10. CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER TEN
Elise
Isee the hurt in his eyes and I go to him. Leaning up on my toes, I still can’t reach his mouth. My hands wrap around his neck, bringing his lips closer to mine.
I kiss him. Then I do it again.
“We’re going to get through this,” I whisper, kissing Huxton one more time before letting go.
He doesn’t smile.
It’s nothing new, but the determination in his eyes is gone. The drive that’s got him this far, the passion and love for this project. Everything that I’ve fallen in love with - it’s not there.
“I don’t even know where to start,” Huxton says, kicking a window shutter that’s blown off a nearby cabin.
I pick it up, walk over and hold it in place. “You could grab a hammer?”
His brow crinkles in confusion. I can see he wants to argue with me, it’s just his nature. He doesn’t like being told what to do, but I’m not backing down.
“Listen,” I say, stepping back over to him. “We can wallow in pity all day, feeling sorry for ourselves. We can call off the Grand Opening and delay it by a few months. Or, we can get to work, just like you have for the past…” I throw my hands up in the air. “… fuck knows how long and get this done.”
Huxton stands still as I grab him, holding his big arms.
“She’s right,” a voice forces Huxton to turn around.
It’s Tracy. And she’s gripping a power drill.
All the staff are streaming out of the restaurant, looking around at the damage. A few of them pick up broken twigs and branches, placing them in a stack, ready to move to the forest.
Huxton clenches his jaw and looks at me. I smile and it’s like a switch is flicked in his head.
My tummy flutters as he rolls up his sleeves, exposing those enormous arms. He mutters ‘I love you’ to me and that smoldering, steely gaze moves to lock on his team of staff. Like the true man I’ve fallen for, he starts barking orders.
His deep voice bounces around the site, making the hairs on my arms rise. Powerful. Demanding. He’s everything we need to get this job done.
Excitement and chatter flares as people get to work.
Huxton turns to me and smiles.
“Well, what should I do?” I ask, slapping my hands together, ready to get to work.
Huxton moves closer, bending down to kiss me. “You can do… me.”
***
One Week Later
“And here are your keys. I hope you enjoy your stay at Mountain Retreat Lodge.”
A young couple on their honeymoon smile and make their way to their cabin. I barely have time to clear their paperwork due to the long line of guests waiting in front of me. So I add their profile to the pile I’ll do tonight when I’m sitting by the fire in Huxton’s cabin.
Or should I say, our cabin.
I’ve spent every night since the storm snuggled up in the warmth of Huxton’s beautiful home. My lodging at the staff cabin has been vacant, but nobody bothers to ask why. It’s pretty obvious.
We officially opened this morning and Huxton has been busy with interviews and photographs all morning. Everyone has been so excited to be the first guests to stay at the newest five-star lodging in the state, and so far, none of them have been double booked. Yay me!
The recovery effort was amazing. We worked night and day, but everyone pitched in, and we got over line with a day to spare. Luckily the expert craftmanship saved a lot of the cabins, and the fixes were mostly decorative.
We had to make some small changes to cover the wounds of the storm. After receiving such a lashing, some of the landscape was beyond repair. It wasn’t all lost though, and a new courtyard near the restaurant was added to make up for the broken memorial of Huxton’s father.
“Are you ready for lunch?” A deep voice fills the office.
I turn around and see the man of the moment. He’s wearing a beautiful new shirt today, albeit still fitting of his mountain man roots. I tried to get him to wear a vest over his green and white plaid shirt, but it appears as though that request has gone unanswered.
“Where is your vest, mister?” I say, moving back from the reception desk.
He chuckles and holds my hips. “I just thought I’d get a head start on the undressing part…”
I raise my brows. “Oh, is that right?”
The other girls I’ve been training this week take over as I slip out for my break with Huxton. There is a bustle of energy surrounding the place today with guests, journalists and entertainment everywhere you look.
The morning sun has a heat to it now and the aroma of garlic and freshly baked bread comes from the restaurant, mixing perfectly with the earthiness of the forest. Guests are everywhere, mingling with each other, admiring the blooming wildflowers and breathtaking scenery.
They’re all smiling and enjoying Huxton’s vision.
“Well, we did it,” I say, sliding my hand in Huxton’s.
“Almost,” he says, his boots crunching on the soft gravel as we turn the corner to the new garden courtyard. “There’s just one more thing to celebrate.”
I rack my brain, not even noticing Huxton letting go of me. What have we forgotten? Everything went off perfectly this morning.
I step around the corner, following Huxton’s lunging steps. My eyes grow wide as I see lines of people standing behind bunches of flowers scattered on the ground. There is a gorgeous view of the valley behind them, the towering mountains off in the distance adding to the picturesque view.
My eyes catch Tracy who smiles at me and wipes away a tear from her eye. Somehow, even the girls from the office are there. Wait, who the hell is helping the guests?
“Huxton, what is-” I turn but Huxton is gone from behind me. “Huxton? Huxton?”
He’s nowhere to be found and I’m spinning around in circles as everyone stares at me.
“Huxton!”
A tap on my shoulder spins me around one last time but this time, Huxton is there. Before I can say anything, he presses his finger to my lips, and leans down to kiss my cheek.
“Elise,” he starts, his deep voice more gentle than I’ve ever heard.
“Huxton, what are you doing?”
He smiles and grabs me by the shoulders, holding me still. He’s been doing that a lot this week.
“Elise, today is the most wonderful day of my life. Not because I’ve seen my dream become a reality, but because I got to wake up next to you,” Huxton says, loud enough for the gathered crowd to hear. “Today is a day of dreams coming true. Mountain Retreat Lodge was the vision of my father, but without your help this week, without your courage and passion, none of this would have happened.”
There is a gentle applause, but I hardly feel I deserve it. Huxton must notice because he nods assuringly at me.
“You bring the best out in people, and without even knowing it, you’ve brought the best out in me.”
Huxton drops to his knee and reaches into his pocket. I swallow down hard, staring in disbelief. He’s not… he’s…
“Elise, I’ve fallen so fast and hard for you. You make each and every day on this mountain better than the last.” He pops the box open, and the sunlight catches the sparkling diamond ring. “I want to spend every day with you. I want you to be my wife, forever. Will you do me that honor?”
I reach for him, grabbing Huxton by the shirt and kissing him repeatedly. I’m nodding with every kiss, and when we finally break apart, I shout out “Yes!”
Huxton slides the ring on my finger and pulls me in his arms.
I never expected to find my happy place in the mountains, but now I have my mountain man and the rest of my life. I couldn’t be happier.