Chapter 2
Chapter Two
For the next several days, Milo kept to his morning routine and went for a walk down by the lake. And every day, he saw Nora, but she kept her distance.
Slater had explained the situation to him, and he was offended that she thought he couldn’t handle himself here in “the wild.”
“Pfft…the wild. What the hell does that even mean?”
But he knew.
And the truth was, she wasn’t entirely wrong.
Coming to the Lakeview Harbor Resort as a kid meant that every day with his friends was an adventure. He kept up with everyone, and when it came to activities he wasn’t interested in, no one ever questioned it.
Staying friends with the guys well into adulthood, they’d gone on more than one extreme sports weekend compliments of Slater’s career and the fact that everyone was super competitive.
And again, he kept up, but he never pushed the limits, not like Walker, Axel, and Slater did.
Sometimes he and Connor would opt to relax while the other three just went wild and did whatever stupid stuff they liked to do.
It worked for their group, and it was great that he didn’t have to prove himself to be included.
But when it came to handling themselves in the woods? Camping? Hiking? Yeah, then he was out.
First, it held zero appeal to him. Why would he sleep on the ground in a tent with God knows what kind of critters lurking around when he could sleep in a comfortable bed in either a cabin or a hotel?
Some would wonder why he’d invest in a rustic resort, but honestly, it was a no-brainer. Besides the nostalgia of the whole thing, he would also never have to camp out or trek up any of the mountains, so…
Plus, his buddies all knew him well enough to know that he would never take part in any activities even remotely like that, so he was safe.
This morning, however, made him wish that maybe he wasn’t so opposed to the trekking thing.
He spotted Nora with a group of resort guests, and they all had backpacks, binoculars, and boots on.
It seemed a bit early for a group activity, but apparently this was bird-watching and there were some sightings that were specific to this time of day.
I could probably handle bird-watching…
But it was too late to join the group. He didn’t want to impose and risk Nora mocking him in front of everyone.
Even though Slater promised that would never happen again.
Standing back, he watched her lead the group down a path and out of sight.
Which was just as well since he was enjoying the peaceful morning and had a lot on his agenda for the rest of the day so…he might as well finish his walk and get to work.
An hour later, he was up in the lodge, working in the conference room because his office was being renovated.
“Hey, Milo. You got a minute?” Maisie, Axel’s girlfriend and the resort’s resident decorator, asked.
Looking up from his laptop, he smiled. “Sure. What’s up?”
“Okay, so the paint’s done and the shelves are in.”
“That’s great!”
“The issue is the desk,” she went on, frowning. “It’s not the one we ordered, but I’m not hating it. Can you come look at it?”
Shrugging, he stood and followed her, not that it was going to matter. He ordered the same desk he had in Seattle because he liked it. No matter what this desk was, he was sending it back.
Maisie stepped aside and let him go into the office first, and when he did, he stopped and stared. “What the…?”
“I know, I know. It isn’t even remotely like what we ordered.
I don’t know what happened. But before I went and made calls, I figured you should look at it and see if maybe you…
like it? Maybe?” She walked slowly into the room.
“I know you chose a specific style because it’s what you have back home, but I genuinely like this one. And it fits really well in the space.”
Glancing over his shoulder, he frowned. “So you think I should keep it.”
“It’s not my choice. From a design standpoint, it’s gorgeous. And I can do some amazing things in here that would make it a lot cozier than the original plan.”
“What was wrong with the original plan?”
Poor Maisie looked like a deer caught in the headlights. “Um…”
“You don’t have to be afraid to tell me. I can take it.”
“The original design was boring,” she blurted out. “Very utilitarian and basic. Functional. Cold.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry.”
“Again, you don’t have to apologize. I thought it all looked sleek and modern.”
“No. Those aren’t the words I would have used. I was very respectful because you seemed adamant about what you wanted, but now that I’m seeing this desk here, I love it. Of course, if you really don’t want it, we’ll send it back. Or maybe I’ll see about putting it in one of the other offices.”
Milo slowly walked around the desk, inspecting it. “It’s wood,” he murmured.
“It is, and I know the one you picked out was glass and metal. I honestly don’t know who messed up the order, but we can correct it. You know, if you really want to.”
He ran his hand over the top, the wood smooth and cool to the touch.
Stepping up beside him, she held the desk’s brochure in her hand. “This desk was meticulously crafted by master carpenters from 100% natural New Zealand pine, showcasing its raw strength and natural beauty.”
He glanced over with amusement. “A desk has raw strength? Seriously?”
“According to the brochure,” she replied, waving it at him. “Okay, let’s see what else it says. Um…every inch is solid wood, so no veneers, no particle board, no shortcuts, and built to last. The desktop is three inches thick, and the stout legs equal unshakable stability.”
“I’m not planning on dancing on it.”
“Hey, you never know,” she added with a wink. “And look at the wood grain and natural knots. It says each piece of furniture has its own story and can be used in a variety of scenarios: home office, studio, workshop or executive suite. And it looks freaking fantastic.”
“It says that in the brochure?”
“No, it was my own observation. You know, as an interior designer and decorator. If I were you, I’d stick with this and switch up some of the other decor elements we discussed.”
“But…this isn’t me, Maisie. I like the desk I have back in my office in Seattle.”
“And you’ll still have that desk back in Seattle when you’re done with everything here at the resort. This desk fits the resort. The other one didn’t.” She paused. “What do you say, Milo? Will you take a chance on this and let me make this office a warm and welcoming space?”
It was an innocent enough question, but it made him realize what she was actually saying—his design choices were cold and unwelcoming.
He was beginning to notice a pattern in the way other people saw him, and he wasn’t loving it.
Studying the desk a little more, he decided it maybe wasn’t the worst idea and it did match the overall vibe of the lodge much more than what he had picked.
“Can I ask you something?”
Maisie’s eyes went wide again. “Um…sure.”
“Do I give off a…a…I don’t know…like do I stick out like a sore thumb around here?”
“Why would you even ask that?”
“Because of the things I picked out for my office, because I don’t do all the activities that are offered even though you all take part in most of them.”
“I don’t,” she said with a laugh. “Axel loves to walk the property and go on hikes, and that is definitely not my thing. I’m basically a city girl. That’s how I grew up. I love living here now, but I also love going back to my place in Manhattan. Sometimes I just need that.”
“So you get it. It’s not just that I’m being a weirdo.”
“No one thinks you’re a weirdo. And no one’s forcing you to participate in stuff, right? Because that would be wrong.”
Raking a hand through his hair, he sighed.
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t get what the big deal is with some of it.
Like…why do people enjoy hiking? You’re just basically walking up something that you’re going to have to walk back down.
And there are bugs and wild animals, and the weather could change in a heartbeat. ”
“So you really don’t like it.”
“Nope.”
“It’s not a big deal. I’m sure if you asked Axel to sit at a desk all day, he’d go insane. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. And when it comes to what we do in our free time, we should do things that mean something to us, not what means a lot to everyone else.”
“Really?”
Her face scrunched up a little. “It would be different if you were married or in a relationship. Then you sometimes have to do things you’d rather not do.”
“Like going for a hike?”
She nodded. “Like going for a hike.”
“Damn.”
“There are shelters scattered around the mountain paths.” She shrugged. “They’re basically just lean-tos and they’re not meant to live in, just keep you out of the elements. But, once a month, the resort makes sure that they’re stocked with supplies in case anyone needs them.”
“I had no idea that was a thing. How do you keep the animals from taking the supplies?”
“We installed lockboxes and the instructions for them and the codes are visible. We make sure of it every time they get restocked. It’s just minor stuff like some bottled water, granola bars, a blanket…
you know, nothing major. Just a few necessities to keep someone safe until a storm passes or help can get to them. ”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“Anyway, last month, it was Axel’s turn to do it.
Not that he needs to take a turn; he’s the manager of the resort.
He could make anyone do it. But he likes to go for long walks and hikes and he asked me to go with him.
We packed a picnic lunch and all that, but it was my least favorite thing to do. ”
“So why’d you go?”
She smiled. “Because he’s my person,” she said simply. “I love him, and if walking up and down part of a mountain with me makes him happy, then I’m going to go. It would be super crappy if I refused.”
“It would be honest, though.”