He leans across the desk a little and whispers, “It’s the only room with a claw-foot bathtub.”
I don’t know how he knows that a bathtub is my weak spot, or whether it was a lucky guess, but I’m a total sucker for a bubble bath. It’s just about my favorite thing, because my crappy apartment only has a tiny shower stall. Whenever I get thechance, I love to indulge in a good long soak with my favorite book.
With a nod, I accept the key he hands me. “Thank you. That will be a welcome treat after my snowshoe tonight.”
“Snowshoe?” Ryder laughs. “Oh no. Not this evening.” He shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest.
I try not to stare at his bare forearms, exposed from his rolled-up flannel sleeves, especially because he’s telling me no. That’s not an option.
“Oh, yes. In order to properly write my article, I have a few activities that I plan to take part in while I’m here, including the evening snowshoe around the grounds.” I pull out the printed list, as if he cares about my assignment, and put it on the counter.
“Well, it’s not going to happen tonight,” Ryder says as his lips twitch up into a grin that I would find incredibly sexy if I wasn’t so aggravated by him telling me no. “Didn’t you notice those storm clouds rolling in? We’re in for a storm tonight. You’re not going anywhere.”
CHAPTER TWO
Chloe
Ihave to get out snowshoeing tonight. It’s not an option to skip it for the article, and if I don’t do it right away, I’ll have to do it tomorrow night instead of enjoying a relaxing evening to myself, working on my own writing.
Yes, I know that it’s probably not entirely ethical to use my free stay at the lodge to relax and work on my personal writing projects. And yes, Lisa would probably have something to say about it, too. But I need this. I’ve done nothing but hustle with any writing gig I can get just to pay my ridiculously high rent for my tiny apartment and still have enough left over for some macaroni and cheese for dinner.
No one gets hurt if I take one night off to enjoy myself and do something that fills my cup.
But only if I can get this assignment done.
“I don’t think you understand.” I use my most authoritative voice. “I will be doing the snowshoe activity tonight.” I pointto the piece of paper I’ve placed on the counter. “It’s on the itinerary.”
I hate that my whole body reacts to the way Ryder smirks and shakes his head. “No,” he says simply. “You’re not. If you got out there before the storm, you’re going to lose your way and then I’m going to have to save you.”
Why is it that the thought of this big burly mountain mansavingme from anything excites me?This is not one of your romance novels, Chloe,I reprimand myself while making a mental note to write in such a scenario in my next draft.
“And besides,” Ryder adds before I can protest again, “I’m the one in charge of the excursions, and if I say no, it’s a no.”
I open my mouth to protest. His self-assured cockiness is grating on me and only spurring me on to do the thing he’s standing here prohibiting me from doing. But before I can say anything more, he softens his gaze.
“Look, Miss Sullivan.”
“Chloe.”
“Chloe.” He nods. “I would take you out there myself if I could. But keeping guests safe here at WWW is our first priority.”
“WWW?”
His lips quirk up into that sexy grin again. “Wolf’s Wild Wilderness Lodge.”
He winks, and I’m done for. It’s infuriating that he has this kind of effect on me, especially considering he’s quite obviously the type of man who knows exactly what he does to women. Still, I find that I’m out of arguments. At least for now.
“Okay.” I slide the key over the counter and palm it.
“Okay?”
I nod. “Okay. You said no snowshoeing. So…” I shrug. “No snowshoeing.” I take my time turning around. “Which way to my room then?”
“Right.”
He clears his throat, and I try not to laugh because he obviously wasn’t expecting me to give in so easily. His big, muscly arm appears next to my face as he points across the foyer.
“It’s just up the stairs there and to the right.”
