As the blades of the helicopter still, the pilot and copilot hop out to open the doors. A blast of chilly air drifts in, making a shiver roll up my spine. A suit might not have been the most weather-appropriate choice of clothing, but I need to make a good impression on the people who run this place if we’re going to get down to brass tacks—and by that, I mean if they’re going to let my firm improve their advertising.
I join my friends in surveying the pristine landscape we can see from the large picture windows of the helicopter. This place has almost untold potential. Already my wheels are turning, spinning slogans that will bring people here in droves.
“It’s a real winter wonderland,” Morgan says, dreamily. “It almost feels like I’m back in Kansas.”
Eric and I are the first ones out of the chopper. Jake is still inside helping Stacy and Ryan unbuckle themselves. Eric helps Morgan ease carefully down toward the soft snow while Chloe doesn’t seem to notice my outstretched hand. I grin to myself and shake my head as my independent fiancée hops easily down herself.
Morgan is still taking her time, acting like she’s easing into cold, deep waters rather than just stepping down onto some snow. Then again, she is wearing boots with sky-high heels. Her outfit is as impractical as my suit!
Jake slides out of the helicopter with Ryan dangling from his back. He reaches back inside to scoop Stacy up against his chest. She giggles, clinging to him.
We’ve officially arrived. Look out Pine Island!
Eric and I have already started collecting the luggage that the pilots have kindly unearthed from the cargo hold. Admittedly, there’s more than we need. But this group tends to be on the upper side of excess.
“Whoa,” Stacy says, pointing eagerly through a small field of sapling pine trees that will one day probably tower over all of us. “Does Kansas look like that, Morgan?”
I smirk as Morgan’s bright eyes nearly bug out of her head. “Not the Kansas I grew up in.”
Eric laughs at the Wizard of Oz-like reference. “Well Dorothy, you know what they say . . . there’s no place like home.”
We all turn our gazes to the huge lodge resting peacefully among the sleepy Pine Island landscape. The lodge is nestled in the remote countryside surrounded by pine trees of every size and shape. There’s no sign of the small town I viewed on their website.
I wonder just how far we are from civilization. The only thing I see for miles is trees and a wide-open winter wonderland.
I turn my attention back to the stunning lodge. It’s tall and sprawling, with the perfect mix of stone and wood. It blends into the rustic landscape, while at the same time, shines like a hidden diamond in the untouched place. The whole scene is magnificent, and quite impressive for a family-owned business. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
“I did good, right?” Eric asks, proudly puffing his chest.
“You did amazing!” Morgan answers, covering his face in kisses while he just beams brighter.
“Hey, his head’s big enough,” I tease.
“Yeah,” Jake chimes in. “Good thing this place is huge, or his ego wouldn’t fit through the door.”
Eric bends to scoop up a snowball but before he can lob it at Jake, a voice interrupts us.
“Hello!” someone shouts across the snowy lawn. “Welcome to Pine Island.”
A petite woman with chocolate brown hair hurries across the snow-covered ground toward us. At her feet, a tiny dog dashes along while barking happily, even though it’s sinking in the snow up to its belly. The little dog is dressed in a rather dashing emerald sweater. Apparently, it knows the importance of first impressions, too.
Ryan’s eyes light up. “A puppy!” He rushes forward a few steps before remembering his manners. He skids to a stop, his hands still inching toward the dog. “Can I pet it?” the little boy begs.
“Sure thing, hun! This is Darcy. She loves attention,” the woman says.
Ryan falls to his knees, not caring one bit about the snow as Darcy leaps into his lap, wiggling as she licks his chin.
The woman turns toward us and flashes a smile so big and bright it could light up every Christmas tree out here. “I'm Chloe Price,” she says, greeting each of us with a handshake. “We’re so thrilled to have you at Everett’s Christmas Lodge and Tree Farm! Now let’s get you inside and nice and warm, yeah?”
“Yeah!” Stacy and Morgan both agree.
Eric, Jake, and I grab the suitcases. Judging by how much Morgan packed, we’re going to be making a few trips.
“Oh, please let me have the staff take your bags,” Miss Price insists when she sees us loading our arms.
“Nope,” Eric objects, gesturing toward Morgan with his thumb. “I’m trying to teach this one you can only pack what you can carry.”
Stacy snorts a laugh. “How’s that working out, E?”
“It’s a work in progress,” Eric replies, good-naturedly.
“Oh please,” Miss Price interjects. “I wouldn’t feel right having such special guests carry their own bags. I arranged to have extra staff here to help but you arrived earlier than I expected.”
Jake waves off her worries. “We don’t mind at all.”
“Seriously,” Eric adds when she begins to chew her lip. “We don’t need any special treatment. Just treat us like anyone else.”
“If you insist . . .” she says, hesitantly.
“Lead the way,” I suggest, ready to get this show on the road.
I can’t wait to see what the inside of the lodge looks like in person.
Miss Price obliges and we follow her through the snow like a group of penguins slipping and sliding in our ill-prepared footwear. Luckily, we don’t have that far to go. As we get closer to the lodge, a dark-haired man steps out and greets us.
“This is my fiancé, Ethan Hall,” Miss Price explains. “We’re both running the place at the moment.”
“It’s nice to meet you all,” Ethan says. “Do you need help with your luggage?”
“We got
