Chapter 7 Drew
DREW
I’m overflowing with nervous energy.
Telling my parents last night was stressful, like my mother’s disappointment in what I imagine amounts to her wanting to spend time with me.
But my dad huffed and puffed about me paying rent.
Mom convinced him to give me until after Christmas, so I need to make this work or I’ll be stuck in that bakery and wither back into an old self that chafes.
Brewing a strong cup of assam tea calms me at first, the ceremony of it, but as I wait for the eight-minute steep, I get antsy again.
My nerves are jacked up by the time I show up at the Lodge.
The bright and early morning sky is just touching the darkness on the horizon behind me.
It lights up the logs that make up the front facade of the building.
It’s rustic and charming and at the same time exudes luxury and style.
Gripping my to-go cup and slinging my bag over my shoulder, I brace the cold morning air and march into the Lodge entrance before the bite at my nose turns to full blown numbness.
Inside, the floors and ceilings are made of warm pale wood, stone, and mood lighting.
The skylights will fill the place with natural sunlight and highlight the subtle brick red and navy accents.
I strip out of my coat and walk through the lobby, taking in each detail.
Did his dad decorate the place or has Adam put his own spin on it?
It’s hard to tell.
I haven’t been here since I was a kid, and that was only to ski and drink hot cocoa.
It’s seven on the dot when Adam interrupts my examination by his mere presence.
It takes up more space than he does, which is saying something.
His gaze finds mine immediately, and a smirk tilts his mouth.
He’s in another suit sans the jacket.
White spreads tight across his chest, and I try not to notice how big and broad he is.
How intimidating it should be, especially as he approaches, is overshadowed by how aware of him I am.
“Drew Bennett. How was your drive in?” Adam hovers, almost looming over me but not quite.
I roll my eyes. It took literally ten whole minutes to drive up the hill to get here. “It was fine.”
“Have you been here before?” His voice is low and soft, almost a rumble.
I try not to like it and fail. “It’s been a long time.”
“Good. That means I get to give you a tour.” That big hand of his finds the small of my back, searing me much hotter than it did through my coat.
I send him some side eye. The touching is not professional. I need this to stay professional.
I cannot ruin this opportunity. Even if Adam is sexy as fucking hell. Bosses are off limits.
Stepping out of his grasp as we weave through the chairs and tables in the lobby, he finds me again the moment he’s able to.
I give him an exasperated sigh.
“I don’t think your hand on my back is very necessary. It’s not like I’m about to trip in the snow.”
“Oh, Miss Bennett, I assure you, it’s quite necessary. Snow or not.”
I stop us to turn and look him in the eye. The tension between us doubles, and I struggle to keep my breath even. The distance I try to put between us is not enough.
“Says who?” I should plant my hands on my hips, slap his hand away, give him a push, but I do none of those things.
“Says me.” Adam steps closer.
I’m losing this battle. “And everyone does as you say, is that it?”
“I have a feeling you’re going to test that reality.”
I snort, lifting my to-go mug to cover my mouth as I laugh. “You bet your ass I will.
Show me where I can put my stuff, unless you want to help me lug it all around for this tour.”
My coat is liberated from my grip, my bag, too, but Adam leaves me my tea. I take a purposeful sip as if to prove how unaffected I am. “Those are totally your color.”
The coat is a big, puffy, lilac monstrosity from my senior year in high school, but none of my more adult jackets was enough for a Pinebrook winter.
Adam tilts his head at me. “I’m not afraid to hold a woman’s things. It’s not going to make me any less of a man. In fact”—he steps closer still, and I have to reground myself to keep my knees from wobbling—“I think it makes me more of a man to be helpful.”
We’re in a standoff in some kind of quarrel that I don’t completely understand.
Adam doesn’t peg me as the kind of boss who would bowl over his employees, to use his stature to intimidate.
And that’s not quite what this feels like.
Dominance at play.
This is where I usually flounder. “Then be helpful and tell me what events you want, how big you want them, and what resources I have at my disposal so that this tour can have some context and I can get to work.”
He gives me that sly grin. “I’ve got a list.”
“A list.”
Nodding toward a pair of wooden, barn doors, he says, “I’ll explain as we walk.”
We walk through a small banquet hall.
It’s beautiful with loads of windows and luxurious wood burning heaters to make the place feel cozy. Sparse furniture creates a lowkey seating or visiting area when not in use for a party.
I get a quick tour of the kitchen, menus, and a few handshakes of need-to-know people.
There’s a small cafe in the back where basic coffee, tea, and cocoa is stocked with an array of pastries from my parents’ bakery.
Adam doesn’t acknowledge my questioning look when I see them.
He ushers me on to the balcony and the hill down to the lift for skiers to go up the mountain.
We circle around through another sitting area to the lobby.
The rest is filled with private rooms that I don’t really need to see. And we end by stepping past the front desk to a hallway of offices.
Making it behind the scenes fills me with triumph. I’ve maintained my professionalism. With that win bolstering me, I cross my arms and look at Adam.
“So, how much are you paying me for the…” I count the events he has on his docket. “Seven events?”
“Well, let’s just make something clear right now, Miss Bennett.” He sets my jacket and bag down on one of the chairs in the office. “You’re not my employee. Instead, think of me as a client.”
“A client, huh?”
He hits me with the full force of his presence, and I’m once again struggling not to wobble. “Yes. Because I have strict policies about fraternization amongst employees.”
How forward he’s being has me burning up. He’s too much my type. Too much exactly what’s gotten me in trouble.
“It’s better to be upfront about these things.”
I’m gaping at him and snap my mouth shut, bolstering myself against feeling like an imposter. I’m good at my job, but I’m so terribly bad with men.
I can already feel the awkward sweat tickling the back of my neck.
Adam doesn’t seem deterred, and he doesn’t crowd me the same way Nick did when he showed interest. “I have a feeling you’re not used to this level of honesty.”
I shake my head. “Not quite.”
He does step closer, still a few feet away. “You’ve been through something traumatic, and I don’t want to pressure you or make you uncomfortable. Although, I think I am.”
I laugh a little.
“No. Not really. I just—” Am I really going to admit this right now? “I don’t have a lot of experience, and it’s probably why my choices keep blowing up in my face.”
“What kind of choices?”
My arms tighten around me. “I don’t even know how to start…”
“Well, it’s certainly not for a lack of male interest, I’m sure.”
I let out an exasperated breath and lean my head back to look at the ceiling instead of him. Because this is torturous. It’s so much easier when I don’t talk about these things.
“You don’t agree with me? No hordes of men throwing themselves at your feet?”
My attention swings back to him. “Not hardly.”
He nods as if that’s some giant revelation. The way he examines me directly makes my skin prickle with anticipation.
“If I didn’t directly state that I’m attracted to you, you would probably question everything I’ve said and twist it into something else. Wouldn’t you?”
Lips parting, I have no answer. Or at least, the words won’t come. Because I would probably do just that.
“You can’t tell when someone’s interested in you until they make the first move.” His nostrils flare. “It’s put you at the mercy of those men.”
There’s no way he’s guessing at this. He could have asked anyone and gotten plenty to make this kind of judgement off of. I’m not that easy to read, right?
“What have you heard?”
That makes Adam smirk at me, but he takes a few steps back. “I just need to be sure you know that I’m not married. Not engaged. Not committed to anyone in any way.”
Air tunnels into my lungs, and it’s hard to let it out again.
“Get settled. I’ll be back to check on you soon.” Adam slips through the door, closing it behind him, and I suck in gasps, fanning my face.
God, what the fuck was that?
Shaking my head, he wasn’t beating around the bush. But I’m not…I can’t handle that right now. It’s not a smart move.
No. Even if he isn’t my boss, I can’t jump into something new.
My heart is battered too much for that.
And I’m not the casual kind of girl. Not that anyone would believe me given my reputation.
Running a hand through my hair, I turn and take in the office.
My office? It’s pretty blank, empty.
A desk and some shelves.
Monochrome binders and notebooks lined up. It’s small but more than enough space for me to work.
That’s what I need to do. Get to work.
I pull out a notebook and create my list of events: a sledding event, Santa’s Village for the kids, the tasting Pinebrook tour, a town-wide snowball fight, the Christmas festival in town, and a big Christmas party at the Lodge.
Six events in the next month.
I plant my hands on my hips. He didn’t tell me how much he’s paying me for this, but it better be worth the work I’m going to put in.
I mean, getting me away from the bakery is a big bonus, but he’s asking for enough to keep me busy all season.
I need access to the decorations he mentioned.
Making my way out of my new office, I head back to the front desk and stumble into it when I see Gabe manning it.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I work here.”
“Since when?”
He lifts his gaze to mine. “Last five years.”
Five years? “And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“You didn’t ask.”
That pierces my heart because he’s right. We didn’t share much more than a hello mediated by my mom after I left.
“What are you doing here?”
“I work here.” I pause, shifting on my feet. “Planning the holiday events.”
Gabe gathers a stack of papers in a file and closes it. “What are you doing afterward?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet.” I shrug when his gaze flicks up again. “What do you do here?”
“I’m the manager.”
I blink at him in surprise. “Didn’t you want to do something more with your business degree?”
“Where else was I supposed to go? This is home.” His brow furrows, and he frowns. Instincts make me step closer.
“Could always start one of your own…”
That cracks the tiniest smile at the corner of his mouth. “Got to pay the bills in the meantime.”
I pout at him. “Does that mean you’re working on something?’
Gabe leans back in his chair, facing me a little more. His sweater is stone gray and shows off the lanky shape of him. “I have a few ideas.”
“Good.” I twist in place and prop myself against the counter. “Would you know where the decorations are? Where I can find supplies for events?”
He picks up the phone on the desk and hits a few buttons, watching me when whoever picks up the line. “I need you at the front desk.”
After a pause, he hangs the phone up in its cradle.
And we’re in a staring contest.
It’s been a long time since we had one of these.
Usually, this is how he prods me into talking about whatever bothers me.
I’ve said my peace though.
I don’t want to reopen the scab that’s only starting to form.
“Drew.”
“Yeah?”
His energy shifts, and he glances behind me toward the offices. “Just…be careful. Not everyone here deserves your trust.”
I frown. “Meaning?”
Gabe shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter.”
Greyson strides in, breaking the tension with a smile. “You needed me?”
Greyson sends me a wink as he braces himself on his elbows to look down at Gabe.
“Yeah. Take Drew out to the barn. Show her what she can use.”
I catch a flicker of something in his expression—something almost reluctant, like he doesn’t want me to leave just yet.
I hesitate under his watchful gaze then turn to Greyson beckoning me and follow him toward a side exit.
Has Gabe missed me more than he’s said?
“Where’s your jacket?” Greyson brings my attention back to him.
“In my office.”
His brows shoot up. “Got an office already, do you? Grab one off the racks. It’s a hundred yards to the barn.”
He’s already got a coat in hand for me before I can reach for one. It makes me laugh as I let him help me into it.
Outside is sharp and cold, and I’m ready to distract myself with my job, but a few steps out I slip in a frozen rut.
Greyson’s hand shoots out to steady me. “Careful.”
Our eyes catch for a beat too long. Something shifts—something I can’t name yet. But a heat builds low in my belly.
I pull back, regaining my feet, blushing and hoping the cold disguises it. “Thanks.”
When we make it inside the barn, my pulse is still racing, partly because we’re closed in and alone together, and the other because an old crush has resurfaced and I’m not sure what to do with it.
Greyson’s easy smile eases some of my nerves. “What are we looking for?”
The new direction for my thoughts is helpful. “I don’t know yet.”
“Well, I’m nearby pretty much all the time. If you need anything made, specifically, for an event. Just ask.”
“Oh yeah?” My ideas start spiraling at the options that offers me.
“I do the handy work around here.” His pride has me smiling up at him, reminding myself not to flirt. So not appropriate.
I don’t seem to be able to help myself. “Mmm. Just remember that when I start asking.”