Autumn Bliss (3 page)

The redhead grinned at Mallory, awakening a twinge of guilt for wanting to leave the first chance she got.

“We were doing well before, but you’ve more than doubled business this past week.”

“I’ve got more suggestions if you’d like to hear them,” Mallory offered.

“Definitely. In fact, this is perfect, because after seeing all this, I thought you might be the perfect person to brainstorm with about some possible fundraiser ideas. Let me get Grandma a cappuccino for while she’s babysitting Hazel, and then we can talk.”

Excitement simmered as Mallory also bagged up a lemon poppy seed muffin while Janelle made the drinks.

“Santa Butch here, too?” she asked Judy while handing over the bag.

“Yes. He’s going to help Janey with the animals and already went out to the barns. It’s a little busier with Mark gone to Milwaukee the past two days.”

“It sure is,” Janelle agreed as she brought the to-go cup over for her grandmother. “You and Grandpa are Godsends.”

“Oh, dear, we get our payment. Don’t we Hazel?” Judy blew a raspberry on the infant’s neck and unrestrained giggles filled the air. “Yes we do.”

She finished teasing the baby and reached for her drink. Pausing, she eyed the goodwill jar Mallory had set on the counter her first week on the job. “Do you mind if I take one of these?”

“That’s what they’re there for,” Mallory said. “Give
or
take.”

“Great.” She pulled a folded slip of paper attached to a piece of chocolate from the jar and put it in the pocket of her sweater. “See you later. Have a good day, Mallory.”

“You, too,” she said as the woman left with the baby to return to the residence wing of the lodge.

A few more customers wandered in, and once they were served, Mallory and Janelle each poured a cup of coffee and sat at one of the tables.

“Funny you should mention fundraising ideas,” she said to her boss as she flipped pages on the legal pad she’d kept handy since about three days into the job. “I was actually thinking along those lines myself.”

“Great. Show me what you got.”

She found the page she wanted and plopped the pad of paper onto the table. “Okay, so you do the Santa pictures at the mall, as well as the carriage rides in downtown Green Bay, but I was thinking that there are plenty of other occasions you can work with to attract guests and even get local residents from the surrounding community out to the lodge. You have tons of room here on the grounds and around the animal rescue, so I thought maybe you could start with a Fall Harvest Festival.”

Interest sparked in the other woman’s green eyes. “Go on.”

“I know it’s short notice, but this first year, if you plan for the weekend
after
Halloween, you can avoid competing with the haunted houses and the Boo Zoo, plus you can hopefully beat the snow. You guys already have a reputation for doing things right, and I think you could get a fair amount of interest from the community.”

Janelle nodded. “So…harvest festival. Are you talking like booths and stuff?”

“Yes. Booths with games for kids, a petting zoo with some of the rescue animals, something with pumpkins, a pie baking contest, silent auction, maybe even some local arts and crafts,” she rattled off. “Hay rides, hot chocolate, booyah—”

“Ooh, I love this! We can come up with all kinds of stuff.”

They brainstormed a whole list of additional possibilities before falling silent as Janelle scooped up the legal pad and scanned the plans. She sat back and Mallory saw that once the initial wave of excitement passed, reality set in.

“This is going to be a ton of work to get done in just one month.”

“I think it can be done on a smaller scale this year,” Mallory insisted. “And I’m willing to put in the time. It’ll lay the ground work for an even better event next year that you can start planning much further out.”

Regret filled her boss’s expression. “The thing is, I can’t pay much overtime for a fundraiser, and my time is much more limited with Hazel these days. This might be something we have to start now to build up for next year.”

Disappointment flooded through Mallory, until she recalled a thought she’d had while walking around the lake yesterday during her lunch break.

“Well…I might have a solution that could work.”

When she hesitated, Janelle’s eyebrows rose as she sipped her coffee.

Mallory fiddled with the pen in her hand. Her current wage didn’t pay near enough to cover rent
and
allow her to save money for an eventual move out of town. Shane had been great about everything, letting her stay at his place, and giving her rides when her car was in the shop the last couple days, but too much longer and they’d drive each other nuts.

Just ask.

“I’ve been staying with my brother for the past month because my apartment building was going through some structural updates. I found out yesterday that the building has now been condemned, and I won’t be able to move back in.” Nothing less than she expected these days, but—

“That sucks.”

She gave a short laugh when Janelle finished her thought. “Yes, it does. However, when Mark gave me the tour a couple weeks ago, he pointed out the two older cabins way past the others you guys currently rent around the lake.”

“Yeah. He got a great deal from a resort up north and transported them here for a fraction of the cost of building them from scratch,” Janelle explained. “Levi’s been working on the renovations all summer on his days off. He has one fixed up already, plus I think he’s almost done with the second one.”

She took a deep breath and forced her question out. “Would you consider letting me live in one in exchange for my work on the fundraiser?”

Janelle’s eyebrows rose, and after a moment she said, “That’s Mark’s call. Not that I would mind, but he handles that part of the resort business. Although, with Levi’s similar arrangement, we know he’s open to the idea.”

Mallory lifted her head in surprise. “Levi’s arrangement?”

“Mark gave him use of the last cabin in the back as part of his salary.” She gave her a considering look. “I thought that’s why you suggested it?”

“No.” She sat back, fighting dismay. “I didn’t know he lived back there. I just hoped if I could bring in enough to exceed what the cabin makes in revenue, you guys might be willing to work with me on a trade. And I can do other PR work, too. I’ve got a lot more in me than managing the shop.”

Janelle’s gaze flicked to the legal pad. “I can see that.”

“Well, as far as the cabin goes, I don’t want to be a bother.” To them, or Levi. She masked her disappointment with a smile. “I can stay with my brother a little longer until I find someplace else. And I’m still more than willing to work on the festival.”

Coffee cup in hand, Janelle pushed up from the table. “Listen, I’ve got to get back out to the barns, but let me run everything by Mark when he gets home tomorrow, including the cabin situation. I think this festival could be great and really don’t want to wait until next year. Plus, I’d love to see what you can do.”

“Thanks. But…I honestly didn’t know about Levi. If Mark does agree, do you think he’ll mind suddenly having a neighbor?”

She shrugged. “The cabins are far enough apart that privacy shouldn’t be an issue. Besides, you staying there isn’t any different than if we rented to guests.”

“I guess not.” Mallory reached for the note pad and pen.

“And then again,” Janelle murmured, “it’s always possible he wouldn’t mind at all.”

Something in the other woman’s voice made Mallory glance up to see her gaze focused out the window, a small smile on her lips. As she turned to see what had captured her attention, the redhead said, “See you later.”

The sight of Levi approaching the patio sent her pulse skipping. He nodded at Janelle when they passed, then turned his attention toward Mallory as he entered the shop. Sucking in a deep breath to calm her racing heartbeat, she stood and met his gaze with a welcoming smile.

“Hey, Levi.”

“Hi.”

She gathered the items off the table and moved past him to the counter. He’d carried the fresh, crisp scent of the outdoors in with him, and she savored a discreet inhale of musk and pine as she set her things aside before turning to face him from behind the bakery display.

“I haven’t seen you around much the past couple days.” She kept her smile in place after the words were out, even though they revealed she’d been looking for him.

“Been busy,” he said shortly.

There was no distinct color to his gaze today. The mix of green and brown made her want to lean close and study his eyes in sunlight. She almost laughed at the thought of his expression if she dragged him outside to do just that. He’d think she was crazy.

As her lips twitched, he lowered his gaze to peruse the items in the case, and she let hers take in his long, lean frame. Jeans, snug T-shirt, and an untucked, unbuttoned black and green checkered flannel shirt. The shirt-sleeves were rolled up to reveal his muscled forearms, and though she wanted to linger on those lines, she forced her gaze back to his face as he shifted to his left. His dark hair was tousled from the wind, and his usual scruff was shaved to just a shadow on his jaw.

“Mondays and Tuesdays are my days off.”

The volunteered information surprised her—and also explained why she hadn’t seen him the past couple days. “Thursdays for me.”

“Just one day?”

“Gotta pay the bills,” she quipped. Which was true, especially after her three-hundred plus car repair bill. “I got my car back, by the way. They replaced the starter.”

That got her a nod.

“Did you do anything fun?” she asked. “On your days off, I mean.”

He simply shook his head, his attention still on the glass case between them. So somber. Made her wonder if he even knew how to have fun.

She gave him another moment, then asked, “See anything you want?”

His gaze flicked up to hers for a brief, heart-stopping second, then returned to the pastries. Had the slight color in his cheeks been there before?

Before he could give her an order, an older couple entered the shop and approached the counter. Levi stepped aside with a gesture indicating they could go ahead of him. The gentleman murmured a thank you, and the woman gave him a smile before stepping forward.

“Good morning, Mallory,” she greeted.

“Betty, John, good to see you this morning.” They’d insisted on first names the second day into their stay. “What can I get for you today?”

They requested flavored coffees and two cinnamon rolls, then chatted while Mallory got their items together.

“We’re going to take a walk around the lake to enjoy the warm weather. As big as the lake is, John thought a late-morning treat would be nice.”

“Smart man. I’m sure winter will be here before we know it, so now is the time to take advantage.” Mallory tucked a couple napkins, wet naps, and forks into their bag. “There’s a swing on the opposite side where you can sit in the sun for a while.”

“I thought I spotted one out the window of our room,” John commented.

Betty had stepped a bit closer to Levi, and she indicated the jar on the counter filled with slips of paper and chocolate. “I wanted to ask you about this yesterday, but you were so busy I didn’t get the chance.”

“That’s a goodwill jar.” She noticed Levi glance over before returning his attention to a small rack of magazines against the wall.

“What is it for?”

“A way to spread good news, or cheer someone up if they’re having a bad day. Guests can take a message or leave a message, or both if they’d like.”

Betty’s eyes twinkled with her smile. “I love that.”

“There’s pen and paper right there. You just write a message, or something that touched you, or made you happy. I added the chocolate because even if the message doesn’t do the trick, everyone can be thankful for a little treat in their day.”

“Now who’s the smart one,” John quipped with a wink.

Mallory grinned. “I can’t take all the credit. I read about it in a magazine and thought it was a neat idea. I also have one at home, and if I’m having a bad day, I take the slips out and read them to remind me of all the good things in my life. Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference.”

Something her mother had never been able to embrace.

“So true.” Betty beamed at her and turned to her husband. “Let’s do both, John, and we’ll read them when we reach the swing.”

Mallory rang up their purchases and slid them across the counter. The older couple finished their messages, taped a piece of chocolate to each one, then dropped them in the jar after selecting their own to take on their walk.

“Thanks for coming in,” she said. “Enjoy your day.”

“You, too, dear.”

Levi moved forward as they left, and she gave him another smile. Odds were sooner or later he’d break down and return it.

Today did not appear to be that day, so she prompted, “What can I get for you?”

“Butch wanted a coffee.”

Was that the only reason he’d come inside?

Squashing an immediate rush of disappointment, she moved across to the machine to pour, since she knew what Santa Butch preferred. “And for you?”

After a long moment, he requested a small pumpkin spice latte. She set both drinks on the counter, then took out a bag and selected a cherry turnover and an apple crunch bar. Santa’s pastry choices were as set as his coffee selection, so she had no doubt Levi would get the apple bar.

His eyebrows drew together when she set the bag next to the cups, and then he reached into his front pocket.

Guessing what he was going for, she shook her head and pushed the items toward him. “Nope. Put it away. Santa doesn’t pay here, and yours is on me.”

“I’d prefer to pay.”

She figured she could argue back and forth with him, or she could end it quick. Bracing her hands on the counter, she met his gaze and kept her voice friendly, yet firm. “Fine. But then I’m going to pay you for the ride the other morning.”

His jaw tightened. “You don’t have to do that.”

“And you could’ve dropped me off in town like I’d asked.” She canted her head to the right and narrowed her eyes in genuine consideration. “Why didn’t you?”