an arcade over a water slide?”

Julianna’s eyes widen, and her lips press together. “You weren’t really thinking of turning the pool into an indoor water park. Were you?”

“It crossed my mind. And it would be an expansion, not part of the pool.”

“Can we have both?” Julianna asks. “The indoor water park would be great for guests and the arcade is better for locals.”

“I’ll consider your request,” he says. “But I’m not making any promises, about either.”

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