Chapter 10
Everett
Itook advantage of a pocket of decent weather to repair a wooden panel at the front of the hotel.
Standing under the portico that covered the front entrance, I hammered in another nail. The exterior of the hotel was an attractive blend of wood and stone. But wood needed maintenance to keep it in good shape, especially with the variety of weather we got in Windward.
It was the afternoon, and a trickle of cars and SUVs were pulling up, keeping the valet drivers and bellhops busy. New guests arriving to hit the slopes.
I hammered another nail and my mind went straight to where it had been most of the day.
Piper.
I realized now that she was the classic older child. Shouldering too much responsibility, taking on way too much. Especially since she’d been raised by what sounded like a strong single mom, she now felt the need to protect her mother and grandmother.
Well, she wasn’t going to deal with her brother alone. My jaw tightened. I hated that she’d been hurt and scared last night.
I’d met with Ro and Caden after this morning.
We’d decided not to involve the police at this stage, and Caden was working to track down Chance Ellis.
He hadn’t messaged me yet, so I figured he was still working on it.
I finished with the wood panel and nodded.
The damaged part was now replaced, and it looked good.
I set the hammer in my toolbox and closed it up.
Still no snow today, just a piercing blue sky.
Time for a break.
After I stashed my toolbox back in the maintenance area and shrugged out of my coat, I checked my tablet for any urgent jobs or messages from my team.
They were currently spread out around the hotel doing their work.
I saw an email from Johnny, which included a dozen photos of his newborn son.
I smiled. The kid looked like a wrinkled, little old man complete with grumpy scowl. Johnny was on leave for a few weeks.
I also saw an email from Piper. It was brusque and contained the updated plans for the pool and spa. I looked them over, before I set the tablet back on my workbench. I headed for the café near the great room. A few people still in ski gear were sipping hot drinks.
“Hey, Tamara.”
The pretty Black woman behind the counter waved at me. Her dark hair was in a mass of long braids and she was always in a good mood, no matter the time of day.
“Heya, Ev. What can I get you?”
“Can you make me an oat milk latte?”
Her eyebrows winged up. “Really? You gonna drink that?”
“Hell, no. It’s for someone else.”
Her smile widened. “Someone who wears killer skirts and sexy heels?”
“How’d you know?”
“Not many people around here ask for oat milk.” She laughed happily. “Hang tight, my man, one oat milk latte coming up.”
Leaning against the counter, my one-track brain thought about Piper again. This time, that kiss.
Oh, yeah, the city girl tasted good and had a tempting mouth.
I wanted to kiss her again.
Yes, she was a city girl who wouldn’t stay here, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy ourselves in the meantime. I suspected that despite being cool and controlled when it came to her work, the lovely Ms. Ellis could be something else entirely when she let loose.
“Here you go, Ev.” Tamara slid the coffee cup to me.
“Thanks, Tam. Put it on my account.”
I swiped my pass at the door to the offices. As I neared the conference room, I heard Piper’s voice. I smiled. She was giving someone a dressing down, and for a change, it wasn’t me.
“Absolutely not, Francois.” She was sitting in her chair, long legs crossed, and phone to her ear.
I leaned against the door jamb and watched her. That damn skirt clung to every curve, and her heels today were designed to give a man ideas.
She made a sound and then broke into some French. I was no expert, but it sounded fluent. And she was pissed.
I strolled in and her blue gaze whipped to mine.
“Francois, that’s not what you told me last week. You know what my job is, right? Holding people to account. Ensuring they deliver what they promise.”
She watched me come in, a hint of wariness on her face.
I held out the coffee cup, and when she took it, she sniffed it suspiciously. I bit back a smile. Christ, she was something.
“Mmm-hmm,” she said into the phone. Her voice dripped ice.
I was damn glad that I wasn’t Francois.
She took a sip of her drink, then her eyes widened and flew back to mine. I smiled. Then, I reached over and checked the bandage on her neck.
She whacked my hand away. I took that as proof she was doing okay.
Yeah, she’d bounced back. Now, I just needed to make sure she stayed that way.
I grabbed a notepad off the table and scribbled a note.
Looked at the updated plans. Everything looks great. Let’s get started on construction.
I gripped her knee and squeezed. She stilled. I stroked the skin just below the hem of her skirt, then I pushed away from the conference table. I gave her a salute as I headed out.
I’d barely taken a few steps into the lobby when the hotel’s concierge caught my gaze and waved. I changed directions.
Enzo Rossi was Italian-American, with dark hair, a face the female guests loved, and an intensity he tried to hide behind his charm. He might be a damn good concierge, but I suspected he’d been something very different beforehand.
“Caden wants to see you,” Enzo said.
I liked Enzo. He was good at his job and could always be counted on to help out in any situation. I had no idea exactly what he’d done before he’d come to Windward, but my guess was it had been dangerous.
“Caden tell you about Piper’s deadbeat brother?” I asked.
Enzo nodded, dark eyes flashing. “I’ve been keeping an eye out for him. Although, I believe our hard-working head of security has found him.”
I felt a surge of energy.
“Caden’s in the security room with Gunnar.”
With a lift of my chin, I circled the desk and headed to the security room door. I pressed a thumb to scanner on the new lock, and it beeped, then the door opened.
The place was night and day compared to the old, small, cramped security room. The spacious room was now decked out with a wall of screens and all the latest technology.
Caden was standing with Gunnar O’Neill, the recently hired head of security for the Langston Windward.
The former special forces soldier was a little older than me, with a fit, muscular body and a hint of silver in his short hair and stubble.
He and Caden had served together in the military.
Caden oversaw security for all the hotels around the world, while Gunnar was settling in to take over the reins of things here at the Windward.
“Caden? What have you got?”
The dark-haired man gave me a chin lift. “I found Chance Ellis.”
I crossed my arms and looked at one of the large screens on the wall.
“He spent the night at one of the cheap hotels on the edge of the town, near the highway,” Caden said.
“Is he still there?”
Caden shook his head. “Checked out.”
“But, Caden’s already built up quite a little network of informants in Windward,” Gunnar said, sounding amused.
I wasn’t surprised. Caden took his job very seriously.
“He’s currently at the Black Nugget Bar,” Caden said. “It’s on the edge of town. It’s rough, and definitely doesn’t cater to the ski crowd.”
“It’s also known to run some under-the-table card games,” Gunnar added.
My jaw tightened. “Sounds like Chance’s kind of place.”
“Piper wanted me to tell her if I found her brother,” Caden said.
I held his gaze. “You want Piper near a place like the Black Nugget?”
“No.”
“Me neither.” Plus, I knew she was likely way too soft when it came to her brother. I looked at my watch. “Think I’ll finish my shift a little early and head to the Black Nugget for a drink.”
Caden tilted his head. “Think I’ll come with you.”
The Black Nugget took seedy to a new level.
The outside was ramshackle wood that had faded over the years.
Neon lights—only a few that actually worked—blinked above the door advertising bourbon.
When Caden and I stepped inside, I was hit by the smell of stale beer.
Battered, worn high tables and stools were scattered around.
My boots stuck to the floor as we headed toward the scarred bar.
Two men, who looked like they’d fought in the civil war, were perched precariously at the bar. A middle-aged bartender with a bushy beard was drying glasses. He eyed us with a cool gaze.
I strode in, Caden behind me. “Cards?”
The bartender was quiet a second, then Caden took a menacing step forward.
The man jerked his head. “Back room.”
We’d only taken a few steps toward the door, when Chance Ellis stepped out. He was sweating, his clothes rumpled.
“Chance,” I said.
The younger man’s head jerked up. I tried to see Piper in him, but apart from the blond hair, I couldn’t see it.
“Yeah. Um, tell your boss I’ll have his money for him soon. I just need—”
I held up a hand. “I’m Everett Murray. We met at the Langston Windward. I work with your sister.”
Chance blew out a breath. “Oh, right.” He glanced at Caden and his eyes turned wary. “You both work with Piper?”
Caden nodded.
I took a step closer. “Chance, the other night—”
“Look, I don’t give a fuck about my high-and-mighty sister. All she does is tell me I’m a loser. She’s so perfect.” He threw out an arm, bitterness edging his voice. “Won’t even help out her own flesh and blood when he’s in a bind.”
Caden started to move, but I beat him to it. My growing anger had me slamming a palm to Chance’s chest and ramming him against the wall. A framed picture of a cowboy rattled.
“Listen to me. Some asshole attacked her last night and put a knife to her throat.”
Chance’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Some asshole who is looking for you. Says you owe his boss money.”
A flash of raw fear. Chance licked his lips. “Hell. Shit.” He dragged in a breath, his gaze flitting between me and Caden. “She okay?”
“She will be. You stay away from her, Chance. And whatever trouble you’re in, you tell the person you owe money to that she is not involved. Understand.”
He bobbed his head. “I’ll take care of it. I promise. I…shit, you sure she’s okay?”
I nodded. He looked like he actually cared. “And I’ll keep her that way.”
“You her boyfriend or something?”
“Or something. We clear? Piper doesn’t exist for this asshole you’re messed up with.”
He nodded again, and I released him.
“Tell her I’ve got this.” He straightened his shirt, then gave me and Caden a wide berth, and hurried to the front door.
“That guy is trouble,” Caden murmured.
“Yeah.”
“Complete opposite of Piper.” Caden shook his head. “Met him once, and doesn’t look like he’s changed.”
As long as he kept his mess away from Piper, that was all I cared about.