EXCERPT CHAPTER 5 - THE HEART OF ALASKA

Ethan walked into the employee dining room with just enough time to fill a plate and sit down before orientation was to begin. There were only two open seats so he headed for the one farthest away from Charli. Before he made it even halfway, Jackson was there grabbing his tray. He was forced to follow and sit in the chair across from the woman who'd haunted his dreams all night.

"Look who I caught trying to escape," Jackson teased. "I guess he doesn't realize that there is no escape."

"He'll learn," Francesca said, winking at him. "Maybe we should give our little group here a nickname, to kind of cement us together."

"Good morning, Ethan," Charli said shyly, cutting Fran off.

"Good morning, Princess," he said with a warm smile. So much for being distant. But there was just something about her that made him want to be nice.

"If I can get the four musketeers over there to pipe down, I have an announcement to make," Dan Butler hollered from the front of the room.

Jackson, Fran, Ethan, and Charli looked at each other then turned their attention to the bus driver. "There's our nickname," Fran whispered triumphantly.

"Okay everyone, enjoy your breakfast in peace a bit longer. Our fearless Human Resources Manager had a health crisis yesterday, so we’re waiting for his replacement to get here from the airport. Your new boss will be the hotel owner’s son, so make sure you treat him with respect. We'll probably get things going here in about a half-hour. As you were!”

Jackson grimaced and rubbed his hand across his forehead. "I hope old man Peterson's son is less strict than Beatty was. Maybe I can actually kiss my fiancé outside without worrying about getting fired."

"No sex! Even if you're married!" Fran said gruffly, imitating their old boss, Bart Beatty.

Ethan had the momentary thought that he hoped the new guy was stricter than the old one. Steering clear of Charli would be easy then.

A short twenty-five minutes later, Ethan's hopes were dashed when Dirk Peterson blew into the room. He couldn't have been more than twenty-three years old, dressed in bell bottom jeans, tie-dye shirt, and a fringed vest. The colored lenses of his sunglasses obscured his expression, and a beaded headband kept his long hair in check.

"Groovy man!" He called out to the room. "Let's get this party started."

Ethan let out a long, agonized breath and dropped his head into his hands. The employee quarters were going to turn into a commune with this guy in charge. He would probably be running around naked with his steady chick, missing brain cells from weed consumption, by the end of the summer. He would never become a doctor.

"I'll make this short and sweet because truthfully chicks and dudes, I'd rather be anywhere but here right now," Dirk called out. "The rules under my watch are simple – don't bother the customers, do your work, and have a groovy summer. Oh, and my old man insists it's lights out at ten for employees. He wants you rested and ready for work or some shit… Peace!" He walked quickly from the room and everybody stood to leave.

"Hold up now," Dan Butler called out. "We've paired newbies with vets to make training easier. There's a table set up out front where you can be assigned your work areas. First guests arrive tomorrow, so make sure this place is ready. Dismissed!"