The next day,Mrs. Greer found a new way to get me out of her office. She ordered me to shadow the housekeeping supervisor and take notes on the efficiency with which the rooms were cleaned. So basically, most of my day consisted of following people around and trying to stay out of their way.
On the plus side, I met some truly nice women who were spectacular at their jobs. Every hospitality position that I thought I knew was different in a resort like this, and I did learn a lot. But it wasn’t exactly a stimulating day. But at least I hadn’t been trapped in a sauna with a rival intern—especially one who had looked utterly amazing with just a towel wrapped around his waist. Who knew chefs had abs like that? I sure as hell hadn’t. Still, I wouldn’t be going in the sauna again. Not withoutthe fire department standing outside, ready to rescue me.
In the late afternoon, I took a break and headed to that beautiful little solarium Landon had shown me. To my disappointment, he wasn’t there, but it was still calming to sit on the bench—the repurposed chairlift seat—and look out over the glistening snow. Since I actually had a few bars on my phone, I called Mia, my employee and, well, hopefully my friend.
While the call connected, I thought about the conversation with Asher yesterday in the sauna. Every part of it had been uncomfortable, but one of the things that bothered me most was how utterly convinced he was that I was a total bitch. It made me think about the day I’d caught Mia and her boyfriend Diego fooling around in the café. I’d thought Diego had been creeping on her, so I’d jumped to her defense. Which was a good thing—I’d do it again in a heartbeat—but it had been dismaying to learn later that Mia had been genuinely surprised I’d stood up for her.
Had it really been such a shock? We still had a semester left to work together. Maybe things could change. She was a good person, and I hadn’t exactly made a lot of time for friendship the last four years.
“Is The Fraser beautiful?” Mia asked after we exchanged greetings.
“Unbelievably so. The website doesn’t even begin to do it justice.”
“I thought you designed a new website for them.”
“Yes, but the manager here isn’t exactly open to suggestions.”
“That sucks.” Mia’s voice was sympathetic. Then there was a pause. “Um, what’s going on with that guy who drove you up there? The one you said was so grumpy. He’s a student, right?”
“Yes, why?”
Mia hesitated. “Um, my friends think they might know him. Do you know his last name?”
I told her, wondering why she was asking. Apparently, she wasn’t done yet.
“Is he good-looking in person? He was in that photo you sent.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Which wasn’t true. Iknewso. But he was still an ass. “Speaking of men, how’s Diego doing?”
“He’s good.” She sounded a little awkward. “I’m really sorry about that day in the café.”
“Don’t be. It was a misunderstanding. Are you going to spend Christmas with him?”
“Yes, we... I mean, he and I have plans.”
“That’s great. I’m glad it’s going well.”
She did sound happy, but also a little hesitant about something. Maybe she was still embarrassed that I’d caught them engaging in a bit of naughty role-play.
I was still thinking about it at the end of a long day when I headed back to the hideaway. When I’d first metMia, she’d seemed so serious about her studies and getting ahead in life. But then it was like she’d turned boy-crazy. I wanted to find love someday, but I didn’t quite get it. College was a time to learn all you could and set yourself up for a good life. I was very aware of how lucky I was to get into Langley, and I wasn’t going to waste the chance.
Once the guys returned from the restaurant, we all sat around the fireplace in the dim light, Asher and I nowhere near each other, of course. There was no beer tonight—just two bottles of wine that Asher had brought. I didn’t know what kind it was, but it was a deep burgundy red, with a rich, complex flavor that tasted expensive and absolutely delicious. Probably French. Maybe Italian. Whatever it was, it was the best wine I’d ever had.
When I set my glass down, Kai—who was sitting next to me—grabbed a bottle and filled it right back up. It was so good that I threw caution to the wind and gulped down half of it, much to Kai’s amusement.
“Don’t hold back, baby.”
I glared at him but couldn’t quite muster up much indignation. “Don’t call me baby.”
He pretended to pout, but his blue eyes were vivid and sparkling, even in the low light. “So I can’t call you baby girl, and I can’t call you baby. What’s left—just girl?”
“Or,” I suggested, “my name.”
“Or basically any other word in the English language,” Landon added from my other side, and I shot him a grateful look.
There was something primal and exciting about being on a couch between two hot-as-hell men. I was nestled between their warm bodies, covered in a blanket, the fire crackling in front of us. Every time one of them shifted, I felt the movement. Every time Kai’s arm brushed against mine or Landon’s thigh pressed closer, I was acutely aware of it.
Asher sat in his usual armchair off to the side. I kept finding my gaze drifting toward him, remembering how he’d looked yesterday in nothing but that towel. The hard planes of his chest. The way the muscles in his arms had flexed when he’d tried the door.
