Of Mountains and Men: A Why Choose Romance

Chapter 5

I don't have time to chat with each parent, I do try to make sure to introduce myself to all the kids and we go through every station offered and our schedule for the day. The kids are just excited to have free time first to settle in.

I sit down next to a little girl who looks like she may be part Korean, I think her name is Priscilla. "Hi. What are you two doing?"

Priscilla looks up at me shyly, "Charley is showing me his favorite toys." She whispers.

"Oh yeah? Did you bring your favorite toy with you today?"

Charley stands up waving an American doll that looks just like Priscilla. "This one mommy." He glances at Priscilla, "Her name is Prissy."

Priscilla nods holding out her arms, Charley returns the doll. "Daddy got her for me when mommy left."

"That was very kind of your daddy. He must be a good one." She nods. "I'll let you two keep playing. Snack time is in five minutes."

Of course, Charley's eyes light up at the mention of food. That boy is going to eat me out of house and home when he's older. I go to the back office and check the list for allergies. Thank goodness we have only one nut allergy, which we never serve to the kids anyways.

I start pulling out baby carrots and apple slices with ranch cups to dip them in and set them up on one of the tables. A cute little blonde with the biggest blue eyes, Lexi, asks to help. I let her even though we aren't supposed to. She's one of the oldest of the group at six and is bored of playing with Amelia and the other girls at the Barbie mansion.

The morning moves fairly quickly, and we only have one temper tantrum from a three-year-old which is totally to be expected. Charley and I head to lunch at noon as always. It's kind of weird having the resort this packed on a weekday, but nice at the same time. There is so much to see, I love looking at the designer snow suits and such. A life I'll never know.

"Charley, do we want seafood pasta or soup?"

"Pasta." He answers leading me over to the trays.

"Sounds great."

We get our shrimp, clam, and salmon alfredo with a Caesar salad and bread sticks then sit down at our favorite table. Barely into our meal I hear Lexi's voice ring out across the room.

"Daddy, there's the nice daycare lady! Let's sit with her."

I don't hear his response, but I am mortified. I look up to see a blonde man with her same blue eyes looking down at me skeptically.

"Hello," He holds his hand out, I stand up and shake it then sit back down. "I'm Michael, do you mind if my friends and I join you? Our daughters seem to have taken a liking to you."

My eyes flutter as I scan a Korean man who must Priscilla's father and Andrew who I met earlier today. "Sure, that's fine your girls were great today."

Amelia lists off her order and sends her dad off while sitting down on the other side of me. "Dad says he's taking me skiing tomorrow."

"We're all going," Lexi adds.

"That will be fun. What are you doing after lunch today?" I ask, then take a bite of clam.

"Going to see the new duck movie, then going swimming." Amelia grins.

The three guys set their daughters' plates down first then settle around the table. "I'm James. We didn't get a chance to meet earlier."

He's tall with jet black hair that's styled a little longer than the popular cut and suits him. "Hi, I'm Charlotte." I blush at the way the three men are staring at me.

"What are you doing later Miss Charlotte?" Lexi asks.

I smile down at her, "I'll be going back to the daycare then probably head home after that. Very boring compared to swimming and a movie." They are all just so cute. I see Charley is pouting, "What's wrong little man?"

"I want go swimming."

Michael chuckles, "Maybe on your mommy's day off you can join us?" He gives me a questioning look. "If that would be something you want to do?"

I bite my lip, I have access to all the amenities of the resort... "I've never been swimming." I blurt, my face turning beet red.

Andrew cocks his head, "You grew up with a lake in town. Never?"

I shake my head, I glance at the girls seeing they are talking to each other whispering. "My parents died before they could teach me."

James looks slightly stunned then gives me a sly smile. "Bring a floatie for Charley, we can stay in the shallow end."

I roll my eyes, "Fine. I have Saturday and Sunday off." I go to get up seeing how my lunch break is almost over.

Michael clears his throat, "Can one of us have your number to set something up?"

I narrow my eyes playfully at him, shrugging and walking away with our trays. "I'm sure we'll see each other around more before then."

I walk back to work, heart fluttering. Did I just flirt with three men? I cover my eyes with my hand for a moment. I'm going crazy.