Chynna rolled to her back and stared at the ceiling, choosing her words. She felt rather than saw Trevor lean closer. Was it a good sign that he was concerned by her reaction? He said he wanted more, but if he was going to keep his secrets, then his actions and his words didn’t align.
Chynna wasn’t good with that. She realized that she wanted far more than a single night, even two nights. She wanted more than pleasure and satisfaction. She wanted more than physical intimacy—she wanted emotional intimacy, and she wanted it with Trevor.
She’d take a lesson from him and admit it.
“What?” Trevor asked.
“Building restaurants to their potential is your passion.”
“Pretty much. I think I’m good at it. It doesn’t leave a lot of time for anything else, but that’s been okay to date.”
“And you always sell the business when it’s at the peak of its popularity.”
Trevor nodded. “That’s when its value is highest. It only makes sense.”
Chynna rolled over to her stomach and looked him in the eye. “But if you can’t commit to one restaurant, to sticking with it through the good and the bad, how do you imagine you’ll be able to commit to one relationship?”
Trevor blinked. “You’re not really talking about restaurants,” he said softly and Chynna smiled. He frowned and looked across the room, then at her again. “But restaurants come into style and go out of it. There’s a natural cycle to the business...”
“Does there have to be? Can’t a business be built to a sustainable level, satisfying existing customers yet bringing in new ones at a steady rate?”
“There’s always going to be some fluctuation.”
She arched a brow. “Don’t you think there’s fluctuation in relationships, too? Times when things are awesome and times when they aren’t?”
“Probably. That’s why you need to put energy into a relationship to make it work over the long term.”
“But that philosophy doesn’t work for restaurants?”
She watched him think about that. She’d shaken his assumptions and she knew it. She was curious to see what he’d say next.
“It works for tattoo shops,” she said. “You have to pay attention to sustaining the business as well as building it, attracting new customers and taking care of the ones you already have. Businesses are like relationships. They’re not just an asset you buy and ultimately sell, or something that sits on the shelf and maintains its value. They have to be nurtured to grow and thrive.”
“I guess a restaurant could be managed the same way,” he said finally. “It would require a different marketing strategy, and a different menu. Less trendy. More consistent, but with a regular rate of change. I’m not sure how well it would work, though.”
Chynna smiled. “You’re only going to find out I’m right if you commit to something for the long term.”
“Why does that sound ominous?”
“I think you’re always on the move. I think you’re always looking for the next thing instead of taking care of what you have, and I think that means that you’ll always be shopping instead of investing. Restaurants or people.”
“Go on,” he encouraged.
“You’re not insulted.”
“I’m curious. I’ve never thought about it this way.”
Chynna took a breath and confessed the rest of her conclusions. “I think that means that you’re looking for a partner, but it might be more of a shopping trip. Even if that isn’t your plan now, it’ll end up that way because you haven’t cultivated the skills to nurture anything for the long term.” Sure she’d said enough and that he’d leave, she got out of bed and headed for the washroom.
“That’s not unfair,” he acknowledged to her surprise. “Don’t you think people can change? Or that their goals can change?”
“Sure, but just because their goals change doesn’t mean that their habits do.”
“What would it take to change your mind?” Trevor asked and she turned to look back at him. He lounged on the bed, nude and gloriously male, his gaze locked on her. He had an ability to make her feel both special and very feminine. It was the intensity of his attention.
He listened and he was prepared to change his own thinking based on what he heard. She knew that was rare.
But she was realistic, too. “I don’t think you’ll do it. A desire to change doesn’t always ensure change.”
“Or else the world wouldn’t be full of new diet plans,” he said and swung from the bed to follow her. “You should give me a chance.” His expression turned stubborn as he halted in front of her, that persistence coming to the fore. He braced his hands on his hips. “If you’re going to issue a challenge, say it all, then see what I do.”
“You might do it just to prove me wrong.”
“You’ll have to take that chance.” He strode past her, moving with that athletic grace that made Chynna’s mouth go dry. Why were they talking instead of making love again?
Because this was important.
“Okay.” Chynna folded her arms across her chest and watched Trevor as she challenged him. “Call your sister and wish her a merry Christmas. Reach out and reconnect with your past, then I’ll believe that you can stick with something.”
Trevor’s shock couldn’t have been more clear. His jaw nearly bounced off the floor. Chynna shook her head and went into the washroom, knowing she shouldn’t be disappointed.
She certainly wasn’t surprised that he came after her. He was persistent. “I can’t do that,” he argued.
“How did I know you’d say that?” She started to brush her teeth.
Trevor looked really agitated for the first time since she’d known him. He pushed his hand through his hair. “I can’t intrude in her life. Not after all this time.”
“Maybe she’d be glad to hear from you.”
“Why would she?” He flung out his hands.
She really had hit a nerve.
“Because you’re her big brother.” Chynna kept her voice calm. “She was a baby. She can’t remember anything bad about you.”
“She can’t remember anything good about me either.”
“You might be surprised. She might have questions about your family. She might be glad to get in touch.”
“She might be freaked out.” He paced the bathroom, which was generously-proportioned but not that big. “It would be creepy. Like a stalker.”
“It would be festive. Lots of people reconnect at Christmas.” Chynna shook her head. “It’s not like you’re sending her pictures you took through her bathroom window when she wasn’t aware of you being there.”
“Still.” He ran a hand over his head, swore softly, and paced some more. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
He turned a blazing gaze upon her. “I just can’t.”
Chynna watched him, wondering. “It’s kind of interesting that you haven’t argued that you don’t know where she is, or what her name is.”
He shot her a look but didn’t say anything.
“You do know where she is,” she guessed.
“No. Not really.”
“But you think you could find out.”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“How?”
“You don’t demand too much, do you?” That hint of a smile was back and Chynna was relieved.
“You want my biggest story. It’s got to be a fair trade.”
Trevor sighed and perched on the counter. “Okay. A few years ago, I had a bad feeling. I can’t explain it. I just wanted to know that she was okay. I needed to know. When I have a feeling like that, I don’t let it go.”
“I would never have thought you were intuitive or psychic.”
“Oh, I follow my gut all the time.” He smiled down at her. “Why do you think I introduced myself to you?”
Chynna was startled. “Why?”
His gaze roved over her and his voice dropped low, making her shiver. “I just knew. I just knew I had to meet you and that there could be something potent between us. I had to know for sure.” He held her gaze for a charged moment, then caught his breath and looked away. “Maybe I knew you’d shake my tree and that it might be good for me.”
“Is this good for you?”
“I don’t know.” Trevor frowned, then shook his head. “Anyway, I made a lot of calls and found a lot of dead ends, but ultimately I talked to the social worker who had been in charge of our case.”
“The value of persistence?” Chynna teased but he didn’t smile.
“Something like that. She’s retired now but she remembered us. I think she was glad to talk to someone, even me. She said her husband had died and she was alone. She said my sister was fine but that she couldn’t give me any contact information. Joanna’s married and her name was changed when she was adopted, and they have kids.” He shrugged. “That’s all I know. I guess it was supposed to be enough.”
“Was it?”
“Yes and no. It was more than I was supposed to know. I’m glad she’s okay. Joanna was a baby when I last saw her, though. It’s not like we were close.”
“You should call the social worker back and ask to be put in touch with her,” Chynna said.
“No.” Trevor was adamant.
“Why not?”
“She might not want to hear from me.”
“Then she can say so.”
He was staring at the floor. “She can hunt me down if she wants.”
“Why don’t you want to pursue this?”
“I let her down.” He gave Chynna a hot glance. “It was my responsibility to take care of her. It’s the one thing I remember being told by our parents. But I didn’t. They took her away.”
“You couldn’t take care of her,” Chynna corrected. “You were only four.”
He tapped the counter with a heavy finger. “I had a job to do and I didn’t do it. I let her down.”
Oh, he was principled and Chynna loved that.
“Why would she want to talk to me?”
“Because you’re her big brother. You must be her only blood relation.”
“She has kids now.”
“It’s not the same.” She moved to stand in front of him, compelling him to look at her when he didn’t reply. “You need to have permanence in your life of some kind, Trevor, even if it’s a sister you call once a year. It’s not natural to be rootless.”
“And it undermines any argument I might make about commitment in any other part of my life.”
“There is that.”
The corner of his mouth lifted as he held her gaze. “I thought I was the persistent one.”
“Nobody said you had an exclusive.”
He exhaled and looked around the room, but she knew he wasn’t seeing any of it. She’d shaken him up but she hoped he was considering her suggestion. Chynna felt as if everything hung in the balance and she couldn’t take a breath, wondering what he’d say or do.
She realized that she really didn’t want Trevor to walk out of her life.
Not yet.
Then his phone rang and he darted across the room to retrieve it from his suit jacket. “Trevor Graham,” he said when he answered, not looking at Chynna. He frowned as he moved toward the window and she wondered if it was bad news.
Why was Spencer calling him at this hour?
That was Trevor’s first thought, but then he realized it wasn’t that late. He could still hear the distant sound of music and laughter from the wedding reception. He went to the window to improve the reception and peered through the drapes.
All he could see was white.
“Hey, Trevor,” Spencer said. “I just got home.”
“Is the power out there, too?”
“No. We passed the crew on the road to the lodge. A big tree came down and took out the power lines. I stopped to talk to them, and told them we had a lot of guests tonight. They said the power should be back on within the hour.”
“Good. Thanks for letting me know.”
“But the snow, Trevor.” Spencer exhaled. “It’s coming down like you wouldn’t believe.”
Trevor understood the implication. “Most of the guests were planning to leave tomorrow morning, but they might have to stay longer.”
“I’m thinking so. It doesn’t look like they’ll have a choice.”
“How are our supplies?”
“There’s plenty for the brunch tomorrow, because I ordered extra anyway.”
“The fridges and freezer are on, thanks to the generators, so there shouldn’t be any spoilage.”
“Right. When the electricity comes back on, could you check the fridges? The oldest one has a fussy compressor and you’ll need to keep an eye on it. Sometimes it doesn’t reset after a power outage.”
“No problem. Tell me what to do.” Trevor made notes as Spencer gave him instructions, then reviewed them with him to double check.
“I can do an inventory after brunch tomorrow and make a plan.”
Trevor nodded agreement. “We’ll have a better idea then how many will be staying.”
“And maybe for how long. I’ll put the plow on my truck now so I can get there in the morning. I should have done it already but it trashes my gas mileage.” Spencer sounded rueful.
“I don’t envy you that job tonight.”
“Yeah, well, it’s my own fault.” Spencer cleared his throat. “Hey, everything was flawless today, Trevor. Gabe didn’t even need to think about details and Lexi was so happy. Thanks for that.”
“Just doing what I do.”
“I’m going to talk to Gabe about closing the lodge for a couple of weeks, once all the guests go home. It’s always slow in early January and I don’t think we have any bookings this year. Sounds like a good opportunity for everyone to take a break.”
Trevor’s heart sank. He was going to be unemployed sooner than he’d expected. “Makes sense to me,” he said with false cheer.
“We’ll pay you, Trevor,” Spencer said. “Just as we agreed.”
“I had no doubt, Spencer. Thanks. See you in the morning.” He ended the call, looking down at his phone. Money wasn’t the point. He’d have nothing to do, and he really didn’t like having nothing to do on New Year’s Eve.
It was too easy to think then. To remember.
He glanced up to find Chynna watching him. She’d pulled on that fluffy robe again and her expression was serious. “Anything wrong?”
“Yes and no. The electricity should be back on shortly, which is good, but the snow is really piling up. Spencer thinks some guests might be required to stay longer.”
Chynna went immediately to the window and opened the drapes.
White. It was all white.
Trevor could hear the wind whistling, too, a sound that made him shiver. He turned his back to the snow and got dressed quickly.
“What else?” Chynna asked.
“What makes you think there’s something else?”
She smiled. “You’re ducking the question. He said something at the end, something you didn’t like.”
“I don’t have an opinion one way or the other. I was just surprised.”
“By?”
Trevor sighed, seeing no reason to hide the truth. “He’s going to suggest to Gabe that they close the lodge for a couple of weeks after the wedding guests leave.”
“How long were you supposed to stay?”
“Until the 10th of January or so. He said they’d still pay me.”
She took a step closer. “But it bothers you that you’ll be out of work.”
“I like to keep busy.” He found his tie and knotted it quickly, avoiding her perceptive gaze.
It made no difference. She still guessed, and in a way he was glad.
“Especially on New Year’s Eve.”
He reached for his suit jacket. “There’s nothing saying I won’t be working then. We might be snowed in, still.”
She was beside him then, meeting his gaze in the mirror. “Call her,” she whispered.
Trevor shook his head, then pivoted to listen. “Did you hear that?”
“No. What?”
“The boiler came on again.” He reached out and touched the switch on a lamp. The light went on. “The power’s back,” he said briskly, already forming a To Do list in his mind. “I’ve got to go check on things.” He grabbed the list that Spencer had dictated to him and turned to leave.
“You’re running.”
“I’m keeping my responsibilities,” he said, correcting her, even though she was right.
And he left, without a backward glance.
Chynna didn’t make a sound. She didn’t follow him. She didn’t follow him into the corridor. She certainly didn’t call him.
Should he be glad that she let him go without a fight?
Should he be glad that she was asking tough questions?
Should he call Joanna? The idea worried Trevor, although the more he thought about it, the less he was sure that was the case. Chynna was right. Joanna was his sister. She might have questions.
Joanna also might not want to know him. She’d found a family and a husband and had kids of her own. She might blame him for them being separated, even though they’d just been kids.
He came to a halt as he recognized the truth.
He was afraid she’d reject him.
That single realization changed everything. Trevor had never let fear stop him before and he wasn’t going to do it now.
There was only one way to find out how Joanna felt. All he had to do was figure out how to contact her and give her the chance to get in touch.
He’d contact the social worker.
But first, he’d make sure that fridge had restarted.
Chynna had her hot shower, alone. She charged her phone, just in case the power went out again, and doused the candles. She closed the drapes again, but she could still hear the wind. She sat in the big bed, feeling that something was missing and knew it was Trevor’s company.
There was a danger sign that she could miss him so soon after meeting him. It had been great, all she’d wanted and more. It was the more part that troubled her. Just as Tristan had always said, she wore her heart on her sleeve. She couldn’t stop herself from getting emotionally involved. There was no such thing as a simple hook-up for Chynna and she’d proven it to herself for once and for all.
She wanted to know whether he’d contact his sister, and she wanted to know what happened. She wanted to help him through his shit anniversary, just the way he’d helped her through the wedding.
And she wanted to tell him about Tristan.
The urge to talk about that was new and troubling. Chynna debated the merit of sharing the story with a virtual stranger, knowing it might help her heal. On the other hand, she didn’t want to let that story lose its power, or Tristan to lose his influence in her life. She missed him and still wanted him close.
Healing might mean being completely alone.
Chynna had trouble getting to sleep and awakened too late to go for a swim. She wondered if Trevor’d had time for one or if he was still working.
What would he decide?
The wall of pure white outside her windows startled her a bit, but no doubt people who lived with this weather knew how to deal with it. She was skeptical of Trevor’s suggestion that the guests might be compelled to stay longer. She packed her bag once she’d showered and dressed, but left it in the room while she went for breakfast. Reyna hadn’t sent her a message yet so she wasn’t sure what time they’d be leaving for Portland, but maybe Reyna would be in the restaurant.
She wished that she and Trevor had parted better, but what was done was done.
Maybe being given the impetus to move forward had been the point of her time with Trevor. He certainly never lingered over the past.
Chynna was anticipating another of Spencer’s buffets but found chaos instead. Trevor was on the phone at the front desk, apparently on his own, and there was a line of guests who looked unhappy. He’d changed suits and wore a different tie. He looked a bit tired and she wondered if he’d been there all night. Snow swirled outside the entry to the lodge. Chynna didn’t disturb Trevor, particularly since he didn’t even glance up, and went to have breakfast. The restaurant was crowded and disorganized. There was nothing on the buffet but she could smell coffee.
There was a clatter from the kitchen, though. Gabe was there with Lexi when Chynna peeked in, and they were obviously trying to deal with a crisis.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Spencer can’t get through the snow, and neither can any of the staff who live in town,” Gabe said, speaking quickly. “We have a lot of hungry guests and cooking isn’t my strong suit.”
The coffee maker hissed as it finished its cycle and Lexi took the insulated pitcher into the dining room to serve coffee. Gabe was slicing away at the cutting board, doing an impromptu mise-en-place. He’d diced onions and chopped potatoes, and was slicing oranges and tomatoes to garnish the plates. His cutting wasn’t as precise as Spencer’s but it was a start. The grill was on, but nothing was cooking yet.
Chynna could fix that. She grabbed an apron and put some bacon on the grill. She broke a dozen eggs into a bowl and whisked them with a bit of milk. It was all second nature after her time at the soup kitchen and she worked with easy efficiency. Spencer’s kitchen was beautifully organized—each time she wanted something, she looked in the obvious place and there it was.
She heard Gabe sigh with relief as she took some of the onions. “I didn’t know you could cook.” he said.
“I do a bit. Mostly I cook at the soup kitchen these days.”
“So, you’re used to cooking for many.”
“Absolutely. Are there more eggs? I should start some more bacon, too. And there must be a toaster and some bread.”
“On it,” Gabe said, apparently just needing direction.
Lexi came back and started another pot of coffee. Chynna loaded up four plates with potatoes, scrambled eggs and bacon. Gabe garnished them and Lexi carried them into the dining room with toast. Chynna cracked a dozen eggs and whipped them in the bowl, then poured them onto the grill. She had enough bacon for four more plates. She started more potatoes, working in batches so each breakfast would be hot. When Gabe hesitated beside her, she said “toast” and he put more bread in the toaster.
“Woo hoo!” Lexi said when the next four plates were ready. “Chynna to the rescue!”
“Thank you so much!” Gabe said. He was starting to anticipate her, cutting vegetables and fruit to keep her supplied as she cooked. He added more plates to the stack beside her, too.
“It’s not as fancy as what Spencer does, but no one needs to leave hungry,” Chynna said with a smile. Another pound of bacon hit the grill and started to sizzle.
“No one’s leaving at all,” Gabe said. “Hungry or not.”
Chynna turned to look at him, fearing that Trevor had been right. “But I have a train to catch in Portland. I have to get there.”
He shook his head. “Not today.”
“But I have to get back to New York. Today.”
“You won’t be going anywhere today,” Gabe said. “The snow is two feet deep and still falling.”
Chynna frowned and turned the eggs before they burned. She found it hard to believe that weather couldn’t be overcome. Didn’t people want to get on with their lives? Didn’t they have plans?
Lexi returned to make more toast. “Is there any raisin bread? Someone asked.”
Gabe pointed with his knife then kept dicing. “Check the fridge. I have no idea.”
The three of them worked together quite well once they found their rhythm, putting out four breakfast plates at consistent intervals. The din from the restaurant diminished as people ate.
“I have to be in New York before tomorrow,” Chynna said finally. “I help at the soup kitchen on Christmas Day. They need everyone and I go every year.”
“They’re going to have to do without you this year,” Gabe said, his tone pragmatic. “Even if the snow stops this minute and the plows come right away, no one is going to be driving to Portland anytime soon. It’ll be too dangerous.”
They turned as one to look at the snow still falling beyond the windows. It was coming down so fast and thick that Chynna couldn’t even see the railing on the deck, even though she knew it was twenty feet from the window.
“And the snow isn’t stopping this minute,” she said quietly.
“Not even close. We’ll be lucky to see the plow by the end of the day. Maybe you’ll be able to go tomorrow.”
Chynna’s heart sank. She still had to get to Portland to catch the train, which meant tomorrow night would be the earliest that she could get back to New York. “Everyone will be staying here.”
“And most will be less happy about that than you,” Gabe noted. He gestured with his knife. “Tomatoes, oranges, onions diced and coffee brewing. What else?”
“How many more people need to eat?” Chynna asked and Gabe went to make a count.
Not back in New York for Christmas. The prospect made Chynna panic a little. She had a routine to get herself through the anniversary of Tristan’s death, and it didn’t include being snowed in at a lodge in Maine. It required her to be busy, to continue Tristan’s legacy by working at the soup kitchen, a long walk and a solitary dinner with her pet raven. None of those activities would be possible this year.
Maybe she’d cook here. If Spencer couldn’t get to the lodge and everyone was compelled to stay, someone had to cook and it would keep her busy. It would be kind of like the soup kitchen. She could still retreat to her room after Christmas dinner and spend the evening alone with her memories.
If not her raven. He probably wouldn’t know the difference.
She’d call Theo and check in, maybe get to hear that familiar croak.
It was a compromise but the best one possible under the circumstances. Once breakfast was served, Chynna would call the soup kitchen then Theo. She’d change her train reservation, then check the fridge and make a meal plan for lunch. Maybe Spencer would manage to get to the lodge before then. Maybe not. She should be glad to have a task to keep herself busy.
She wouldn’t have expectations of Trevor.
She just wouldn’t.
At least the power was on.
Trevor could smell breakfast cooking, though he wasn’t sure who had taken charge in the kitchen. He was just glad that someone had. His stomach growled at the smell of bacon, and he was glad to see guests calm down a bit when they had the chance to eat something. Being hungry never improved anyone’s mood.
He’d convinced the last of them that departure was impossible when a truck pulled into the parking lot of the lodge, its headlights on. It parked right outside the door and three woman hurried into the lodge.
It was Liv, with Lexi’s mom and her partner. They all wore heavy coats and boots and were covered with snow, just from running that short distance. The two older women brushed the snow off their coats with relief and rubbed their hands together.
“Is there coffee?” asked Lexi’s mom with obvious interest.
“Breakfast is on,” Trevor said. “Please go into the dining room.”
“I never thought hot food could smell so good,” said the arty one, leading the way.
“The power went out at their house,” Liv explained. “And the generator wouldn’t start. Spencer had to plow most of the road to get there, and the driveway, too. They were freezing cold. There wasn’t even any firewood, because they use the house so seldom in the winter.”
“I’d thought they were going to spend last night here.”
Liv shrugged. “I guess they wanted to be at their own place.”
“Bad choice.”
She smiled, her gaze sliding to the entry. Spencer’s truck was on the move as he plowed the parking lot. The snow was falling so quickly that Trevor knew it would be deep again within the hour, but it couldn’t hurt to start removing it. “Who’s cooking?”
“I don’t know, but it smells good.”
Liv came behind the desk and shed her coat. “We ate at the house before we left. Spencer never goes anywhere on an empty stomach.”
Trevor smiled at that.
“How long have you been at it?” Liv asked.
“I don’t know. I checked everything once the power came on, then found a line here.”
“Did you sleep?”
“I’ll do that tomorrow.” Trevor softened his words with a chuckle, but Liv didn’t smile.
Instead she stepped closer to the desk. “Show me what to do and go get something to eat.”
Trevor wasn’t going to argue with that suggestion. He saw Lexi place loaded plates before her mom and partner as he walked into the dining room. They both looked delighted and began to eat with enthusiasm as Lexi went to get the coffee carafe and pour refills.
“Anyone else?” Chynna came out of the kitchen, her cheeks flushed and her apron spattered. Instead of a reply, she was given a round of applause.
She’d been cooking? Of course, she worked at the soup kitchen.
The lodge was a little more upmarket but judging from the expressions of the patrons, she’d done a great job. She flicked a glance his way, and he gave her a thumbs up. She blushed and turned to take off her apron.
Lexi carried out four more plates from the kitchen and beckoned to Trevor. “I was going to bring yours to the front desk.”
“Liv has taken over.”
“Then come sit with us.”
Us meant Gabe, Lexi, Chynna and himself. There was another invitation Trevor couldn’t refuse. They sat down to steaming plates and hot coffee, and Gabe thanked Chynna for helping out. Trevor guessed it wasn’t the first time.
“It wasn’t as fancy as what Spencer would have done,” Chynna protested. “Just diner eggs.”
“But good ones,” Trevor said, saluting her with a piece of toast. “They say hunger is the best sauce.”
Chynna smiled.
“Looks like a satisfied crowd to me,” Gabe said. “Thanks again, Chynna. You weren’t supposed to come here to work.”
“Well, that’s not completely true,” Lexi teased. “I was hoping she’d work on my tattoo today.”
“Lexi!” Gabe protested, but Chynna didn’t look surprised.
“I wondered when you’d ask,” she said. “I think we could get the outline done now that Spencer’s here to do lunch.”
“Yay!” Lexi said, throwing up her hands.
They laughed together, then Gabe sobered. “This is a good opportunity to thank you, too, Trevor. You really went above and beyond yesterday.”
“Hey, we both have the same view of making it right, whatever it takes.”
“But with the power out and staff low...”
“It was just as it shook out.” Trevor continued before Gabe could protest more. “I’ll get even with you and have you manage my wedding.”
“You? Married?” Gabe laughed. “Only to your career.”
Trevor was well aware that Chynna was watching and listening.
“Everyone needs a passion,” he said mildly.
Gabe cleared his throat. “Which reminds me...” He put down his knife and fork and looked steadily at Trevor. “I was talking to Spencer this morning.”
Trevor nodded, trying to make the inevitable confession easier. “He told me that he was going to suggest closing the lodge for a few weeks when the guests leave.”
“I think it’s a good idea. We don’t have any reservations and staffing is a bit of an issue with this weather.” Gabe frowned. “The only thing is that you’ll be done a few weeks earlier than we’d planned.”
“This whole gig has been about surprises,” Trevor said, keeping his tone upbeat. “Maybe it’s better this way.”
“You can stay if you want.”
Trevor shook his head. “Better to head out.”
“We’ll pay you to the end of January, of course, as planned...”
“Spencer said as much.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out, Trevor. I feel like I misled you.”
Trevor smiled. “Who can predict the twists and turns of true love?” He offered his hand and met Gabe’s gaze. “I’m glad it worked out for you, Gabe. I can’t regret that you and Lexi are so happy together. No hard feelings. And it was a smoothly managed wedding, if I say so myself.”
“Everything was perfect,” Lexi said. “Thank you, Trevor.”
“Not the power failure,” he noted, sparing a smile for Chynna. She was listening avidly even as she ate.
“But you rolled with it so well. Thanks.”
Gabe persisted. “But you regret leaving the lodge?”
“I think you’ve got something really special here.” Trevor grinned. “I’m officially jealous. You can take credit for refining my idea of what my next challenge should be.”
Gabe smiled with relief and they shook on it, then he got to his feet. “Sit,” he said when Trevor would have stood up, too. “Have your breakfast.”
“There’s a lot to do,” Trevor protested.
“And I’ll do my part now. What’s the forecast on the storm and the roads?”
“I think most people will be able to drive out in the morning,” Trevor said.
Gabe nodded. “Okay, we’ll plan to shut down tomorrow. Okay?”
“Sounds good.” Trevor watched as Gabe headed to the front desk. Lexi returned to the kitchen to make more coffee and he was aware that Chynna was still watching him.
“Are you disappointed?” she asked in that soft sultry voice that got him right where he lived.
“Of course. But that’s how it goes.” He fixed her with a look. “From where I sit, I see two paths. I could be angry, even resentful, and take the view that I’ve been jacked around.”
Chynna’s words revealed that she’d guessed the direction of his thoughts. “But they didn’t do it on purpose.”
“No. Everyone was trying to do the right thing, and shit happened. How could I resent my friend being happy?” Trevor shook his head, not waiting for an answer. “Or, I can see it as a learning opportunity, a chance to try something a little different and have my horizons broadened. I’ve been remaking and flipping restaurants but now I can see the appeal of a broader challenge, like the lodge.” He shook a finger at her. “You’re part of that inspiration, too. I’m also wondering now what it takes to build a business that grows and sustains, instead of peaking and dropping.”
“Glad I could help,” she said with a smile and sipped her coffee. She put the cup down. “I thought I’d offended you this morning.”
“You surprised me, but I kind of like that.” He held her gaze, letting her see his admiration. “It’s new, but I could get used to it.”
“I thought you were running.”
“I was retreating to reconsider.”
Chynna laughed and Trevor smiled.
“I think you’re onto something, but I have to figure out how to address it.”
“You are going to call your sister?” She looked surprised and a little impressed, which worked for Trevor.
“I feel like you’ve issued a challenge and I want to succeed at it.”
“A knight on a quest,” she teased.
“Something like that. But this one is tricky. I can’t just call Joanna. I don’t actually have her number. I don’t even know her name for sure. Even if I call the social worker, she probably won’t be able to do anything over the holidays.”
“The record offices will be closed for the holidays.”
“Right.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “But there has to be another way.”
“Is there anyone else who knew you both?”
“No. It was too long ago, and she was just a baby.” Trevor’s words faded. “Wait a minute.” He shook a finger at Chynna. “The babysitter.”
“From that night?”
“Yes, she lived down the street. Jane. Jade. Janet. Janice. Something like that.” He frowned as he tried to recall her name. “I can remember what she looked like. She had these amazing dimples. So cute.”
“Did you have a crush on her?”
He grinned. “Maybe a little. She let me stay up later than I was supposed to. And she always made popcorn.” He snapped his fingers. “Jayden! That’s it.”
“Kind of an unusual name.”
“I just have to remember her surname.”
“She might have changed it.”
“No negative thinking here,” he admonished. “I’m on a quest and determined to succeed.”
Chynna laughed. “I like seeing persistence in action.”
“You won’t say that when I turn the tables on you.”
“How so?” She didn’t look very worried about it.
“It’s time to reciprocate. I’ve celebrated my shit anniversary, so to speak, by working every holiday and pretty much avoiding any recollection of it. That didn’t help me to put it behind me, even though I was pretty sure that was what I was doing.”
Chynna nodded. “And I’ve celebrated my shit anniversary by working at the soup kitchen, spending time alone with my pet raven, and reliving my memories.”
Trevor noticed again that they had common ground. “Has that helped you put things behind you?”
Chynna shook her head. “You know it hasn’t.”
“And I’m glad you admit it. So, what are you going to do differently this year?”
“Well, I won’t be working in the soup kitchen tomorrow. I’ll be on my way home.”
Trevor gave her a look. “It doesn’t sound like Tristan the raven is missing you that much. I mean, he’s got someone keeping him in old movies and someplace to tap dance.”
“True.” She fought against her smile and lost. Her eyes even twinkled in anticipation of whatever he would say. “Go ahead, Trevor Graham. Challenge me. I’m due for a quest.”
Trevor grinned and leaned closer, knowing he could get lost in her eyes. “I challenge you to mix it up. To do something different, instead of running back to New York.”
“Like?”
“Take a road trip with me.”
She sat back with surprise and he feared he’d asked too much. “What?”