Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Fisher pats me on the back in a silent show of support. “So a place you’ve been running from has welcomed you back with open arms.”
“And I’m back older and wiser.”
“Are you back for good?” Jack asks.
I shake my head. “I don’t know,” I confess. All I can think about is what Rosey’s plans are. Where does she see herself this time next year? Is she going to want to spend her life at the Colorado Club? We’ve never talked about her future. Only about her past. But I want to know. I want to know everything about her. At first I thought I had to resist her, but now I’m craving more and more of her. She’s not a woman I want to resist anymore.
Since I’m not ready to get into all of that with the guys—at least not yet—I tell them, “I’ll always need to spend chunks of the year here unless I sell the place.”
The guys exchange looks.
“It’s a damn good job we submitted our membership applications, then, isn’t it?” Jack says.
“What?” I ask. “You guys didn’t need to do that.”
“We absolutely did,” Worth says.
“You had me at private powder,” Jack says. “Even if it’s not Courchevel.”
“My sisters will probably want to come, so it’s a place we can spend time together. I’m looking forward to it,” Worth says.
I don’t know what I did to deserve friends like this, but I know I’ll never take these guys for granted.
“After I gave all that input into the recording studio here, there’s no way I’m not bringing artists out here,” Fisher says. “This is going to be the new Abbey Road. Except the view is better. I have an artist lined up, actually. She wants guaranteed privacy. This is the perfect spot.”
“As long as she resists the call of the chicken wings at Grizzly’s,” Worth reminds him.
“Fuck,” he replies. “My plans are in tatters. She’ll have to break cover.”
“I’m going to finance a delivery service between here and Grizzly’s,” I say, before making a note on my phone.
“That place should be nationwide,” Jack says.
“Maybe I’ll have a chat with them,” Worth says.
I chuckle. “If there’s a business opportunity there, I’m claiming it. This is my town.” For the first time in a long time, I can say that about Star Falls, and feel good about it. My town. It has a nice ring to it.
TWENTY-SIX
Rosey
I head back to Autumn from Blossom, part thrilled to have seen Byron and part terrified. Gossip around here spreads like wildfire. I knew Miranda from concierge had changed her hair color before I even laid eyes on her this morning. There’s no doubt the other waitresses in Blossom saw me embracing Byron’s friends. By the end of the day, everyone will know. I need to come up with an explanation that doesn’t include the words I’m banging the boss.
As I navigate the stairs to reception, I almost run into Patricia, who’s scurrying toward me at lightning pace.
“Rosey,” she says. “I heard you’re tight with the owners’ friends.”
Wow. Move over wildfire and make room for the speed of sound. That was quick.
“Oh, not at all. I ran into them last night at Grizzly’s—the bar in town. I gave them some change for the pool table.” Both these things are true.
“Grizzly’s?” she asks. “Do you go there a lot?”
“No, it’s just kinda the thing to do after a storm. Everyone was going, and I’ve become friendly with the girl from the vet’s office. She suggested it.” I’m talking too fast, giving her too much explanation.
“Alright,” she says, eyeing me suspiciously. “That’s cool.”
“Didn’t expect to see them up here,” I say. “Are you going to this all-staff town hall meeting?” I ask, trying to distract her.
“Of course I am,” she says, and nods back in the direction she came from. We both head off together, and I can’t help wondering if Patricia was just coming to find me to ask about my connection to Byron’s friends. “Wouldn’t miss it,” she says. “I hear they’re updating the move-in date for staff housing. The storm damage hasn’t set them back as much as expected. I bet you’re up here by the end of the week.”
I should be excited about getting a space of my own—a place that’s close to work that will provide an instant friend network. But there’s one thing the staff accommodation won’t have.
Byron.
I’ll miss him. Yeah, the sex is great. Scratch that—the sex is spectacular. But I’ve never felt so open with someone. So free. It feels like I can’t help but show him my entire soul, and he doesn’t want to look away. It’s a kind of intimacy I’ve never experienced before, and it’s going to be difficult to say goodbye. For me, at least.
I’ll get to see glimpses of him from time to time when I’m on shift. But I won’t be able to trail my fingers all over his body. I won’t be able to watch his ass as he cooks ragu.