Last Resort Christmas

By Tressie Lockwood

Author's Note: This light-hearted, slightly whimsical romance is clean.

 

Audre Thompson loves her life. She's living the dream being a self-employed woman and working with her best friend, Alessandro Sordi. Unfortunately, their mountain resort in the small town of Heweville isn't seeing the success the two envisioned. If Audre and Alex don't figure out a plan to get more customers this Christmas, it's over.

 

Life gets complex in a hurry. Audre and Alex have a lot more enthusiasm than skill. The very eligible, very handsome sheriff is interested in Audre. Alex calls in his snow bunny ex to help with ideas. Someone is trying to ruin Christmas and the town's traditions by stealing gnomes. And Audre has just discovered her own heart, which beats for no one but Alex.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tressie Lockwood
• Release date: Oct 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393867685

Book preview

Chapter 1

Audre tapped out a few more words on the computer, printed off the flyer, and handed it to Alex. How's this?

He took the sheet and read aloud:

You are cordially invited to a special event to be held the week of Christmas at the Last Mountain Resort. Come one, come all and enjoy a fantastic holiday in the mountains. Hot toddies, sweet pastries, live jazz, and beautiful views. You are sure to have the most memorable getaway ever!

Wow, Alex gushed. Sounds fun. What kind of pastries are you having?

What do you mean what kind of pastries am I having? Did you forget this is our joint venture?

Well I don't bake so I assume you’re doing it.

I don’t bake either. That's why we're going to learn how.

He looked dumbfounded. "We are?"

Yes, we are. You do want to save our little resort, don’t you?

Hmm.

She laughed and stood to stretch her hands over her head. From the corner of her eyes she thought she saw him notice how her breasts rose but decided her mind must be playing tricks on her. She and Alex didn’t have that kind of relationship. They were best friends, and both of them liked it that way. Besides, changing the dynamics would further complicate their crazy lives.

Don’t play, Alex. She smacked his arm. You have been whining more than I have about how badly things have been going. This Christmas is it. If we don’t pull a rabbit out of our butt, our business is done.

Sounds painful, and when have I ever whined?

Do you like the flyer or not?

He waved the sheet in the air. She noticed the hair flop onto his forehead, falling into his eyes. It was time to give him another cut. I love it, but I don’t see how we’ll get it done. Live jazz this late in the season?

She touched a finger to her temple and pointed at him. That’s where I have you covered. Miles likes to get away every year for Christmas. You can convince him to come here and play for us.

Miles likes going where the ladies are.

Tell him we have a house full.

Alex moved to the window and peeked out through the curtains. Audre knew he was seeing an empty parking lot. Her heart wanted to sink, but she bolstered it with a positive thought. They had scenic views. The mountains through the trees at sunrise and sundown were indescribable.

And when he gets here and finds we don’t have even one guest? Alex asked over his shoulder.

Would you think positively, for pete’s sake? Miles is your best friend. Convince him. Surely he owes you for something. Heck, make up a debt, one he can take care of with one doggone weekend of his life playing his sax.

He started to speak, but she cut him off to continue her tirade. Hands on her hips, she glared at him.

"Plus, I’ve come up with all the ideas so far, and you’ve done nothing. If you want this to work, you have to do your part."

He held up his hands in defense. Okay, okay. I’ll convince him to do it. No more lectures. I beg you. Look, my ears are burned.

He pulled the shell of his ear down for her inspection, and she laughed again. This man was a goofball, but she loved him. Honestly, she was the one to come up with all the schemes, but Alex was the one who was always game. No matter what she suggested—even if it was crazy or borderline legal—he was in.

She pinched his ear hard enough for him to gripe about it. The flush of red spread from his ear over his cheek and down his neck. It’s because you’re white. That’s why your ears are burning. Stop being dramatic.

Oh, it’s like that?

Yeah.

He reached for her. She turned to run, but he was faster. He dragged her backward so that she fell against him, and he began tickling the crap out of her. She screamed and struggled to get free.

Stop, Alex. You know I hate being tickled.

Why are you laughing?

Because you’re an idiot.

Doesn’t compute. He tickled her more, and her knees gave. The jerk went down to the carpet with her, draining her body of all strength. She elbowed him, but it grazed off his solid abs. Not like there was much fat on his bones to cushion anything.

I give, I give!

He let go, and she toppled face down on the floor, panting. He lay beside her on his back, breathing just as hard. After a moment, she rolled over and scooted closer to him to rest her head on his bicep. He tucked his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.

Think it’ll work? he asked.

Not sure. For just a moment, she was distracted by the scent of the new cologne he wore. It had a good aroma, something like apple and cedarwood, but it was also cheap. They couldn’t afford the expensive stuff because the resort they jointly owned wasn’t doing too well. Alex bought the cologne on sale at one of the souvenir shops in town. Who in their right mind bought cologne at a souvenir shop?

‘’We don’t have a choice. We’ve got to make it work, she told him. This is our dream, and it would kill me if we lost it. What about you?"

Same. Not to mention the blow to my pride. I was the one who told you it should be a piece of cake to run a resort out here. The surroundings do half the job of selling the place.

Don’t say ‘sell.’

He winced.

A year and a half ago, they invested money Alex inherited from his late grandfather and all of her tiny savings to buy a rundown resort in the mountain town of Heweville. They had stars in their eyes at the time but not much experience between them. Neither had noticed the hugely successful lodge not three miles up the road.

Remember when you said the lodge up the hill would be our only rival? he teased.

She rolled her eyes at him. Don’t bring up that mess. I’m embarrassed I said it. Oh yeah, the lodge was their rival alright. No one at that place knew they existed, and why would they? The lodge had a waiting list during the busiest times of the year, namely Christmas. None of their customers sought the Last Mountain Resort as an alternative.

Alex rolled toward her, bringing his handsome face far too close. She put up a hand to push his forehead. He caught it and dragged it down. Her heart beat faster as she stared into his baby blues.

Okay, Audre. What’s this about? Get it together.

The expression Alex wore made her forget about the occasional rise of attraction she felt toward him. She cared about him more than anyone she knew, and she liked to see his smile in place at all times.

If we screw up—and we’ve done that far too many times—then we’ll have to get regular jobs again.

She agreed. I had three toward the end, remember?

Mmm.

I don’t miss the aching feet and the long hours. In some respects we’ve been lazy. With so few customers, we could lie around or ski. I’m surprised I haven’t gained fifty pounds.

We can’t afford the food.

She snorted. You’re right about that. But don’t worry. I’ll figure this out. I always do.

He bumped his forehead against hers, grinning. You’re the brain, and I’m the bronze. Although…I feel like I’m insulting myself to say that.

Can’t figure out why? she joked.

He growled playfully and bit her nose. She screeched, and he sprang away and hopped to his feet. Before she could catch him, he jetted out of the office. By the time, she hit the hall he had disappeared. God, if their resort died an ugly death, maybe Alex could be a carrier and run packages all over creation.

A chime sounded overhead, and she suppressed a coo of excitement. Someone had rung the front bell. That crazy sounding tune was Alex’s idea. He pushed until she gave in even when she told the idiot that the sound would disturb anyone inside the main building. He had pointed out that guests were only there for check-in and checkout and during meals. The addition of and we don’t have guests anyway was unnecessary.

She hurried to the front hall and pulled the wide front door open, which took a bit of extra muscle. The wide heavy door with bronze knockers made for great conversation and for impressing visitors, but one had to develop one’s arms to handle it.

A cold wind swept in, chilling her to the bone. She hugged herself with a mental reminder to make sure their stock of wood was good. The common space was another reason guests