“Thank you.” I smile sheepishly. Oh, to have Henry making my coffee for me every morning. “So, you have a brother?” I ask cautiously, taking a sip.

“Yeah. An older one.”

“I always wished I had a sibling.” Mama had to have an emergency hysterectomy after I was born, due to complications. She blames that for her excessive weight gain.

“You can have mine. He’s a cocksucker. He wants to run Wolf Hotels. Thinks he can do a better job.” Henry sighs as he stands, reaching for his red-and-black lumberjack coat.

“Must be a real problem, when you have to fight over an international hotel chain and a gold mine.” I let some of my sarcasm slip out, even though I’ve been taught with years of scolding to keep it in. Sarcasm is “rude.”

“You have a bad habit of listening in on things you’re not supposed to,” Henry murmurs, only his eyes are twinkling with mischief as he peers down at me, his gaze raking over my chest. I’m getting the impression that he’s a breast man, for the amount of attention he gives to mine.

His soft reprimand reminds me of the conversation he had with Belinda. It must remind him, too, because the mischief falls off. “There are people, including my own family, who want this hotel to fail. They want me to fail.”

He pulls on his jacket, hiding that intoxicating upper body from my view. “The plane needs to leave in ten. I’m heading out.”

“Not yet.” I rush to his bedroom, eying the rumpled sheets—my daily mental dose of Henry’s naked body tangled in them hitting me, making me flush. But I push past that and dig through his dresser drawer. He’s waiting for me, mild curiosity making his face softer.

I hold out the pair of black socks, to replace the mismatched blue and brown ones he pulled onto his feet. “I’m sure the bears don’t care about your fashion statement, but I figured you might.”

He treats me to a sheepish grin—such a rare sight on his beautiful face—before swapping out his socks and lacing up his hiking boots. There’s something decidedly heartwarming about being able to do little personal things like this for him. Things that a girlfriend or wife might do.

“I’ll see you later, Abbi.” He winks. “Stay out of trouble.”

“So no more massages?” It slips out before I can help myself, and I bite my lip nervously, hoping I haven’t angered him with the reminder.

“Only from Lorraine,” he throws over his shoulder on his way out.

“You know my roommate?”

“Nope.” He’s gone, out the door, leaving me baffled.

~.~.~.~

Date: May 9th

Abigail,

How are you? Your mom told me that you were in Alaska? That must be something. I never thought you’d be so adventurous! Same ol’, same ol’ around here. Well, except for the whole Jed thing, of course. The whole town’s still reeling over that. I can’t believe he had the nerve to bring Cammie to Greenbank.  Your mom said that you’re devastated but staying strong. We’re all glad to hear that. Drop me a line when you get a chance.

Lucy

 

I stare at the e-mail as I sip on my coffee, stewing in anger over Mama telling people that I’m devastated. Whether it’s the truth or not is beside the point. Now Jed and Cammie and everyone will think I’m sitting in a corner up here, crying my eyes out. Back when it happened, I didn’t care. I wanted people to think that, to feel sorry for me. But now it makes me sound weak and pathetic.

I take in the sunny morning as I consider how I should respond. I haven’t talked to Lucy in months. She’s a friend of ours from school growing up. She works at the feed store in town, having never left the town borders after high school graduation. Truth be told, she never did well enough in school to even consider applying to college. Punching buttons into a cash register and hoisting grain bags is more her speed.

She’s nice enough, but she’s a gossip, and I know that whatever I tell her now will spread through town like wildfire.

I smile. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

Hey Lucy,

Great to hear from you! I’m having an amazing time in Alaska. It’s beautiful and peaceful. I could live up here forever. The hotel is pure luxury, and I’ve made some great friends. I’m actually working as the personal assistant to Mr. Wolf, himself. I’m pretty sure he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on.☺ Have you ever heard of him?

 

I do a quick Google search to find a link with an especially flattering media picture of Henry—his designer suit well cut over his powerful upper body, his smile charming—and include it in the body of the email, followed by an airy “talk to you later,” sign-off.

I grin. There. Now it’s time to work.

Chapter Seventeen

Come to Lux right now.

I stare at the text for five long seconds, trying to decipher the tone, before tapping out:

On my way.

I read his text for the umpteenth time as I speed walk through the main lodge, trying not to bump or knock anyone over in my rush. Is he angry with me? Is there something wrong? Did I screw up with the reservation?

With a last glance into a mirror outside the hotel’s best restaurant, smoothing my uniform and checking my braid, I step inside.

The tall, handsome man in an all-black suit behind the reservations desk flashes me a polite smile. “Yes?” His voice is as melodic as it was on the phone and I immediately sigh, because I know he’s an ally.

“Rich! It’s me, Abbi. Mr. Wolf’s assistant. He asked that I meet him here.”

“Oh, right,” he murmurs absently, doing a full once-over of me. “I didn’t expect you to be so...”

I wait for it. So plain? So average? So country?

Rich meets my glare and finishes with, “Wide-eyed innocent. Mr. Wolf is at table twenty-two. Allow Mary to lead you there.” He gestures to the petite brunette to his right, who’s waiting patiently for me in her matching all-black uniform, only she wears a skirt much like mine.

“Thanks, Rich. I’ll talk to you later.”

He smirks, dropping his voice to add, “Oh, I’m sure you will. I’ll be kissing lots of ass for you and the boss this summer.”

It takes me a minute to figure out what he means and by that point, I’m halfway through the packed—though oddly calm—dining room, trailing my guide and her perfect round butt, highlighted by the skirt. I wonder what my butt looks like in this thing.

I haven’t spent much time investigating all that the hotel has to offer, my time divided mainly between the staff village, Henry’s place, and the hotel rooms I prepared before I was moved. But thanks to all the reading I did on the eve of becoming Henry’s assistant, I learned that there are three dining areas—Haven, a cozy breakfast café on the first floor that serves gourmet omelets and French-style pastries; Rawley’s, a more relaxed though still upscale pub, where you can enjoy microbrewery pints from all over the world as well as hundred-year-old malt scotches while sitting in leather wing chairs and gazing over the mounted works of a taxidermy; and this place. Lux, fine dining at its best, with highly skilled servers and sleek, sophisticated décor. I can hardly focus on the rich silk table linens and million-dollar view, though, as I make my way over toward the table in the far corner. Henry’s steely blue gaze is already locked on me, robbing me of my breath.

Lord, that man’s gaze... Does he practice that in the mirror?

“He’s right over there.” Mary waves a graceful hand.

“Right. Thanks,” I mumble, leaving her to weave around other dining guests. His attention has shifted back to his investors, his posture casual, his expression calm. He’s made no gesture toward me, no indication that I should interrupt him. I don’t know what to do, but I can’t just stand here, staring at him.