Grand Lake Colorado Series - Alexis Winter Page 0,2
but with an edge. His jaw is prominent, with a thick smattering of dark, almost black scruff. His hair is shiny and lays an inch or two past his collar. He reaches up a well-worn hand and rubs it gruffly against the side of his jaw, making an audible scratching sound like sandpaper.
“Oh, hey, Blake. What can I get you?” I stammer a little.
“My ma sent me. She wants you to come by the cabin office when you get off. What time can I tell her you’ll be by?” He doesn’t bother with pleasantries. Something I’m used to with him. We haven’t had a lot of conversations over the years, but I often saw him around his parents’ house when I was hanging out with Trevor. He terrified me as a kid. He was big, way bigger than Trevor. He had outgrown their dad by the time he was in eighth grade. I remember he always had a different girl around the house, usually out back in his parents’ hot tub, when they weren’t home.
“Uhh, for what, exactly?” I love their mom, but it is a little strange to have her beckon me over. Why not just call or text me?
“You’ll have to take that up with her. What time?” He shoves his hands deep into his Levi’s without breaking eye contact. I’m a grown-ass woman now and this man still intimidates me. His broad shoulders strain against the fabric of his flannel shirt. He’s the antithesis of Trevor and always has been. He was the star quarterback of the football team growing up. He always had a muscle car he was rebuilding and a big-boobed girl by his side.
My eyes catch a glimpse of the tip of his pink tongue as it darts out to lick across his full lips. I’ve always found him attractive—you’d have to be completely blind not to—
but seeing him standing in front of me right now, I notice things I hadn’t before, like the small thatch of curly dark hair at the base of his throat and the way small lines form around his eyes, giving him a distinguished, sexy appeal.
“Jesus Christ, woman. Are you having a seizure or what? I ain’t got all day.” He throws his hands up in the air, exacerbated, as I snap back to reality.
“Oh, uh, sorry…uh, I’m off at three, so I’ll swing by after.” I quickly turn and race back in the kitchen before the blush on my cheeks betrays me. What the hell was that?
By the time three o’clock rolls around, I’m itching to race over to the Winthrop’s cottages to see what Adele needs. Normally, I’d be worried, but Blake didn’t seem to have any concerns. Speaking of Blake, I wonder if he’ll be there too.
Since when do I care what Blake Winthrop is up to?
I pull my sputtering Beetle into the parking lot of the Grand Lake Cottages and make my way up the steps of the office. A neon VACANCY sign flickers a few times as I knock on the door before letting myself inside. “Knock, knock!”
Adele jumps up and pulls me into a tight hug before gesturing to a small table next to a chair. “Here, I have some tea and a snack for you. I know you’ve been hard at work on your feet all day. Take a seat.” I thank her before diving into the cookies and casually looking around to see if anyone else will be joining us.
“Well, I’ll get right to it, Pearl. I need your help.” She sits back behind the desk and gestures around the room. “We’ve slowly been losing business over the years, and I need a young millennial...is that what you kids are called? I need help with the Facebook and social me...—whatever it’s called. I know you went to school for that, so I’d like to bring you on.”
I can’t help but smile. I’ve been dying for the chance to actually use my degree and finally get away from waitressing.
“Now, before you get too excited, this is just part-time. I need help a few days a week, and maybe if you like it, we can talk about a full-time position if business gets busier.”
“Mrs. Winthrop, I would love to! I am beyond excited for this, so thank you!” I jump back up and pull her in for another tight hug.
“Well, that settles it, then. I’ll have you come in tomorrow and sit down with Blake. He can fill you in on everything.”