Chapter 8
Angelica found the turnoff to Gracie’s Way without any trouble. Just as Mr. Star had said, the lights were on, both inside and out. A warm greeting, but this only reminded her of the cold send-off she’d received from her . . . travel partner, for lack of better words. She pulled the Navigator into the long drive, still somewhat miffed over the remarks made by Mr. North.
As she unloaded the SUV, she thought about the two men she’d met in the past hour. Mr. Star and Mr. North. Made her think of the North Star. Was there any significance between the two names, some kind of divine message that someone was trying to give her? She didn’t think so, but one could never be too sure.
Dragging her carry-on up the wooden steps, she found the key just where Mr. Star said it would be. Unlocking the door, she stepped inside, surprised at the cabin’s luxuriousness.
A giant fireplace, an exact replica of the fireplace in the registration office, dominated the great room. A cherry red plush sofa and two forest green chairs were strategically placed. A fire crackled in the fireplace, popping embers filling the large room with inviting sounds and the enticing scent of wood burning.
As she dropped her luggage next to the fireplace, a log fell, sending blazing orange, red, and yellow embers upward. Deciding that she had better add another log so as not to lose the warmth from the fire, she found a fully stocked supply next to the hearth. She placed two large logs on top of the others, found the fire poker, and nudged the logs until she was satisfied they were positioned properly in order to continue to burn. Satisfied that the fire would burn for another hour or two, she located the kitchen around the corner from the great room.
She was shocked at its size—she could have placed her entire apartment inside and had room to spare. It had a full-size range, two ovens, and more counter space than she’d ever seen in one kitchen. She continued to explore, finding a Sub-Zero refrigerator that could hold enough food for an entire winter. Maybe that’s what it was used for, she thought, as she opened it to look inside. Mr. Star, of course, was right—it was as empty as her stomach was beginning to feel. She should have prepared a bit better. She’d have to make a trip tomorrow down the mountain for supplies. She found the makings for coffee exactly where he said they would be and decided to make a small pot for herself. She wasn’t ready for bed yet. Her New York habits were not going to be as easy to put aside as she’d thought.
Walking through the cabin, she saw that the walls were made from honey-colored logs, as was the staircase that led upstairs to the two bedrooms and a loft. Why she’d felt the need for so much space, she didn’t know. After spending fourteen years in New York City, she had gotten used to living in minimal space. But she was not going to focus on what brought her to Colorado, at least not that first night. She was there to ski, think about her life, and decide if it was time for a career change. But her first night was for her to do nothing but explore her new digs for the next two weeks. Later, there would be plenty of time for deep thoughts, but not immediately.
Inside the master bedroom was a king-sized bed, also made of giant honey-colored logs. A navy and red quilt covered it. Several pillows were scattered about, making the bed as inviting as the rest of the cabin. She had a sudden flash of what Parker North would look like sprawled across the bed but quickly focused her attention on anything but him. He was a rude, overbearing jerk as far as she was concerned.
Angelica realized she’d come to that conclusion very quickly, which wasn’t her usual style. She was the least judgmental person in the world, but this man had gotten under her skin, and she did not like that at all. Clearing his handsome face from her mind, she found the second bedroom. It was much smaller than the master but just as warm and inviting. It also had a bed made out of logs, with a hunter green quilt and several matching pillows. It would be a shame not to use the room, but hey, she could if she wanted. This was her place for two weeks, and she would sleep in each room. Between the two bedrooms was yet another surprise. A bathroom the size of her apartment had a giant glassed-in shower that looked as though it could hold at least a dozen people, and in the center of the room was a giant Jacuzzi tub that would hold at least half that many people. Plush towels hung from a warmer, bars of scented soaps and creams were artfully arranged on a dark green marble countertop flanked by two long mirrors, their frames made from branches. The outdoorsy theme dominated the cabin, and she thought it perfect.
It was exactly what she needed. Space, time, and a bit of fun on the slopes.
The smell of coffee lured her back downstairs. She searched through the cabinets, finding a bright red mug. Pouring herself a cup, she walked back into the great room, where she spied a giant box marked clearly with the words “Christmas Tree and Decorations.”
She hadn’t really thought of trimming a tree, figuring there would be trees all over the resort for her to enjoy, but instantly decided that setting it up and decorating it might be a fun way to spend the next couple of hours since she was wide awake.
Placing her coffee on the hearth to keep it warm, she dragged the artificial tree from the box. It was at least six feet high if her judgment was correct. It only took her a few minutes to put the tree together, as there was just a bottom, a middle, and the top, and all she had to do was insert one on top of the other. Once she had the tree together, she placed it next to the fireplace, careful that it was far enough away that there would be no fear of its catching fire. With that out of the way, she strung colorful bright twinkle lights from top to bottom, then began opening the boxes of decorations. The first box held several glass angels. She hoped that what she was doing was okay, and that the owner of the cabin didn’t mind her taking the liberty of using their decorations, but they were there, and she assumed they were hers to use as well. They were delicate, and Angelica made sure to handle each carefully. The second box held more angels, but those were department-store varieties. After an hour, she had a beautifully decorated angel tree. She went to the kitchen for one last cup of coffee, bringing it to the great room, where she sat on the sofa, admiring her handiwork.
As the fireplace warmed the room, combined with the comfort of the sofa, and her general contentment with how her vacation was turning out to be much more than she’d hoped for—minus Parker North—she relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.