Finding my voice, I said, “No, it’s not at all. It’s just that I know that resort. We stayed there when I was young and,” I swallowed back the pain of the memory, “my mother loved it there.”
So much so that my father had expanded the hotel arm of his business based on that resort. Starting in upstate New York, he had slowly bought out private owners and added each to his collection. The Haven was the one he really wanted, but my mother had made him swear not to touch it. She’d loved it too much. The only redeeming quality of my father was that he loved my mother. Had never raised a hand to her, only me, and that along with his greed had driven her into a depression she couldn’t overcome.
“Really?” Tori’s voice rose an octave. “When did you stay there?”
“I don’t know,” I answered, rubbing my temple to take the image of my mother’s smile from my mind. “I think I was maybe seven.”
She folded her legs under her, and the memory of the lobby flickered in my mind. My parents checking in while Liv and I snuck into the sitting area with the massive stone fireplace. A little girl sprawled out on the rug in front of the fire, coloring. Her black pigtails had bounced when she’d lifted her navy eyes to me and smiled, handing me a crayon. Right before my father’s hand had dug into my shoulder and he’d dragged me back to the check-in counter.
Stunned, I stared at Tori. Our paths had crossed long before now, and I couldn’t help but think our second meeting had been a destined one.
“Then I would have been four. I wonder if I saw you.” She took another bite of her pizza. “How cool would that have been? Like we were meant to be.” Her smile sent those blue irises sparkling.
“Maybe you did,” I said, resting back on the couch and motioning for her to sit back with me. She scooted closer and laid against me. My fingers played in her hair as I contemplated her words.
The movie continued to play, and I enjoyed the quiet of having her in my arms. It didn’t last. She was a demanding boss, and as soon as I finished my beer, we were back to unpacking, a reprieve from questions that dug too far. Given that my father owned two rival lodges further south of Piedmont, the answers to those questions had me even more worried.
Two weeks passed and I was in so deep, I didn’t know if I’d ever resurface. Tori scooped the pile of licensing books they’d handed out in class, and I picked up my bag, ready to spend the evening decompressing with her.
“Gabe, I’d like to speak with you before you head out,” our trainer, Beth said.
I glanced at Tori, and she mouthed, “I’ll meet you at the car.”
I’d taken to driving her the last week, so desperate to see her that even the few minutes in the car refueled me. Gracing me with a smile, she adjusted her books and headed out of the room, chatting with another trainee.
“I have good news,” Beth told me when I approached her. “On Monday, you’ll report to your new team. Sixth floor. Craig, your manager, will meet you at the guard station to take you up. You remember Craig, right?”
“Sure, from the interview.”
“Great. It was nice to meet you, Gabe. Reach out if you need anything, and good luck.”
It should have been good news. The next step in acquiring the skills I was honing by further entrenching myself in this business. But it meant not seeing Tori all day. She’d become a fixture in my daily routine. As I exited the building, I saw her across the parking lot. A breeze played in her ebony hair, andshe lifted her face and laughed. She was so beautiful it left me speechless.
Taking the books from her, I gave her a coy grin. “I guess I have competition now?”
“Is there competition for you, Gabe?” she said, blue eyes that reflected the sky above questioning me.
“Not if this is what I’m competing against,” I said, lifting the books. But studying for her licenses would encompass most of her time.
I opened the door for her, and she sat in the seat, looking up at me and saying, “You can help me study. That means even more time together, right?”
My grin turned to a full smile. “Definitely, but don’t think I’m going easy on you. Those exams are difficult, and I’ll be the drill sergeant to make sure you pass.”
Brow quirking, she replied, “Is that a threat?”
“Sure is.” I closed her door, shaking my head as I made my way to the other side of the car. “And since my plans were to make dinner for you tonight, you can start reading while I cook,” I said, buckling in.
“That’s no fun.”
“It’ll be fun for me.”
She gave me an attempt at a lethal glare that made me chuckle. “That’s because you already have your licenses.”
“Exactly.” I gave her a wink and pulled out of the spot. “They’re sending me onto the floor on Monday. Sixth floor, to be precise.”
I glanced over to gauge her reaction. We’d both known it was coming. She was here for a trader position, to get her feet wet before she moved to a more specialized department, but I’d come for one of the coveted roles as an analyst. And given my prior experience in the role, I didn’t have to start at the bottom this time.
Her smile dipped, and she played with her fingers. “I guess that means I’ll need to find a new lunch partner.”
