Chapter 7 #2
“If it were just me, I’d be fine with it, but it’s not fair to Evie.
I don’t want her to be embarrassed. She’s kind of shy and doesn’t enjoy being in the spotlight.
” He leaned back further in his chair, his hands clasped behind his head.
“Sometimes…it’s almost like she apologizes whenever any attention is focused on her, and that’s just wrong, right?
I mean…she’s this amazing person. She’s smart and funny and naturally beautiful, and she doesn’t even realize it.
And I don’t know what’s up with the guys in Seattle, but they all look at her only as a friend.
This last guy—total asshole, by the way—was only hanging out with her to get to her best friend, but he was making out with her and giving her mixed signals!
And somehow, she was the one who felt bad! ”
Axel sat back with a smirk, but Slater wasn’t really paying attention.
“I mean, I know I put her in the friend category, but that was out of respect for her because I know I’m an ass.
I don’t get serious with anyone. I never wanted to.
Plus, she’s Milo’s assistant, and I didn’t want anything to get messy or awkward.
” He sighed. “But then…then…we started spending all this time together and she says these things that she doesn’t even realize are flirty or sexual, and suddenly, it was all I could think about. ”
Meanwhile, Axel just continued to sip his coffee.
“Then we’re playing trivia up at the lodge one night—and she is crazy competitive when it comes to trivia—and we win, right?
The next thing I knew, she’s in my arms and she kissed me.
Not like a deep, passionate kind of kiss, but her lips were on mine and my hands were on her body, and then I couldn’t stop thinking about that.
” Another sigh. “The next day, you guys were all gone and we hung out alone and I couldn’t think straight.
I couldn’t focus. And I was being a total jerk to her because I couldn’t keep looking at her as my friend Evie.
Suddenly she’s like…Evie, a woman I desperately want to sleep with. ”
“So you did.”
Shit.
“It wasn’t just like that, but we kissed after she shoved me on my ass on one of the trails. I swear, I really thought I could compartmentalize the whole thing: kiss her, find out what it was like, and then move on. But it didn’t work.”
Axel held up a hand to stop him from saying more. “Can we go back to how sweet, petite little Evie shoved you on your ass?”
He laughed. “Yeah, it took me by surprise too, but I think it was something she needed to do. It empowered her.” Then he grinned. “And even though it pissed me off at first—because she ran off as soon as she did it—it was kind of hot how she stood up for herself by calling me out for being a jerk.”
“Do we get the same free pass?” Axel joked. “Can I shove you for being a jerk for lying about the vibes?”
“No,” Slater said, but it was hard not to laugh. “Just…keep it to yourself, please. I really don’t want Evie to be embarrassed.”
“Um…too late?”
“What do you mean, too late?”
“Maisie and I talked about it all the way to our suite last night. Now I can’t wait to tell her we were right!”
“Axel…”
“What? I’ll tell her to keep it to herself. Don’t worry.”
But he was worried and had to figure out a way to talk to Evie before anyone else did.
It was after five, and the rain was still coming down in buckets. It was such a dreary and depressing sight, but at least she could hang out up here at the lodge until she was ready to deal with walking back to her cabin.
“Hey, Evie,” Maisie said, smiling as she stepped into Milo’s office.
“Hey, Maisie! What’s up?”
She looked around. “Where’s Milo?”
“Oh, he went to work in the conference room. He had a meeting scheduled with Reece, and he thought it would be easier for them to go in there so I can handle some company stuff here. I could have just taken my laptop down to my cabin, but this rain just won’t let up. It’s awful.”
“I don’t know, I kind of have a fondness for the rain,” Maisie said dreamily as she sat down.
“Really? Because living in Seattle has taught me to tolerate it, but I’ve never heard anyone say they have a fondness for it.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard it’s how Axel and I met.
We got stranded here together at the resort while it was still under renovation.
There was a massive storm, and I had shown up for an interview, and then I couldn’t leave.
There were trees down and all kinds of flooding.
” She sighed happily. “So I definitely love stormy days because they give me happy memories.”
“Aww…that is definitely sweet. I hadn’t heard that story. Thanks for sharing it with me.”
“No problem. But that’s not why I’m here.”
“Oh?”
“Well, maybe it’s a little while I’m here.
We thought we’d do dinner up in our suite tonight.
It’s a thing we always used to do when everyone was still living here at the resort.
But with the weather being so bad, we just thought we’d hunker down up here at the lodge and have a nice dinner up in the suite, hang out, and hopefully by the time we’re done with dessert, it will be dry enough for you guys to head down to your cabins without the threat of being washed away. ”
That made her laugh. “I don’t think it’s that bad but count me in for dinner. And you’re sure you don’t mind me joining in? I feel like it’s something your group does, and…”
“And you’re part of our group, Evie,” Maisie assured her. “I know Harlow is so bummed that she’s not here because she’s dying to meet you!”
“I was really hoping to meet her too. But I was thrilled to finally meet Lexi in person. We’ve been texting a lot ever since Milo’s hiking accident, and I felt like I already knew her before I even got here.”
“Lexi’s awesome and her little baby bump isn’t so little anymore. We’re all so excited about her pregnancy, and that baby will be here before we know it. It feels like it’s happening so fast.”
“I don’t think Lexi feels that way,” Evie joked. “I know last night she was having a hard time getting up out of the Adirondack chair and looked ready to be done.”
“That was Connor’s fault for letting her sit in it. She had trouble the last time too, and he promised to get her a more comfortable chair and then never did.”
“To be fair, I think I heard him mention how they hadn’t planned on doing the firepit thing again anytime soon.”
“We all used to do it, and it was such a great way to end the day, you know? It was our time to unwind, especially when the resort was getting ready to open. We’d all have dinner together, but there was something about the time sitting around the fire where we felt like we could all really relax.”
“I know I was relaxed when I went back to my cabin. Plus…you know…chocolate.”
“Exactly. You’ll have to try the chocolate mousse. It’s to die for. Trust me.”
“Ooh…I will. Maybe we can have that tonight?” she asked hopefully.
“I will definitely add it to the menu. Good call.”
“Part of me wants to ask if I should bring anything, but that’s kind of silly,” Evie said with a laugh. “I mean…it’s not like I’m at home or anything. Plus, everything’s already here.”
“I know. It’s easy to get spoiled. We have the suite and a full kitchen, and we cook for ourselves occasionally, but most nights we’re fairly content ordering room service or getting takeout.”
“Nothing wrong with that. I work late a lot with Milo, and he typically orders in for us, but now that he’s going to be here and I’ll be back in Seattle…” She sighed. Going home had somehow lost some of its appeal.
“There’s going to be a period of adjustment, I’m sure. The time difference alone is going to be difficult to deal with. He’s not expecting you to work on East Coast hours, is he?”
“He mentioned it, but I told him we’d have to test that out. Realistically, I still should be in the office at eight with everyone else, but there’s no way I’m going to put in twelve-hour days. No matter how much of a bonus or raise he wants to offer.”
“Has he?” Maisie asked.
Evie felt a little awkward talking about it to someone she barely knew, but considering Maisie was becoming a friend, she figured it was okay. “He has, but…I already work a lot and don’t have much of a social life. Do I really want to lose what little I have because I’m so tired from working?”
“Ugh…that would be a hard pass for me. I understand why he would ask, but it’s really not fair to you.”
“Then he asked if I’d consider moving here part time.”
“Really? That would be amazing!”
Actually, she hadn’t told anyone about that part yet.
In theory, it would be very convenient for her job, but with the way things were going with her and Slater, she didn’t want him to get the impression that she was trying to stay close to him.
Even though she knew he was going to move on sooner rather than later, she didn’t want to look needy.
She’s already accepted them seeing each other maybe once or twice a year, but if she moved here, it might happen more.
He might not be living and working here, but he was still one of the owners.
“So, what do you think?” Maisie asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s a lot to think about. I’d really have to see how things go once I’m back in Seattle.”
“That makes sense.” She smiled. “So, um…can I ask you something personal?”
“Sure.”
Leaning forward a bit, Maisie glanced around as if making sure no one was around. “Is there anything going on between you and Slater?”
“What?!” She nearly choked on her own saliva, coughing wildly for a few seconds. “Why…why would you even ask that?”
“Just a feeling I got. The two of you were exchanging some pretty heated glances over the fire last night, and Axel and I just thought…”
“Oh, God…Axel thinks it too?” she groaned as she lowered her head to the desk and silently prayed a hole would open up in the floor and swallow her.