Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
MARIAM
T he rest of the week was full of planning, preparing, and development at Everwood Chalet. Interior design teams were hard at work in all the lodges and the slopes were coming along well. It was going to be one heck of an operation once the resort opened, and it was an exhilarating hive of activity now.
So far, I was spending my time getting to know how all the systems worked and how they wanted to run each separate component of the place. Brian had always been incredibly detailed and organized, and I was quickly learning that he was utilizing all those skills in the way he was setting up their internal structures here.
I loved it, though. I thrived on organization and my style was similar to my brother’s, which made this job one that was right up my alley as well as something I was thoroughly enjoying. Especially since this was ground level.
Opening night was creeping up quickly and I was super excited to see how things progressed from where we were now to what it would be by then. Every day, things were changing, my brother and Arland’s vision coming to life before my very eyes.
I sighed as I looked up from my laptop, gaze settling on the wintery landscape outside. Some snow had fallen last night. With every dusting, more and more of the white stuff was sticking to the ground. It was magical seeing it happen.
In fact, everything about this experience so far had been magical. Everything except the tension between Arland and me.
We’d been avoiding each other to keep from acting on the blistering attraction between us, mainly communicating through email and walking literal circles around each other when we met in the halls. We were also intentional about not being alone together, but yet, the distance only seemed to be making me want him more .
I’d never felt chemistry like this before. When Gemma had told me what she’d felt with Noah, I’d thought she was just being Gemma. Honestly, I hadn’t believed it when she’d described the instant connection between them because I’d never experienced anything like it.
Now, however, I was starting to wonder if I should’ve been so quick to dismiss her. Whenever I was around Arland, I felt like there was an exposed electrical wire nearby, tingles zapping across my skin and the very air feeling like it was crackling between us.
It was silly, really. There was no rational, logical basis for any of it, and yet, I couldn’t deny what I felt.
While I knew that it was necessary for us to keep our distance, I really didn’t like doing it. It felt wrong somehow. Like I was swimming against the tide.
The fact that part of my job was being his assistant also made staying away a lot harder. Email was fine for most things, but it felt too strange to send one saying, “Running to the lodges to touch base with the designers,” or “Went to refill coffee machine.”
When I’d told him as much, we’d devised a system of leaving one another paper notes about any quick things we needed the other to know. As I glanced at my watch, I realized that it was time for me to go.
I was heading back to Austin for a short visit over the Thanksgiving holidays and Brian had insisted that I keep my plans, even after I’d offered to stay once I’d seen how much work was left to be done here. He wasn’t having it, though.
Standing up from behind my desk, I grabbed a post-it note from the colorful stack I’d bought and scribbled out a quick message to Arland. I wanted more than anything to say goodbye to him in person, but he was on the slopes this morning with some engineer.
Once I was done with my note, I cast a critical eye over it, wondering if what I’d written was enough. Too flirty? Too impersonal?
But then I shook my head at myself. The note was simple and straightforward, and, therefore, perfect. “ Going home for a few days. See you after the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving, Arland. ”
Satisfied that was good enough, I dashed from my office to his, trying not to even breathe too much once I’d entered it. Arland always smelled amazing, and obviously, his scent lingered here in his personal space like a sexy ghost.
Sophisticated with masculine hints of cedar, sandalwood, and citrus, it was an aroma that I couldn’t get enough of, and like the addict I was, I wasn’t even halfway across his office before I lost my battle against breathing. Inhaling deeply, I laid the note on his desk and I felt a rush unlike any I’d ever known.
It was like the man could genuinely intoxicate me with his cologne, only my rush wasn’t so much a high as a libido boost. I let out a soft sigh, quickly striding back across his office and shutting the door behind me before I did something stupid and embarrassing—like rub my shirt against his chair so that I could take his scent back to Texas with me.
As I stepped into the hallway, Brian emerged from his own office, a smile appearing on his lips when he saw me. “Mims! I’m so glad I caught you. I was worried you might’ve left already. Your flight leaves this afternoon, yeah?”
“Yep. I was just finishing up the last few things I needed to do before I go.” I strode over and pulled him into my arms for a big hug. “Love you, Bri. Call me if you guys need anything. I’m taking my laptop, so I can still help even if I’m not here.”
“I’m going to do my best not to take you up on that, but if we need you, I’ll call. Safe travels, kiddo. Love you too.”
After a tight squeeze, he released me and I waved goodbye as I headed to my office to pack my things. I’d already packed what I needed from the condo this morning, and I could head straight to the airport from here.
It was still quite a drive though, and I raced through gathering my stuff, practically jogging out to the staff parking lot and collapsing into my car. My phone started ringing. I smiled when I saw Laurel’s name, knowing she was likely on her way to the airport herself.
“Were your ears burning?” I asked as I picked up, my voice a little breathless thanks to all the running around. “I was just about to text you to find out if you’re on your way yet.”
She chuckled. “I just got in my car a few minutes ago. You?”
“I’m leaving the resort as we speak,” I said, backing out of my parking spot and pointing my car in the direction of the exit. “Is your mom picking you up, or Gemma, or Leif?”
“My mom,” she replied. “I just saw her in May, but she’s acting like I’ve been gone for years.”
I laughed. “Don’t worry. My mom is the same.”
Which was odd, considering she and I had never been that close. There was no animosity between us. She and my dad had just always had their own thing going. They’d met a few years after Brian’s mom had passed away, and Dad always said that my mom had saved both him and Brian from a life of loneliness and misery.
Mom and Dad were best friends, partners in everything they did, but that kind of relationship didn’t leave much space for anyone else—even their own children. They weren’t unkind to us or horrible people. More like they were each other’s number-one priority and they had never made a secret of it.
Even so, when I’d spoken to my mom last night, she’d been uncharacteristically excited about me coming home. I’d only been gone a couple weeks, but suddenly, she couldn’t wait to see me. I shook my head and took a turn out of the resort, refocusing on Laurel instead of wondering about my mom. “When is Leif getting in?” I asked. “I kind of thought you might be getting a ride with him.”
“No.” She sounded a little shy about this. “Why would I? We just said we’d meet up while we were both there. It’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
“Not yet,” I teased. “It’s you two, though.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That it’s only a matter of time,” I joked, but I also wasn’t really joking at all. Leif and Laurel were a couple that had always been written in the stars. Now that they were back in each other’s orbit, there was no way they weren’t ending up together. Especially since Laurel had the list to help her out. “You’re really going to kiss him this weekend?”
“I am.” At least the shyness had melted out of her voice and all that remained was determination. “How about you? Task number one ticked off yet?”
“No,” I lied after pausing for a beat. I hadn’t told either of them about Arland yet, and while I’d never been dishonest with them before, I just wanted to keep him to myself for a little bit longer.
Between the fact that he was so much older and that he was my boss, I was feeling a little insecure about what we’d done as well as the attraction between us. Plus, I had never randomly slept with a stranger just after meeting them, and it didn’t feel right to just toss that out there over the phone.
If I had the guts while we were in Austin, I’d share this with them face-to-face. I knew my friends wouldn’t judge me because of his age. Perhaps I was simply projecting my own insecurities here, but he was seventeen years older than me.
I felt awful about keeping secrets, but I just couldn’t bring myself to tell Laurel right then. This was a private matter that was further complicated by Arland’s relationship with my brother. I just didn’t even know where to start.
Lastly, I hadn’t gone home with him that night because of the list. I didn’t want them thinking that was what it had been about. In fact, after peeking at all four of the items I had to complete, I was more apprehensive about the list than ever.
“Do you think we can talk to Gemma about the list this weekend?” I asked. “I got the one-night stand, but there’s no way I can do that. I just got to Sun Valley and the people are so nice, but they’re also so rich and, honestly, so old. So far, I haven’t seen a single viable option to complete my task with.”
I winced as I told her I couldn’t do the one-night stand, but it turned out that I really couldn’t. Arland and I had only hooked up once so far, and we might’ve been determined not to let it happen again, but he really wasn’t just a one-night stand to me. It felt wrong on so many levels to pretend that was all it had been.
She laughed. “Get an older rich man. I’ve heard they’re called Sugar Daddies.”
“I might have to.” I giggled after a brief pause, but relief surged through me that she seemed to be so open to the idea of me getting involved with someone older. Was I the only one overthinking that issue? “Urg, I’m just not sure I’m ready for this, but I guess I have to be. I’ll see you at home?”
“See you at home,” she replied. “We’re still planning on getting together as much as possible, right?”
“For sure. I’ve got a few things going on with my family today once I get there, but I’ll text you as soon as we’re done.”
“Perfect. Safe flight!”
“Yeah, you too.” I ended the call and smiled, excited to get home and to see both her and Gemma.
My first bit of time in Sun Valley had been hard. The tension between Arland and me was intense and yet I knew how hurt Brian would be if I struck up a romance with his business partner. It was a rule for guys, right?
No sleeping with each other’s little sisters.
I might not have been a guy, but I had always been a rule follower and I would not bend, let alone break. Some people might subscribe to the notion that rules were meant to be broken, but I sure wasn’t one of them.
To my mind, a rule was a rule and none of them were meant to be broken. No matter how badly I didn’t want that to be true right then.