Grandpa’s death and all, I think she needs to keep busy.”
“Look, Mitch, your compassionate side sometimes goes against your better judgment. We all have struggles we need to work through. Granny will be all right.”
I suddenly realize I’m eavesdropping on a family matter.
Candace turns to me. “Grandpa died about four months ago, and we’re trying to help Granny through it. But don’t let her fool you, she’s a strong one. We have to watch her. She’s usually up to something.”
“She is ornery, but still I want to do what I can to help her.” Mitch looks at me. “That is, I want to help Granny, but I don’t mean to put you out, either. I was thinking you could run Cool Beanz, the coffeehouse, for us. Provide specialty coffees, Danish rolls, sandwiches and soft drinks, that kind of thing. We won’t be serving real meals, other than breakfast, until the business grows and I can add a restaurant.”
I’m feeling better. At least I still have a job. “Sure, I’d be glad to do that.” I’m hoping this doesn’t mean a decrease in pay. I’m already way under my teaching wage. And this is starting to feel like a game of limbo.
“I’ll still pay you the same. You’ll keep plenty busy. I have someone else lined up to help you, too.” He gives me a reassuring smile, and I notice how even and white his teeth are. His lips are perfect, too. Not collagen-large or paper-thin. I’ve never liked men with thin lips. Just freaks me out to think about it.
“Where is Cool Beanz located?” I ask. I don’t remember seeing a building like that before I came into the B and B.
Mitch plops down on the sofa. “Oh, it’s at the top of the slope.”
His words slash through my happy moment. I fall onto the sofa across from him. Great. The top of the mountain is encircled in a cloud. The thought of being up that high makes me gasp for breath.
“You all right?”
A Darth Vader sound has entered the room, and I suddenly realize it’s coming from me. I attempt to swallow my fears and simply nod.
He studies me a minute. The look on his face makes my heart skip. “I saw your skis in the car. I figure with a nice set like that, you’ll enjoy the trip down that slope.” He gives me a sort of studly look as though he had something to do with the mountain being so high.
Mountain. I’ll be working on top of a mountain. I’m trying to swallow here but I can’t. Just won’t happen. I’m wondering if this might be a good time to mention that whole vertigo thing. Or maybe my fear of heights. Better still, perhaps he would like to know that I don’t ski. Actually, “never skied” would be the more appropriate response here.
He stretches his arm across the back of the sofa and smiles as though life couldn’t get any better. “Candace, aside from the deal with Granny, things are perfect. I’ve never been so excited about anything in my life.”
Maybe now is not the best time to tell him.
I look at his strong arm stretched across the sofa and imagine for only a moment what it would be like to snuggle in beside him.
“Hey, nice sweater,” he says, pointing to my multi-colored sweater of reds, yellows and blues.
“Thanks.” The man appreciates color.
“Want some coffee?” Candace asks us both, already making her way toward the kitchen.
“Sounds great,” Mitch says.
“Sure. You need some help?” I ask.
Candace waves me away. “You two get to know each other some more. I’ll take care of the coffee.”
I hear myself gulp, then I turn to Mitch and lift a weak smile.
Despite the snow outside, his hazel eyes warm me clear through. Maybe it’s the fireplace that does it, but maybe not.
“We didn’t get to talk all that much at Lauren and Garrett’s the night we met.”
Oh, I like the way he says, “The night we met.”
“So, tell me more about yourself,” he says with a grin that curls my toes.
Well, let’s see, I’m thirty-two, single, and setting my sights on you, Big Guy. “I’ve been teaching fifth grade since I graduated from college. And as you know, I’ve worked part-time as a cook at the Oasis Restaurant back home.”
“Candace tells me you’re taking a sabbatical to try something new.”
I nod.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here,” he says, eyes sparkling. My heart zips to my throat. “I hope this whole thing works out and you decide to stay on with me.” His gaze shoots straight to my heart.
Did he say “Stay on with me”? Forget that whole “I hope this works out” thing. You name the date, babe, and I’m at the church. I put my left hand in full view in case he wants to check out my ring finger. Mom would be so proud.
Candace steps back into the room. “The coffee is brewing.” She sits on the sofa beside me. “Gwen believes you can do anything you set your mind to, if you want it badly enough.”
Mitch rubs his jaw. “Oh, really?”
I’m feeling a tad less confident than usual because of that whole coffeehouse on the mountain thing, but my bubbly side kicks in. “That’s right. But of course, the key is in wanting it enough.”
He smiles and scoots to the edge of his seat. With elbows on his knees, fingers clasped in front of him, he says, “That’s so true, Gwen.”
“Didn’t I tell you that you would get along, Mitch?” Candace says with a wink.
“That you did,” he says, his gaze never leaving my face. “Then you won’t mind managing Cool Beanz for me?”
Is he kidding? I would climb Mount Everest for him. His smile mesmerizes me, and I almost swallow my tongue. “Oh, uh, no, that will be fine,” I hear myself say. I’ll get some DVDs, search the Internet for diagrams, do whatever it takes to get up and down that mountain, maybe even with skis. How hard can that be?
“Great!” He rubs his hands together eagerly.
“Be right back with the coffee,” Candace says, heading once again to the kitchen.
I really want to tell them both that I don’t ski. I mean, they haven’t even asked me if I ski. I suppose they think everyone skis because they’re from Bliss Village. People here probably give skis at baby showers.
Mitch’s brows furrow. “I hope we continue to get snow late into the season.”
“Doesn’t it last a while in the mountains?” I’m wondering why he’s worrying. It’s not exactly Tumbleweed, Arizona, here.
He brightens. “Yeah, you’re right.” Smile back in place. My toes curl again. I’m beginning to feel like an elf.
Candace brings in
