Advice from a Jilted Bride

by Rayne, Piper

  “I’m not sure what the plan is. I mean I met his dad this weekend so…” I bite the inside of my cheek.

  “I swear though Brook, he was good-looking in his bellhop uniform, in that suit, it’s a whole other level of hotness.” Reagan admires him.

  Devon comes in and sits three chairs over from us.

  “There’s a hot guy just a few chairs down.” I nudge her.

  “Thank you, Mr. Clayton. Whitmore Hotels feels fortunate to be the trusted hands to carry your hotel through the next fifty years.”

  Mr. Clayton smiles and Mrs. Clayton grabs his hand. Love was enough for them to leave their business and move away from the town they’ve spent their whole lives in.

  “I went out with Devon and guess what?” Reagan says.

  “What?” I smile.

  “We ended up at the nursing home. Mom told one of the nurses she had a shank under her bed and planned on using it on her the next time she turned on a light.”

  I laugh. Wyatt’s eyes shoot to me.

  Shit.

  “I’m in trouble.”

  “Yeah right. Maybe he’ll spank you in his office later.” Reagan doesn’t look at me and I wonder if she really feels like I’ll benefit in some way from dating Wyatt. Orgasms aside.

  “I guess she’s been watching these prison reality television shows.” She carries on like her words a second ago didn’t cause a nick in my armor. “Thankfully, she thought Devon was the warden and calmed down. How embarrassing.” She puts one hand to her face and when I look over, I spot Devon’s eyes on her.

  I nudge her. “I don’t think it changed the way he feels for you.”

  She looks over and smiles at him. “Since I jumped him in the car when he drove me home, I’m sure he wants a second date.”

  “What?”

  “Brooklyn and Reagan,” Wyatt says and our eyes snap forward. “Mind waiting to have this conversation until after I’m done speaking?”

  “Sorry,” we both murmur.

  “Getting the boss upset,” Reagan mumbles. “Careful, he might punish you by strapping you to his headboard.”

  I look over at her and my mouth hangs open.

  “Like I was saying, Whitmore Hotels couldn’t be happier to take over Glacier Point and I hope that we remain a solid unit who strives toward the same goal of bringing this hotel to be the premier destination in Alaska. It would only benefit you and Lake Starlight as a whole. I’ll be here for the foreseeable future, so please feel free to come to me with any questions or concerns you might have. We’ll make any changes slowly, implementing them on a trial basis before making them permanent.” His eyes find me. “One last thing before I let you all leave. I’m a transparent kind of guy and I’m aware of the Buzz Wheel blog that’s popular in this community. I know they outed me, and a fellow Glacier Point employee as being involved. I do believe my private life is just that—private. I hope that ends any and all discussion about that topic.”

  Is he delusional? Why would he even bring it up?

  The room is silent, and I can’t help but notice that everyone is avoiding looking at me.

  Wyatt claps his hands together and smiles. “That’s all. Like I said I work with an open-door policy.”

  “Unless Brooklyn’s in there,” someone behind me snickers.

  My cheeks heat and I glance back to see that it’s Neil.

  We all stand to head back to work. Devon stops Reagan, so I figure I’ll get started on the suites I left behind for this meeting.

  I’m waiting by the service elevators, realizing quickly how different the dynamic will change now that I’m openly dating Wyatt and Wyatt is the known son of the owner. The silver doors slide open and I step inside happy to find it empty since most of the employees will probably linger around until they’re forced back to work. Wyatt’s big body enters, and the doors shut behind him.

  “How did I do?” he asks, cornering me. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be in an elevator without thinking of you now.”

  “You’re telling me I was the first woman you kissed in an elevator?”

  He laughs, his lips descending on my neck. “One and only.”

  “We’re at work. We can’t do this.” I wiggle myself free and step out of his hold.

  “What am I missing?” He crosses his arms and leans against the opposite side of the elevator.

  “That I’m the girl.”

  “My girl.”

  I shoot him a sour smile. “Cute line.”

  He smirks over at me. “Okay, what’s the matter? Are you mad about me bringing up our relationship?”

  I shrug. “Not that as much as the fact that people are already talking about us.”

  “So?”

  “They think I’m getting special treatment. It’s been one day.”

  The doors open and I barrel out. He follows but I place my hand on his chest. “Just give me some time.”

  “No. I want to talk about this. I’ve missed you all day.”

  My hand falls and I desperately want to sneak into a vacant room to be with him, but I stay strong.

  “I’m not sure…”

  “Just give them time. We’ll prove them wrong.”

  He steps closer and I don’t stop him because I don’t want to fight him. My body wants him. My heart wants him. My head wants him.

  His arms wrap around me and we back up to the wall. “I know this is hard and I’m actually waiting for my dad to talk to me about it since it is against the rules but believe me, I won’t cater to your needs anywhere but off the clock.”

  “You’re such a sweet talker.”

  He looks in both directions of the hall and back at me. “Can I get that kiss now?”

  “You better make it quick.”

  He leans down. “As much as I hate to do anything quick with you.” His lips press to mine and the elevator dings. I push him off me.

  Reagan walks out of the elevator and eyes the two of us, putting her hand on the side of her face. “I saw nothing.”

  I plead with my eyes at Wyatt. Does he understand now? Sure, it’s easy for him, he’s the boss.

  “Go,” he says, pressing the button for the elevator. “Tonight, we’re going out.”

  “Deal.” I rush over to him, kissing him on the cheek and jog down the hall to catch up to Reagan.

  Behind me, the elevator door dings and I resist the urge to look back for one more glance.

  “Reagan.” I clutch her elbow, and she slows her steps.

  “You don’t have to leave your boyfriend for me.”

  “Can you please not do that?”

  She quirks her eyebrow at me and rounds the corner into the housekeeping corridors. “What are you talking about?”

  “The razzing about Wyatt and me dating and me getting special treatment.” We each restock our carts with piles of towels.

  “What fun is it for me if you’re dating the boss and I can’t joke about it?” She moves to the toiletries and snatches a few bottles of my lavender from my cart. “I’ve got the suites on the top floor. We’re going to pimp your business.”

  Maybe I’m overreacting and being too sensitive.

  “You don’t think less of me?”

  She laughs. “Less of you sleeping with a hottie like Wyatt? Talk to me, girl.”

  I stop stocking for a moment as it all hits me. I feel like I’ve been in the eye of the hurricane. It’s calm and serene and I’m loving my time with Wyatt, but outside us, there’s a storm whipping around us. We can’t live in the middle forever.

  “You want to know my thoughts?” she asks, coming to my side and placing her hand on my shoulder. She doesn’t wait for me to answer. “I think as always, Brooklyn Bailey is worrying about what other people think and not what she thinks.”

  “No. I mean…”

  “I’m your friend, Brooklyn. It’s my given right to make fun of you for dating the boss. I’m supposed to make innuendos about closed doors and quickies in the stairwell. But I’m not judging you. I actual
ly feel the opposite because I’m proud of you for finally taking something you want. If the other assholes here are saying anything tell me and I’ll kick their ass.” Her arm falls over my shoulders, and she pulls me into her side. “Just have fun and enjoy whatever this is between the two of you.”

  “Thanks.” I smile, feeling better.

  “Now what are you going to do?”

  My eyebrows scrunch.

  “Okay, repeat after me.”

  “Reagan…”

  She puts her hand up in the air and when I don’t, she does it for me. “I promise to have fun exploring my new relationship with Wyatt.” She waits.

  “I promise to have fun exploring my new relationship with Wyatt.”

  “And I will not listen to other’s opinions.”

  “I will not listen to other’s opinions,” I repeat.

  “I will not care if we’re reported in Buzz Wheel.”

  I hem and haw for a second and she shoots me her best evil eye. “I will not care if we’re reported in Buzz Wheel.”

  “I will sneak into vacant rooms and have sex with my boyfriend.”

  “Reagan!”

  She laughs. “It was worth a try. Take full advantage of all the beds in this place.” She kisses my temple and goes back to her cart. “But not in the rooms I’m cleaning.”

  We both laugh and as always Reagan has a way about her that makes me feel better about myself.

  Forty-Five

  Wyatt

  Three weeks have passed and my relationship with Brooklyn has only grown hotter as the temperatures plummet. Most of my time is spent at her condo except for the rare night I surprise her with dinner at my place. Other than a few slips at the hotel, we’ve maintained the distance at work. She’s still a little sensitive about what others might think.

  Denver’s leg is healing, and he’s become even more of a local celebrity after being interviewed on television because the guy he saved was some hotshot in Los Angeles.

  I place the box in front of her apartment door and knock. I’m hoping she doesn’t slam the door in my face. We haven’t known each other for years, but I’m pretty sure I knocked this out of the park.

  Wanting to see her reaction, I lean on the opposite wall and wait.

  She opens the door wearing her apron. I knew I smelled coconut. My excuse to leave her on a day off was a hard one to come up with, but I’m happy to see she spent it making new oils.

  “Why are you over there?” Her eyes meet mine with an amused look on her face.

  I point my finger down to the ground.

  Her gaze shifts down and then flies back up to me. Is this what it would be like having a kid on Christmas morning?

  “Oh my gosh!” She squats down and pets the small puppy head sticking out of the box. “For me?”

  I nod.

  “But Joel?” Her question doesn’t stop her from picking up the puppy and lowering herself to the floor where she sits with her legs crossed.

  “It’s fine. I cleared it with him first.”

  Convincing him was near impossible since he has a strict no pet policy. I was able to give a deposit and promised I’d be responsible for any damages.

  She kisses the furry black, white, and brown puppy, his ears that are too big for his size, twitching. “Best gift I’ve ever gotten.” She stands up, the puppy hooked under one arm, walking across the short hallway to me. Her lips fall to mine and my hand slides to the back of her neck, deepening our kiss. She moans.

  The puppy yelps and squirms in her arm.

  “Just so we’re clear, if the dog cockblocks me there will be a problem.”

  She giggles and kisses me one more time before nuzzling the dog. “We have to go shopping. And, you need a name.” I follow her into her apartment, picking up the box Holly arranged for me. This is the first puppy to leave Daisy and Myles, but I think it made Holly feel better that the little guy was going to Brooklyn.

  She holds up the puppy in the air and peers underneath. “Boy!”

  “I hope that’s okay. I mean that it’s not a girl. Holly said he’d be perfect for you.”

  She comes over to me with the dog in her arms and kisses me on the cheek. “Good thing I like boys.”

  I look around. “You mean boy, right?”

  She shakes her head and hands me the dog. “Let me finish this batch and we’ll go down to Bark Avenue.”

  “Um, Wyatt,” she says after she’s back behind her kitchen counter.

  “Yeah?”

  “Hug the little guy.”

  I look to see I’m holding him with two arms extended in front of me. “I’ve never had a pet before.”

  She giggles. “Well, you do now. Let’s talk names.”

  She wipes her hands and takes the puppy from my arms waiting for me to sit down in a chair before she deposits him right back in my lap. “There you go.” She picks up my hand and lays it over the little guy’s head, petting from the head and down the back, over and over again until I mimic the motion.

  Heading back to the kitchen, she glances over her shoulder to make sure I haven’t stopped.

  The little fur ball drops down into my lap, stuffing his head into the small space between my arm and my side.

  “What names do you like?” I ask.

  “Mocha?”

  I shake my head. “Girly.”

  “Macho?” She laughs.

  “What about Jack or Rocky?”

  “Ace?” She washes her hands again and takes off her apron coming over to me, kneeling in front of me. “What do you want to be named, little man?”

  “You should be the one to decide, he’s yours now.” He sits on my lap while Brooklyn pets him.

  “I want us to name him.”

  The word us causes a prick in my chest. I could be gone in a few months. I’ve delayed giving my dad my final report because once I do, I’m expected back in New York. We haven’t discussed what we’ll do. Jeff wasn’t enough for her to go to San Francisco, how the hell am I going to be enough for her to go to New York?

  “Let’s go to the store and then maybe something will come to us,” I say.

  She takes the dog and I stand to grab my coat. Thoughts of our future keep plaguing me at night and I want to bring the topic up, but I don’t want to stress her out.

  “OH!” she exclaims, startling the little guy. “I forgot to tell you. Guess what?” She picks up an envelope in her hands. “With online sales, guess what I was able to pay for?” She waves the envelope in front of me.

  I pluck it from her hands and see Joel’s name written on it. Doing the math in my head, I figure out it’s the first of the month tomorrow. “Rent?”

  Her smile would rain sunshine down on hell. “I can’t believe it. I never thought it would be possible.” She sets the puppy in the box and wraps her arms around my waist staring up at me. Her hand grazes down the back of my head. “Thank you. I never could’ve gotten this far without you.”

  “You did it. I only helped you with the business tools, but they’re your products, Brooklyn. That’s what will keep people coming back.” I kiss her lightly on the lips, my heart swelling with love for this girl.

  “You’re like a little miracle sent my way.” She squeezes me tightly and I hold her close, never wanting this moment to end.

  “I could say the same thing,” I say, my voice rough with emotion.

  She pulls away from me, smiles and hugs me again. I hope we can make it through the storm that’s about to rain down on us because I think I’m falling.

  “Come on. Let’s go shop for this little guy,” she says.

  She steps back, but I steal another kiss before she gets too far away.

  We drive into the small downtown area where Bark Avenue is, just off Main Street. By the time we’re out of the store, the little pup doesn’t have a name, but he has a crate, a leash, a blue collar, food bowls, food, treats and another three hundred dollars of additional doggie items. I paid for it all because I can’t give her a gift and
then have her drop so much on the essentials. I just never knew the essentials were so expensive.

  “Let’s take him for a walk,” Brooklyn says, squatting down by the car, securing the leash around his neck.

  “Sure.” I stuff everything else into my trunk, hand her the leash and attach some kind of poop bag container to the end of the leash.

  “I never knew dogs needed so much stuff.” Brooklyn gets up off the concrete and walks two steps as the puppy stays put. She goes back, pets him and then motions with her head for him to follow her.

  I slide up on the hood of my car. “This should be fun to watch.”

  She stares blankly at me. “Thanks for the help,” she deadpans.

  “I meant I get to look down your shirt every time you bend over.” I watch again as her shirt dips. “I do love that red bra.”

  “Just so you know, if you can see it, so can everyone else. Do you want me to continue bending over?” Both her eyebrows raise.

  I hop off the car. “Point taken.”

  “That’s what I thought.” She stands and I nudge the dog when she steps forward.

  If anything, he digs his paws into the concrete sidewalk and refuses to budge.

  “Do we have the only dog who doesn’t want to take a walk?” she asks and all I can fixate on is the we in her sentence.

  “You guys took one of the pups?” I glance to the side to find Colton walking toward us with a soda in his hand.

  “Wyatt surprised me with it.” Brooklyn hugs him hello. “How come he won’t walk on a leash?”

  Colton laughs and holds his hand out for the leash, picks up the puppy, and puts it in Brooklyn’s arms. “You need to train him to follow you first.”

  “But I wanted to go for a walk.”

  He sips his drink. “And you can, carrying him.”

  Brooklyn’s lips turn down.

  “I thought we were meeting at the gym?” Juno walks over, seeing me, Wyatt and the dog. “What’s going on? Who’s is that?” She points to the dog.

  “Wyatt took one of the puppies for Brooklyn.” Colton fills her in.

  “Oh, nice. Are you going to be one of those dog owners who carry their dog around?” She inspects the dog in Brooklyn’s arms.

  She hasn’t looked at me once since she walked up and that’s how things have been since we returned from New York and Juno found out who I am. You’d think I scorned her at some point considering she was once the cheerleader in my corner—until my real name came out. She’s the only one not in the ‘Wyatt and Brooklyn forever’ club.