CHAPTER THREE
Garrick
After a three-day trek into the mountains, there’s nothing I like better than finding a tourist to take home for a night or two of fun. Last night, I had to deliver a cat to a demon, and I wasn’t much in the mood for flirting after that.
Tonight, though, I’m free. I’ve got two full days off until my next expedition. Thanks to Sugar Valley Guides stealing more of my clients. Which is thanks to the aforementioned demon, who’s been blocking every permit I try to get approved by the town council.
The trails I take clients on are great, but they’re short and I’m limited to how many groups I can take out at one time. I need more acreage for multi-day snowmobiling and snowshoeing trips. Plus, some of the best fishing is in the lakes and river frontage I can’t access without trespassing.
The clients who spend big money want new frontiers to explore, they don’t want to come back to the same old same old year after year.
I’ve been working too hard, and it’s been months since I’ve had the time or energy for myself. Months since I’ve had sex. I’m overdue for this night, and I’m determined to enjoy it.
The great thing about living in a town with very few hotels is that people who miss the last bus out of here at eleven, or who just don’t feel like driving all the way back to Sugar Valley, are always happy to have a place to stay. And I’m an extremely welcoming host.
Tilly’s behind the bar along with Winston. I go the long way around to avoid her, but Winston gets shouted away and I end up facing one of the two people who truly hates me in this town.
Tilly smiles, showing her teeth. “Oh, look, it’s Run-away Garrick. On the prowl? Want me to point out the locals so you won’t make the same mistake you made with me?”
On one of my first nights in Yuletide, I invited Tilly back to my place, but bailed as soon as I found out she’s a local. I don’t bring locals home ever, because the last thing I want is a relationship.
My focus needs to be on building my business, Evergreen Expeditions.
All I have room for are casual hookups, and locals in a small town are always looking to get serious, no matter what they claim.
It was nearly five years ago, but Tilly can hold a grudge like no one I’ve ever met. She sees my decision not to sleep with her as a permanent character flaw.
“I can’t apologize more than I already have, Tilly. Can I just get a beer?”
“There aren’t enough apologies in the world for your behavior, Garrick. Not least of which is that you assumed I couldn’t handle a one-night stand. You didn’t even bother to ask.”
She’s right, but I can’t change the past. “Maybe it was me who was worried about getting attached to you.”
She snorts. “You want what’s on tap or what?”
I don’t even bother looking at the tap or the drink menu on the wall behind her. “Can I get a non-alcoholic IPA?”
She nods. “We’ve got a new one in. Want to try it?”
Saying no doesn’t seem like a viable option. “I’d love to.”
She gives me a mock bow, grabs a can from the cooler, and hands it over. “That’ll be ten dollars.”
She’s overcharging me and she should at least ask if I want it in a glass, but I don’t argue. Tilly not only tends bar here, as of last month, she’s the owner.
I give her fifteen in cash. I won’t be buying anymore drinks tonight, because I’m not looking to get buzzed or drunk. I’m looking for an entirely different kind of good time tonight.
As soon as I turn away from the bar top, I see exactly what I’m looking for. She’s in a blousey top and leather pants, her back’s to me, but that’s enough to make it obvious she’s got an amazing figure even with the dim lighting. Her light hair is up in some sort of tight ‘do, showing off a slender, pale neck.
She’s leaning in close to a guy I’ve never seen around town and I’m about to write her off as attached until another woman joins them and slides an arm around his waist.
My blood sizzles with anticipation.
I’m so looking forward to a break from the stress of running a business. I need the lightness and pleasure of no strings sex.
Game on.
The woman in the leather pants must be on the same sort of mission I’m on, because she walks away from the couple and stops in front of a man leaning against the wall. There’s a small chance she’s here with the guy, but I’m betting she’s single and looking to hook up, and I need to slide in there before she leaves with the man who’s scanning her body with a smirk and heat in his gaze.
I’m halfway across the bar, planning out my strategy, when a server drops a tray of glasses and my conquest turns to look in my direction.
My heart goes cold as I realize my mistake. That isn’t light hair, it’s pink hair. And that woman with the amazing body is my worst enemy.
Thankfully, Blue Porter doesn’t see me, and she turns back to her man. I could walk away. I could go to another bar or even find a willing woman here, but I got a call today that I’m fully blaming on Blue and I’m in the mood for a little payback.
That and annoying Blue Porter is almost as much fun as getting laid.
I don’t even have to fake my smile. As soon as I’m close enough, I slide an arm around her waist and press a kiss to her cheek. “Hi, Baby. Sorry I’m late.”
She smells so good I can’t help but breathe her in. What is that scent? Lavender and something spicy.
I don’t get a chance to figure it out. Blue shoves me away so hard I almost spill my drink. “Ew, Garrick. get off me.”
Her eyes flash with anger, and her hands are actually shaking. She is so fucking fierce and gorgeous. Too bad she’s a demon set on ruining my life.
“This guy bothering you?” The man she was flirting with asks as he stomps toward me in designer boots, a big old expensive watch on his wrist. I know his type. I used to be his type.
“Yes, but—” Blue starts.
“Of course, I’m not bothering her,” I say. “I’m her nurse. I just need to get her home.”
Blue’s eyes widen. “You are not—”
I chuckle and slap the guy on the shoulder. Damn, he’s solid muscle and a half foot taller than me. If he decides to fight, I’ll probably lose. Won’t be the first time. “She’s embarrassed.” I move in close to her and bend my knees until I’m on her level. “You know there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s a medical condition that could happen to anyone. And being embarrassed was what allowed it to go on so long and affect your brain.”
Blue stares like she doesn’t know whether to punch me or ask what the hell I’m talking about.
I put an arm around her shoulders and look up at the big guy. “Syphilis. But don’t worry. She’s got it under control. I just like to monitor her—”
Luckily, the guy walks away before I have to say anymore, because I know nothing about syphilis other than I don’t want to get it.
“I don’t have syphilis,” Blue shouts after the guy, just as the music goes quiet before the next song starts. Everyone in the place turns to stare at her.
I pull my arm from her shoulder and wipe my hands together. “And my work here is done.”
Blue shoves me. “What the hell, Evergreen? I took your damn cat. I haven’t even retaliated for you refusing to help me out with Peach’s impending wedding disaster. Why’d you have to ruin my night?”
“That guy looks huge.” I spread my hands apart and wince. “I was saving your vagina.”
Her face goes red, and she lets out a tiny scream of pure frustration. “What. The. Actual. Hell. Is your problem?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know.” My own anger builds. It was fun to get some vengeance, but I’m not going to stand here and let her pretend she’s innocent.
“Humor me.” She narrows her eyes, her glare sharp enough to slice flesh, her hands fisted. “Tell me what I’ve done to cause a tiny little man tantrum this time.”
“Hey,” a man in slacks and a tie steps between us. “Everything okay here?”
“Everything’s fine,” Blue and I snap in unison.
The man looks at me, then back to Blue, seems to decide there are safer places to be than between us, and walks away.
I grab Blue’s arm and drag her into a dimly lit hallway that leads to the bathrooms. It’s quieter here and cooler, but Blue’s rage is so hot it could melt my internal organs if I get too close. I drop her arm and take a step back. “It’s not a man tantrum. Yvonne Cutright called me this evening.”
Her face pales. “From the town council? That Yvonne Cutright? Why would she call you?”
“She wanted to let me know I’m not getting approved to use the ridge for guiding trips. I know it might just be a tiny little line item to you, but it’s my career, Demon. I needed that approval.”
“We all need things, Mr. Evergreen. Unfortunately, that’s not how politics works.” She’s glaring at me like I’m the one who screwed her over.
“It sure isn’t. Especially not when the person in charge is determined to ruin me.”
Her eyes widen and her mouth drops open. She recovers quickly and plasters on the expression I’m so used to seeing from her, that severe, expressionless mask. “I might be more inclined to help you if you weren’t a giant asshole every time I see you. From day one, you’ve expected the worst of me. You can’t be upset when I deliver.”
That one hits me right in the solar plexus. She’s not wrong. From the first time I saw her, I’ve known exactly who she is. She’s a city girl with eyes only for dollars and cents and turning our little town into a corporate moneymaker. I’m in this town because I wanted to get away from that kind of thinking. “Don’t pretend this was ever going to turn out any differently, Demon. You’re here to change this town to whatever vision you have, and you don’t care who gets hurt in the process.”
She winces, looking like she’s in genuine pain, but I remember the woman I met the first day she was in office. The woman I’d seen parading around town for weeks in her fancy dresses, talking about making Yuletide a destination. No one wants this place to be a destination. One of the greatest things about Yuletide is that the tourists leave at the end of the day.
And that first time I met her… She was sitting behind her desk, back straight, wearing her pricey clothes. Gorgeous, but ice cold. It took me a week just to get a meeting with her, and she barely looked at me as I walked in.
I know her kind. I was raised by them. I could see the disdain in her eyes as soon as I started speaking. She didn’t even let me get more than two words out before she started harassing me about my use of town vehicles, like I’d been sneaking around siphoning gas in the middle of the night.
I’ve been borrowing those vehicles for years. Sometimes because one of my own vehicles breaks down, but more often because it’s helpful to have an official-looking vehicle when I’m taking a group into an area I have access to that some townsfolk are less than happy to see me tramping around in.
No one in the mayor’s office or outside it has ever had a problem with my use of those vehicles until Blue moved into the job and decided everything had to change.
“Guess you know everything there is to know about me, Garrick Evergreen.” Her chin is high, but her eyes are glassy and, for the first time, I wonder if I’ve gone too far.
She moves to walk past me, but I grab her hand, her palm smooth against mine. She stops so close to me I can see a kaleidoscope of blue in her irises. “Did you advise them against approving my permit?”
Her shoulders slump, and she looks so sad and defeated I almost feel bad about ruining her night. Almost. “Why ask when you already know the answer?”
I let go of her, and she walks away. She doesn’t pause, but weaves through the crowd toward the coat check without even looking around.
I should feel justified and righteous about making my point, but my chest is hollow and a familiar sense of shame rises. I didn’t do anything wrong. She’s the one in the wrong.
So why do I still feel like the asshole?