Easy Kisses (The Boudreaux Series Book 4) - Kristen Proby Page 0,1
at the very core of it we at least respected each other.
Maybe this trip is coming at a good time after all.
Chapter One
~Charly~
“Okay, everyone, listen up!” Simon Danbury says at the end of day one of the Lift seminar. “I know you’re tired and you probably want to go to your room and crash. I get it. But I highly recommend that you come downstairs for dinner. Or go out with a few other girls.” His British accent is sexy, I’ll give him that. It’s not a bad thing to listen to all day. “Talk to each other. Trust me when I say that the friendships you make while you’re here for two weeks will be ones you take with you. Have a good night.”
“God, I’m exhausted,” a woman named Heidi says as we gather our things and walk out of the conference room toward the elevators to our rooms. I opted for a private room, but some of the women offered to double up to save on costs.
All I want right now is my quiet room, a bottle of wine, and some Advil.
In that order.
Heidi rides to the same floor as me, and I’m surprised to find that she’s my neighbor. “I’m so glad I got a private room,” she says, mirroring my thoughts.
“Me too.”
“Are you going down to dinner?” she asks, nibbling her lip. She’s a pretty woman, in her mid-forties. She looks athletic and fun.
“I really just want room service,” I reply with a tired smile. “Who knew that listening to someone talk all day could be so exhausting?”
“Well, he made us dance too,” she reminds me. “I haven’t danced in years.”
I nod and smile at her as I reach my door. “He’s good looking, but he’s not a great dancer. Have a good night.”
“You too!”
My room is blissfully quiet. I open my curtains and sigh at the view. Giant mountains frame a blue lake. Despite it being early June, there is still snow on the peaks.
I can’t get over how late the sun stays up here. It’s late afternoon, but the sun is high in the sky. As I watch, several women walk out of the resort and down the dock to a waiting tour boat that trolls around the lake.
I bet the views they get are amazing.
I sigh and kick out of my heels, stretching my feet on the carpet and text my sister, Van.
First day is done.
She immediately replies. How did it go?
Long. Lots of talking and information.
I’m sorry if you hate it, she says. Instead of reply via text, I dial her number.
“Tell me you don’t hate it.”
“I don’t hate it,” I reply truthfully. “There is some good information so far.”
“And Simon isn’t bad to look at,” Van adds with a smile in her voice.
Boy, you aren’t lying. “No, not bad.”
“Oh, stop it.” I can practically hear her rolling her eyes. “He’s hot and you know it.”
“Just because the man looks like Henry Cavill doesn’t mean I think he’s hot.”
“Liar,” Van replies with a giggle. “At least you get to stare at eye candy all day.”
“I should be working,” I reply without even thinking about it.
“The shop is fine,” she says. “It’s in good hands, and you deserve some time away. Enjoy it. And keep me updated.”
“Okay. Love you, sugar.”
“Love you, too,” she says and hangs up and I sit heavily on the bed, looking around the lodgy room. There is nothing about this room that’s my style, but it fits the Montana motif. There’s a gas fireplace framed by logs and rocks, and there is even a teddy bear on my bed.
Nice touch.
My other sister, Gabby, would love it here. As an innkeeper, she’s always been fascinated by different resorts. I’ll have to mention it to her, and suggest that she and her new husband, Rhys, make a trip up.
I’m starving. I could order from room service, change into my yoga pants, and relax the rest of the evening.
Or, I could take advantage of being here and go be social.
I’m good at being social. It was bred into me. I can talk to anyone, and sell them shoes.
“Suck it up, Charlotte, and go experience what you came here for.” I nod once and slide my feet back into my heels, grab my bag and room key, make sure my name badge is on, and set out for the restaurant.
Once in the lobby, I run into Heidi again.
“You decided to come down,” she says with a friendly smile.