Birthday Challenge (Weekend Getaways) Read online

  BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE

  Dana Littlejohn

  Erotic Romance

  Secret Cravings Publishing

  www.secretcravingspublishing.com

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  A Secret Cravings Publishing Book

  Erotic Romance

  Birthday Challenge

  Copyright © 2013 Dana Littlejohn

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-61885-748-4

  First E-book Publication: June 2013

  Cover design by Dawné Dominique

  Edited by Stephanie Balistreri

  Proofread by Sky Beaumont

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Secret Cravings Publishing

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  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

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  Dedication

  For everyone foolish enough to adhere the crazy advice from their friends and have their lives enriched all the more for it.

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  BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE

  Dana Littlejohn

  Copyright © 2013

  Chapter One

  Danica clicked the talk button on the headset she wore, but continued typing. “Hello, tech support, how can I help you?”

  “Dani, why are you still working? It’s after four o’clock. You only live down the street, what’s taking you so long?”

  “I know, Deidre, I know. I’m just finishing up right now, and then I’ll be on my way. I promise.”

  “It’s kind of hard to have a birthday party when the birthday girl isn’t here.”

  “Yeah, girl, come on!” someone shouted in the background. “We’ve already started drinking!”

  “See, Maria and Julie have already started drinking without you, Dani. You know what happens when that starts. So hurry up,” Deidre said just before the dial tone buzzed.

  Dani continued working another fifteen minutes, answered her last question and logged off her computer. She stood for a good stretch, then bounded toward the stairs eager to start her birthday weekend. Rushing out the front door, she made a beeline down the street to meet her friends.

  “Sorry I’m late, but I’m here.”

  “Happy birthday!” her friends yelled in unison.

  “Thanks, guys. Now that everybody knows it’s my birthday and I’m sufficiently embarrassed, let me order a drink so I can begin to forget you just did that.”

  The waitress waiting in the wings came over. “Happy birthday, Dani. I’ve been keeping them hydrated and warm on this cold night while they waited for you,” she said, giggling.

  “Yes, I see that. Bring me whatever Julie is drinking, she looks really happy and the appetizer sample platter too, please. Thanks.”

  “Okay, I’ll be back with some more bread too.”

  “So where do we pick up on the book tonight?”

  Deidre shook her head as she sipped her drink. “Not tonight, my friend. Tonight we are ditching our usual Friday night book club theme so you can enjoy your birthday present.”

  “I thought we were going to hang out tonight and celebrate my birthday tomorrow. I have the weekend off.”

  “Nope, you’re going to be enjoying your birthday gift without us this year.”

  Deidre nudged Maria. “Shush girl, not yet,” she said with a laugh. “Let’s eat first.”

  “That’s right, she’s got a nice ride in front of her. She should eat,” Julie added.

  Deidre reached over slapping her arm playfully to quiet her laughs. “Dang, d
runk folk can’t hold nothing.”

  Dani leaned back and wrapped her arms around her chest. “Okay, guys, spit it out, what’s going on?”

  “Fine, fine, now that your drunk friends all but spilled the beans,” Deidre paused to roll her eyes at Julie and Maria. “I guess I have to tell you.”

  Dani chuckled. “Oh, now they’re just my friends.”

  “Of course, they’re always your friends when they’re cutting up,” Deidre explained with a laugh. “Anyway, this year since you’re the first one to take the plunge into the thirties we’ve decided to get you something you wouldn’t get for yourself.”

  Julie dug into her purse. She passed an envelope to Deidre who slid it over to Dani.

  “Happy birthday, Dani.”

  “Again,” Julie added with a giggle.

  “Thanks, guys.” Dani removed the contents with a frown after she discovered the envelope wasn’t some elaborate card. “It’s a confirmation for a weekend at Powder Power Mountain.”

  “Good food, fresh snow to ski on and some of the hottest instructors in the world,” Julie said excitedly.

  “The world?” Dani asked with a raised brow.

  “Well, Utah, at the least.”

  “Powder Power! Come on guys. You know I don’t—”

  “Well, it’s about time you did. Come on Dani. You’re going to be thirty tomorrow. It’s time to put your big girl panties on and do some stuff,” Deidre told her.

  “At first we planned for all of us to go so we could have a girlfriend weekend, but then we got to thinking we can do that anytime. You, however, hardly ever leave the damn house anymore since you got the option to work from home,” Maria explained. “You are too young to do the hermit thing.”

  “Wow, I don’t know what to say, guys.”

  “Say thanks and let’s eat because the last shuttle to the resort leaves at eight o’clock,” Deidre said accepting the food the waitress passed around.

  After dinner, Dani got into Deidre’s car under the impression they would drop her down the street, but they passed by her house.

  “Guys, we can’t go to the station yet. I don’t have any clothes packed or anything.”

  Deidre raised her hand. “Have no fear, birthday girl. We are way ahead of you.”

  She pulled into the parking lot of the bus station, walked to the car trunk and removed a duffle bag.

  “Uh-oh, up until now I was excited, but now I’m getting nervous,” Dani said when she tossed the bag to her.

  “Your gift comes with a stipulation.”

  “A stipulation? Now I’m downright afraid.”

  “You have to promise us that you will have a good time. To do that you have to do, what Dani would never do,” Deidre instructed, pointing a finger at her.

  Dani looked to her other friends as they nodded in agreement. Not really knowing what they meant, she held up her hand up and smiled.

  “I promise.”

  “Fantastic. Now get! Your bus is loading.”

  Her friends ushered her to the line and onto the bus. She waved out the window as it took off. Taking in the night’s events, she busted out laughing. Here she was on a bus to the mountains to do something un-Dani-like—not like that list was very long anyway. Although raised in Salt Lake City, she had never gone up there. The view of the mountains were breathtaking from town, she just never had the desire to get closer.

  All the sports her siblings and friends grew up doing, skiing, snowmobiling, or even ice skating didn’t appeal to her. She liked cheering them on, but it never occurred to her to actually participated. Dani leaned more toward the technical rather than physical. She was the science club kid and one who took apart the radios and computers just to see how they worked. After college she put her technical based brain to work for her as an IT person for Blackman Technologies.

  Dani smiled as she thought about her friends. They were doers, total opposites of her. They liked outdoor sports and hands-on fun. She liked to go watch them play. They put fun in her life. She was happy being their geeky sidekick, but she wasn’t oblivious to how dull her life was. She knew she needed a little more excitement in her mostly monotonous existence. Sighing, she let her head fall back.

  “Maybe they’re right. Perhaps it is time to make some changes. You only get one go around in life, right?” she muttered rhetorically.

  “Excuse me?”

  Dani turned as the woman across from her leaned close. “Nothing. I was just thinking out loud. Sorry.”

  The woman nodded and sat back.

  She would really try to have a good time for herself and for them. With her mind made up, Dani rummaging through the bag Deidre gave her. Inside she found a MP3 on top of the clothes they packed and an envelope. She pulled it out to read.

  Hey Dani!

  We have planned a fun-filled weekend for you. When you arrive at the resort, make sure you have one of their special hot toddies in front of the fireplace before you go to bed. They are to die for!

  Here is your birthday challenge.

  Step outside of your comfort zone. Dare yourself and just do it! Don’t second-guess and don’t think like Dani. Find your inner bad girl and pump her up. We know you can do it. J

  We set up a few things to jumpstart your weekend. In the morning, you have a private ski lesson scheduled. This way if you break your neck no one will see it, just the instructor. Later in the day, assuming you are in one piece, you have beginner lessons for ice skating and snowmobiling.

  Don’t freak out! If you find yourself freaking even after I’ve said that have another hot toddy. J

  The whole point of this trip is to do what you usually wouldn’t do. Make sure you have some fun so you can tell us all about it. Happy birthday!

  Love, Deidre

  “Aww,” she said out loud and the woman across the aisle from her looked up.

  She gave the woman a small smile then put the note back in the bag. Before closing it, she removed the MP3, put the headphones in place and decided no matter what she would take their challenge to do something un-Dani-like this weekend.

  Chapter Two

  Dani welcomed the warm air as she walked into the Powder Power Lodge. She shook the fallen snow off her head and shoulders, then stood in line at the front desk to check in. A cold breeze made her cringe when the doors to the ski lifts opened, but what really caught her attention was the soft deep voice that sent shivers down her spine. Dani peeked over her shoulder to see who it belonged to. The man speaking wore a bright blue ski jacket with instructor printed across the back in big black letters. He stood at an angle talking to his student, his body language relaxed and friendly, his tone jovial. Mr. Instructor rubbed the stubble on his strong looking jaw to apparently warm his face. His full lips parted in a husky laugh, and she gasped at seeing more of his face.

  Damn, Julie was right!

  “Ma’am, I’ll take you next.”

  Dani pulled her attention away from him to move up to the counter. She handed the woman the paper her friends had given her. As the woman searched her computer, Dani sent another sly look over her shoulder but the man’s conversation was done and he was gone. She frowned facing the desk again.

  “Is everything all right, ma’am?” the woman asked her.

  Dani’s eyes widened. “Huh? Oh yes, I’m fine.”

  “Okay, well you’re good to go, Ms. Monroe. You are in room two-fifteen, up the stairs to your left. Have a good night and welcome to Powder Power.”

  Dani nodded and went to her room to drop off her bag. Ready to try the drink her friends mentioned, she returned to the lounge. She chose a large wing-backed chair in front of one of the four fire places in the den. People came and went out of the large room as the night moved on. By eleven o’clock, Dani nursed her third hot toddy as she stared into the flames enjoying its warmth.

  “Excuse me.”

  Dani looked up into the face of the woman that had checked her in.

  “Yes?”

  “You’re
Danica Monroe, right?”

  “Yes, I am. Is there something wrong?”

  “Well, yes and no. Can you come back to the desk with me?”

  She finished her drink and put the cup on the nearby table. “Sure. Is there a problem?”

  “Not really a problem, Ms. Monroe,” she said when she reached her computer. “We were just informed that some children were out back having a snowball fight and one of the windows in your room was damaged. It would seem that the packed snow is too hard for that right now. The maintenance crew can fix it, of course, but not until tomorrow.”

  “Great,” she said with a heavy sigh.

  “Not to worry, Ms. Monroe, I have another room for you. For the inconvenience we would also like to treat you to dinner for the two days you will be with us. You may choose to come to the dining room or have it brought to your room.”

  “Oh, well thank you. That would be wonderful. Is the room I’m moving to far from where I am now?”

  “It’s just over the other one you were in on the third floor. Would you like someone to get your bag for you?”

  “No, that won’t be necessary,” she said, trying to stifle a yawn. “I think it’s time I turned in anyway. It’s late. Can I just bring the other key to you in the morning?”

  “That will be fine. Thank you for being so understanding,” she added, handing her the new key.

  “No problem, things happen.”