Chapter Five
Avery
Casper had been lethargic and constipated for the last two days. He’d stopped eating and lost interest in walks to the mailbox or along the lake, which he usually loved. Avery had fed him a little of the canned pumpkin Lily dropped off to soothe his tummy, but he’d slept under the desk all morning.
Avery took the warm dog draped across her feet as a sign to put off investigating the Boathouse today. This left time for researching other resorts’ websites and reservation systems. A new reservation system should be at the top of Nate’s list.
Over the last couple of days, Miles had made good on his promise not to bother her, quietly slipping in and out of the conference room for his remote shoots and Zoom meetings.
Every time she passed the conference-room door, the meeting with Nate replayed in her head, her thoughts alternating between irritation and desire.
His firefly tattoo resembled a sketch she remembered drawing that summer.
She’d carefully hidden their initials in the lacy lines of the firefly’s wings.
There’d been no way for her to closely inspect his ink, but it made no sense for him to ghost her yet permanently alter his body with a memento of their time together.
One thing was certain. Her college boy had become all man.
The abs flexing as his shirt lifted confirmed this broader, sturdier Miles knew how to use his body.
Given his dating history, he probably knew exactly what to do with hers.
His deliberate delivery of the word “blindfolded” still echoed in Avery’s head.
She covered her eyes in embarrassment, despite being alone in the lobby.
She hadn’t pined for a man this hard in a long time.
The Pine Tree State was living up to its name.
“Enough,” she said to herself as she opened Montressa’s laptop. “No thinking about Miles.”
Casper’s head jolted up at her voice. He cocked his ears, tilted his head. Finding nothing concerning, he dropped back to the floor.
Recruiters interviewed MBA candidates in the fall.
And while redecorating the Boathouse sounded fun, she needed something impressive on her résumé to fill the gaping hole of unemployment since the sale of the Peppered Page last year.
Nate had mentioned he needed a website and social media accounts.
She could spin that as a marketing plan and impress hiring managers.
She planned to research other small resorts before lunch.
First, she needed to answer Montressa’s emails.
The elusive Paulson Carter remained on the calendar.
Avery’s second internet search yielded an email address, which sent back an automated reply.
A message through LinkedIn went unanswered.
She’d done everything except talk to Nate and Miles.
But Nate had enough going on, and Avery wasn’t willing to risk another embarrassing conversation with Miles.
If Paulson showed up, she’d send him on his way, do some research, and figure out which Nancy Meyers movie to watch with Lily later. Picking Miles’s countertop had made her crave a pretty kitchen. Maybe It’s Complicated and some croque monsieur for dinner.
Casper let out an unenthusiastic woof at the sound of gravel crunching outside as a black car rounded the circular drive in the wrong direction.
Avery walked to the door and peered out the window.
The door of a shiny black Rivian SUV swung open and vintage Air Jordans, white as snow, hit the gravel.
“Oof, those won’t stay white long,” she muttered as opened the lodge door. “Can I help you?”
Mr. Air Jordan’s blond hair was gelled back, the sides cut with precision and enough length on top to look sleek and stylish.
A dress shirt with the top button undone gave a glimpse of a chiseled collarbone.
He tugged a shirt cuff out from under his blue blazer, revealing a massive Breitling watch and silver fish cufflinks.
Although roughly her age, he oozed the superiority and sophistication of a much older man.
He was out of place in the Maine woods. This had to be Paulson Carter of Carter Hotel Group.
Clearly, he didn’t get any of her seven messages.
He pulled off his wire sunglasses, fighter-pilot style, in one deliberate sideways swoop.
Piercing blue eyes met hers. She palmed her hair in an attempt to appear presentable and thanked whatever possessed her to wear her most flattering jeans today.
He mounted three stairs in one step and tucked his sunglasses into his shirt pocket.
“Hi, I’m Avery.” She smiled and stuck out her hand.
“Avery, Paulson Carter. Carter Hotel Group. It’s a pleasure.” He shook her hand firmly, covering it with his other hand. His hands were warm, probably from the heated steering wheel. This close, he smelled expensive. “I’m glad I ignored your messages.”
She disregarded his flirtation. “The Coopers aren’t here and we’re not open for another month.”
“Well, I was in the area and wanted to see the place.” He cleared his throat. “How’s Mr. Cooper feeling?”
“Better,” Avery said. “But maybe you should come back later. Nate should be home by the end of the month.”
“My father had a heart attack too. It’s tough to see someone strong laid low,” he said. “I met Nate and his father at the Northeastern Hospitality Conference. Sam seemed like a fighter to me. He’ll get through it.”
Paulson might be more handsome than his profile picture, but chitchat wasn’t on her agenda today.
“So, can I help you with anything, Mr. Carter? Maybe directions back to Portland?”
“You can call me Paulson. Mr. Carter is my father.” He corrected her with a drop-dead gorgeous smile. “If you have time, I’d love a tour. But if you’re busy, I can explore it myself.”
With a smile like that, Paulson was hard to turn down.
It seemed he knew Sam. He must be on the calendar for a reason.
Maybe Nate wanted his advice on how to modernize.
The walk would be a good way to get ideas from a hotel professional.
Besides, it was a pleasant morning, and Casper loved new people.
Anything to help him perk up sounded like a good idea.
As if he heard her thoughts, Casper plodded outside and sniffed their visitor. Paulson kneeled and rubbed Casper’s chest. At last, a guy with a soft spot for dogs.
“I hope it’s okay if Casper tags along. Word of warning, he’s not very well trained.” Avery hoped Miles wasn’t within earshot to hear her vindicate his feelings.
“Of course,” Paulson said, scratching the dog’s ears. “Who says you’re not trained? Casper’s a good boy.”
Paulson had a special voice for dogs. Even better.
Avery and Casper led Paulson down the path that ran between two cabins to the lake. Every few steps, he lifted his phone and snapped a photo.
“Do they host weddings here?” he asked.
“Um, not that I know of, but I bet they could if you’re interested.”
“Well, I’d need to find the bride first.” He let out an uncomfortable chuckle and blushed a little.
She nervously lifted her hand, tucking a loose hair behind her ear. Paulson seemed like someone who’d marry a travel influencer. They could share their love of hotels on blogs, vlogs, and socials. Fiancée or not, he’d given her an idea. Montressa was the perfect venue for destination weddings.
“A lot of our families come back every year,” she said.
Paulson stopped and stared at the sun-dappled lake. His jaw went slack. Like a siren from a Greek epic tale, Linden Lake had a way of transfixing anyone who passed by and he was no exception. The spring birdsong from the neighboring trees only enhanced the experience.
“Gorgeous.” He smiled. “I see why people love it here.”
Ah, so he understood what made this lake special.
“I’m curious.” He narrowed his eyes as if interested in her opinion. “Montressa has almost no online presence. Is that to keep it exclusive? If it works, it’s genius. I love the feeling of having something everybody wants but can’t find.”
Exclusivity may not have been the Coopers’ intent, but Paulson had a point. Purposeful or not, being hard to find wasn’t helping reservations. Nate needed to expand his opportunities, not limit them. Avery wished she’d brought something to make notes of all of these great ideas.
“They rely on repeat bookings and word of mouth,” she answered. “Everyone has a story of how they found Montressa. Their kids go to camp nearby, their grandparents honeymooned here, a friend recommended it.”
“I first heard about it from a Yale friend. Well, classmate.”
She wondered if Miles had ever mentioned her once he returned to school after the breakup. Telling Paulson she dated Miles back in college felt a little too familiar, so she kept quiet. Oblivious to her thoughts, Paulson stared at the lodge, deep in thought.
“I like the rustic feel, but if it were mine, I’d tear it down and start fresh.”
Avery gasped and lifted her hand to her heart. She searched his face for a sarcastic smirk or teasing wink, but his eyes narrowed and his mouth twisted in thought. Maybe he didn’t understand the allure after all.
“What? Why?”
“It reminds me of the camp from The Parent Trap with all these log cabins. People want modern amenities. Being suitable only for summer isn’t maximizing the location’s full potential.
” He raised a hand and skimmed it across his view.
“Imagine a glass-front, modern hotel and matching glass-front villas, all with views of this spectacular lake. Cross-country ski trails, a skating pond, a row of lakeside cabanas with hot tubs over the water, a Jet Ski marina. All less than an hour from the Portland Jetport. Being open year-round brings steadier jobs to the people who live here.”