Listen to Your Heart by Mona Ingram Read Free Book Online

about what I expected,” she said,
turning to him. “Very cozy.” She hesitated before the entrance to the Zimmerli,
looked up at the building then turned to him. “Where is your shop?”
    He touched her lightly at the waist and she
gave him a startled look but didn’t object. He led her forward. “Over here.”
The lights were still on and he was pleased to see several customers engaged
with the staff. “We carry gear, and skis and boards.”
    She stood still for a moment, taking it
in. “You have a lot of stock. The shop must be doing well.” She stepped aside
as a customer came out carrying a purchase and looked at Chance. “Do you ski?”
    “Love it,” he said. “My dad had me on
skis almost as soon as I could walk. Nowadays I don’t get out often enough.”
    “I know what you mean.” She glanced
toward the lifts. “I’m a skier as well. I made myself a promise that when I got
here I’d get out more often.” Her mouth curved in a rueful smile. “We’ll see.”
    Her stomach rumbled and she laughed, not
at all embarrassed. Chance didn’t know what had happened to her in the past to
make her so emotionally closed off, but that laugh at her own expense confirmed
for him what he’d already suspected. She was a warm, vibrant woman, and he was
determined to get to know her better, no matter what kind of barriers she put
up.
    She looked at him as though reading his
thoughts and he held her gaze, then gestured toward the hotel. “Let’s go and
see if Morgan has finished her shift. I know somebody who needs to eat.”
    * * *
    “...and I’ve assigned the Glasser party to
Suite 326-28.” Morgan was reviewing the late check-ins with the room clerk on
the evening shift. “Mr. and Mrs. Glasser will occupy 326 and the nanny and
their son will be in 328.” She looked up when Dale and Chance entered, and a
smile lit her face.
    “You made it!” She grabbed her purse,
came out from behind the desk and gave her friend a quick hug. “I’m so glad to
see you.” She stepped back and looked over at Chance. “I’m hungry. I didn’t eat
much for lunch.”
    They entered the restaurant and Tess pointed
them in the direction the large table. “A bunch of us have sort of made this
our table,” explained Chance, waiting as Morgan slid along the bench at the
back and Dale followed. He moved a chair to the end of the table, blocking anyone
else from sitting next to her. His eyes shone with pleasure as the two women
got caught up.
    “So you stayed at home last night?”
Morgan picked up the menu but didn’t look at it.
    Dale nodded. “Yes. Mom says hello, by
the way. She took me to the airport this morning. I had to get the early
flight; that’s why I was so tired.” She looked around for another menu then
took the one from Morgan. “I need something to eat.” She glanced at Chance then
back at the menu. “What’s good?”
    “Just about everything. I’m going to
have lasagna tonight. Tyler does it well.” He nodded to himself. “Yeah. Lasagna,
garlic bread and a Caesar.”
    Dale passed the menu back to Morgan.
“Sounds good to me, too.” She paused for a moment. “Tyler is the chef?”
    “No, he’s the sous-chef. A wild
Australian snowboarder who claims he’s working his way around the world.” He
lowered his voice. “He has a still on the lower level.”
    Morgan lowered the menu. “You’re
kidding. Why would he do that? Isn’t that dangerous?”
    Chance grinned. “No, because he can, and
not really.” The server came by to take their orders and he waited until they
were alone again. “When they dug the foundation for this place there were a few
nooks and crannies down in the sub-basement where all the mechanical systems
are located. Tyler seems to think it’s his duty to have a still; says he’s done
it everywhere he’s worked.”
    Dale toyed with the cutlery beside her
place. “I don’t want to know about it. What if the hotel finds out?”
    “The restaurant is physically