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  It was ice cold and so clean it made her grin from ear to ear. It was real mountain air, and she knew then that she couldn’t be far away.

  She looked down at her GPS and sure enough, Lost Creek was coming up in only ten miles and she turned up the music on the stereo and sang along. Since she had left the city, she had felt a million times better, and she was determined to let her good mood continue.

  As she weaved around the roads and got higher and higher into the mountains, snow began to appear at the sides of the highway and she whistled as she thought of all of the fun she could have if she dared to go skiing. It had been years since she had hit the slopes, but her parents had told her that since they had bought the cabin they had both spent many a weekend up on the mountains and loving every second.

  She passed a few couches full of people who were having a break at the side of the road and she realized they must have been tourists from the fully stuffed fanny-packs, and large cameras that swung from most of their necks.

  She laughed and shook her head.

  “And to think, you’re basically a tourist too,” she said to herself. “You’ll have to try and blend in a little better than them, though.”

  The GPS flashed and the voice boomed around her…

  Your destination is ahead. Take the next left turn.

  Excitement rippled through her and she rapped quickly on the wheel with her fingertips as she sang along to the stereo.

  “Nearly there,” she squeaked as a large wooden sign loomed up ahead of her with big, bright red lettering in the center.

  Welcome to Lost Creek.

  “Well, here I am,” she beamed as she slowed and tried to take it all in. The sign looked weathered and old but the lettering had clearly been painted recently and she squinted to try and see what else was on it. In the corners, on either side, were animals gathered together and as she passed right by she could see they were little groups of Wolves and Bears.

  “Cute,” she said. “I guess I’m guaranteed to get a bit of wildlife while I’m here.”

  She cast her mind back to what her parents had told her about the cabin. They had said it was brand new and modern, all clean lines, and out in the forest, surrounded by lush evergreens which were visible from the main living area and kitchen via the long bi-fold doors that ran across the entire back section of the house. The way they had described the area in which it was located made her feel as if she was going to be in a private woodland residence, and she honestly couldn’t wait to see it for herself.

  As she drove through the empty mountain roads, she almost couldn’t believe it had taken her so long to get out there and experience it. Simon really had commandeered her time and had taken her away from all of the good she had in her life. She let a scowl grace her face for a moment as his image haunted her but she shook her head and him away, trying to forget.

  “He is not going to ruin this moment,” she said aloud as the GPS spoke again and told her to take the upcoming left.

  She pulled the car onto the adjoining road and smiled as she saw the twinkling of lights ahead of her. She still hadn’t passed through the main part of the town, but she could see the warm glow of all the cabins that were working their way up the mountainside, and as she slowed even further, she looked at the numbers on each of the homes she passed.

  It was a lovely street. Completely private and very, very luxe. The cabins were more like works of architectural wonder than just log cabins and she gasped as she drove past each one and took it all in.

  Her parents had vastly understated everything. This place was clearly a hideaway for wealthy travelers or skiers to come and spend their weekends without being bothered by the trappings of the center of the town.

  She kept her eyes peeled for cabin number nine, and it wasn’t until she made her way a little further up the rise in the road and it opened out ahead of her to expose another part of the mountain that she saw it standing tall and proud.

  The house was just wonderful to look at. It was like something out of a Christmas movie and she stopped the car instantly and clasped her hands together.

  “Wow,” she breathed as she bent closer to the windshield and looked up and out at her new home. “Mom and Dad downplayed this place so much. I am literally going to kill them.”

  She pulled the car into the driveway and when she stepped out and the fresh, mountain air hit her, all she could do was stand and breathe in and out deeply. It was so invigorating and she felt so alive. Living in the city had dulled her and her senses, but to be back amongst nature felt incredible and she couldn’t keep the grin from spreading wide across her face.

  “Even this is inspiring,” she smiled. “I’m going to really reconnect here…”

  She looked from left to right and saw the house next door had a car parked out front. It was similar in design to Alyssa’s parents’ cabin, but they had obviously all been made to be different and bespoke. She looked back to her own and saw how it rose up and out into the sky with a big, tall peak in the middle above the main doorway. It had a veranda all around the edge and the windows were big, open and modern. Everything looked clean and perfectly lined, and she was itching to get in there and see what the rest of the place was like.

  She crossed the driveway and down the pavement so she was heading up toward Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney’s. She had never even heard their names uttered before that day, but she could already tell they were going to be friendly and helpful, if what her mom had already told her was anything to go by.

  She walked up the hill to the front door and stood and knocked on it lightly. She felt nervous for the first time since she had slammed her apartment door that morning, but that was quickly quashed when a warm and honeyed blonde lady opened the door and beamed at her.

  “You must be Alyssa,” she grinned widely as she held out her arms and swept her into a hug. “Your mom called me this morning and told me you were coming!”

  “Oh,” Alyssa gasped, taken off guard. “She did?”

  “Of course, she did,” Mrs. Sweeney laughed. “She’ll be worried sick about you out here on your own, but I told her not to worry. We’re going to be here the whole time and we can help you out with anything you may need.”

  “Thank you,” Alyssa smiled, taken aback and totally unsure of what else she could say.

  “I’m Angie! And here,” Mrs. Sweeney handed her a set of house keys and a bottle of milk. “I didn’t have time to go into town and get you any groceries, but I’ll be going later if you want to give me a list?”

  Alyssa looked at her with a confused smile.

  “Oh, honestly, I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”

  “Nonsense,” Mrs. Sweeney continued. “You’re not at all. I told your mother I’d look after you and it’s your first day in town after a long drive. Go and get settled in and I’ll pop over in an hour or so, and if you want me to get you anything just let me know.”

  Alyssa thanked her and then turned, dumbfounded, to walk back down the path and to her own driveway.

  “So generous and friendly,” she whispered as she clutched the cold bottle of milk. “I hope everyone here in town is the same.”

  She was smiling on the outside and the inside, and as she walked up the small hill to her own front door, she got butterflies tickling her tummy. Suddenly, her adventure all felt very real, and she was both excited and nervous.

  She slipped the key into the lock and turned it. The door opened in front of her and as she stepped inside her parents’ vacation home she gasped at how beautiful it was.

  The main hallway was tall and vaulted and opened out into the main living area with a huge antler chandelier dangling above in the center. The entire back wall was indeed glass, and the way the light shone in made the whole place feel alive, even though no one had been there for at least a month. The wooden beams above her head were rustic and charming, and the staircase to her left ran up and out of sight to the bedrooms. She stepped forward and made her way into the living area
, which was massive and grand, completely modern, with the exception of a rustic and old looking real log fire place right in the middle of a room, surrounded by old gray brickwork to hold it in place.

  Her parents had chosen modern couches and armchairs, but they were draped with luxurious fur throws and richly embroidered cushions. The coffee table in front of the fire was stacked with photography and art books, and the whole place smelled like cinnamon.

  “This is divine,” she whispered as she clapped her hands together and tried not to grin too hard. “I’m going to kill them for keeping it such a secret!”

  She rushed to the other side of the room and to the glass bi-fold doors that overlooked the back terrace and yard below. It was all wooden veranda with fire pits and seating overlooking the mountains, and there was a hot tub nestled in the far corner, surrounded by tiki torches and an ivy-covered pergola.

  “Unbelievable,” she laughed. “This really is their little love nest.”

  The thought grossed her out if she thought too much about it, but she was an adult and instead, she just shrugged it off and counted herself lucky that her parents were in love and still together. She had seen so much divorce and broken families, it was as if it were catching as her friends’ parents all reached their fifties and sixties.

  She turned back to the living room and flopped down on the couch with the milk still in her hand. She was glad for it, because after that killer drive, all she could think about was a big, steaming cup of coffee and some time to relax. She could put the kettle on, figure her way around the cupboards and then she would write a quick little list for kind Mrs. Sweeney.

  “This is going to be awesome,” she said as she looked up and around at her surroundings once more. “And it’s just what the doctor ordered to get me back on my feet.”

  3.

  “Thank you so much, Angie, you have no idea how much I appreciate this,” Alyssa beamed as Mrs. Sweeney handed her the paper bags full of groceries and helped her back into the kitchen with them.

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” Mrs. Sweeney smiled. “I was heading down to town anyway and I promised your mom I would help you settle in. Please, it’s the least I can do…”

  Her eyes trailed down to the pile of bags that Alyssa had dumped next to the doorway, along with the stack of blank canvasses and the old, rickety wooden easel that was propped up against the wall.

  “Your mom said you wanted to work while you were here, are you an artist?” she asked with a genuine smile.

  Alyssa shrugged and scratched the back of her neck.

  “I maybe would have called myself that once,” she said shyly. “But I don’t think I could class myself as an artist anymore… My inspiration flaked out on me a long time ago.”

  “Are you trying to find it again?” Angie asked knowingly.

  Alyssa smiled and nodded.

  “Hopefully,” she said. “If nothing else, I just want to try and find myself a bit.”

  Mrs. Sweeney nodded and beamed at her warmly.

  “This place is magical,” she said. “If there’s anywhere that will leave you feeling inspired and centered, then it’s here.”

  Alyssa felt a warm feeling spread right through her and she suddenly felt a little emotional.

  “If you need anything,” Angie said with a wag of her finger as she turned and walked toward the door.

  “Thank you so much,” Alyssa said as she followed behind her.

  “It doesn’t matter what time, day or night, if you need us, we’re only there, don’t hesitate to call.”

  “I won’t, Angie, and thanks again.”

  She closed the door behind her and, out of habit from city life, she turned the key and locked herself inside. When she looked back at the home she was in, she couldn’t help but smile again, and she skipped back through into the kitchen and started to unpack all of the shopping bags.

  Angie had been kind and generous when it had come to helping her settle in to Lost Creek, and the haul she had brought her from the grocery store was no different. There were sweetbreads, jams, olives, cheeses, a huge selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds and cereals as well as a whole roast chicken that was making her mouth water as she began to open the bag and look inside.

  “That’s dinner sorted,” she laughed as she started to put everything into the refrigerator and the cupboards.

  She looked at the clock and saw it was approaching 6pm, and even though she was exhausted, all she could think about was trying out that hot tub on the terrace and relaxing for a couple of hours before bed.

  She bent down and opened the door of the wine fridge and pulled out a bottle of ice cold white, then she undid the cork and poured herself a big, refreshing glass.

  She couldn’t remember the last time she had allowed herself a glass of wine and as she sipped it and felt a warm wave of relaxation open out over her body, she couldn’t help but sink back against the counter and sigh.

  “This is perfect,” she said to herself as she closed her eyes.

  She picked up the bottle and walked toward the back doors that led out onto the veranda, and she opened them wide and listened to the birds twittering in the trees. It was a beautiful evening, and she could see the town coming to life down the mountain.

  She looked out across the whole vista in front of her and around into the yard and the forest. Mrs. Sweeney had been right when she said the place was magical. It was like a postcard, and it was hard to believe that it was real, and that she could access it whenever she wanted. She was angry with herself for not listening to her parents sooner and coming to Lost Creek for the weekend to give the place a shot. But it had been Simon who had stolen all of her time and thoughts, and now she was free and she never had to answer to him again.

  She walked to the hot tub, pulled off the heavy cover, and fiddled with the dials until it sprang to life. The steam and mist billowed out ahead of her and she hugged herself as she sipped the wine again and, for the first time in a long time, she felt truly happy.

  “Who needs a man,” she grinned as she turned and walked back into the house to find her bathing suit.

  Less than ten minutes later, she was in full-on relaxation mode. She let the hot water lap up against her skin, tickling her and soothing her with each bubble and burst. She sipped the wine and watched the sunset as she soaked up every moment of this rare bit of peace and tranquility.

  She tried to think back to the last time she had spent some quality time by herself, and it was almost impossible to remember. Since she had left college, she had worked relentlessly on her career and on trying to make it as an artist. That was up until she met Simon and all of her dreams seemed to slip by the wayside. But now, she was back in the driver’s seat of her life and she knew exactly where she wanted to go. She was going to pursue her dreams and find out who she truly was.

  She leaned up and grabbed the bottle and splashed some more wine into the glass and hiccupped. She had barely drunk anything, but it had been so long since she had let her hair down it was quickly taking hold.

  Somewhere down the mountain she could hear the whoops and cheers of what sounded like a party in full swing and she got the urge to go and join them.

  “No,” she told herself. “This isn’t about partying. Tonight is all about settling in.”

  She laughed and shook her head, and then, as she took another sip and let the glass fall away from her face, she looked up toward the forest and almost froze as she saw a pair of eyes staring back at her.

  Her breath caught in her throat and she instinctively shoved back to the other side of the hot tub and tried to see through the steam.

  The person was on the other side of the boundary that backed onto the McSweeney’s yard and he held up his hand and shouted, “Sorry!” as he laughed and began to walk away. He looked embarrassed, as if he was working out there in the woods and hadn’t expected to come across anyone. He was carrying a rake and she could see his bulging muscles flex as he turned to walk awa
y.

  He was tall and broad, and his hair was shaggy and surrounded a set of intense and penetrating eyes. It was a miracle she had been able to see him at all with the dimming light, but those eyes were so intense and powerful they pulled her right in and commanded attention.

  He stopped when he was beyond the trees and kept his back to her, and Alyssa found herself moving back to the other side of the tub so the steam wasn’t obscuring her view and she could see him properly.

  He was holding on to one of the trees and was doing something to the bark. He had rested the rake down and Alyssa barely dared breathe as she watched him trailing his hands up and down the tree as if he were checking it for signs of damage.

  His hands were big and rough looking and she bit her lip as she noticed how thick and powerful his fingers looked. He ran them up the length of the trunk and then smoothed one hand through his hair and sighed.

  Alyssa was entranced. She had no idea who this man was or what he was doing, but the way he was tenderly stroking the tree was making her nipples harden under her swimsuit. She smiled and took another sip of wine as he leaned down slightly to pick up the rake and then he turned and looked back over his shoulder and caught her eye again.

  She instinctively smiled and he did too.

  “Sorry,” he said again. “I didn’t realize anyone was in the place.”

  “It’s okay,” she called back to him. “I only arrived in town today.”

  He nodded his head and she could see that he was taking her all in the same way as she was him.

  Her mind was blank and she couldn’t think of anything else to say to him so he wouldn’t turn and leave, but as she opened her mouth all she could do was gasp, searching for words, and then she found herself nervously sipping the wine again.

  He faltered as if he were thinking the same and then he turned and began to walk away into the forest, deep within the trees.