The Coltons of Roaring Springs. Lara Lacombe

       Chapter 1

      I’m not going to make it.

      Molly Gilford walked quickly through the main floor of The Lodge, headed for the gondola dock at the back of the massive structure. As the only five-star resort located on Pine Peak, The Lodge catered to guests who enjoyed winter sports. Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, even camping—the outdoor activities were designed for every skill level, from beginner to expert. And when the guests were done playing in the snow, they came inside to enjoy all the luxuries The Lodge had to offer.

      As director of guest services, Molly couldn’t help but view the space with a critical eye, even as she dashed past. There was snow packed into the weave of the mat by the main entrance, tracked in by guests and staff alike. A few discarded coffee cups sat on a table in one of the many conversation nooks arranged throughout the room. One of the curtains was askew, and was that a...nose print on the window? Molly squinted, pausing in her journey. Yes, it looked like the glass bore a smudge from what was likely a dog’s nose, given its location on the window and the extent of the smear. She shook her head and set off again, her low heels sounding out a rapid tattoo on the pale gray marble tiles. Overall, not a bad state of affairs, but not up to the lofty standards of The Lodge, either.

      She took her phone out of her purse as she stepped into the gondola carriage, typing out her observations in a message to the head of housekeeping. Nadia Carrington was Molly’s right-hand woman, and she knew the older lady would ensure that the small issues Molly had noticed would be addressed within minutes.

      That task done, she checked the time. Two fifty-seven. Three minutes until departure. She’d meant to take the ride down the mountain an hour ago, but time had gotten away from her. There was nothing to do about it now. Her doctor’s appointment was at three thirty. It took fifteen minutes to ride down, giving her the same amount of time to find her car and make the drive into town. She was going to be late for certain, but hopefully the same could be said for Dr. Allen, who offered Sunday appointments once a month as a courtesy to her patients.

      With nothing to do but wait, Molly glanced around the interior of the gondola carriage. It was a large space, big enough to hold twenty people at a time. A few small tables and chairs were arranged along the curve of the glass wall at the front of the carriage, which maximized the view for guests as they glided down the mountain. The soft gray carpet and matching drapes ensured that the interior of the gondola did nothing to distract from the scenery—if you stood at the front of the carriage, with the sky above you and the snowy slopes below, it was easy to imagine you were floating down the mountain.

      Molly had the carriage to herself, which wasn’t too surprising. At this time of day, most guests were either enjoying the outdoors or staying inside to pamper themselves at the spa. Traffic would pick up again in the evening as guests from The Lodge made their way to The Chateau or the town beyond for dinner.

      There was a small refrigerator next to the gondola entrance. Molly retrieved a bottle of water and sank onto the seat of a chair. It felt good to get off her feet, if only for the short ride.

      She rubbed her hand absently over her belly, anticipation building in her chest as her thoughts turned to her upcoming appointment. It was time for the twenty-week sonogram, when the doctor would do a thorough exam of the baby to make sure everything looked as it should. She’d been excited about this date for months, imagining what her baby might look like. She couldn’t wait to see the little hands and feet, hear the steady thump of the heartbeat. And perhaps most exciting of all, today she would learn if she was having a girl or a boy.

      Molly smiled to herself, warmth blooming inside her as she considered each possibility. Of course, a healthy baby was her top priority, but she had to admit, she was kind of hoping for a girl. Boys grew up and left their mothers behind, whereas girls were better at staying connected to family. Her own situation was a perfect example—if not for her reminders, Molly’s brother, Mason, would never remember to call their mother on her birthday or send their dad a Father’s Day card. She and her younger sister, Sabrina, were the ones who kept in regular contact with their parents.

      “I hope you’ll do the same,” she said softly to her baby. She couldn’t bear the thought of her child growing up and forgetting about her.

      Especially since she was probably the only parent her offspring would have.

      Molly hadn’t planned to wind up a single mother. Some days, she still couldn’t believe she was pregnant. She hadn’t told anyone about the baby yet.

      Not even the father.

      Guilt speared through her at the thought of Max. He deserved to know about the pregnancy, and she had every intention of telling him.

      Just as soon as she figured out how.

      Their relationship had been more of a fling than anything else, a series of intensely passionate encounters during his quarterly visits to The Lodge. Molly knew he wasn’t looking for anything serious, and she’d convinced herself that was fine.

      Except the past few times she’d seen him, her emotions had grown stronger and stronger, demanding acknowledgment. Six months ago, she’d decided that during his next visit, she would break things off. She wanted more, but Max was totally devoted to the charity he had founded and ran.

      She’d figured out what she was going to say, considered every possible reaction he might have. Then she’d steeled herself to see him again.

      But he hadn’t shown up.

      Max had missed his regularly scheduled visit. Not a big deal, but then she’d started having symptoms, and after putting two and two together, she’d realized she was pregnant. She knew she needed to tell him, but the whole “hey, you’re going to be a father” conversation was one best had in person rather than over the phone. So she was going to have to wait for his next visit to share the news.

      Provided he ever came back to The Lodge. If history was any indication, he should be arriving within the next two weeks. But Molly checked the reservations regularly and his name was nowhere to be seen.

      Maybe this was his way of breaking things off? If so, he was definitely not going to be happy when he heard her news. Like it or not, a baby was going to tie them together for the rest of their lives. It was a bit ironic that their casual connection had produced such a permanent bond, but life was sometimes funny that way.

      The carriage shuddered a bit as someone stepped on board. Molly didn’t turn around—she wanted one more moment to herself before she had to slip back into work mode.

      She took a sip of water as the gondola began its journey down the mountain. Casting aside thoughts of Max, she let her gaze track across the pine trees and mountain rock, all still dusted with snow thanks to the high altitude. It was like a Christmas card come to life, a sight she didn’t think she would ever grow tired of seeing.

      With a small sigh, she stood. Time to greet her company on the ride down. She wasn’t in her office, but she still had a duty to ensure that all guests of The Lodge were satisfied, no matter what part of the property they were using.

      Molly turned, smiling as she moved.