5. Mila
When Sebastian finally leaves, I head up to my room.
It still smells of him.
I sit on the edge of the bed and breathe it in. Stuff happened here. Big things. Monumental life-changing moments.
But there are more to come. Way more. A new job. New coworkers. Hopefully, new friends.
I need to shower, get myself together, pack whatever I dragged out of my suitcase.
And get to my new job at one of the best hospitality workplaces in the country. The Castle Hotel, nestled in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado.
But first, I text Camille.
Me: Did it. Cherry busted.
Camille: What! Really?
Me: Went to a bar. Found a guy. Super cute. Thirty-something.
Camille: An old! Was he experienced?
Me: Quite. He only noticed at the end.
Camille: Did you tell him?
I hesitate. I consider lying to avoid the embarrassment, but this is Camille, my best friend.
Me: Yes.
Camille: What did he do?
Me: Just cuddled up and fell asleep.
Camille: Adorbs! Are you going to see him again?
Me: Of course not! That was the whole point.
Camille: Right. Too bad, if he’s a hottie old. You could call him daddy.
Me: Grrrrl!
Camille: Break a leg on the first day! Cherry’s already broken!
This makes me laugh, and the high feeling lasts all through the prep and the drive to the Castle Hotel.
When I arrive at the narrow road to the immense property after turning off the highway, my heart nearly skips a beat.
It’s so beautiful, so majestic, all gray stone and turrets with flags flying. The mountains rise behind it. You can almost imagine you are living in some other era.
It has everything. Two towers. Themed wings. Multiple restaurants. Hiking expeditions. There’s even a gorgeous waterfall and each night, one lucky couple gets to stay nearby in a glamping tent. It’s quickly becoming one of the most popular marriage proposal destinations in the world.
It’s a dream, and for the briefest moment, I imagine Sebastian down on one knee, the sun on his wind-blown hair, holding up a ring.
Ha. Hilarious. Time to move on, Mila.
The parking lot isn’t packed. It’s early September, the slow season for travel since families are starting school and most people took a vacation during summer.
Even so, a few guests have pulled into the circle drive, bell hops loading their suitcases onto rolling carts. The immense front doors, made of heavy wood and two stories tall, are straight out of a movie set. In fact, I heard that three upcoming holiday specials are going to be filmed here. That will be exciting.
A thrill darts through me. I’m so lucky! Everything is working out perfectly.
I follow the signs to a service road around the back side, where staff members park. The lot is so full that I end up with a slot in the far corner.
I debate how much to haul inside since I don’t know exactly where I’m going. I choose a rolling carryon and a shoulder bag and start the trek to the back door.
I was probably not as practical as I should have been for moving in, thinking I should dress to impress. My black heels, wide-legged silk pants, and loose cashmere sweater are a stark contrast to the hoodies and jeans of two people who exit the back door and head for the lot.
Maybe they’re current staff getting off shift. There are only five of us in the new crew. These two could be anything. Line cooks. Room service. Housekeeping.
They don’t spare me so much as a glance as they rush by.
I head for the door they exited, but when I get there, it’s locked. There’s a scanner affixed to the wall. I’m guessing I’ll eventually have a badge for it. But there is no way to buzz in or an intercom to use.
Should I knock?
A large door farther down is clearly meant for deliveries. It has a red buzzer. I start to head for it when this one opens.
A gorgeous blonde woman in jeans and a white puffy vest steps out, then seems startled I’m right there. “Oh!”
“Hi,” I say. “I’m Mila. Is it okay if I pop in this door? I’m part of the new hospitality staff.”
Her face lights up, and I swear if this woman was on a big screen, everyone would flock to see her looking exactly like this. I feel a little star-struck, even though she’s super casual in frayed jeans and Converse.
“That’s so great! I’m Brooklyn! It’s my first day, too.” She holds out a hand, but while she’s focused on me, the door closes behind her. “Oh, crap. We don’t get our badges until the staff meeting. I only got in because the cleaning staff was coming off shift when I arrived.”
We both stare at the door. “Surely someone will come out in a minute,” I say.
She frowns at the scanner. “I guess we shouldn’t unload until after the meeting.”
“Did you meet any of the new bosses?” I’m over the moon to finally meet the owner, Havannah Boudreaux-McDonald. She is legendary in hospitality circles since she opened her landmark castle. But she’s also seven months pregnant with her second child, which is why she’s expanded the leadership staff. It’s taking quite a few people to replace all the roles she has always managed by herself.
Brooklyn steps away from the door. “Well, the assistant manager is there. Raya. Tall, brownish-blonde hair.”
“Yes, she did my interview.” We had them via Zoom.
“Mine, too.” She frowns. “And Anna, the head of housekeeping, was in there. Eep.”
“Something wrong with her?”
Brooklyn makes a slashing motion near her throat. “I’d avoid her at all costs. She yelled at two people in the three minutes I was near her.”
“Hopefully, we won’t have much to do with her.”
“Well.” Brooklyn twists a flyway bit of her honey hair. “That’s the thing. Raya said we will take rotations through most of the departments.”
“Oh, right. They did mention that. Are we going to clean rooms?”
Brooklyn shrugs. “I have no idea. But we’ll probably have to do some shifts in housekeeping.”
“I’m warned.”
The door clicks, and we turn to see a guy our age coming out. He’s in khaki pants and a navy sweater. “Hey,” he says. “Going in?”
“She is,” Brooklyn says. “I’m headed to get more stuff out of my car.”
“New hire?” he asks. “Because I’m part of the new hospitality crew.”
“So are we!” Brooklyn says. “This is…” She trails off. “I think I talked too much and didn’t get your name!”
“I’m Mila,” I say. “I’m from Houston but went to school at the University of North Texas.”
He grins, although he keeps cutting his eyes to Brooklyn. I don’t blame him. It’s hard not to. “I’m Owen. Oklahoma State.”
“Oh, then we can’t be friends,” I say with a laugh.
“What?” Brooklyn says. “Was there a war between Texas and Oklahoma?”
“Only in football,” Owen says. “Where did you go to school?”
“Florida State.” Brooklyn blushes, and I wonder what that means, unless it has to do with Owen. I’m the worst at spotting people who are interested in each other, as Camille likes to point out.
This makes me think of last night again, and the flush on my cheeks probably means I’m red-faced too.
Owen lets go of the door.
“Oh no,” Brooklyn lunges for the handle.
But before she can catch it, it slams shut. Now all three of us are locked out.
“They should give us our badges,” Owen says. A gust of wind ruffles his sandy hair, and Brooklyn is definitely paying attention.
Camille was right. There will be hooking up.
“I think I’ll go get a load to be ready when someone opens it again,” Brooklyn says.
“I’ll go with you.” Owen meets my gaze. “If you get in before we’re back, have pity on us.”
I laugh. “If I get in.”
The two of them take off across the lot.
I stare at the door. Presumably, someone else will come out soon.
I wait, the chilly wind blowing my hair all around. I’m going to look a fright. I turn to watch Brooklyn and Owen walk through the parking lot.
The handle turns, and I whip back around.
But when the door opens, all the blood that warmed my cheeks a moment ago drains out of my face.
It can’t be.
No way.
A dark head of wavy hair on top of a tall, beautifully put together man emerges from the door. “I heard there were stranded people out here.”
Then he sees me.
“Whoa,” he says.
I can’t say a word.
Because right in front of me is the man I slept with last night. The one person who knows how recently I changed my virginity status.
And on his badge, hanging in front of a charcoal button-down shirt that covers a chest I remember all too well, are the words that absolutely spell my doom.
Sebastian Young.
General Manager.
Castle Hotel.