The pastor had great things to say about the man. Words like integrity and hardworking had been used to describe him. And the fact that he attended church every week further convinced her that he wasn’t a thief or mass murderer.
She had almost decided against calling the foster father, but her inner sense of security demanded she be extradiligent about screening her new climber. The foster father had reiterated everything the pastor had said and had added independent and loyal to the list of adjectives describing him. Micah’s climber friends were both away on trips of their own, but the receptionist confirmed that Micah had been lead trekker for the past few years.
She would offer Micah the job this afternoon if she saw him again. He obviously needed a place to stay, so she’d just need to subtract the cost of lodging from the figure she’d planned to pay. Having him right on site was a positive, anyway. If guests decided on a spur-of-the-moment trip, he’d be available. He might not even want the job when he heard what she paid. His salary was probably higher at the Majestic than she could afford.
Part of her almost wished he would turn down the job—the part of her that was drawn to him. It had been a long time since she’d been drawn to any man, and her one and only experience with a relationship made her even more timid about having Micah around all the time. In many ways, it had been a typical college romance, but Hanna had only been able to open her heart to a point. Jess had been patient, but even after a year’s time, she’d not been able to endure his touch. Understandably, Jess grew weary of feeling rejected.
The relationship likely would have ended on its own, but when Gram needed help with the lodge, she’d taken the opportunity to escape, putting college on hold indefinitely. Jess had seemed almost relieved, but not nearly as relieved as she had been. It had been too soon, she told herself. She just needed time.
Avoiding relationships had been easy these past few years at the lodge. There weren’t many young, single men around, and those who did come stayed briefly. Even her church lacked eligible bachelors and was filled with seniors and middle-aged married couples. No, there hadn’t been much opportunity for dating, and Hanna was glad.
But now that would change. At least, it would if Micah took the job. He’d be living on the grounds, eating meals with them when he wasn’t on a climb. What worried her the most was this attraction she felt.
She breathed a laugh. She’d just been without a male companion for too long. Maybe she’d forgotten what it was like to be around a man. But she knew it was more than that. Micah had a certain presence. A strength. And that strength drew her and repelled her at the same time.
You’re thinking too hard, girl. She suddenly remembered her intentions to work on the van and added it to the list. She had to get the thing running before next week when she started shuttling guests to and from the airport. Almost every registrant had requested the service when she offered it. And she’d gotten the used van for a bargain, knowing she could fix the problem.
After dinner, Hanna gathered her tools and went to work.
Micah slowed to a walk and took his heart rate. He was within his zone. His body had long ago acclimated to the higher altitude, and now he could easily run five miles a day. Except for days when he climbed. That was a workout in itself.
He liked the Higher Grounds property. The still lake and lack of people gave an ambience of solitude and peace. Birch, willow, and oak trees dotted the area, and a fresh cushion of pine needles layered the ground. It was a refreshing change from the bustling Majestic property. He wondered if this would be his last day here or if it would be the first of many. He didn’t like having his future up in the air and was anxious to know what Hanna had decided. He’d checked the office before his run, but she was not there.
When he came to the drive, he turned and slowed his pace a bit, allowing his heart rate to come down gradually. The gravel crunched under his running shoes, joining the orchestra of warbling bird calls.
Rounding a bend, he saw a pair of denim-clad legs protruding from beneath a Chevy van. Maybe he would know where Micah could find the manager. “Excuse me.” The body inched from under the vehicle. “Could you tell me where I can find—” The body had a head, and it was a woman’s. Hanna’s. “Oh. It’s you.”
She smiled, and the streak of grease settled into the dimple on one side of her mouth. “Hi.” She sat up, wiped her hands on a rag, and took the hand up he offered. “I’m glad I caught you. I wanted to talk to you about the job.”
Her face was devoid of makeup, a fact he’d missed earlier. But her dark complexion and wide eyes didn’t need it. “Yeah, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“I called your references, and you come highly recommended.”
She sounded like there was a but coming, so he said nothing as her lashes swept down over gray green eyes.
“But I’m afraid I won’t be able to pay you what you’re worth.” She met his gaze firmly. “I can offer room and board, of course, but the additional income won’t be what you’re used to.” She quoted a figure, and Micah noted the way she crossed her arms defensively. She was expecting him to turn down her offer or perhaps dicker with her over his salary.
“Actually, I don’t need much. A roof over my head, food to eat, and very little else. I accept your offer.”
Surprise was evident in the way her finely arched brows inched upward. “Oh.” Then a grin tugged at her lips. “Well, let’s get you settled then.”
He followed her to the lodge, his eyes skimming her trim figure from the ponytail to her Levis. Long legs for her petite stature.
He forced himself to look away. At the big oak, at the rustic lodge, at anything but the alluring sight in front of him. Maybe taking this job wasn’t such a good idea. The last thing he wanted was an attachment. When they reached the office, he took a seat across from the desk and watched while she opened her reservations book.
“Your first trip will be next week. I have a family who wants to hike up Grand Teton.”
He nodded. He could do that trip blindfolded. “Did you want to have a regular weekly schedule or just go with reservations?”
She asked how they worked it at the Majestic, and he explained their regular schedules.
“That sounds fine. Why don’t you work up a tentative schedule with both day trips and overnighters, the most popular treks, and I’ll take a look at it. How did you schedule days off?”
“I have a standing appointment on Thursday nights, so I always had Thursdays off. Sundays too.”
“Why don’t you work the schedule around those two days, then, if that’s all right with you.” She handed him employee papers to fill out.
“Fine.” He began filling out the forms.
The phone rang, and she grabbed the cordless. “Higher Grounds, may I help you?”
Micah jotted down his social security number.
“What’s wrong, Nat?”
He looked up, and Hanna placed her hand over the mouthpiece and whispered, “Just leave them on my desk when you’re done.” Then she slipped out the door.
Hanna entered the empty kitchen, letting the louvered doors swing shut behind her. By the sound of her sister’s voice, she could tell Natalie was fighting tears. Nat had been rambling about tidying up after lunch, but hadn’t yet gotten to the point.
“And it fell out of his pants, right there on the floor. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it, Hanna. Why would he do it?” She sounded hysterical.
Hanna’s mind spun as she tried to decipher some kind of meaning from her sister’s meandering words. “Now, wait, Nat. What fell out of his pants? I’m not following.”
“A condom!” The word brought on a flood of tears and sniffles.
Hanna paused in the taut silence.
“I’m on the pill, Hanna!”
Hanna wilted and squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh, Nat.”
“We haven’t been very close lately. He’s been so busy at the bank, and I’ve been busy with the kids and church, but . . . an affair? How could he?”
She heard the torment in her sister’s voice, wished she could take it away. What could she say? “Maybe it hasn’t gotten that far yet. The package wasn’t empty, was it?”
“No.” She sniffled again, and Hanna heard the baby squealing unhappily in the background, then a muffled, “Alex, get off him!”
Nat just didn’t deserve this. She would never dream of having an affair. Hanna could hardly believe Keith would either.
“Do you really think he hasn’t done anything yet?” Nat asked. “Who could it be? He’s never home, and I thought he was working. But what if he wasn’t working at all? What if he was spending all that time with her?”
Hanna smiled stiffly when Mrs. Eddlestein entered the kitchen, then lowered her voice, ensuring that the hard-of-hearing woman wouldn’t hear....
