Chapter 1
Rachel
The woman behind the counter at the Silver Pines Lodge was apologetic but firm.
“I’m so sorry, Ms. Williams. Your reservation was marked as a late arrival, and when you didn’t check in by six…”
“But I pre-booked the room.” I kept my voice level even as exhaustion rolled through me.
“I completely understand, but we thought you were a no-show. And when you didn’t call to inform us you’d be late, we had to give the room away to the next paying customer,” the hotel clerk drawled in her softest Southern voice. I could practically hear the silentbless your heartshe was throwing my way.
Scanning the woman in front of me, I saw that her name tag said Shelly.
And because I had Southern roots myself, even if I typically tried to hide them, I countered inmysweetest Texas drawl, “But, Shelly, it’sonlyseven p.m. and I had a credit card holding my reservation.”
She continued as if I hadn’t said a word, “And there’s been a bit of a panic over lodging up here on the mountain. You know, because of the storm damage, so we had to release your reservation…”
“Shelly, hon, I understand. Ireallydo. You must have such a tough job. But can we talk about the fairness of it all? Ididbook the room before whoever you gave it to. And it’sawfullyunfortunate, but do you think I should be the one to suffer the consequences here?”
Then, sounding almost apologetic, I quietly added, “Isn’t there some way we can fix this amongst ourselves? Maybe you have customers in two single units who wouldn’t mind doubling up for a premium discount on their nightly rental. Hm? Just thinking outside the box for you.”
Shelly’s bright smile slipped a little, but she cheerfully chirped back. “Ma’am, I wish I could help, and I’ll pass on your suggestion to the owner for the future, but tonight we simply don’t have any available rooms. The roofing crews came in yesterday, and with the hail damage repairs, thewholemountain is booked up. If we’d known you were still planning to arrive, we would have held your room. Next time, you might consider calling if you’ll be late. It’s written clearly in our policies that…”
I sighed. There was no way I was going to talk sweet Shelly here into kicking the roofing contractors out of my room.
Men like that were considered heroes, especially during natural disasters like the one that had happened here.
I’d seen the damage myself as I drove into town. There were dozens of houses that looked like they’d been pelted with golf balls. The insurance claims were going to keep me busy for days.
“There has to be something,” I pulled out my phone, already scrolling through listings. “Another hotel? A bed-and-breakfast?”
“Everything in town is booked solid.” Shelly leaned forward conspiratorially. “But…”
“But what?” I glanced up, curious. The hotel clerk had a lead for me. This is why it was best to lead with sugar instead of spice when talking to customer service people.
“There isoneoption. Clayton Armstrong. He’s a local carpenter who rents out rooms sometimes. It’s not fancy, but it’s clean and warm if you can put up with a gruff handyman type. The best part is it’s only fifty bucks a night.”
I searched his name on Airbnb and then Vrbo. Nothing came up. “I can’t find a listing under his name.”
“Oh, he doesn’t do the online thing. Strictly word of mouth, cash only.” She was already reaching for the phone. “Want me to call him?”
Cash only. No online presence. Under the table.
Everything about that arrangement made my skin itch. I’d built my entire career on documentation and paper trails. I believed in doing things the right way.
But the only Airbnb listing I could find was three hundred dollars a night, which was seventy-five over my lodging allotment.
I could drive back to Fernwood.
It was the biggest town I’d seen since leaving Tulsa a few hours earlier.
But Fernwood had been at least an hour north of here on a winding mountain road that had low-key terrified me. I didn’t want to drive it again in a rainstorm after dark.
“Is he…” I couldn’t quite figure out the words to say.
But Shelly picked up my drift. “Oh, yeah. I’ve known him for years. He fits in the good guy category. You’ve got nothing to worry about. Plus, if you stay with him, you get tolookat him. He’s a serious mountain hottie. His place isn’t the Ritz, but he can put a roof over your head for the night. You want to do it?Otherwise, I can try to find a spot for you on my cousin’s couch. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”
One night. I can handle one night.
