Chapter 3
Chapter Three
CAROLINA
I stretched my arms and legs, flexing my toes. My body was deliciously sore. I had a brief moment when I wondered if Oliver had stayed the night, but I sensed he was gone. I reached over to confirm, and the sheets were cold. I slowly opened my eyes.
Waking up alone shouldn't have hurt as much as it did. I expected him to leave. The memory of my father leaving was always in the back of my mind.
But my heart picked up when I spotted the note resting by my phone. I shifted to a seated position and reached for it. It was short and sweet, thanking me for an amazing night. I held it to my chest.
I wasn't a sentimental person, at least not usually, but I knew I'd keep the note. I carefully folded it and tucked it into a hidden pocket in my purse. I had Oliver's number, but I knew I wouldn't use it to try and see him again.
Last night had an enchanted quality to it, and I knew it could never be repeated. Oliver lived in Colorado, and I lived in Maine. I traveled all the time, and I had a feeling he wasn't looking for anything serious .
It was one and done but something I could treasure forever. I'd hold onto the memory when I was alone in my bedroom. I wasn't looking for anything serious. I had to keep telling myself that as I took a shower and packed my things. Then I took a few moments to enjoy the view of the mountains one more time. I snapped a picture of our rumpled bed with the view in the background. It was something to remember him by.
I didn't blame him for leaving. That was what we agreed to. I also didn't have any regret. For once, I'd done something reckless, but I'd felt safe with Oliver. He'd never hurt me.
He was worried when he realized he'd forgotten the condom. I got the impression he'd had a pregnancy scare before. I respected that he'd given me his number and not the other way around. He was respecting my privacy, yet still wanted to hear from me about a possible pregnancy.
I'd let him know when my period came. He was a good guy. A man who'd take care of his responsibilities. Or at least that was my initial impression. After what happened with my dad, I could never be too sure of anyone. It was best to keep my distance from people, to lower my expectations, and guard my heart.
I had to go home for a few days. Then I was traveling to Florida, then Texas for more conferences. My life was on the road, not in this hotel room with Oliver, no matter how much I wished things could be different. I knew neither of us would have made a move otherwise. We had one night with no expectations and no feelings.
Except my chest was full when I closed the door and rolled my suitcase down the hall and into the elevator. I wondered if I'd see Oliver again when I returned for another conference at the resort. It was a small hope, one I kept under wraps. I shouldn't want to see him again.
I couldn't let myself hope for anything more than what Oliver had already given me: one night and a memory that would last a lifetime.
In Maine, I lived with my sister, Ginny, because I was traveling most of the time. She enjoyed having a part-time roommate, and I appreciated the assistance with the mortgage. When I wasn't traveling, I worked from home to coordinate the details of the conferences I organized.
I could live anywhere, but I'd always been close to my sister. After my father left, we became a tight family of three. As the oldest, I was protective of her.
The Friday after my Colorado trip, Ginny came home from work, dropping her things by the door. "You're so lucky you can work from home."
I looked up from my laptop. "I'd love to have an assistant. I have more work than I know what to do with."
Ginny dropped into the chair next to me at our small kitchen table. "That sounds so tempting. But health insurance."
"I think if I can get a few more conferences, I can look into carrying insurance for an employee." I made enough to cover my premiums, but I understood it was scary for her to take that leap. The pattern was that these organizations might do one or a few conferences a year. If they were happy with my services, they tended to hire me for additional commitments. I'd been slowly building my reputation over the years. So far, I'd made good progress with author and bridal events.
Ginny touched my hand. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be okay."
I covered her hand with mine. "You're my little sister. I'll always worry about you."
Ginny smiled. "How was Colorado? "
"It's gorgeous. I wish I had time to go hiking or even spend some time outside."
Ginny sat across from me at the table. "You should spend a few more days at these places."
"I do spend one extra day." Because it was paid by the event coordinators. Otherwise, the cost would be on me, and I was trying to save everything I could. I always worried I wouldn't have enough. After Dad left, things were tight. And If Ginny needed me, I wanted to be able to help her.
Ginny sighed. "I feel like you're not living your life. It's all work, work, work."
"That's not true," I said before I could stop myself.
Ginny narrowed her eyes on me. " Did something happen in Colorado?"
I couldn't keep anything from my sister. "I did something a little crazy."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Did you finally take my advice and book a spa appointment?"
I frowned. "I don't think they have a spa at that resort."
Ginny tipped her head to the side, her pony tail falling over her shoulder. "Then what could you possibly have done that was crazy?"
It was pretty sad that my sister thought me going to a spa was out of the ordinary. I was careful with my money and worked hard. There was nothing wrong with that. But I could see where she was coming from. I could use more fun in my life. "I met a guy."
Ginny's gaze whipped to mine. "You have a rule against hooking up with anyone on these trips."
I winced. "This is one of the owners. I work with his brother, not him, but still… It was risky."
Ginny pulled out her phone. "Is there a picture online? Can I see what he looks like?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. It's Wilde Ski Resort. "
Ginny pulled up the website. "There's an About page." She squealed "Jackpot. Are there a bunch of brothers?"
I tried to remember back to that night at the bar. "Four, I think."
"Which one is he?" Ginny turned so I could see the screen. "I mean they're all hot."
It looked like an older couple, probably their parents, five men, and one woman. I scanned the faces until I found Oliver. "This one."
"He's a little more buttoned-up looking than the others."
I huffed out a laugh. "Because he's wearing a button-down?"
Ginny considered the picture for a few seconds. "That could be it."
"You'd be right. He's the numbers guy. He runs the financials for the business and loves spreadsheets."
"The nerdy guy. I like it." Ginny set the phone on the table between us with the Wildes facing up. "So what happened?"
"The conference was over, and I was getting my drink at the bar." I always did the same routine after an event. I winded down with a drink, then headed to my room to relax. "The group of women sitting next to me were drunk. They were talking about the Wilde brothers and how they'd do any one of them."
Ginny grinned eagerly. "You decided to take their advice?"
I shook my head. "I met his gaze across the room, and it was like we were communicating without words. The other women left, I turned my attention to the bar and my drink, and he came up to me."
Ginny rubbed her hands together. "I love this story already."
"I can't even recall what we talked about." I just remembered his scent because he stood so close to me. "Then he asked me to dance."
"He asked you ?" Ginny asked, disbelief tinging her voice .
"You know me; I don't usually entertain any invitations, but there was something about him. And it seemed innocent enough. He took my hand and led me to the dance floor."
Ginny leaned in closer. "Did you dance close?"
"Our bodies were touching. It was nice."
Ginny sighed. "So romantic."
"We admitted we were attracted to each other, and we weren't looking for anything serious. Then I invited him up to my room." My heart raced just thinking about that moment.
Ginny smacked my arm. "You go, girl. I love this side of you, taking what you want."
"It was risky. But I felt safe with him. I can't explain it."
Ginny smiled. "When you know, you know."
"It was one night. It didn't mean anything." I didn't want to get her hopes up.
She gave me a look. "Yet you're talking about it like it was something."
"Neither of us do hookups."
"You believe him? He works at a resort. He could be having affairs with women every night."
"I believed when he said he doesn't indulge in things like that. He was genuine."
"You trusted him?"
"I did."
She rested her elbows on the table. "How did you leave it?"
"He slipped out in the middle of the night—" Ginny's face fell, and I continued, "But he left a note."
A smile spread over her face. "Oh, what did the note say?"
"He thanked me for an amazing night." The fact that we hadn't used a condom, and his request that I contact him to let him know I was okay was personal. I didn't want to share that with my sister. Plus, I'd always been the responsible sister, and I was already blowing her perception of me with the one-night-stand story .
Ginny frowned. "That feels cliché."
"Nothing about Oliver felt cliché. He was honest and real." It hadn't felt like two strangers; instead, it felt intimate, like we'd known each other for a long time.
Her nose scrunched. "You like him. But you didn't ask for more."
"That wasn't the deal, and it didn't change anything for me. I'm focused on building my business." I turned my attention to my computer screen.
Ginny sighed. "You're impossible. You can have fun and be a successful businesswoman. You can have both."
"It's bad enough I hooked up with the brother of one of my business contacts. I don't want to alienate his family. Not that he wanted anything more either." Something was holding Oliver back, but I didn't know what it was. We didn't have time for a heart-to-heart, and it was none of my business. But I was still curious.
"It sounds hot and romantic. I'm proud of you. I wouldn't feel guilty at all."
"I don't, actually."
"The quintessential good girl doesn't feel bad about a one-night stand. I love it." Ginny got up and grabbed a soda from the fridge.
"It was nice."
She turned and leaned a hip against the counter. "Will you see him again the next time you're in Telluride?"
"It won't be until November. But I don't intend for anything to happen."
"Be open to it. Wouldn't it be nice if you could count on hot sex every time you go to Telluride?"
It wasn't a bad idea. I thought about our night together often, and I wouldn't mind a repeat.
That night, Ginny went out with her boyfriend and stayed overnight at his place. It only reminded me that Ginny would probably be taking that next step with her boyfriend. They'd want to move in together or even get engaged. When the time came, I wouldn't hold her back. I'd encourage her to move in with him. I just hoped she still wanted to work for me in the business. I'd built it so we'd have security.
Just because I carried wounds from my parents split didn't mean she was subjected to the same fate. She believed in love and happily-ever-afters. I wouldn't ruin that for her. I was thankful I'd shielded her from the worst of that situation.
I couldn't forget how my father, who was a professor, slept with one of his students and later married another one. In a weak moment, Mom admitted that it probably wasn't just the one time. Dad had a thing for his students, and she couldn't compete with younger women.
Apparently, his kids couldn't either. I'd carry that slight with me forever. How could I trust someone to be there for me? Not to walk away when something or someone better came along. The short affair with Oliver was just what I needed. He'd given me a night to remember, and I had no illusions it would lead to anything else.
I kept the memory of my night with Oliver close to my chest as I traveled from one city to another to the other. I was busy during the days, but at night, I let myself play back that night, remembering the tender way he touched me, the raw desire in his eyes.
When I got my period a few weeks later, I opened Oliver's contact information on my phone, debating what to say. He was worried, so I kept it short and sweet.
Carolina: You don't have to worry. I got my period.
The response came a few minutes later.
Oliver: Thanks for letting me know .
I debated saying something else, but what was there to say? We had a one-night stand, and neither of us wanted more. He didn't want to maintain contact. He could have said something when he gave me his number or written that note. But he was clear when he said he just wanted to know if I got pregnant. He was being responsible. He hadn't given me permission to contact him for anything else, and I'd respect his wishes.
Now there was nothing tying us together. I could let him go. I just wished it were that easy.