As I readied the conference room with refreshments for the meeting and tidied up the living room, I racked my brain for reasons Everest could be inDenver.
“What’s in Denver, Everest?” I murmured to myself, watching the sky outside the inn’s bay windows darken to a glitteryperiwinkle.
I felt there was something I was forgetting, but what wasit?
9
At 7:45 p.m.,the men started trickling into the inn. First, Nelson arrived. He embraced his wife as though he hadn’t seen her in days instead of hours. I couldn’t help but stare at them, remembering a time when my parents would stand that way, cheek to cheek, heart to heart, whispering to each other. Because I didn’t want to pry, I averted my gaze, rearranging the green apples in the wooden bowl I’d added on the corner of the belldesk.
I heard Nelson ask Isobel if she wasn’t too tired. From the corner of my eye, I caught her shaking her head no. After kissing her on the forehead, Nelson moved toward me in those fluid, long strides of his. Like his son, he was long-limbed, but where August’s legs and arms teemed with muscle, Nelson was on the slenderside.
He touched my shoulder, making the apple I was trying to place on top of my artful pyramid skiddown.
He caught the fruit before it rolled off the counter and popped it back on top. “How are you holding up,Ness?”
“Great. Thanks to Isobel and Mrs.Rogers.”
Isobel smiled at me. “By the way, I asked Skylar to man the bell desk after I go home. She said it shouldn’t be a problem and that her wife could cover the dining area. I hope that’s all right withyou.”
“It’s more than all right.” I hadn’t even thought about finding a night manager. I would hunt Skylar down after the meeting to ask how long she could cover the night shift—hopefully, until my uncle felt “better.” Would he ever feel better,though?
The revolving door spun again, carrying in the crisp, blue scent of evening and the musky smell of male bodies. Liam was among those arriving males. At the sight of him, my hearing dimmed to a faint buzzing. He walked straight to me. After greeting Nelson, Liam threaded his fingers through mine and pulled me away from August’sfather.
How was the rest of your day?he whispered inside myhead.
I lifted my gaze to his. “Never-ending. Andyours?”
What I really wanted to know was what Aidan hadsaid.
I heard Lucas gave you a historylesson.
“He did.” Had Lucas also told Liam how the lessonended?
Passing a couple guests on their way to dinner, we turned toward the staircase that led down to the conference room. He didn’t let go of my hand until we reached the head of the oval table. As he took his seat, he tipped his head at the chair next tohis.
“Maybe an elder should sit here, Liam.” Or someone higher up on the packpyramid.
His dark eyes held mine.Your place is next to menow.
Worrying my lip, I slid into the seat. Dating the Alpha meant something; sitting next to him meant somethingmore.
As wheels rolled over the hardwood floor and jeans whispered against the smooth leather seats, I drummed my fingers on the tabletop, studying the row of shiny glasses I’d aligned in the center of thetable.
The chair next to mine stayed vacant for so long that I began to think no one would sit next to me. But Matt took pity and dropped into the seat. I exhaled a quietbreath.
A knot formed in my abdomen.Stress . . .I was feeling stressed. And nervous. Or wasit—
I lifted my eyes to the doorway just as August strode into the room. He took a seat next to his father and scanned the room, his gaze hopping right overme.
My heart pinched from that tiny action. What had Liam said to him? I lowered my gaze back to the row of glasses, finding solace in the quiet study of inanimateobjects.
“Where’s Jeb?” Liamasked.
I blinked up at him, then whisked my gaze around the table. My uncle was the only personmissing.
“Hasn’t left his bedroom all day,” Lucassaid.
“He needs to be here,” Liam said. “Lucas,Matt.”
