Unexpected Gifts (2 page)

The only thing more pathetic then the prospect of spending Christmas alone was the idea of spending New Year's Eve with her father and his child bride. 

"No thanks," she said. 

"What about your mother?"

"She's on a cruise with Val," Andi said. "I told you that." And she had, but he'd likely blocked it from his memory, as he did with any reminder that his first wife had left him for another woman.

"Well, you're always saying how busy you are at this time of the year and-."

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll be fine," she muttered. "Merry Christmas, Dad."

She hung up before he could return her well wishes. She didn't want to hear them. 

"Eva," she called into the back room. "Where did you put that promo invite for Castle Mountain Lodge?"

Chapter Two

December 22

Colin Hartford steered his four-wheel drive up the windy road leading to the Castle Mountain Lodge. His tires crunched on the freshly fallen snow. The plows couldn't keep up with the thick white stuff covering the roads and Colin was pretty sure they'd given up on trying to keep the roads clear. He hadn't seen one in over an hour. The weather forecast had said it would be a white Christmas, but they hadn't said anything about a blizzard. It took all his concentration to navigate the icy roads. Combining with the low visibility, the dense pines on both sides of the road gave him the sense that he was driving farther and farther into the middle of nowhere. But Rose, his grandmotherly assistant, had assured him that the Lodge had full resort facilities. Plus, Rose had promised it was famous for the grand holiday festivities it put on. It was perfect for his first Christmas back in Canada. 

He'd had enough of beaches and hot sun to ring in the holidays. Colin craved some old-fashioned carols, ice skating, gingerbread houses and lots of snow. Five years away was enough to make him miss the cold weather. It didn't matter what anyone said, Christmas without snow was just wrong. 

After a few minutes of steady climbing up the steep mountain road, the trees began to thin, and soon they were covered in white and red lights, illuminating the drive as the sun began to set. Like a candy cane lane, Colin thought with excitement. He couldn't keep the grin off his face but he fought the urge to accelerate. He couldn't wait to start experiencing everything the season had to offer, but he didn't think digging the jeep out of a snow drift was a good way to start. 

Even driving slowly, it didn't take long before buildings and cabins came into view. They were all joined by interconnected pathways, loosely arranged around a large pond and common area. The main lodge served as the focus of the tiny village, placed at the far end of the pond. The main building was impressive. Certainly a lot nicer than the hotels Colin had been living out of in the Caribbean for the last few years. 

Colin pulled up to the main entrance, where a valet opened his door. 

"Good evening, Sir," he said. "Welcome to Castle Mountain Lodge."

"Thank you." Colin unfolded his large frame from the vehicle and grabbed his bag out of the back. A bellboy appeared, but Colin waved him away. "This is it, really," he said, gesturing to his duffle. 

"Carmen at the desk will get you settled, and I'll take care of your car. Enjoy your stay, Sir. And Merry Christmas."

Colin smiled. It would be a merry Christmas. He looked around through the falling snow at the trees and took a deep breath of mountain air. How could it not be when this beauty surrounded him? 

The main doors opened up to a majestic three-story room. Exposed timbers framed the walls and vaulted ceiling. Colin moved through the lobby, taking in the rustic holiday atmosphere. There were fresh pine boughs draped around the bannisters leading to the upper stories and a smell of spice and cinnamon filled the air. Before heading to the check in desk, Colin stopped to admire a massive tree, decorated with oversized white pine cones, holly berries and strands of popcorn that stood in the center of the lobby. A fire crackled in the large river rock hearth across the room and a piano player filled the space with the soft sounds of carols. 

Colin stood for a moment taking it all in. It was just as Rose promised. A scene right out of a movie, or one of those home and style magazines she was always reading. Eager to get checked in and start participating in some festive activities, he found the front desk and spotted a woman standing behind it, with Carmen on her name tag. She was madly typing something into her computer and repeatedly running her hands through her hair. As Colin got closer, he could hear her apologizing to a petite dark haired woman in front of him at the desk. 

"I'm so sorry, Miss Williams," Carmen said. "I wish there was more that I could do."

"But you sent us the invitation," the woman said. "How can you not have a room for me, when you sent it?" 

"I'm so sorry," she said again. "We did have the room but the invitation was sent a few weeks ago and we expected that since we didn't hear from you or your company, you would be declining the offer. I can offer you and your company another complimentary stay as well as some dinner vouchers for the restaurant."

The woman, her back still to Colin, shook her head. "Is there anywhere else nearby?"

"There's a bed and breakfast about twenty miles down the mountain, I could call them to see if they have a room?"

It was a blizzard out there, Colin thought. This woman couldn't drive in that weather. 

Carmen reached for the phone, still talking. "We usually keep a few extra rooms open, just in case of a situation like this, but with the holiday season upon on us, well, we did have one villa available, but it was booked last minute. Just yesterday in fact."

Rose had made his reservations only yesterday, Colin thought. She hadn't told him that she'd secured him a villa. What would he do with so much space?

"What am I supposed to do now?" the woman said. She didn't sound angry, just defeated.

"Miss Williams, I can't tell you how sorry we are about the mix up. Let me make the call for you."

The woman waved her hand. "No, it's fine," she said and turned around so quickly, she almost smacked right into Colin's chest. For the first time, he saw her face. She was stunning. She swiped her black hair away from her eyes with a quick, angry wipe. Her dark eyes contrasted sharply against her pale skin, and if he hadn't been eavesdropping, Colin might have missed the unshed tears that glistened in the corners. 

"Excuse me," Colin said to Carmen. "How big are these villas?"

"I'm sorry, Sir?"

"The villas," he said and glanced at the woman who was watching the exchange. "I believe my assistant booked me a villa yesterday, and I really don't need that much space."

Carmen straightened behind the desk and clicked some keys on her computer. "What was your name, Sir?"

"Hartford. Colin Hartford," he said, his eyes on the woman next to him. She didn't say anything. 

"Yes," Carmen said. "You are registered in a villa. They're really quite large. 1200 square feet. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a small kitchen."

Colin turned to the woman who still hadn't said anything. "I know this seems strange, but if you have no place to stay, would you consider taking a room? It's snowing really hard out there, and I can't, in good conscience, let you drive back down the mountain tonight." He offered her a smile. "I swear, I'm a perfectly nice guy and I don't have an ax in my bag." Colin swung his small duffle around to show her and to his surprise, she burst out laughing. 

"Is that a yes?" he said. 

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Carmen interrupted. "That's a very generous offer Mr. Hartford, but-"

"Let her answer," he said and turned back to the woman. 

She cleared her throat and said, "Well since I make it a policy to never go back to the room of a perfect stranger, how about a drink at the bar so I can see if you're a perfectly nice guy? Besides, I can usually spot the crazy ax murderers after one drink." 

Colin smiled at her boldness and gestured towards the bar situated at the opposite end of the lobby area. "Sounds like a great idea." Then to Carmen he said, "Can you please have my bag delivered to my room?" 

He fell into step with the intriguing woman, whose name he still didn't know. They crossed the floor together, and Colin couldn't help but think that his holiday might have just become a lot more interesting.  

Chapter Three

Andi couldn't believe it. First her dad bailed on her for what was already going to be a rough week, and then they screwed up her complementary stay at the Lodge. But looking at the strong back of the man getting her a drink at the bar, she couldn't help thinking that her luck might be looking up a little bit. 

She'd surprised herself when she hadn't immediately rejected Colin's offer to share his villa. It's not like she would really take him up on it. After all, he was a complete stranger. Albeit a very handsome one. And he did have a distinct and most unnerving way of making her stomach flutter just by looking at her. She couldn't remember the last time a man had that effect on her, not even Blaine.

As she watched, he turned from the bar holding a glass of wine and a bottle of beer. He wasn't her type. Andi liked sophisticated, executive men. Blaine had always been well groomed, wearing shirt and tie. This man was wearing faded jeans and a worn t-shirt that looked like it was at least ten years old. He was overdue for a hair cut and his shaggy hair persistently fell over his eye in a way that Andi would normally find annoying. But there was something about the way Colin brushed it off his face that Andi found ridiculously sexy. 

"I hope Shiraz is okay?" he asked, as he reached the table and put the glass in front of her. "You didn't tell me your preference, so I guessed."

"Shiraz is great," she said, and took a sip to keep her from reaching out and touching the scruff on his chin that gave him an air of a mountain man that fit in perfectly with the setting she found herself in. What was wrong with her?

Colin reclined in the chair across from her and took a long pull on his beer. When he put the bottle down, his green eyes locked on hers and, for a moment, Andi forgot that she still didn't know anything about him. 

"So, Miss Williams," he said, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "It just occurred to me that I offered you a room in my villa and all I know about you is that your last name is Williams, you like red wine and you don't plan ahead by confirming reservations."

She was going to protest. It wasn't her fault the reservation wasn't confirmed. Eva had said everything was good to go. Of course she should have known that Eva wouldn't have checked anything. There was a reason Andi took care of the business side of Party Hearty. 

Andi took another sip of her wine, swirling it around in her mouth before swallowing and responding. "So, what do you want to know?" 

"Well, I've already assured you that I'm not an ax murderer. How about a similar assurance?" 

"I've been rehabilitated," she said with a straight face.

"Good thing." Colin laughed. "I suppose I should have asked if you had an ax in your bag." 

She raised her eyebrows at him and laughed along with him.

"Now that we have the important details cleared up," he said after a moment, "What's your first name, Miss Williams?"

"You can call me Andi."

"Okay," Colin said. "Is that what I should call you, or is that your name?"

"Believe it or not, it is my actual name," she said and looked down at her napkin. "I wish I could say it was short for something, but really my dad was convinced I would be a boy and when I wasn't, he decided the next best thing to having a son would be to pretend I was one."

"Wow," he said. He didn't laugh at her, and when she looked up there was an actual look of concern on his face. "So I assume the two of you aren't close?"

Andi shrugged. "We were actually, but now he really does have those sons he wanted so bad, with his new wife. So he's pretty busy with them."

"And your mom?"

Andi took another sip of her wine before answering him. With any other guy, she would have balked at such intimate questions, but there was something about Colin. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so relaxed with a man. He was incredibly easy to talk to. Heck, she'd even told him her the story behind her name and she couldn't remember the last time she'd ever done that. With anyone.

"My mom and I are close."

"What about your husband?"

He asked the question causally and crossed his leg over his knee, leaning back in his chair. Andi couldn't help but notice the way his t-shirt strained across his chest. He obviously spent time in the gym. 

"Don't you think that's a personal question?"

"Not at all," he said. "I figure if we're going to be roommates, I should know if there's a jealous husband or boyfriend who's going to come after me."

Andi shook her head. "I'm single," she said. "Besides, nobody said anything yet about being roommates." 

He ignored her, and said instead, "Holidays are supposed to be for friends and family, so why are you here alone?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Touché." He picked up his beer bottle, raising it to her. 

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Andi pretended not to notice the way he studied her. She focused instead on the picture windows, framing the winter wonderland scene outside. The snow was falling even heavier than when she'd arrived. It was forming a thick blanket over the courtyard. It was beautiful, but it would also mean the drive back down the mountains to the city would be treacherous. She was used to winter driving, but winter driving in the unpredictable mountains was a different story.