Chapter 8
8
MERRITT
Standing in the lobby of the Timber Ridge Peak resort with Laurel by my side makes my skin itch. It was hard to leave the warmth of my cabin, like if I ventured outside the walls with her this fantasy building between us would end. She kept up a steady stream of chatter as we made our way here. Her sunny personality was on full display as she exclaimed over the beauty of the mountain draped in snow, ice sparkling from trapped tree branches. Every time she saw animal tracks, she pointed them out to me, and it felt good to know she saw the same wonder I did out here. Not everyone does. Most just see the hardships this life can present.
Pulling into the parking lot had been a dose of reality, though. This is where her boss is, where the return to her world begins, and it feels like a ticking clock in my head.
"I called ahead," I whisper to Laurel, guiding her around the groups of people in the lobby. "There's a lunch for the fraternity in the private room beside the main dining space."
She walks beside me, and my heart thuds when she wraps her arm through mine, linking us together. It feels more intimate than just holding her hand. Like she's publicly claiming me. And I don't mind a bit.
Raucous laughter grows as we get closer to the private dining room, spilling into the hall even through the closed door. Laurel takes a steadying breath, then looks up at me and nods. I open the door, and she walks in ahead of me, her fingers trailing over my arm as she steps away.
The laughs stop, and there's a pause as everyone takes in the sight of this beautiful woman, hair hanging down over her shoulders in long waves, another of my sweaters draped over her curves. I enter and wait, letting her take the lead. Much as I would happily stalk over to the guy she's here to see and force him to sign the papers so we can go, I know this is something she needs to do.
She sets her shoulders back and raises her voice. "Sorry for the interruption, gentlemen, but Mr. Fallon needs to sign some important documents for the company, and it truly couldn't wait."
She navigates around the table to where a reedy blond man is sitting. He gets to his feet as she makes her way toward him, eyebrows raised as he looks at me and then back to Laurel. I lean against the wall, arms folded over my chest.
"Laurel, surely you didn't drive all the way up here just for this?"
She pulls the papers from her bag, hands them to him with a pen and gives him a sharp, polite smile. "Yes, actually, I did. Initial at the bottom of the first page, then sign and date the second, please."
The silence in the room goes tense, the large group of men watching the exchange, and finally, Fallon leans over, does as Laurel asked, and then hands everything back to her.
"Thank you, sir. That's all. I hope you enjoy your reunion."
Chatter starts back up as Laurel heads toward where I'm waiting, and once we're back in the hall and the door shuts, her trembling hands grip my arm tight.
"I can't believe I just did that." She says, voice shaking.
I pull her into a hug and press a kiss to her forehead. "I can."
"Mr. Merritt," calls someone, and I look up to see Paul Masters walking toward us. "How nice to see you."
Laurel turns in my arms, eyes wide as she recognizes the man's familiarity with me.
"It's been a while since your last visit. Is there anything I can do for you?"
I shake my head. "Not today. Just helping a friend get some paperwork taken care of."
Paul smiles, extending a hand to Laurel. "Lovely to meet you, Miss. I'm Paul, General Manager here at Timber Ridge Peak."
"Laurel," she says softly, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you as well."
"Actually, Paul, there is something I think you can do for us." He looks at me with a genial smile, and I add, "Would you mind if we use the fax machine in your office?"