“Oh, boy.” My meter of the things I couldn’t or didn’t want to tell him was reaching max capacity.
“I’ve been talking to Holden,” she said, blindsiding me with that one.
I blinked. “About?”
“Holden wants to hire someone to oversee the lodge project in-house. He told me the salary—double what I make. And not just this project, but he has bigger plans, possibly additional ski resort projects spreading out West. So it’d be a long-term position.” She lowered her voice as if there were spies everywhere. Nope. Just me.
I fell back against the cushion of the seat. “You’re serious?”
“Completely.”
“Has he already offered you the job?”
“Informally. He’s given me a few days to think about it. But I feel guilty. Archer’s been good to me, even if Caleb drives me insane. You don’t know, but when Archer promoted from within for Caleb’s job, the decision came down to me or him. I sometimes wonder if Archer regrets choosing Caleb. I never thought I’d leave Bellamy so soon, but I don’t know what to do.”
I stared into my glass, the world tilting slightly, my head spinning out of control. “This is a mess.”
“I know. But thank you for listening. I needed to tell someone. What do you think?”
“One thing I know for sure, Archer totally respects you.” I met her with complete honesty. “If you go, it’ll hit him hard.”
We spoke until our drinks emptied, and I listened through her list of pros and cons. In the end, she still hadn’t decided what to do, but thanked me for listening.
Back home, filled with too many secrets, too many people walking tightropes, the stress of it all sent me racing for the bathroom just in time before I was sick.
When I finally fell into bed, exhausted, Goldie pressed close for emotional support.
I stood at the intersection of truth and consequence—and eventually, I’d have to choose which way to turn. But not tonight. Right now I needed rest. Tomorrow I’d talk to Archer and reveal all. I’d find some way for this not to ruin what we’ve built.
PRESSURE AND PULSE
Archer
Matt didn’tpity me in the slightest, rattling off meetings I was supposed to take before the new year. He’d have me working nonstop if I didn’t monitor my calendar once in a while.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “We have to cut this down. I can’t be away from—” I caught myself before sayingPenny. “I just want to take some time off for the holidays. Is that a crime?”
“No, sir.” He shuffled through dates like a Vegas dealer. “Apart from meetings already noted, you also have a site walk in Portland, a budget review in Chicago, a hotel opening in Dubai, and the Lupine Resort wants you in the Bahamas before their grand opening to bless the cabana layouts.”
“Apparently, cabanas don’t provide shade without my blessing.” I rolled my eyes and took the last swallow of espresso. My pulse ticked faster with every sip, but I needed the boost. “Cluster the travel. A week tops, nonstop, one day in each city.”
“That’s rough on you, sir—especially the recovery time.”
“I’ll deal with it.” I coughed, tugged my tie loose. The office suddenly felt twenty degrees warmer. “Turn the heat down a notch, would you?”
Matt hovered, making notes. “I’ll pencil out a schedule and see what I can come up with.”
“Good.” I dropped into my chair, muscles heavier than they should’ve been. Probably sore after such an amazing weekend with Penny. I kept my cocky grin contained. She was the only thought keeping me human amid the spreadsheets on my desk. “Actually, make the Bahamas trip a few days of vacation and tag itpersonal. I’ll bring… a friend.”
Matt’s eyebrows shot up. “A good friend?”
“A ‘date-who-shall-be-named-later’ type of friend.”
He grinned. “Do I get to know who?”
“Presently? No.” I forced a breath that didn’t quite reach my ribs.
“Bahamas: three days with Date TBD.” He typed it in bold, underlined it, and left. “I’ll report back with the revised plan.”
