Quinn nodded, unfazed and motioned for them to follow him into the lobby. He pushed open the heavy, ornate wooden door with aged brass handles, and the grandeur of the entryway took Emma's breath away.
Wooden beams stretched across the vaulted ceiling and a rustic chandelier cast soft golden light across the polished stone floor. To her left, a grand staircase with a hand-carved wooden balustrade spiralled upward.
In a corner, a grand stone fireplace rose from floor to ceiling. Plush velvet sofas in deep greens sat around a refurbished farmhouse coffee table atop inset herringbone wood flooring.
Quinn walked to the left toward a check-in desk constructed of repurposed barn wood juxtaposed with elegant gold leaf embossing on its front panel. Ornate brass lamps illuminated the back wall where there were two short rows of hooks, some holding tagged keys awaiting their guests.
“Sir, what name would I put in for the reservation?” Quinn asked.
“Bowen,” Tyler answered, stepping up to the counter.
A petite woman with a Swedish flag on her nametag set a basket on the worn wood. Emma’s curiosity got the better of her, and she stepped up to look inside. Glistening glass bottles of artisanal shampoos and conditioners were arranged on one side, their labels scripted in elegant gold lettering. Soft pastel soaps embossed with intricate designs lay next to petite vials of essential oils. A silk ribbon tied the plush hand towel that lay atop two aluminum toothbrushes with Wintermint toothpaste, completing the ensemble.
She breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the basket from the countertop.
“Thank you.” Tyler took the key from Quinn and turned, nodding to the staircase. “All the way to the top.”
Emma's breathing quickened as they ascended the staircase, and for once in her life, she hoped another human being would assume it was because she was out of shape. Tyler didn’t say anything as they reached the top. He only turned to the right to proceed down the hall.
“This place is gorgeous,” she murmured. The hall leading to their rooftop suite was lined with exquisite photographs of the Rockies, lit by singular goosehead lamps.
Tyler stopped in front of a carved wooden door and inserted the key into the lock. “This is it, I think.”
The lock clicked, and they walked through the doorway. For a moment, Emma couldn’t speak. She stood next to Tyler and stared slack-jawed as the door closed behind them.
The design was unabashedly modern—clean lines, minimalistic decor, and a monochromatic palette of greys and whites, broken only by the occasional accents of brushed steel and gold.
A plush dove-grey sectional sofa framed a low-profile coffee table, its polished surface glinting in the light of a sleek chrome floor lamp. But what truly took her breath away were the floor-to-ceiling back windows. Through them, the majestic Rocky Mountains, bathed in silvery moonlight, seemed to butt up against the rooftop patio.
“Holy shit,” Tyler whispered.
“Exactly.”
Tyler walked toward the kitchen counter. "Looks like Troy didn't hold back.” Tyler motioned at a pristine white dessert plate filled with delicate chocolate truffles, ripe strawberries, and flaky pastries nestled among elegant silverware. A bottle of sparkling cider chilled in a bucket, dew glistening on its glass surface.
“Huh.” Tyler ran a finger over the label.
“What?”
“Troy hardly ever remembers I don’t drink.”
Emma set the basket on the counter, her heart hammering in her chest. What did they do now?
“I need to see the bathroom,” Tyler announced, and Emma laughed.
"I have to show Vaughn this place. He’s obsessed. Do you mind if I give him a quick tour?" Tyler raised an eyebrow. “If you don’t want—”
“No, go for it.” He stalked to the bedroom. What the hell was that all about? Emma thought of Tyler walking into the kitchen when Vaughn had been dancing with her.
“Do you not like Vaughn?” She called after him.
“He’s fine.” Tyler called from the bedroom.
Emma grinned to herself and pulled out her phone, opening her video messaging app. As soon as she started recording, Vaughn’s profile image appeared. He was watching live.
“Vaughn, make sure you’re sitting down. This place is . . .” She shook her head and hit the button to turn her camera, walking through the living area and zooming in first on the view out the back then on the plate of desserts.
Vaughn sent a quick reaction with a shaking camera and unintelligible screaming.
