“When did you land on hotels then?”I ask as we head out to the four-wheeler.
We climb on and I start it up before he can answer.We ride out to the east fence in silence, spotting a few wolves as we go.I park next to the downed fence line, and we climb off.
“It was when I was eighteen.I had left Clearwater and was staying in this little rundown place while I looked for an apartment.I had never stayed in a hotel before.My family didn’t really ever take trips anywhere.Anyway, I got the idea then to open my own place, a better place than that.Turns out that I was pretty good at it,” he says with a smile as we kneel next to the fence.
“How do you pick spots to open the hotels?”I ask as I start to tie the broken fence piece with the new one.
“I have scouts and people who look at data and find the best cities to be in.Then usually, I have someone else go look for the ideal location, but I made an exception for this trip.”
“Why?”I ask him and he gives me a wry smile.
“Because I heard that one person might be a problem,” he admits, and I laugh.“But also, because I was getting bored with things in Miami.I wanted a change of pace, even if it was only going to be for a few days.”
I feel like I get kicked in the stomach when he talks about leaving, so I look away from him and finish fixing the fence.
I wipe my hands on my pants and then push to my feet.
“All done?”He asks, standing too, and I nod.
“Yeah, let’s head back to the house.”
His hands wrap around me as we settle on the four-wheeler.Goosebumps break out across my skin, just like every other time he touches me.I try to ignore my body’s reaction to his touch as we take off.
I slow down as we pass by the pack.They’re busy and ignore us as we drive by.I park the four-wheeler in the barn, and we climb off.
“Why don’t I meet you in a little bit?”I ask him as we close up the barn.“I need to clean up a bit here and then take a shower and stuff.”
“Alright, I can pick you up,” he offers, and I shake my head.
“No, it’s okay.You don’t need to drive all the way out here.Just let me know where to meet you.”
“How about the motel?Then we can just take my car around town.”
“Okay.Two hours?”I ask, and he nods.
“Perfect.See you soon.”
He leans down, brushing a quick kiss on my lips before he heads over to his car.I watch him go and then head inside and up to my room.I make it into the shower before everything hits me at once.
I think I’m in love with Fisher.
I don’t know when it happened, but it did.I don’t want this to be our last date.I don’t want him to leave Wolf Valley or me.How can I tell him that, though?
I take my time in the shower, scrubbing every inch of me and trying to get my emotions under control.I’m not sure I’m successful, but it’s time for me to get ready to leave.
Fisher is outside when I pull up to the motel, and I take a deep breath before climbing out.
“Are you hungry?”He asks me, and I pause.
“Not really.Not yet, anyway.”
“Want to come up for a moment?I just need to send a quick document over to my assistant, and then I’ll be ready to go bowling or whatever.”
“Okay.”
I follow him up to the second floor and then inside.
“I’ll just be a minute,” he says, and I nod.
