Bearview Bride (BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (6 page)

Coop laughed. “Cade, that’s partly why we’re taking this vacation—neither of us can handle any more decisions right now. We trust you. We know you want the lodge to flourish again. You’ll make the best choice out of any of us.”

Cade didn’t know what to say. That was a weighty responsibility, but his chest swelled with pride at the evidence that his parents trusted him so much.

“Think it over,” Coop said. “You have a little time, but you’ll need to decide soon if we want working lifts by winter.”

“I will.” Cade looked over his shoulder as he left their room. Both of his parents had already turned back to their suitcases.

At the bottom of the stairs, Ethan was waiting for him.

“Well?”

Cade snagged a flannel shirt off a peg. “You want to help me with my chores, since you don’t have any anymore?”

“Sure.” Ethan grabbed his own flannel. The sun had set, and the night would be chilly. “How much wood do we need to split?”

“I’m guessing the bonfire will last for about two hours. There aren’t enough guests to bother burning it longer. If we both chop ten logs or so, we can probably call it a day.”

“All right.” Ethan opened one of the double doors. “I bet I can chop mine faster.”

Cade rolled his eyes. “You say that every time. And every time, I humiliate you.”

“We’ll see.”

They walked around to the back of the property, past the stables, where the grass was trimmed around the small patio and entertaining area. Most guests got cold on mountain nights even in the summer, so the fire pit was very popular.

Short logs were piled against the lodge, and Cade gathered ten for himself. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked Ethan. “You could just admit that I’m the splitting master, and walk away with your pride.”

“I’m going to beat you one day. You’re just scared because I keep coming so close.”

Cade swung a log onto an old tree stump. “If you say so. Ready?”

Ethan raised his ax. “Ready.”

They both brought down their axes, and splinters flew. Cade sliced cleanly through the log, then again through the two halves. Shoving them aside, he put the next log on the stump.

“So what did they say?” Ethan asked.

“We have some money left. $100,000. We can either use half and fix the current system, or use it all on an upgrade.”

“I think that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” In his relief, Ethan swung too hard, lodging his ax in the stump. “I thought there wasn’t any money left at all.”

“It’s still not a ton, at least when it comes to new lift systems.” Cade swept four more pieces of firewood aside. “Did you know that Wolf Tracks spent three million on their new system?”

Ethan spat. “Mangy mutts.”

“To be fair, it’s a beautiful system. Have you seen it? Their gondolas can carry twelve people at once. Our chairs are kind of pathetic next to that.”

Ethan grimaced as he slid another log into place on his stump. “We’re more than just our chairlift. Wolf Tracks may have a glamorous lodge and swanky lift and pampered guests, but they don’t have Mount Bliss. Our slopes and ski runs are unbeatable. All the money they keep pouring into their lodge and lift just makes it obvious that they’re overcompensating.”

Slicing through the log, Cade swept the resulting pieces of firewood into a growing pile. “I still wish we could have a gondola system. But you’re right, the lift isn’t everything.”

“Not worth spending three million on—at least not when we’re broke.”

“The lift is still important, though. And I want our next one to last for years, not just a few seasons.” Cade took his frustrations out on the logs, which leapt apart beneath his ax. Earlier, he had been thrilled that his parents believed in his ability to make important choices for Bearview’s future. Now, he felt a creeping sense of uncertainty.

What if he made the wrong decision? As much as he wanted the best lift they could get, using all the money would leave Bearview without a cushion for emergencies. One bad day could bring ruin to the lodge.

But installing an inferior lift could have consequences too. What if it broke before they had money to repair it? They also had to compete with the gondolas at Wolf Tracks, like it or not. Some tourists had little sense of which mountain offered the best skiing, especially when all the lodges claimed that they had superior slopes. If Bearview’s lift couldn’t hope to compare, potential guests might be swayed by Wolf Tracks’ overall package.

Cade sighed, putting another log on the stump. Was this what his parents had dealt with all this time? Were huge decisions about the fate of the lodge as numerous and unending as logs that needed to be split for firewood?

He closed his eyes against the splinters as his ax bit into heartwood. One hundred thousand dollars was more money than he’d ever contemplated. His decision could determine all their futures, and whether they got to keep their lodge and their mountain.

Cade breathed deep while Ethan steadied another log.

“What’s it going to be?” Ethan asked. “Have you decided?”

“I have.” Picking up one last log, Cade swung his ax. “We put all our money on the line, because I’m all in. I believe in us, and in Bearview Lodge, and I want the best lift system our money can possibly buy. We’re going to make it through the summer, and this winter is going to be our best season yet. I know that the seven of us can make it happen. A new lift will just be the beginning.”

“That sounds good, Cade.” Ethan slung his ax over one shoulder. “There’s only one problem.”

“What’s that?”

Ethan showed him the pile of firewood at his feet. “My pile’s all chopped. Looks like I’m finally faster than you.”

Cade split his last piece in half in one languid motion. “You might have finished first, but that’s because I stole one of your logs. Count back, little brother—I split eleven, you only split nine.”

Ethan stared a moment, then burst out laughing. “You stole one of my logs? I can’t believe you, Cade.”

“Believe it. And remember that next time you try to challenge me.” Cade winked as he buried his ax in the stump. “I’ll catch you later, Ethan.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to tell the parents that I need $100,000.”

Cade made his way back upstairs, knocking on his parents’ open door. Three full suitcases stood ready by the doorway. Astoundingly, his mother was busy packing a fourth.

“I thought you were only going away for a couple of weeks,” Cade said.

“That’s right.” His mother pressed the top of her suitcase down, straining to fasten the zipper. “Help me with this, will you?”

With one hand, Cade leaned on the luggage. His mother closed it in one quick tug.

“There,” she said. “Would you mind putting it with the others?”

Cade pulled it off the bed, almost dropping it. “What’s in here, lead?”

“I might have over-packed.” His mother shrugged. “I haven’t been on vacation in a while. Years, in fact.”

To be fair, Cade couldn’t remember having ever taken a family vacation. Not that it bothered him. Why leave when Mount Bliss was the perfect vacation spot?

“Don’t think I don’t love Bearview.” Looking past him down the hall, his mother lowered her voice. “It’s just that sometimes I long to see a beach or two.”

“Why didn’t you take us to the beach, then?” Cade frowned. “We would have gone with you.”

“I know you boys love your mountain. I don’t like tearing any of you away from it, least of all your father.”

“What about me?” Coop strode in, carrying a bottle of champagne.

“Cade was looking for you,” his mother said.

“Both of you, really.” Cade couldn’t believe this was happening. Were they really going to let him spend all of their money? “I’ve decided. I want to replace the lift with the best system we can get.”

Coop nodded. “You’ll need this, then.” He dug into his pocket for a checkbook. “This, too.” Taking out his wallet, he handed Cade a black credit card. “I’ll call the bank and make sure you’re an authorized user on the account.”

“That’s it?” The credit card felt weighty in his hand. “You don’t want to discuss it at all, or object?”

“We told you, Cade, it’s your decision.” His father crammed the champagne bottle into one of the suitcase’s side pockets. “We don’t want to make any more. We leave it all to you.”

“Not quite all,” his mother interjected. “I do want to earmark a bit of that money. Not too much.”

“Oh, right.” Coop nodded. “Cade, help me bring these suitcases to the taxi. Your mother can tell you on the way.”

Cade hefted two suitcases and Coop took the remaining two. His mother carried the champagne bottle, which she’d rescued from the side pocket.

“I want to attract more customers,” his mother said as they walked down the hall. “New customers. I’ve had enough sickness and pain, Cade. I want to see life and love and happiness. I know you’re going to be focused on the lift, but I was wondering if you could also put together a wedding and honeymoon package. I think Mount Bliss would be a great destination for newlyweds.”

That was just what he needed, a bunch of rich people in formalwear running around his mountain. Cade was about to object when he saw his father’s silencing glare. Coop was generally affable, so his glares carried extra weight. Cade understood, though. His mother had been through so much that this was the least he could do to help.

“What kind of package are you thinking of?” he asked, trying to sound cheerful as they descended the stairs.

“Again, not too much. I know you’ll be very busy. But maybe create some kind of ceremony space, and spruce up one of the cabins as a honeymoon suite.”

“Is that all?” Cade asked, desperately hoping that it was. Even those two requests would take a lot of work.

“Just one more thing. I think that for it to be an appealing package, we need to have a dedicated wedding photographer. And it can’t just be Sawyer with a phone camera—I want someone who really knows what they’re doing, who can capture amazing moments. Besides Bearview itself, the photographer will be the most important part of the package, so you’ll probably want to put an ad in the paper as soon as possible.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait until you get back?” Cade backed out of one of the double doors, holding it open for his parents.

“No, you need to find someone yesterday.” His mother cradled the champagne in one arm as they walked toward the waiting taxi. “Wedding season is pretty much the opposite of ski season. For weddings, the mountain will work best in summer and early fall.” She smiled. “I trust you to create this package just like I trust you to put in the lift system, Cade. But please don’t pick the prettiest photographer who applies.”

“Why would I do that?”

She laughed. “I’m just teasing you. I know you’ll put everything you have into this—you always do.” Leaning over, she kissed him on the cheek.

Cade slid their luggage into the taxi’s trunk. He didn’t want any part of this wedding nonsense, didn’t want any money taken away from the all-important lift project, but he couldn’t say no to something his mother wanted. Not now.

“I’ll do my best,” he told her.

“Thank you, Cade. I knew I could count on you.”

Helping her into the taxi, Coop gave him a meaningful stare.

Cade had better not mess this up.

Chapter Six

T
ESS TOOK A
practice shot, fiddling with the aperture. The photo was overexposed, the details washed out, but that was what her clients got for getting married at noon.

Biting her lip, Tess brought her camera back up to her eye. She should have been grateful to Gary for getting her this lead, grateful to the bride for agreeing to hire her on such short notice and with no portfolio, grateful that she even had a camera to be able to make this happen. But she still wished she were anywhere but here.

She loathed weddings.

There were about fifty people who had been conned into driving to this park in the valley in the middle of the day. Guests sat in an open field, fanning themselves with their programs. Tess looked at her watch. The groom stood in front of everyone, hands clasped at his waist, and the officiant looked ready to officiate, but the bride was nowhere to be seen. Typical. Tess snapped some more photos of the groom, hoping he could keep his smile pasted on for a few more minutes.

The lucky couple was Amy and Richard, and their names were plastered all over everything in case their friends and family forgot. There were chalkboards, hand-painted signs, and a long banner made up of glittery hearts. Most of these were under a huge white tent that Tess couldn’t wait to return to.

Surreptitiously, she looked at her watch again. It really shouldn’t have mattered how long the bride took—Tess was getting paid for five hours either way—but she couldn’t stand people who weren’t punctual.

Trying to calm herself, Tess adjusted the focus on her lens. She grimaced. The one she had cracked the other day would have been the best lens for a wedding. Too bad all her money was earmarked for rent. It might be years before she could get it fixed.

The sun was hot on the back of her neck. She wished she had put on sunscreen. She just never would have thought anyone would want to get married in a field at noon in early summer. At this rate, though, the bride would barely be in the sun compared to her guests.

Tess sighed, blowing a stray lock of hair out of her face. She had tried to convince the bride to take some pictures later in the day, preferably closer to sunset, but Amy was having none of it.

“Tonight is for partying,” she had said.

Tess wanted to reply that partying wasn’t what made great photos, but Amy was her client, so she held her tongue. Now, she was starting to regret it.

She hoped the happy couple wouldn’t be angry in a few weeks when they got their photos back and saw all the harsh lighting and shadows. Tess rubbed the back of her neck, which she suspected was starting to burn. It was so unforgivably hot. What she wouldn’t give to be in that cool mountain stream again, wrapped in a pair of strong arms…

Furious, Tess pinched herself. She was not going to get distracted. This was far too important. She might not want to be here, but this was a huge day for Amy and Richard. If she missed a pivotal shot, there wouldn’t be any retakes.