2. CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER TWO
Elise
My lungs fill with fresh air, stepping down the steps of the employee cabin. I can’t help but hold a hand over my belly, the sinking, squirming feeling inside feeling like it’s about to suffocate me.
It’s a feeling too familiar.
This is not how I imagined my first day at Mountain Retreat Lodge would go.
I take a deep breath. A beautiful bird with the brightest of blue feathers lands on a giant fir tree branch directly above the huge man walking ahead of me. It’s like a sign from nature to calm the fuck down.
“I’ll get you started with Tracy today,” Huxton says, twisting his massive boots on the pebbled path ahead of me.
I nod gently and smile.
I still can’t look my new boss in the eye. A gruff, wild man like him storming into the cabin like some kind of yeti mountain beast isn’t exactly settling. Add in the fact that I was standing in a towel that barely covered my lumps and bumps? Shoot me now.
Huxton waits ahead of me, broad shoulders that I swear are wider than the tree trunk we pass. His coat is hanging open, and I need to distract myself from the tight t-shirt hiding what appears to be well-defined muscles beneath. The cute little bird starts to sing above us, a gentle whistle so sweet it matches our beautiful surroundings. It provides the perfect distraction from the attractive man-beast I’m following.
The lodge is nestled in the peaks of a tranquil mountain landscape. Never-ending forest, earthy aromas of cedar, damp soil and freedom. As I look around, log cabins are scattered everywhere. Like precious little gems, each of them looks far more cozy and inviting than the skyscrapers I left behind in Seattle.
I packed my bags weeks ago, finally taking the leap and doing something for myself. This is a new adventure. A chapter in my life that is exactly that - mine.
A new life. A new me.
The wilderness of Falls Creek Mountain and this gorgeous new retreat is the change I need. Finally, I can play by my own rules.
“So where have you come from?” Huxton grunts when I catch up to him.
His voice is so low and growly. My skin prickles at the sound.
“Seattle,” I reply, working double time to keep up with Huxton’s giant steps.
He looks down at me, daggered blue eyes piercing a heat on my cool cheeks. “City girl, huh?”
I’m not sure if he means to sound unimpressed, but it feels like a punch to the guts hearing the judgement in his voice. I mean, I should be used to being pigeonholed, but that’s the exact reason I’ve escaped the city.
“I guess so,” I reply. “But I needed the change of pace. Escape the noise and expectations of the city. A fresh start, you know?”
Huxton nods thoughtfully and quizzes me a bit more as we walk. I’m surprised at his interest in my history, but the more I open up about why I’ve moved to the mountain, the slower he walks. Eventually we turn the final corner on the path, and his eyes narrow ahead of us. I follow his gaze and see we’ve reached the main entrance of the retreat.
“Is that the office?” I say.
“Yeah,” Huxton drags out.
His steps slow beside me, as if something has crossed his mind. I look up at him and can almost see the wheels turning in his head. Suddenly he comes to a complete stop, one hand diving into his pocket, the other scrubbing his thick beard.
He’s deep in thought, silent for just long enough for me to get my first proper look at him.
Of course I’ve noticed the handsome features on his face. Those dark lashes that frame perfectly blue eyes. They’re almost cobalt blue - gorgeous. But he’s chiseled elsewhere, a square-jaw covered in a thick beard. I wonder what it would feel like on my skin?
“I tell you what,” he says eventually, his eyes darkening as they close in on mine. His eyes flick down my body and my skin heats. A flush of something I don’t recognize swarms over my body from the intensity of his stare. “Why don’t I show you around myself? There’s a lot to see here, and Tracy has been run off her feet this week.”
I blink, taken aback by the offer. I’ve been an inconvenience my entire life, shunned to the background. Pushed aside at any cost. So to have someone reach out with such kindness is new to me.
I realize Huxton is still staring at me, and I haven’t answered his question. I’m just standing here staring back at him. My heart begins to race, and I swear I catch his eyes roaming down my body again.
He can’t be though, can he? He can’t be interested in me that way.
After all, he has seen me in nothing but a towel. He knows the shape of my body. My big body. Plus-sized, curvy… whatever you want to call it.
“Oh, it’s ok,” I choke out, the heat of my cheeks burning red hot. “I’m sure you have plenty more important things to be doing today.”
Huxton takes a step closer, and I swear my nipples tighten with each closing step.
“Nothing is more important than my employees.” A big hand reaches for my shoulder. His expression doesn’t change, but Huxton’s fingers give a hard squeeze, and his voice deepens. “I want to make sure you’re comfortable here. This is your new home, Elise.”
My cheeks flush.
Home? I’ve never had a proper home before.
With a hard swallow, I manage a gentle nod and start walking again.
We spend the next few hours exploring the sprawling grounds of Mountain Retreat Lodge. Luckily for me, my sneakers are up to the task because Huxton drags me up a few of the close-by hiking trails. His enormous boots make easy work of the rugged terrain, but it all comes so naturally to him. He talks passionately about the surrounding forest, giving me tips for our guests and showing me where to find the most amazing things, like wild deer feeding in a tiny clearing.
This place is everything I need.
We continue along the hidden trails, filling the peaceful silence of the forest with small talk and facts about the land. Huxton promises one last stop as he leads me to a hidden trail. We brush past hanging branches and lush greenery that’s surrounding the path.
As we move forward a majestic sight catches my eye.
“And this…” Huxton trudges towards the edge of a small lake, crystal clear water sparkling in front of us. “… is one of my favorite spots.”
I watch water crash down a cliff, cascading from high above, a powerful waterfall like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It hits the rocks below, catching hints of sunlight as it falls. Tiny flecks of light bounce off the water, like shining diamonds sparkling on the surface. The soothing sound drowns out the hammering of my rapid heartbeat.
Huxton shifts on the spot beside me, staring in awe at the waterfall.
I breathe in deep, catching the mist from the waterfall as it mixes with Huxton’s masculine scent. I notice his eyes soften as he takes in the beauty before our eyes. He looks so big, naturally fitting into the surrounding landscape - it’s a match made in heaven.
“You love it here, don’t you?” I ask.
“This place means everything to me.” Huxton answers without moving his eyes away from the waterfall. His gaze lingers for a moment, before he clears his throat and turns back to me. “I come here whenever I need to clear my mind, but I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t had any time for myself.”
I watch the hulking man closely as he talks. I feel like there is more to Huxton’s story that he doesn’t want to talk about. So I leave it for now.
“I know the feeling,” I grin and take another deep breath. “I think this is exactly the change of pace I’ve been looking for.”
“You’ve certainly picked the right spot, Elise. And listen, I want to apologize again for what happened earlier in your cabin. I didn’t mean to startle you like that."
I’ve barely noticed Huxton has moved closer until I feel his breath on my cold cheeks. The tiny hairs on my neck stand up and I crane my neck to look at him. Our eyes lock on one another. Suddenly the temperature around us sores.
He doesn’t smile. He doesn’t frown. There’s nothing. No emotion for me to read.
He’s towering over me. So sturdy. So strong.
He could crush me if he wanted to. The sheer size of him would render me powerless to his strength. He could do anything he wanted to me right now and no one would ever know.
Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad?
I shake the thought from my head and try to ignore the excited tingle on my skin.
“Should we keep going?” I whisper, unable to break the eye contact.
He never takes his eyes off me. “Probably a good idea.”
I exhale and force myself to turn around. If I don’t, I might have more than one regret today.
I’m breathing heavily as we leave the trail and make our way across to the main lodge. Aside from chirping birds and crunching footsteps, the descent down the mountain is completely silent.
My mind is scattered, but Huxton shows me a few of the different types of cabins available before leading me towards the biggest building on the site. He’s being super professional, telling me all the details about the structures and some background stories to the history of the land.
Splashes of color from wildflowers brighten up the pathway and as I take it all in, Huxton holds the door open for me to step inside the restaurant. Again, there is no smile as I pass him. Emotionless. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s just me that feels… whatever it is I feel between us.
The room is enormous as I move further into the inviting warmth. A crackling fireplace is set to one side, a warm glow cast across the room. The scent of freshly baked bread fills the air, making my stomach grumble.
“Oh wow, this is gorgeous,” I say, taking in the rustic décor. “You didn’t build this all by yourself? Did you?”
Huxton shrugs. “Mostly. I had some help with the kitchen fit-out. I wasn’t messing about with electrics and gas fittings without the help of a professional. Not with the safety of my guests in mind.”
I scour the room, mouth gaping at the sheer beauty of the craftmanship inside. The wooden beams give me the cozy and rustic vibe felt throughout the retreat, but the exposed brick walls and sleek lighting fixtures add a touch of luxury.
“Huxton, you should be so proud.”
He holds a hand out, gesturing to a table by a large window overlooking the mountains.
“Join me for lunch,” Huxton demands, not even a hint of question in his statement.
That was an order. A demand from my boss.
Hmmm… I think I like being told what to do by this man.
I take my seat and glance out of the window, noticing a statue carved from a fallen timber log. It’s a man with an axe draped over his shoulder, and by his side is a small boy looking up at him, smiling. A plaque below the structure has ‘Mountain Retreat Lodge’ carved into the wood and a slogan that says, ‘The land will remain once we are gone, treat it with love, Son.’
“The perfect spot to eat,” Huxton says, his deep voice booming across the table as he sits down.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, still distracted by the sculpture outside. “Mr. Barrel-”
“Huxton,” he interrupts, pinning me with those steely blue eyes. “Call me Huxton.”
My skin burns from the intensity of that gaze. Wow.
“Huxton…” I gulp out. “What is this sculpture of?”
I watch the lump in his throat bulge up and down as he swallows. It’s the first sign of emotion I’ve seen from him, but it’s over before I can read any more into it because a waiter comes over and places two steaming bowls of food down in front of us.
“Welcome, Huxton. Enjoy your lunch, sir,” the neatly dressed waiter says.
“Thank you, Daniel,” Huxton says. “How’s your mother doing?”
The waiter gives a smile. “Better. Thank you.”
“Let me know if you need anything,” Huxton adds, and the waiter disappears back into the kitchen.
As we sit across from each other, Huxton spends the duration of the meal going over my responsibilities. He doesn’t answer my question about the sculpture, but I’m sure I catch him staring blankly out at it while we eat.
We’re served a delicious savory stew that’s so wholesome and warm I consider asking for seconds. Huxton goes through all my daily tasks along with an insight into everything that needs doing before the big launch in a few weeks time. He speaks passionately about each tiny detail of the retreat, but the grand opening seems to mean everything to him.
Over the course of the meal, dark clouds begin to gather outside. Huxton grows restless as he stares out at the changing weather. We finish our meal, and he wipes at his beard with a fresh white napkin.
I can’t stop gaping across the table as he tilts his wine glass to his lips. Somehow he even makes that look sexy.
“Well,” he groans, glancing out at the darkening sky. “I guess I should take you to Tracy and get you started in the office before this rain hits. The weather moves quickly up here in the mountains.”
I hear a hint of disappointment in his voice. I’m sure that’s what it is.
I don’t have time to linger in hope as he pushes to his feet and moves towards the door. We begin making our way towards the reception office but as we walk, the dark clouds crack above us. The sky splits and thunder meets a howling gush of wind that rips right through me. Within moments a heavy downpour begins, drenching everything in sight. Including me.
“Shit!” I squeal, my arms acting as a poor excuse of an umbrella.
Huxton grabs me by the arm, pulling me into a small woodshed. “Get under here! It will pass quickly.”
We’re both soaked and the second we look at each other we start laughing. It’s the first time I’ve seen Huxton smile, and holy hell, it’s goddamn beautiful.
I can’t look away.
I step in closer as rain pours down around us. It feels like we’re in our own little world, huddled in the makeshift shelter.
Huxton looks at me like no one ever has before. Intensity filling his gaze and he huddles in closer. Our bodies touch, my skin trembles with heat. Burning hot desire.
My tongue swipes across my lips.
For a heartbeat, time feels like it stops. I lean on the tips of my toes, closing the distance between us. It’s our own little world and something shifts, our mouths moving closer and closer. My heart hammers inside my chest and I go to close my eyes, but I’m stopped by the sound of a horn blaring nearby.
My neck snaps around. Huxton takes a giant step backwards and hits his head on a wooden support beam.
“You guys want a ride?” A woman behind the wheel of a buggy shouts out.
Huxton shouts back, but my mind is racing as I pile into the back of the buggy. Rain drums against the roof, drowning out the voices in front of me. The buggy starts moving and I steal a glance at Huxton rubbing the back of his head. It’s then that I feel it… something I’ve never felt before.
I’m in love. In love with my boss.