Rym grabbed his new zip-up sweater from the bed and followed her into the hallway. “Is that really her job, to take people shopping?” Placing his hand on the small of her back, he guided her across the room. Her waist was so tiny; his hand looked huge against her body.

  “She’s usually much more hands-on and pays weekly visits to each bride or groom.” Amber grabbed a wool dress coat from the hall closet, and Rym took it from her and held it up so she could slip into it. “Since we’re so far away, I don’t get to see her as often.”

  “You miss her?” asked Rym.

  Amber nodded. “We’ve worked together for years, and she’s become a good friend.”

  Rym digested the information. Work for Amber meant marriage. Trish had outlasted three husbands. No wonder she and Amber were close.

  They chatted easily on the way to the restaurant. When Rym opened her door, Amber once again linked her arm through his. It seemed so old-fashioned—most couples held hands or just walked side-by-side—but he thought it was a sweet way to say that she trusted him to guide her, and he took that trust seriously.

  As they neared the front doors, there was a patch of ice. Rym put his hand over hers and pulled his arm closer to his body so she’d feel steady in her heels. Her grateful smile was enough to tell him he’d done the right thing, and he lifted his chest with pride. How she managed to make him feel powerful and strong with just one look defied his understanding.

  The hostess easily found their reservation and had them seated in a manner of minutes. Their server brought out drinks, salads, and rolls and explained what the different sections of the buffet served. As he talked, Amber’s leg started bouncing. Rym looked at her out of the corner of his eye, but she didn’t show any signs of distress. If he didn’t feel her leg bouncing next to his, he’d have no idea she wasn’t calm and collected.

  After he left, Amber leaned over and said, “Did he say lobster? I thought he said lobster.”

  Rym nodded. “He did.”

  “How about we skip the salad and go right for the lobster.”

  Rym raised one eyebrow. “Do you have a thing for lobster?”

  Amber pressed her lips together and Rym watched, mesmerized. She took two quick breaths and blurted, “I have an addiction to lobster.” She glanced over her shoulder at the buffet.

  “Addiction?” Rym speared a cherry tomato and popped it in his mouth, purposely slowing his movements.

  Amber crossed and re-crossed her legs, shifting in her seat.

  Rym chuckled at her attempt to stay calm when she was obviously anxious as he loaded his fork again. “Have you seen someone about this addiction?”

  Amber rolled her eyes and speared a cucumber. Making a face, she bit into it.

  Rym enjoyed watching her normally perfect composure come undone, over lobster of all things. Who had an addiction to lobster? He’d heard of women who went nuts over chocolate, but fish?

  “I really think we need to get you some help,” he offered.

  She shook her head. “We need to get me some lobster.”

  Pushing his salad away, Rym said, “I am curious to see what happens when you actually have it.”

  Amber silently clapped her hands together, and Rym stood to pull out her chair. They made their way across the restaurant to the buffet and Amber didn’t waste any time selecting her lobster tail. She also took two crab legs and a small vat of melted garlic butter. Tapping her foot, she waited for Rym to load his plate so they could walk back together.

  Once seated at the table, it was as if Rym and the rest of the world disappeared behind a haze of garlic butter. Amber took a bite of her lobster, closed her eyes, and moaned softly. Though she exhibited the signs of a chain smoker needing a hit, she didn’t rush through her meal. Instead, she savored each bite as if it alone contained enough ecstasy to last a lifetime.

  She was halfway through the crab legs when a guy in a suit clapped Rym on the shoulder, hard, and said, “Oh man, you let her have lobster?”

  Amber nearly choked. “Jeremy?” She took a sip of water and waved off Rym’s outstretched hand. Her eyes scanned the restaurant before she stood up and gave the guy a hug. It wasn’t a bear hug or even a romantic gesture, but it was friendly enough to put Rym on guard against the major league pitcher.

  Jeremy Appleby carried himself with the confidence of a man who had found success in his life. He was younger than Rym—and broader, Rym admitted reluctantly. In any other circumstances Rym would have gushed over Jeremy Appleby. Instead, he wanted to fling the lobster carcass in Jeremy’s smug little face. See what the guy would look like covered in greasy butter and shell fragments.

  Amber stepped back, but Jeremy’s hand lingered on her waist like he had a right to touch her. Rym’s hands clenched into fists.

  “Rym, this is Jeremy Appleby. Jeremy, this is Rym Hoagland, my husband.”

  Rym stood up and offered his hand.

  Jeremy gave a low whistle. “You didn’t waste any time. What happened to Mexico?” He took Rym’s hand, gave it an extra hard shake and kept his other hand on Amber.

  Rym tightened his grip before letting go. He should offer the guy a seat at their table, but he was not feeling all that polite at the moment.

  “Mexico will have to wait. What brings you to Utah?”

  “Actually, I came to find you.”

  “Oh?” Amber sank into her chair.

  Rym took his seat as well, though he felt like bolting out of it again when Jeremy placed one hand on the back of Amber’s chair and another on the table and leaned close, trapping her.

  “Amber,” he began, as though Rym wasn’t sitting right there. “I need you. I want you to come home.”

  “I, I don’t understand. Is something wrong? Did I forget to transfer things over or close an account?” She gave Rym a worried look.

  “No. That stuff’s all fine.” He got down on one knee and took her hand.

  Rym felt heat burn through his limbs, and his muscles tensed.

  “I miss you,” said Jeremy.

  Amber’s face softened, and all the air went out of Rym’s fire. This was it. This was the moment she would walk out and leave him here with an empty butter dish and dinner crumbs.

  She pulled her hand out from under Jeremy’s and placed it on his shoulder. “I understand that you’re lonely, but I’m not the one to fill that void—not anymore.”

  Jeremy’s back slumped. “It’s harder without you. Please?”

  Rym held his breath, waiting for Amber’s answer with as much attention as Jeremy.

  She placed her hands on either side of his face and looked deep into his eyes. “You are a wonderful person. You’re kind and funny, and you will make someone very happy.”

  “But?” said Jeremy.

  “But you need to spend some time on your own figuring out what makes you happy. You’ve already done the playboy thing. You’ve gambled in Vegas, and you’ve wasted time on video games. Jeremy, you need direction, and you want me because you think I can give it to you.”

  “I know you can give it to me.”

  “I probably could, but in the end you need to make your choices. You know how to do this. What’s step one?”

  Jeremy sighed. “Make a goal.”

  “Right.” Amber let her hands drop into her lap, but Jeremy stayed right there on his knee.

  People were starting to stare, and Rym saw one guy pull out his phone to take a picture. He raised his hand to signal to their server that they would need another chair. The less of a spectacle they made here, the better. The resort didn’t need bad publicity, and if there was one thing Amber had taught him, it was that Rym’s image and Iron Mountain’s image were now linked together.

  The next twenty minutes felt like twenty hours as Amber coached Jeremy through the process of making goals. Jeremy confessed that he wanted a mental challenge, so they talked about getting a degree online. At one point, when Jeremy was busy entering information in his phone, Amber looked up and mouthed the word sorry. Rym shrugged, but he had to wonder if having Amber’s ex-husband show up on their two-month anniversary wasn’t some sort of sign.

  He could easily picture himself in Jeremy’s shoes a year from now, begging her to come back because he missed her. In just a short amount of time, he’d come to rely on her for emotional support. More than that, though, she was his closest friend—ever. He trusted her in ways he never thought he could trust another person, and she always rose to the occasion and stood at his side. How could he live without that? He shook his head; how would he live without that? Rym slouched in his seat. By the time Jeremy stood to leave, Rym had lost his appetite.

  Buttoning up his suit jacket, Jeremy said, “Thanks, sweetheart.”

  Rym grit his teeth at hearing Jeremy call his wife sweetheart.

  Amber stood and gave him another light hug. “You’re welcome. Hey, how did you find me here, anyway?”

  Rym straightened up; he’d been wondering the same thing.

  “Your calendar is still linked to mine. I knew you were in Park City because of your flight two months ago, and you had ‘seafood buffet’ for tonight. I searched ‘seafood buffet in Park City’ and this was the first place that popped up.” He winked at her. “I knew you couldn’t resist their lobster.”

  Amber laughed lightly, but Rym could see the color climbing up her cheeks. “Okay, no more cyber-stalking. I’m cutting you out of my calendar.”

  “Naw—I’m good. Once I hit Spring Training things should pick up, and in the meantime I have things to work on.”

  “Good luck,” said Amber.

  “Later, man.” Jeremy gave Rym a little wave, and Rym lifted a couple fingers off the table to show he’d heard.

  “Well, that was unexpected.” Amber pushed her plate away.

  “Was it?” Rym didn’t know why, but he was suddenly suspicious. She leveled him with a look, but Rym didn’t drop the accusation from his tone. “You spend hours on the computer and have email on your phone. For all I know, you guys could be in touch every day. It’s obvious you’re close.”

  “We aren’t.”

  “Please, he gets your calendar updates.”

  “Don’t worry.” She pulled out her phone. “I’m sending a text to Trish right now to tell her to get him off.”

  “He knew about your lobster thing and I just found out tonight.”

  Amber’s jaw dropped. “Are you jealous?”

  Rym’s face burned. “No.” He shifted in his seat. “He’s your ex-husband. It’s weird to have him show up, especially at our anniversary dinner.”

  Amber’s eyes went wide. “I thought we were celebrating the water rights.”

  Rym fumbled with his fork. “We are. McGraw mentioned the anniversary earlier.” Throwing down his cutlery, Rym barked, “Did you kiss him?”

  Amber’s mouth fell open.

  “Or…more?” Rym’s stomach twisted and his hands shook. He needed to know. The wondering and imagining were way worse than the actual answer could possibly be. Unless the answer was that she’d actually kissed Jeremy. Then he’d have to follow the guy out to the parking lot and make sure he never came back.

  Amber leaned back in her chair. She crossed her arms for a minute and just looked at him. “I, I’m at a loss for words.” She used her napkin to wipe her mouth. “I can’t believe I have to spell this out for you. I have not taken advantage of the physical intimacy clause during any of my marriages.”

  Rym hated himself for feeling so weak when it came to Amber. “Not even a little bit?”

  Amber glared at him and appeared to be counting her breaths to calm down. Finally, her shoulders relaxed and she chuckled. “I should seriously be mad at you for a week for this. But, if I look at things from your perspective, I guess I can understand how you would wonder. Especially after Jeremy shows up here.”

  “And gets down on one knee.”

  “Yeah, there was that,” Amber conceded.

  “And begs you to come back.”

  “That too—which is not my fault, by the way.”

  “Oh, it’s totally your fault.”

  Amber’s arms fell to her sides. “How?”

  “You’re kind of hard to forget.”

  Every line and angle on Amber softened. “I care about Jeremy like I care about my little brother. If he calls—and it better be a call and not a visit—I’ll help him through because I want good things for him, but I don’t want him back.”

  The knot at the base of Rym’s skull loosened, and he relaxed for the first time since Jeremy flashed his toothpaste commercial smile. He realized that Jeremy had come hoping Amber would leave with him, and instead, she’d sent him packing. She was a lot nicer about it than he would have been, but still she was here, and that thought created a warm feeling in his chest. “Should we go back for more lobster?”

  Amber smiled. “I think I’ve had enough for the night.”

  “Dessert?”

  She leaned forward. “Chocolate?”

  Rym faked a panicked look. “Don’t tell me you’re addicted to that too?”

  “Not like I am to lobster. I’m more of a functioning addict when it comes to chocolate.”

  Rym stood up and took her hand, tucking it in the crook of his arm. “I may be mistaken, but I thought I saw chocolate truffles, brownie bites, and some layered thing that smelled like coffee.”

  “Honey, you had me at truffles.”

  Rym smiled in response, but as she turned her attention to the dessert section, his smile melted. She joked that he had her at truffles, but in reality he didn’t have her any more than Jeremy did when they were married. Sure, they had a contract, but in ten months that contract would expire and they’d be signing divorce papers.

  The thought left a sour taste in his mouth. He was letting Amber too far into his heart to let her go easily. It would be impossible to root her out at this point, but he could stop her from getting deeper. He had to, or he’d else he’d never recover when she left.

  Chapter 2 4 5

  March was historically a huge month for Iron Mountain. All over the country, schools emptied for spring break, parents took off a week of work, and the hotel and ski school filled to capacity. They had to call in every instructor, liftie, maid, reservation specialist, and daycare worker on payroll just to keep their heads above water.

  Small emergencies popped up all day long that kept Rym and Amber rushing. They ended up driving separately most days so that they could run errands as needed, and their evenings were once again full of hosting responsibilities. They had little time alone and Rym felt the strain. He’d come to realize that Amber was an asset at the resort. More than once he’d considered offering to hire her on after their divorce. The trouble was, even though Rym could afford Amber’s monthly salary, Iron Mountain couldn’t.

  By the end of March, Rym was worn out. Another month had slipped by, and the resort would shut her doors mid-April. Rym looked up from his computer and gazed longingly at the giant flakes floating gently past his window. He groaned. Outside, powder accumulated quickly because of a cold front that had blown down from Alaska. It was a POW day like he hadn’t seen since January; although in January, the flakes were smaller. Because it was later in the season, these flakes were huge—and Rym was stuck inside.

  His gaze came back from the snow to his computer screen. Diving back into the income report for last month, he worked to wrap his mind around the numbers and what they meant for the business.

  When Amber walked in carrying two hot chocolate mugs half an hour later, he felt like his brain had been put through the steam machine the barista used downstairs. She walked around to his side of the desk to hand him the cocoa instead of passing it across the desk and over his laptop. “I thought I’d find you with your forehead pressed against the window, drooling over the powder.”

  He smiled. “Nope. I’m all business, all the time.”

  Leaning back against his desk, she took a sip from her mug. “How are things going?”

  “Great.” He turned away from her so she wouldn’t see the disappointment he knew he couldn’t completely hide.

  “I brought you something.”

  Tapping the down arrow, Rym pretended he was engrossed in the numbers. “Oh, sorry, thank you for the cocoa.”

  Amber laughed. “Not that.” He looked up. “This.” Dangling from her hand was a blue lanyard and a season pass to the resort, the kind that meant you could head straight out to the hill and not have to stop at the marketing desk for a day pass. “Aren’t your skis still in the locker room at the lodge?”

  He gulped. “Are you serious?”

  Amber nodded.

  “But what about all this?” He pointed to the computer.

  Amber shook her head. “You’ve worked so hard this past month, and I know it hasn’t been easy. Part of me getting you settled is helping you find a schedule you can enjoy. You have responsibilities here, but on a day like today, you need to feed your soul.”

  Rym stood up and took the pass. He was standing so close he could smell the deep floral scent of her perfume. Enveloping her in his arms, he picked her up off the floor. “You’re the best wife ever.”

  Amber hugged him back and laughed. “You’re welcome.”

  He set her down, but didn’t let her go. Holding Amber like this was one of the small pleasures he found in the day. She laid her hands on his chest, and he traced the outline of her lips with his eyes. Amber’s cheeks flushed and she stepped closer, tipping up her chin. Rym savored the moment, kissing her slowly, exploring her lips and wrapping his hands around her back. Amber returned his kiss, sighing softly as it came to an end.

  “I’ll meet you back here when the lifts close down,” said Rym. “We should go out to dinner to celebrate.”

  Shaking her head, Amber giggled. “Only in Utah do they celebrate snow days.”

  Rym let her go and wrapped the lanyard around his neck. When he hesitated, wondering if he should shut the door to his office and spend the afternoon kissing Amber, she gave him a gentle push toward the door. “Go! I’ll cover for you.”

 

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