Freeing Reese (Tremont Lodge Series Book 3) by Marcy Blesy Page A

surprised.
    “Did the cops tell you about a change in Ted’s will?”
    “Yeah, they said something about it.”
    “Think about it, Lawson. Georgia was dating you and Ted simultaneously. Let’s say it’s true what they said about the will. Maybe Georgia counted on being Mrs. Oakley someday, and she found out that Ted put the two of us in the will. Why wouldn’t she be pissed?”
    “She wouldn’t try to kill him, Reese.”
    “Well, I guess you know her better than me.” I jump off the chair lift when we get to the top of the mountain. It’s sure a lot easier stepping off in boots than in skis. Lawson’s wearing skis, though, and it isn’t but a couple of seconds when the box he’s carrying goes flying out of his hands, opening up, and spilling its contents all over the snow, exactly where skiers and snowboarders are beginning their descent down the mountain. I bend down to pick up the supplies when one of those bratty, show-off kids goes flying right over my hand, “Hey! Son of a—” I pull off my glove and shove my hand in the snow because it cuts the pain.
    “Sorry about that,” says Lawson. He snaps off his skis and yells at everyone to go around us as he starts picking up the restaurant supplies. A trail of marshmallows from a hole in the bag forms behind him. His hat hangs loosely onto the back of his head, his wispy hair hanging loosely over his sunglasses. He looks up and smiles. “I guess you can make marshmallow snowmen while you’re down there.”
    “Huh? Oh, yeah. Maybe I should just head to the restaurant. I can take the box from here.”
    “And risk being pommelled by another pint-size tot? No, I’ll carry the box, if you can carry my skis.”
    As I follow Lawson toward the restaurant, I can’t help but wonder if our relationship would have been different if I’d just met him, minus all the drama when he found out I was Ted’s biological daughter. I shake off the fleeting thought when I see Finn, Tinley, and Murphy sitting by the roaring fire in the restaurant.
    Tinley waves when she sees me. “Well, look what the cat dragged in,” she says when she sees Lawson.
    “Good to see you, too, Tinley.”
    “At least the marshmallows have arrived. You can’t have a proper hot chocolate without them.”
    Tinley grabs the nearest bag and reaches in for a handful of marshmallows. They are dissolving in her hot chocolate before I can stop her. “Tinley! There are health codes we have to abide by, even up here. You can’t just reach into the bag like that!” I snatch it back from her, undeterred by her pout, which compliments her bright yellow snow suit quite well. Of course, the California girl would have a designer snowsuit in a color that screams, Look at me!
    “I’ll take that from here, Lawson,” says Finn, grabbing the box out of his hands before he can protest.
    “Dude, the kitchen’s right there. I think I can handle it.” Lawson pulls the box back.
    “I’m sure you’ve helped enough already today,” says Finn. He yanks the box back out of Lawson’s hand, but Lawson is prepared this time, and when he pulls, all that he succeeds in grabbing is the bag of marshmallows with the hole, and it goes flying open—again—all over the ground.
    “Dammit, Finn! Cut it out!” I say.
    “Me?”
    “Yes, you. Jealousy is not an attractive quality. All I wanted was to hang out with my boyfriend and best friend and have a relaxing afternoon. Instead you embarrass me.”
    “Sorry you feel that way, Reese!” he yells. “Tinley, Murphy, I’ll catch you later. I suddenly have better things to do on my day off.” He grabs his skis and stomps toward the door, but he turns around and comes back. “You know what, Reese? If you’d rather stay here with Loverboy and play house in this great big lodge of yours, feel free. I don’t want you to come on that cruise ship since it’s so obvious that you don’t want to go.”
    I can’t believe what I’m hearing, and I can’t believe that