“I’ll buy you breakfast.”
“The least you can do. Espresso, dark. And a dozen Popelini cream puffs from the patisserie.”
“Done. Are you going to see Penny again?”
I couldn’t help the sly grin sliding across my face. “I wouldn’t bet against it. I need a shower.”
I left him chuckling and muttering something about putting his winnings into a college fund for Everett.
Under the spray of warm Steele Valley water, my skin, my heart, everything inside of me stung, raw and undone—because the woman I wasn’t supposed to touch had just ruined every boundary I’d built, no matter if I fired her or reinstated her.
Penny. My sweet, sweet Penny.
My heart fluttered. A murmur? Something finally happening my doctor had warned me about?
Then it hit. Fuck, I was in so deep. It’d been a long time since I’d fallen for anyone. I floundered, like I’d been thrown into the middle of the lake and had to figure out how to swim again.
I thought of her and only her. No ex came haunting, for once. Just Penny. Me. A future together?
The only worry now was that in less than an hour I’d have to face her as my employee again. In front of everyone, I’d struggle to keep my hands to myself and pretend nothing happened between us—wheneverythingdid. No one could know how I longed to fire her again for another taste of her.
PLANS AND PROMISES
Penny
Skiing was never my thing,especially after my high school friend Nancy took a nasty spill on these slopes our sophomore year. I always admired the old lodge, though—the stone-and-cedar building with the cathedral-style windows perched high on one of the tallest peaks around Steele Valley. Pristine and pretty in the winter, its spring and summer snowmelt fed right into Steele Lake, glimmering halfway down the mountain like a mirror to the sky.
Even after all these years, the exterior of the lodge still took my breath away.
A gorgeous lodge despite its age, and if anyone had asked me, I’d have said Holden could save a fortune with a light restoration instead of a complete rebuild. Pressure-washing the stone would make the natural colors pop. He could simply refinish the cedar siding, replace the copper roofline, freshen up the landscaping, and call it a day.
Thiswas Steele Valley, though, where luxury was currency. I knew that well, growing up in my mom’s dress shop on Main Street, watching her fret over paint colors, interior and exterior, and window displays to keep the wealthier clients coming backyear after year. In this town, you didn’t stay relevant by being merely good enough.
Since the name of the game was for Archer and the Bellamy Brothers to win Holden West’s contract—and a multi-million-dollar one at that—I kept my simple ideas to myself.
Snow crunched beneath our boots as we all filed out of the company shuttle bus. We stood outside the entrance of the lodge, and Archer greeted us, his breath misting in the cold. The temperature had dropped since yesterday, necessitating bundled layers of wool and down, knit caps pulled low, and scarves wrapped tight.
I stole a glance up and down Archer. His coat was sleek gray wool, his gloves leather, his jaw shadowed like he didn’t have time to shave this morning. I loved knowing exactly why; it was our little secret.
Last night he was… everything. Today, he was my boss. He’d made that crystal clear. I stood near enough that his aftershave wafted to me on the chilly breeze, and I ached for him—like an echo of last night’s warmth had followed me here, trapped under my skin. When he’d beenjust Archerin my arms, on top of me, and inside of me.
Here stoodMr. Bellamy,CEO. Untouchable. How could I move on and pretend last night was enough? One time wasnotenough. I wanted to forget that I worked for him. I wanted to remember only how it felt when there were no barriers between us.
Archer’s voice snapped me back. “Everyone, this is Holden West.”
Holden stepped forward in red and black flannel, tall and rugged with darker features compared to Archer. In that easy way of a cocky athlete, he carried himself with a smile that could melt a glacier, or the hearts of women everywhere.
“Some of you might know my family’s name from West Games,” he started. “But this property means something personal. I used to be a professional snowboarder, Olympic bound, before an injury took me out of the game. Now, I want to build a resort and inspire others to enjoy the sport.” His grin widened. “I’m thrilled to have the Bellamy team here. Bring me ideas that are fresh, bold, and impossible to forget, like me.” We all laughed.
He launched into a brief history of the lodge, naming off celebrities and politicians who had stayed there, including a few rumored scandals.
“Now—” he slapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Let me tell you my vision for this place.” He pivoted, gesturing to the exterior.
“I want this to rival Aspen, Vail, Banff. More suites, panoramic glass, a spa wing, a rooftop bar. Think old world meets new in mountain luxury with a heartbeat. We’ll also expand vertically—five stories, maybe ten, and?—”
“Vertically?” Archer interrupted, a frown on his face, tone measured but tight. “Holden, that’s a completely different project. If you build up, we’re not talking cosmetic renovations—we’re talking new structural systems. We’d need to stress-test the soil, bring in geotechnical engineers, check the rock base. You’ll have to bolster the foundation and reconfigure the entire load-bearing frame. That’s millions in additional cost, easily.”
I cleared my throat and raised my hand. Archer and Holden looked at me. “Excuse me. Do we have an idea of your budget yet?”
