Chapter 11 #3
“Uh-huh. Robert used the intercom thingy to contact me and I came to help. Things were pretty crazy for a while, but I think we’re good now. And I should tell you myself before you find out later—I gave about ten people fifty-dollar discounts. I can pay it back though.”
Brick waved off the crazy offer. “You aren’t paying it back. But why?”
“Well, half the guests were pissed they couldn’t check out, and the other half were irritated they couldn’t check in.
I could tell they were all nervous, either about traveling home or because their vacation wasn’t starting off well.
I’ve learned after years as an admin that discounts are the fastest way to make people happy. ”
She wasn’t wrong.
“Oh, I also let the departing guests have lunch. And I asked Robert to make his awesome, ooey-gooey cookies. Nothing like a discount and amazing baked goods to make people happy. So I got everyone checked in and out, but I haven’t even touched the phone lines.”
Alaska frowned down at the phone, and Brick could see both lines were blinking with incoming calls. The message light was also blinking.
“Shit. July Fourth reservations opened today,” he remembered with a groan.
“Yup,” Alaska said. “Now that I’ve cleared the lobby, I can start checking voice mail and calling people back in the order they left a message,” she said, sitting at the computer.
Brick stared at her blankly. “Why would you do that?”
“Because it needs to be done?” she replied with a confused furrow of her brow.
“You’re a guest here,” he protested.
“No, I’m not. I mean, I am, but I’m not paying.
I’ve taken advantage of your generosity long enough.
I want to help. And for the record, I don’t think you’re charging enough.
Yes, this place is in the middle of nowhere, but it’s still a full-service resort.
You offer food, entertainment, even therapy sessions free for anyone who’s staying here.
I think you could easily add a hundred bucks a night to the cost of the rooms and people would still gladly pay.
That would help cover the POW cabin as well.
Oh! You could also put a donation button on your website and let people send money in for that cabin, as well as to raise money for people who can’t afford to come stay, but really need what you’re offering here at The Refuge! ”
Brick could only continue to stare.
She frowned again. “What? Oh, shoot—I’m overstepping, aren’t I? I just wanted to help. I’m so sorry, Drake. I’ll just—”
“Holy crap, Brick, I just spoke with that guy who rented cabin ten—you know, the grumpy old dude who wasn’t happy with anything?
” Owl said. “He just bent my ear for a full five minutes, complimenting us on how The Refuge handled the chaos today. He was particularly happy to get lunch before he left, since he has to drive quite a distance today and didn’t want to stop.
And you would’ve thought we’d reimbursed him for the total cost of his stay rather than just fifty bucks.
” Owl turned to Alaska, smiling broadly. “You’re amazing!”
She blushed fiercely. “Thanks. And now that you mention it, I think regularly offering lunch to those leaving, who might want it, wouldn’t be a bad thing. It wouldn’t cost that much more, would it? And it’ll leave departing guests with a good feeling and a full belly.”
“I agree,” Owl said. “Although, we should probably check with Robert.”
Brick walked behind the desk and grasped Alaska’s arm. “Can you take the desk for a minute?” he asked his friend.
Owl grinned. “Sure thing. But please don’t make me answer the phone.”
“I’ll do it when Drake’s done with me,” Alaska assured him.
“If he yells at you, ignore him,” Owl ordered.
“I’m not going to yell at her,” Brick growled as he steered Alaska away from the desk toward the back door. She didn’t speak as he led her outside or during the entire walk to his cabin.
He ushered her in, and as soon as the door shut behind them, she said, “Drake—”
He didn’t give her a chance to say anything else. He backed her up against the wall and did what he’d been thinking about for the last two weeks. He kissed her.
She froze for a split second as his tongue teased along the seam of her lips…then she let out a sigh and melted into his arms.
Brick hadn’t planned this, but when he saw her at the desk, heard how she’d taken over without a second thought when they needed her, he’d been overwhelmed with gratitude, gratefulness, and love.
This woman was…
She was everything. He’d never met someone so selfless.
Not only that, she’d somehow instantly learned a computer system it had taken Becky weeks to comprehend.
She’d managed to turn around a situation that could’ve equaled extremely bad reviews for The Refuge.
People who’d been inconvenienced actually left with smiles on their faces.
She didn’t have to help. Brick hadn’t expected her to help, in fact. But she still had.
The last two weeks had been both the best of his life—and the most frustrating.
The more time he spent with Alaska, the harder it was to keep himself from showing her how much she meant to him.
He’d loved watching her slowly relax. When she laughed, it made his belly do somersaults.
She got along with his friends as if she’d known them for years.
And the nights…God. Holding her was a dream come true.
He hadn’t realized how intimate sleeping with someone could be.
They weren’t having sex, but their emotional intimacy…
it was so much more powerful than anything he’d ever felt.
Knowing she trusted him not to hurt her, or take anything she wasn’t willing to give, was a heady feeling.
Knowing that each day, she was slowly healing…
it made his longing worth it. The frustration of being around her but not telling her how much she meant to him.
He’d been holding back his feelings for two weeks, and it wasn’t possible to do so any longer. Not after finding out what she’d done for The Refuge…and him.
To his relief—and excitement—she kissed him back just as enthusiastically, her tongue caressing his own again and again. One of his hands went to the back of her head to hold her still as he devoured her. A small moan in the back of her throat only served to turn him on more.
It wasn’t until he felt her fingernails digging into his sides and her leg hiked up against his that he realized what he was doing.
This woman deserved more than a quick fuck against the wall. While the image of doing just that appealed, this wasn’t the time or place.
Brick pulled his lips from hers with difficulty, but he didn’t let her go.
He moved his hand to her nape and rested his forehead against hers.
They were both breathing hard, and with every breath, her tits brushed against his chest. Brick’s cock was hard against her belly, but she didn’t seem to mind, and he literally couldn’t pull himself away from her if his life depended on it anyway.
“Drake?” she whispered.
He took a deep breath. “I…I don’t have the words to explain everything I’m feeling right now,” he admitted.
“Are you mad?” she asked.
“Mad? Not in the least. I’m overwhelmed. I’m proud. I’m pissed at Becky for leaving like she did. And I’m turned way the hell on.”
“I can tell,” she whispered.
Brick chuckled, then lifted his forehead just enough to stare into her eyes. “For the record? The discount, lunch, and cookies were a brilliant idea. I’m not sure why Robert contacted you instead of interrupting our meeting, but he did the right thing.”
“He knew how important your thing was, and he didn’t want to do anything that might put a possible investment in jeopardy. If that guy realized chaos was erupting in the lobby, it might’ve turned him off.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But you were great with everyone. And Robert too. He can be moody.”
Alaska shrugged. “He’s not so bad. Besides, I think he’s allowed to be moody since he’s such an amazing cook.”
“Agree. Now…about us.”
She stiffened against him.
“I want you,” he said bluntly. “I don’t want to pressure you.
Or do anything that will scare you. But I want you so bad, Alaska.
I like everything about you. The more time I spend with you, the more time I want to spend.
But I value our friendship too much to fuck it up.
If you don’t want this, don’t want me, that’s okay.
Nothing between us will change. You can still stay here for as long as you want and need to. ”
Brick couldn’t read the expression in her eyes, but he held his breath as he waited for her response.
“Drake, I…are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“But you can have anyone you want. I’m not…I’m nothing special.”
“I don’t want anyone else, and the hell you aren’t.”
“I’m totally plain,” she said firmly, almost accusingly. “Average. Boring. You deserve so much more than someone like me.”
“Wrong. I deserve someone exactly like you. Someone generous. Fun. Easy to be with. Someone who knows my deepest fears and regrets, and isn’t afraid of them.
I don’t need a supermodel on my elbow, Al.
I need someone who likes me for who I am.
Who believes in me. And I can’t think of anyone in the world who believes in me more than you.
I’ve got a cross-stitch on the wall to prove it. ”
Alaska closed her eyes, and Brick tensed.
“It’s okay if you say no, Al. Like I said…nothing will change.”
She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “All I’ve ever wanted is you,” she admitted softly.
“I’ve compared every man I’ve dated to you, and they all come out lacking in one way or another.
I want this. If I can only have you for a month, a week, a single night…
I’ll take it. All I ask is that when you’re ready to move on, please go easy on me. ”
“And if I’m never ready to move on?” he asked.