Chapter 6 #2
“It wasn’t a competition, Milo. We all have our strengths.
Walker and Axel really did most of the labor-intensive stuff.
Connor came on and got the kitchen going and knew how to handle the restaurant aspect of the resort.
I pitched in wherever I could, but my expertise didn’t come into play until we were ready to open.
But you?” he said with amusement. “Dude, we have the most high-tech gadgets I’ve ever seen.
All the systems that we use to run the resort are freaking marvels.
Everyone was blown away when we were training them. ”
“It really wasn’t a big deal.”
“To you,” Slater corrected. “None of us could do what you do.”
“That seems only fair since clearly I can’t do anything that the rest of you can.”
“Brain versus brawn, you know? Or maybe it’s like cooking versus baking. We’re like the cooks and you’re the baker. And really? Your job requires way more skill than ours, so stop beating yourself up. It’s good to know your strengths and weaknesses.”
He snorted quietly. “I should have remembered that when I left the other morning.”
“Yeah, you should have,” Slater said evenly. “But I know you were ticked off because of the way I talked to you. So…I’m sorry for that. I didn’t mean to make you feel inferior.”
“But you were right! I couldn’t handle it and I went and took the harder path anyway.” Another snort. “Harder path. That’s a joke. Everyone else can handle it except me. Nora must have had a few things to say about that.”
“I’m not even going to go there with you again, dude. Stop it.”
“Fine.”
“Come on. Finish eating so we can go. They’re waiting for you at the hospital.”
So he popped the last bite of cinnamon roll into his mouth before getting up and gathering his things.
“Let’s get this over with.”
Milo looked annoyingly healthy.
That was Nora’s first thought when she spotted him on the resort lawn later that afternoon, laughing with Slater like he didn’t nearly die two days ago.
Still, she was glad he was okay. The outcome could have been so much worse, so she was happy and relieved that he was up and about and joking with his friends.
Apparently, he didn’t completely lose his memory.
Maybe his subconscious just didn’t want him to remember certain things.
Like the thing he did but didn’t remember doing.
Which should have been fine.
It should have been great.
Except her lips still remembered.
And he… did not.
Fantastic.
He noticed her and paused, and for a moment she couldn’t tell if he was happy to see her or embarrassed. Slater gave his shoulder a quick pat before walking away, coming toward her.
“Hey! Are you done for the day?” he asked.
She forced herself to focus on her boss. “Um…yes. I just got back from the hike, and it was a long day. We had a few guests who really shouldn’t have been on the intermediate tour, but I made it work.”
“They couldn’t handle the terrain?”
“No, they were easily distracted and kept stopping to film themselves and discuss which social media sites they were going to post on. Super annoying.”
“They signed the form stating not to do crap like that. Did you remind them of it?”
“Multiple times, but I had a group of twelve and I couldn’t keep stopping for them. Everyone else was annoyed too, and I had to break up more than one heated argument.”
He groaned. “Did you…?”
“It’s all in my report, and I told them they were banned from future hikes.” She shrugged. “They didn’t seem too bothered.”
Raking a hand through his hair, he sighed loudly. “They never are. Sorry you had to deal with that.”
“It’s alright. I have an early family hike in the morning, so that’ll be easy. It looks like it’s a small group and no small kids, so we’ll probably do some bird-watching too.”
“Why don’t you take tomorrow off?”
“What? Why?”
“It’s been a hell of a week. With everything that happened with Milo and everything you did for him, I really wanted you to take that next day off.”
“It wasn’t necessary.”
“Nora, you’re entitled to some time off when you do extra work. And that hike to get to Milo was more than just a quick hike. So please take tomorrow off and I’ll cover the family and bird thing.”
“You hate the bird thing,” she reminded him.
“Yeah, well…I’ve had some difficult guests on my hikes this week too, so I think I need a group who are basically there to look at birds and not bitch.”
“I can’t guarantee that they’ll want to look at birds. I just figured I’d throw that in since there are no kids scheduled.”
“Then why did they sign up for a family hike?”
She shrugged. “Adults are family too, so…”
“Oh, right,” he said with a laugh. “Okay. I’ll handle the family thing and throw in some birds. I’m on it.”
“But…”
He held up a hand to stop her. “The words you’re looking for are ‘thank you.’” Grinning, he mimicked what he did with Milo and gently patted her shoulder. “Sleep in. Relax. Do something just for yourself, okay? Please.”
“Fine. But you can’t make me enjoy it.”
He laughed. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
And with that, he walked away, leaving her standing there with suddenly a lot of free time on her hands.
That’s when she noticed Milo was still standing where Slater had left him.
Smiling, she waved to him and was about to walk over, but he surprised her by jogging over with an easy energy that made something traitorous flutter in her chest. “Hey!” he called.
“You look less panicked today. I’m taking that as a compliment to my recovery. ”
“Yup. That’s exactly it,” she said lightly. “Glad to see you’re upright and breathing. Gold star.”
He grinned. “And I got a clean bill of health at the hospital.”
“That’s good. Glad to hear it.” She could hear the hint of bitchiness in her tone and immediately tried to correct it. “I mean it, Milo. I’m seriously relieved that you’re okay.”
“I uh…I heard you were worried about me.”
Her eyes went wide. “What? No. No, I wasn’t.”
He didn’t look the least bit convinced. “You absolutely were.”
“I was mildly curious, that’s all.”
He tilted his head, studying her. “You’re lying.”
Crossing her arms, she really wanted to be mad at him, but she was secretly enjoying this banter. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And yet,” he continued, “you found me unconscious in the woods and dragged my body to safety. Sounds like devotion to me.”
“Yeah, no. Sounds like me doing my job,” she corrected lightly.
But not lightly enough, apparently, because something in his expression changed, and…there it was—the spark of irritation she’d been waiting for.
Because that she could deal with. Snarky banter worked, especially after…well…after.
“Funny thing about not wanting people to die right in front of me…it tends to motivate me into action.” And for a moment, the fleeting thought of what could have happened flashed through her mind.
And then the image of what did happen popped up again.
He laughed softly… then stopped when he caught her expression.
“What?” he asked, cautious now.
She shouldn’t say anything and simply pretend it never happened. Move on. It was safer that way.
Only…feelings didn’t care about logic. Or self-preservation.
“You don’t remember, do you?” she asked quietly.
He frowned. “Remember what?”
She stared at him.
Blank confusion. Genuine concern. A flicker of guilt, as if he suspected he’d messed something up but had no idea how.
So…no. He didn’t remember.
Something twisted in her chest, disappointment tangled with relief, and yet somehow also braided tight with fury.
“You said some things,” she said carefully. “Before we made it to the lean-to.”
“O-kay…” He shifted, suddenly nervous. “Like… what kind of things? Did I embarrass myself? Please don’t tell me it involved pants. I feel like concussed me is capable of losing my pants.”
“I wish it were pants,” she muttered.
He winced. “Worse than pants?”
She swallowed. “You… confessed…stuff.”
He went still. “What kind of stuff?”
She forced herself to meet his eyes. “Feelings. For me.”
Total silence.
Like, it honestly felt like the entire world went quiet.
Then he laughed.
Actually laughed.
“Okay,” he said, incredulous. “That’s funny. You almost got me.”
She didn’t laugh, and his smile faded.
“You told me you liked me,” she said, her voice thinner than she wanted. “Not friend-like. Like, like -like. You said I drive you crazy. You said pretending you didn’t care sucked. That seeing me changes rooms.” She drew a breath. “That I glow. And then you kissed me.”
More silence.
But not entirely. The wind rustled the trees. Somewhere nearby, someone laughed. The world kept moving like hers hadn’t just stopped.
Milo looked like he’d been punched.
“I… kissed you,” he repeated weakly.
“Yes.”
“And I said…” He swallowed hard. “All of that?”
“Yes.”
He dragged a hand through his hair, and he suddenly looked pale and shaken, not unlike the way he looked when she found him passed out on the mountain. “I don’t remember,” he whispered.
“I know.”
“And you’re sure I said that?”
“I didn’t mishear someone’s mouth on mine, Milo.”
He flinched. “I didn’t mean…I just…God.” He closed his eyes. “Did I screw everything up?”
“Yes,” she snapped, but instantly regretted it. “No. Maybe. I don’t know.” A jagged laugh slipped out. “It’d be easier if you were just some idiot who lies when he’s concussed. But it didn’t feel like a lie.”
Their eyes met.
Something raw lived there. Something deep.
Something real.
“Do you want it to be?” he asked softly.
She froze. Because that was the question, wasn’t it? Did she want it to mean nothing?
Or everything?
He stepped closer—not touching, not crowding—just gently nearer.
“If I said those things,” he murmured, “it’s because somewhere in my brain, in the place with no filters, they’re true.”
Her heart stuttered.
“But I don’t want your memory of it to be me injured and half-conscious,” he continued. “I don’t want our first proper kiss to be something I don’t remember.”
Her breath caught. “What do you want?” she whispered.
He exhaled slowly. “Time. To be sure. To not screw this up. To do it awake. And right. If you’ll let me.”
She tipped her face toward the sky, because of course he’d say the exact right, frustratingly perfect thing.
“Fine,” she muttered. “But if you hit your head again and blurt out another confession, I’m charging you per emotional crisis.”
Humor was a great shield. And right now, it seemed like the perfect way to maybe lighten the mood.
A smile tugged at his mouth. “Reasonable. Can I…?” He gestured helplessly, and it took her a minute to realize what he was asking.
And tried not to get emotional because it was so incredibly sweet.
No man had ever been sweeter to her.
“You can hug me, Milo. Careful. Slow. No dramatic fainting.” A smile tugged at her lips.
He laughed, relief flooding his face, as he pulled her in.
It was warm. Steady. Real.
And the terrifying part?
It felt like the beginning of something they wouldn’t be able to undo.
His arms felt stronger, his body more muscular, and everything about him had her on sensory overload.
In all the chaos up on the mountain, she didn’t consider him as a man—an attractive man—but as a resort guest who she needed to get to safety.
But now that there was no rush and they were just a man and a woman embracing under the pine trees and clear blue sky? She was considering everything.
His hands gently smoothed down her back before he loosened his embrace and took a step back, smiling shyly.
She immediately missed the warmth of him. “So, um…”
He gently cleared his throat. “I don’t know if I ever said thank you the other day, so I’d like to say it now.” He paused and, if anything, the look he gave her made him look devastatingly handsome. “Thank you.”
She was about to quip that she was just doing her job, but caught herself. Instead, she simply said, “You’re welcome.”
This time the silence was comfortable.
“Milo!” Someone called out, and they turned to see Walker jogging toward them, effectively breaking the moment. When he reached them, he was grinning. “It’s good to see you out and about, man. I heard the CT scan was clear. That’s awesome!”
Milo glanced at her before turning his attention to his friend. “Yeah. Everything was good, and I’m glad I went and confirmed it.”
“Yeah, I heard Slater had to practically drag you out of the cabin.”
“It wasn’t that bad.” He glanced at Nora again. “I knew I needed to go, but…”
“Hey, I get it,” she told him. “I’m not a fan of going to the doctor either. Especially when it’s for one of those tests where they practically strap you to a table.” She shuddered dramatically, playfully. “But sometimes they’re necessary.”
“I’m just glad no one has to babysit me anymore and I can get back to work.”
“They were just concerned about you,” she assured him. “A head injury isn’t anything you should take lightly. And with all your work staring at a computer screen, you should probably ease back into that. Eye strain isn’t good for you either.”
He shrugged. “I’m used to it by now. Plus, I really need to get caught up on a few things for my office back in Seattle. I called my assistant while Slater was driving me to the hospital this morning, and the entire staff is freaked out.”
“Because they’re worried?”
“No, because I didn’t check in for two days, so…” Another shrug. “I really need to check on a few things. What about you? Are you still on the clock today?”
“I am. But I’m off tomorrow. Slater insisted.”
“Well, that was nice of him, but…I thought you had that family hike?”
“He’s taking care of it. I told him it wasn’t a big deal, but…”
Walker gently cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt your conversation,” he said with amusement. “But one of the security panels up in the lodge is blinking angrily. I was wondering if you could come up and check it out?”
“Oh, sure. No problem.” Turning to Nora once more, he smiled. “Thanks again. For everything. And…I guess I’ll see you around.”
She nodded. “Yup. I’ll see you around.”