7. Sloan
Chapter seven
Sloan
I wring my fingers together, at a loss for words.
Carter’s fighting for the town, for a memory he shares with the people, and no one realizes it. Yes, that’s partly his fault, but I can appreciate not wanting to give people false hope. No wonder his eyes always seem so serious. So distant. He feels the weight of the entire town bearing down on him, magnified because they don’t know he’s working on their behalf.
I have the sudden urge to wrap my arms around him, pull him to me and tell him everything will be okay. He really is an underdog . Instead, I try to keep him talking, realizing that maybe what he needs is a friendly ear.
“You said this is your dream?” I prompt, stepping back to the table to resume his massage.
“To work in the ski industry, yeah.”
“Because you used to race?” I run my hands along his spine, one at a time, as I finish up his back.
“Partly. That, and I don’t want to follow in my dad’s footsteps.”
“What are those? ”
“Mortgages. He owns one of the largest lenders in the country. Tell me about you.” Carter blocks any follow-up question I could ask, telling me in no uncertain terms he’s done sharing. That’s fair given what he just told me.
Lifting up the sheet I signal for him to roll over. When he’s settled, I stand behind him and snake my arms underneath his back. It puts my chest inches from his face, which isn’t supposed to be sexual, but it’s hard not to notice. I answer his question to distract myself.
“I studied physical therapy back east and found a job working with the elderly out of school. The clients were amazing, so sweet and excited to see me each week, and even though they were prone to telling me the same story all the time I didn’t get tired of talking to them.”
Carter’s back arches as I pull my hands up his spine, letting gravity work out the kinks, and causing things to stir down below. I try to tamp down the effect of his marble-like physique by rambling about my background. “But the work wasn’t challenging. I wanted to concentrate more on helping athletes rehab after injury than people getting back to normal after accidents or just trying to retain their mobility. I moved here since my sister and brother-in-law live here, and I was hoping to get a job with the ski team but there aren’t any openings. I took a job at the spa while I wait for one since massage and physical therapy overlap a bit.”
“I saw you at Murphy’s last week, you work there too?” His voice is muffled against my chest as I make a final pass along his spine, trying not to let my gaze linger on the powerful thighs I can see beneath the sheet that’s supposed to protect his modesty.
“Well, despite making decent money at the spa, it’s still not enough to afford my own place, and I don’t want to crash with my sister forever. ”
“Why not stay here at the resort? We have employee housing.”
I pull his right arm from under the sheet and rub firm circles into his shoulder with the heel of my hand. With his eyes shut he almost passes for peaceful, except for the tension I feel in his muscles. “There are far more employees than there are places to stay.”
A wrinkle creases his forehead. “I thought there were openings since so many of the seasonal employees work elsewhere during the summer?”
“There’s actually still a waiting list. I checked.”
The wrinkle deepens, as if I’ve just added to his stress. Maybe it’s time for a new topic. “What made you venture out to Murphy’s the other night? I haven’t seen you there before.”
“I had a craving for fries.”
“There are at least five places on the mountain that make fries.”
“Not like Murphy’s,” he mumbles. I don’t press since I happen to agree with him. Lennon has a special recipe that gives them a salt and vinegar flavor without making them soggy.
“You look like you’ve never had a fry in your life.” The words are out before I can stop them, and my hand stills on his shoulder of its own volition. Way to keep things professional Sloan, comment on his body. The corner of his mouth ticks up like he’s fighting a smile. Dammit .
Ignoring my flub, I lift his hand to mine, threading my fingers through his before squeezing and pulling to stretch them. Even those are tight. I trap his pointer finger between two of mine, tugging it gently to release the tension, then rubbing small circles into the pad at the tip. He goes utterly still, seeming to hold his breath. When it returns it seems forced. Deliberately steady. After I finish the other arm, I see why.
I’m both flattered and dismayed to see the sheet draped over his impressive erection. The idea that my touch can bring a man to this state of arousal is sort of intoxicating. It makes me feel almost powerful, like a vixen, which I’ve never experienced before. I like that. But I hate that it’s not real. It can’t be, considering there’s nothing between us except the physical sensation of giving and receiving a massage.
For a brief moment, I wish I was the kind of man who could act on impulse. There’s obviously chemistry between us, and if these interactions are any indication, the spark could become an inferno if we let it. But I’m not na?ve enough to think the chemistry comes from me so much as it does the situation. He’s practically naked after all, and I’m touching him everywhere . Besides, even if I could be spontaneous, it’s not wise to go down that path in this town, where word is likely to make it back to Ally and Finn before I can pack up my massage table.
“Carter, If you can’t control that you’re going to have to find a different masseuse.” I will my voice to sound exasperated instead of offended, hoping my comments will lighten the mood.
A heavy sigh escapes his lips. “I swear I’m just as frustrated by this as you.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say I doubt that, but he doesn’t know about the flutter between my legs, and how badly I want to see what’s underneath the sheet.
“You know, it doesn’t help that you can’t stop looking at it.” He wraps the entire sheet around his waist and abruptly hops off the table, stalking toward the couch before he turns and heads back toward me.
“I can’t help it.” I duck my head. “It’s hard not to with you parading it around.”
“I’m not parading, I’m pacing.” He turns again and stomps back the way he came.
“Either way, this display is going to give me a sympathy boner and I really don’t want to give your receptionist a heart attack when I walk out of here. ”
“Is that so?” Carter whirls around to face me with a grin that’s equal parts annoyed and amused. “You’ve never mentioned suffering that affliction before.”
“Because I made my escape before you started flashing it around. You need to go take care of that again,” I babble, confused by my inability to shut up.
“Yes… I do.” The tight grin turns to a coy smirk as he catches my eyes trailing down his perfect body. My tongue darts between my lips before I have the sense to stop it. His pec flexes as he tightens his grip on the sheet. “If you’re still here, does that mean you’re offering to provide inspiration?”
This is the perfect time to scoff, say no, and stomp out. But the visual of what that might look like… I can’t stop my gaze from drifting lower, or my teeth from nipping at my bottom lip as my imagination runs wild.
“And before you say it, I know. That’s not your job,” Carter reminds me with a smirk that should be illegal.
“What?” I blink him back into focus.
“You said that wasn’t part of your job… but judging by the way you’re eye-fucking me, I don’t think you’d consider it a job.”
I said that? I don’t have any memory of saying that. “Well, job or not, that's not why I’m here. I could sue you for sexual harassment right now.” Good call Sloan. Secure your position by threatening the gorgeous naked man you work for. God, why can’t I shut up?
“You could, but you won’t.” Carter’s brown eyes flash with heat. “After all, I’m only saying what you’re thinking.” My stomach drops to the floor along with my jaw.
“I’m thinking…” Is he suggesting…? With that body? Him? Um, yes please. Wait, no. I’m a professional, right ?
“Sloan?” he prompts.
“I’m thinking it’s time for me to go.” I snap back to reality and grab my backpack, racing for the door before I can give in to temptation.
It’s not until I’m in the elevator that I realize I’ve forgotten the sheet.
And the towel.
And the massage table.
***
Tense voices greet me when I walk in the door, putting me instantly on edge. Since moving in a year ago this has been happening more and more, another reason I want to get my own place.
“The propeller on the fan gun blew, and instead of replacing it this genius says the tower can cover the deficit. But the tower isn’t portable, so its reach only goes so far. How the hell am I supposed to cover the entire run in snow if the tower only reaches half of it?” Finn’s rant carries down the hall to the front door.
“I don’t know.” I picture Ally throwing her arms in the air, as she usually does when he asks questions she can’t possibly answer. “Take up a collection in town to raise money for a new propeller.”
I cover my mouth to keep from laughing. Good one sis. Unfortunately, stifling my laugh means I don’t have a hand on the door, which bangs shut behind me.
“Sloan?” Ally calls. “Come in here, will you?”
I suck in a breath and hold it in my cheeks like a chipmunk, letting it out slowly as I walk toward the kitchen. I hate getting dragged into these bitching sessions, although Finn does tend to deflate faster if it’s not just Ally he’s complaining to. I suppose I owe her that for letting me crash here.
“What’s up?” I grab an apple off the counter and hop on a barstool next to Ally.
“Any chance you’ve heard any chatter about the resort while you’re working up there?”
I answer with my mouth full, hoping that masks the white lie I’m about to tell. Carter didn’t expressly ask me not to repeat our conversation, but I get the sense I’d be breaking his trust if I do. “Not much chatter makes its way to the spa.”
“Anything would be helpful. Like, has the spa purchased new equipment or hired anyone? That would suggest a commitment to being ready for the next season,” Finn adds.
“Isn’t it a bit early to be worried about next season? It’s only June.” I wrinkle my nose and take another bite.
“It’s never too early.” Finn leans against the counter and shakes his head. “What about the ski team? If anyone has an inside scoop it’d be the athletes since this is such a premier spot for training. When’s the last time you had any contact with them?”
“Not since March. They all scatter to their homes in the summer. And what inside scoop would they have that you don’t?” Too late I realize I’ve just invited him to keep railing against the man I’m starting to like. Professionally speaking, of course.
“You’d be surprised. Apparently being the head of operations doesn’t entitle me to any information about the resort while requiring me to work miracles with busted equipment. I swear I’m starting to think Carter Quinn expects me to wave a wand to fix stuff like I’m Harry fuckin Potter. He’s just looking for an excuse to fire me.”
Ally leaps off her barstool and rounds the island to put a calming hand on Finn’s chest. “You’re the only thing holding this resort together. What reason would he have to fire you? ”
I focus my gaze on an imaginary spot on the counter, looking up only when Finn says my name. “None of the athletes said anything before they left for the season?”
“Not to me. I’m not exactly part of their team, and they wouldn’t bother coming to the spa when they have trainers on site to do what I do.” I offer a meager shrug.
“Somethings up, Al.” Finn leans his forehead against hers. “I don’t want to overreact, but it doesn’t look good. If I lose this job, we can’t afford to stay in the valley. We may need to look at other options.”
My heart beats erratically inside my chest. I want to tell them Finn’s job is safe since Carter’s given no indication he plans to let anyone go, but that might be giving them false hope since the original plan fell through. The fact that I even know there is, or was, an original plan will only invite questions I can’t answer, like what was the plan? And how do I know Carter?
Speaking up won’t solve anything. Logically, I know that. In fact, it would probably only cause more confusion and panic to learn that there are some very real unknowns about the future of the resort. The town.
If that’s the case, I should probably give Ally and Finn a heads-up. Soften the blow so to speak so they aren’t caught off guard if the worst happens. Then again, what if the worst doesn’t happen? What if Carter finds a solution? Speaking up could worry them over nothing.
Why does that make me feel like I’m picking Carter over my family?
“Sloan?” Ally waves a hand in front of my face to get my attention. “Where are you?”
“Sorry.” I swallow my last bite. “Just replaying the last few days in my head in case I might have missed something.” The lie replaces the sweetness of the apple with a sour aftertaste .
“Let’s not worry about that right now. We have more pressing things to discuss.” She leans her back against Finn’s chest, the glint in her eyes telling me she’s trying to lighten the mood.
“I’m all ears.” I play along, giving her my best smile.
“I need you and Lennon to complete the Marvel universe cast for Pedal.”
Each year the town comes to a near halt at the end of June and everyone rides bikes to raise money. It started as something where you get people to pledge ‘X’ amount of money for ‘Y’ laps around town, but since everyone participates there wasn’t anyone left to cover the pledges. Now you just pay to participate and that gets donated to charity. It’s a worthwhile cause, even if it has turned into an excuse to dress up.
No one knows when costumes became part of the event, it’s just something that happened, and now it’s expected. As the owner of a clothing boutique Ally takes costumes seriously and is on a mission to make each year better than the last. Therefore, saying no is not an option.
“Al,” I borrow Finn’s nickname for her. “You’re the fashionista. Can’t you pick me out a costume?”
“I’m not talking about finding costumes, I’m talking about being part of the group. We’ve got most of the cast except Deadpool and Ironman.”
“Who are you going to be?”
She picks up a lock of her red hair. “The Scarlet Witch, obviously.”
“No Black Widow? She’s more central to the story, right?”
“Eh, maybe. But I found this incredible red leather bodysuit.”
“Good choice.” I bite back a smile. Leave it to my sister to pick a more obscure character because she found the right costume.
“I have one for you too, if you’ll be Deadpool. So, I just need Lennon to play Ironman.”
“You have a red leather suit for Lennon? He’ll love that.” I’ve never met a guy who dresses as adventurously as Lennon. I’ve seen him in everything from leather pants to khakis to crop tops, and the man never met a skirt he didn’t like, although since he pairs them with chunky combat boots or Chucks he has a way of making them look masculine and feminine. Ally’s favorite pastime is finding him clothes since he’s so fearless, and promising a red leather suit is one way to get him to participate in her Marvel cast.
“Duh,” my sister replies. “I mean, he has to wear the matching armor over it, but the base layer is a maroon leather."
“He’ll probably go for that.” I shrug.
“I don’t think he’s following, babe.” Finn kisses her temple.
“Oh right” She wraps his arms around her waist like he’s a blanket. “If you two are in the cast it means I need you to be available that day.”
The full meaning of her ask dawns on me. “You want Lennon and I to take off work on one of the busiest days of the summer?”
“Not the whole day, but enough for a few laps around town, maybe a pit stop at a party or two.” Nearly every house in the heart of town becomes a makeshift break area during the race. It’s commonplace to do a few laps and stop for a drink, do a few more and stop for a snack, etcetera. But, and here’s the thing, Lennon’s restaurant Murphy’s is also a commonplace stop, making it one of the busiest days of the year, and for a workaholic like Lennon, cutting out for a few hours is probably unthinkable. Ally should know this, but my sister is obsessive about her costumes.
“That’s a pretty big request for Lennon, but I’ll bring it up during my shift tonight. ”
“Excellent,” she claps her hands together and squeals, the moment officially lightened. For one of us anyway.