Chapter 3
THREE
LAUREN
Yesterday hadn’t been real, right? I woke up to that thought as my very real alarm blared. And to the memory of some very unreal dreams. I’d done things, asked for things that I’d never experienced in real life. And my leading man? A hunky mountain man who happily fulfilled fantasies I hadn’t even realized I’d ever want. Stretching, small twinges of an unfulfilled ache had me reliving all the dreams high points and him .
West Stafford was not my usual type. Did I even have a type? Didn’t matter because my body certainly now did. He was that rare combination of man no woman thought existed in real life. Strong and perfectly muscled, gallantry with a hint of bossiness that hit all my inner damsel in distress fantasies, and a husky, whiskey-laced voice that kept me on a low simmer of need.
Okay, so maybe I did harbor some fantasies, and he had more than a hint of bossiness, but he’d more than made up for it by ensuring my safety.
He also exuded supreme confidence as he rescued me from danger and my lack of good judgement. A definite turn on and my own personal catnip. Although, to be fair to myself, the weather in north Idaho was known for having multiple personalities.
I swear my pheromones clashed with his, mingling and percolating the entire time we spent together. If Ridge hadn’t interrupted us, would I have acted on my impulses? He’d held me as if I was the most important thing in the world to him. And the evidence of his attraction? Front and center pressed against my still tingling backside.
But the thing that had made the biggest impression on me was the deep sense of connection I felt. It was as if he not only liked what he saw, but he’d looked deeper, right to my very soul, and liked what he saw there too. Then every time I caught him staring at me, the burning desire and need I saw in his eyes made me feel—claimed.
It was an incredible realization, and it had triggered a need within me to claim him right back. When you know. You know, right? That sentiment was often used as a plot point in romance books, a favorite trope in the Hallmark movies I binged or even with my own mother when she and Beck had gotten together.
But this feeling I had for West? It both thrilled and scared me. I’d never had a long-term relationship with a guy. Never anything that had lasted more than a semester. Not even the guy I’d lost my virginity to had me under his spell like this rough around the edges former soldier.
My cell trilled with my sister’s text tone, saving me from a further deep dive into my feelings. So, did I tell Dylan about West? Duh, silly question . Grabbing the device off my nightstand, I snuggled back under my covers and opened the message app.
DYLAN: Missing you. And mom. And okay, Beck too. How goes life this week
Grinning, I typed,
“Think I just met my one.” Then I quickly deleted it. Closed my eyes, took a beat and wrote,
ME: Good. Working with new client. Met a hot guy. Actually two. You should come home
There. Just enough info to tempt my treasured twin to return home, like tomorrow. God, I missed her so much. I wanted to tell her in person about West. I needed her to talk me off the ledge or push me over it, taking a chance for once. Like she was doing as she figured her life out.
DYLAN: Kinky. Didn’t think you had it in you. Want photos
ME: No way. These 2 must B experienced live & in the flesh. When you coming back
DYLAN: UR such a tease. I’m still enjoying the room service and night life. But soon. Promise
She’d been staying at hostels and owner shared homes that rented out rooms for a night or two in order to stay overseas as long as she could.
I really hoped she found what she thought was missing from her life. I couldn’t help but wonder if our parents having us so young, then divorcing before we were even out of elementary school, had hit her harder than me.
Dylan never dated a guy for more than a month, if that, and even in college, she switched her major three times. She never seemed settled in her own skin. My mom and I knew she needed this time without us. At first, I’d been upset she’d wanted to leave. We’ve always been together, we’d never considered going to different colleges. So, do I lay on the guilt? Yeah, guilt worked for me.
ME: Soon, like next week. Please I really need to see you in person
DYLAN: …
those damn dots appeared and hovered on my screen way too long. I hate those little fucking dots.
Soonish. Best I can do. U 4ever
Better B or I’m gonna drag UR butt back myself!!!!!!!!!! 4ever U
Tossing the phone aside, I dragged my butt, which was noticeably rounder than my sister’s, out of bed. She was a bit taller, had more of an athletic frame like our fathers but still had some curves on her. Whereas I was curvy all over, like our mom. And since coming home to run the business full time, I’d had to work at not overindulging when I tried out new recipes with my mom.
I went to school for biz management, but I also loved to cook. That’s one reason I was so excited to get this contract with the Triple R. The menu we’d worked out for them was heavy on protein and lots of green veggies to fuel their clients who needed good nutrition versus indulgent calorie heavy meals found at say a resort and spa.
The men and women they helped, deserved hearty, home cooked food, especially since they wouldn’t have a full-time chef on staff. Not that I hadn’t put in some decadent treats. I did, and I had such a fun time tweaking recipes. So, today would be all about remaking the food that had spoiled yesterday, and getting it back up to the lodge for West and Ridge to try.
If they thought that giving us the contract just because of what I went through with the storm, then they didn’t know that’s not how my mom or I wanted to win the contract. Proving that Full Plate Catering was the best option based on the taste and value of the food would be the only outcome we would accept.
With my decision made, I showered, then called mom to let her know I’d be in early. She had other clients on her schedule today, so I’d be making most of the samples today with her guidance. I hadn’t gone to school for it, but when Taya Davis was your mother, knowing how to braise meat properly or create mouthwatering sauces were taught with love and a passion for providing good food for others to enjoy.
And West and Ridge were going to enjoy the food dammit. And me and West? Well, I planned on jumping off that ledge, probably, okay, definitely maybe, and discover if what I felt yesterday was mutual.