Mistletoe and Mr. Right (Moose Springs, Alaska #2) - Sarah Morgenthaler Page 0,1
tourism-driven economy no matter what. But just because she believed in what she was doing didn’t mean the town did too.
Lana hadn’t given up hope she could get them on board with her plans, but as of yet, she had very little support in either the community or her holding company.
“Ask for forgiveness, not permission,” she said to herself as they slowed. Calling forward over the rumble of the engines, she asked Ben, “Are you sure we can’t break ground sooner?”
“Not unless we want to be digging through eight feet of snow.”
Lana’s work schedule limited her time in Moose Springs, but she was invested in doing this project right. For months, she and Ben had been up to their elbows in architect plans, zoning requirements, and a sleigh full of red tape. She’d hoped their progress would have been further by now.
“I thought construction during winter was common in Alaska,” Lana said.
“Yeah, if you need a roof replaced or a kitchen remodeled. Not this behemoth. Listen,” Ben said, “it’s not impossible, but the costs for site prep are going to skyrocket, and there’s not much we can do about getting material in until the access road gets widened and the gravel down. Ever tried to off-road a semi loaded with heavy equipment?”
“Point made. We wait until spring.” When Ben opened his mouth, Lana added, “Early spring. I’m getting this done as fast as humanly possible. And, Ben? When you start hiring day labor, supplement your crew with as many local hires as you can, please. It’ll save us on per diem.”
He gave her a knowing look but didn’t call Lana out on her decision. Her construction manager knew exactly why she wanted the locals to benefit from the jobs this project would provide.
She really did love Moose Springs. Which only made it worse knowing how much they hated her.
In the distance, a heavy cloud clung to the top of the highest peak, one usually obscured by the weather on less clear days than this.
“Mount Veil is looking particularly ominous today,” she mentioned, stalling because she would much rather stay outside with Ben then go back to her suite. Moose Springs Resort was a world-class luxury hotel offering absolutely anything she could possibly want, but an empty room got lonely. Besides, the snow-covered Alaskan mountains were always worth taking a moment to appreciate.
Ben glanced at the giant hovering in the distance. “Veil’s not Denali, but it’s one badass monster. You ever try to climb it?”
“I’m more of a snowmobile girl.” Lana patted the handle of her ride.
“If you’re going to be a resident of Moose Springs, you’re going to need to use the right lingo. This is a snow machine.”
“I’m not a resident,” she informed him. “I stay in the resort.”
“You own property, don’t you?”
“The company owns property, not me.”
Chicago, London, Singapore, the Virgin Islands…the Montgomery Group had their hands everywhere. But just because it was easier to stay at her family’s holdings didn’t mean she belonged in any of them. In the first thirty some years of her life, Lana had learned a lot from the company. Negotiating a million-dollar deal over cocktails was a normal Thursday for her. She could outmaneuver veteran CEOs while making a single martini double twist to perfection. But she’d never learned how to feel at home.
“Buying land doesn’t make you part of a town, Ben. I wish it were that easy.”
“Well, ma’am, either way, you had better get down to the town hall meeting.”
“Why is that?”
Ben grinned at her. “Because they’re still trying to figure out how to get rid of you.”
* * *
Most town hall meetings were held in, well, a town hall. But not Moose Springs.
In Moose Springs, town hall meetings were held in an abandoned barn on the far side of town, complete with snow piled up around the building to near impassability. If one wanted to get to the barn door closest to a parking spot, they better have some gumption and a sturdy pair of shoes.
Wading through knee-deep snow in high heels was never fun, so Lana changed into a cute but sturdy pair of boots she kept in the backseat for this very purpose.
When she reached the door, it stuck, so Lana put her weight behind her pull. Apparently, the barn had not only been decorated for the holidays on the outside, but it was also being used to store the town’s Christmas decorations. Someone had stacked a pile of three-foot-tall plastic Christmas elves against the other side