Eyes on the Unseen Prize

  ***

  Nick darted ahead of Piper as they approached the breakfast café the next morning to grab the door and open it for her.

  “My lady.”

  “Thank you, Nick,” she said. “I’ll bet Chase doesn’t open doors like that for Cherie. He may bring flowers, but you’re the true gentleman.”

  “No need to compare me with Chase, my lady. We can both be gentlemen.”

  The savory scent of fried bacon penetrated her senses as she and Nick walked up to the hostess at the front desk. Tables made of pine filled the window-less room, along with ferns, moose-heads, and padded wooden chairs.

  “Table for two,” Nick said.

  “Follow me,” the hostess replied as she led them past throngs of fellow patrons to a table by the all-you-can-eat breakfast bar. “Your server will be right with you. Feel free to get a plate at the breakfast bar, if that’s what you want.”

  “Thanks,” Piper said.

  The restaurant was populated with skiers and snowboarders who would be hitting the slopes after the chairlifts opened at 9 a.m. Piper and Nick were lucky to have gotten a table at that busy time.

  They filled their plates with fruit, bacon, and eggs, before returning to their table to eat. Piper observed a young family of Texans seated at the table next to them. Or so she assumed to be Texans. Cowboy ski hats were by their sides and she heard Southern drawls and a few hearty laughs. They had Texas-sized passions for life. Texans had a way of making Piper smile.

  She spotted Flypaper heading towards them, wearing his ski overalls, clunky ski boots, and a thick aquamarine-colored sweater. He wore a big grin.

  “What a perfect coincidence! Can I join you?” He asked.

  “Of course,” Nick responded. Piper wondered where Kat was and whether Flypaper’s mission had been successful. She found Chase’s protectiveness of his sister to be amusing.

  “We missed you last night,” she said.

  “Yeah, I went with Kat to the Wooden Nickle for a few mango margaritas. She’s quite a lady. Could be a keeper. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like her. Liked the Wooden Nickle too. Great music. Good atmosphere. Dancing. We should all hit the Wooden Nickle tonight or tomorrow for something a little different. I’m getting a little tired of the Rooster.”

  “That works for me,” Nick said.

  “Me too,” Piper added. She wondered where Kat was now, given the fact Flypaper was interested in her. She took a few more bites of her food before she asked, “So, where’s Kat today?”

  “Probably getting ready to hit the slopes. I texted her when I got up, but she hasn’t answered yet. Maybe still sleeping. Don’t know.”

  Wow. Finally a challenge!

  “Do you want to hit the slopes with us after breakfast?” Nick asked.

  “That sounds good. But I don’t want to steal your special moments with Piper. Let me know when you want me to take off. I can always snowboard solo.”