by Piper Rayne
She drains the rest of her wine as if she needs the liquid courage, then she nods. “Okay.”
I lean forward, puckering my lips. “Let’s seal it with a kiss.”
She puts her hand over my face and pushes me away, but her smirk says she might’ve considered it for a moment.
My parents really should’ve taught me not to play with fire.
Fourteen
Cleo
Five days later, I have to say goodbye to Bridget. I’m sad, but it’s a blessing since she thinks the new arrangement with Denver is an excuse to screw him.
“It’s not like he’s a monogamous guy anyway.” She nudges me with her elbow. “Might as well enjoy yourself.”
“Safe travels.” I kiss Bridget on the cheek and walk her to the private entrance leading to Phil’s plane. “Good luck. You totally have this.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
I hug her tightly. “Get the job first.”
Truth is, she’s probably already got the job. The interview is a formality because Phil’s connections are concrete.
“We haven’t really been apart since college.” She steps back, and her pout that’s usually reserved for her fake persona is there, but it’s okay. Bridget has a hard time being real with people. It’s why we get along so well. Neither of us calls out the other on our issues. “I paid you up for the rest of the week, and I don’t want to hear anything about it. I would’ve done it for longer, but I know you.”
I giggle. “Thank you. I think there’s a B & B I can stay at that’s a little cheaper, but I really need to go to my dad’s place and stay there.”
“Well, you have a week. If you need more, just call.”
I nod, smiling. “You’re the best sister.”
The flight attendant calls her and Bridget throws herself into my arms. “Don’t go staying up here too long.”
I swipe a tear. “As if I could live in this small town for long.”
She stares through me. Although nothing about my future has been set in stone, there’s an underlying conversation happening between us. “Yeah, this is the worst place for you.”
“Exactly.”
She uses the heel of her hand to wipe her own tears. “Love you, sis.”
“Love you,” I say.
She picks up her bag and walks away, never looking back. I rush to the window and watch her climb the stairs of the private plane. Right before she ducks in, she turns and waves. I wave back, pressing my hand on the window. The ground crew member retracts the staircase, and I watch the plane head toward the runway.
Loneliness creeps inside my gut. The last normal part of my life has left, and I’m on my own. I’m going to do what my dad’s letter asked. I need to strap on my courage and give it everything I have.
And if that means acting like Denver Bailey’s girlfriend, then I guess that’s what it means.
Walking into the hangar on Lifetime Adventures’ property, I find Denver clad in jeans and a T-shirt drenched in sweat. Six huge duffels full of I have no idea what surround him.
“I got you a present.” He grabs a retail bag set off to the side and walks over with his hands behind his back.
“A sexy nightie is not part of the deal.”
He chuckles. “You really are funny.”
That shouldn’t make happiness sprout inside me, but it does.
“Close your eyes and put your hands out.”
“Nope.” I cross my arms. “If you think you’re going to do some initiation thing where you put a scorpion in my hand, I’m not falling for it.”
His laugh gets louder. “This isn’t Australia. If I could put a bear in your palm, I’d be a magician.” He raises those dark eyebrows that are natural and not perfectly groomed like the guys back home. “Trust me. Have I steered you wrong yet?”
“Fine, but my leg can reach your balls and I will kick if I feel threatened.” I close my eyes and put out my hands.
“Noted.” All I hear is something coming out of a bag, then his breath is closer.
Every sound and smell is stronger with my eyes closed. His minty breath. The sound of him swallowing and his tongue licking his lips. Lips I want on mine. Wait, this is Denver. What is he up to?
“You’re not going to put your dick in my hands, are you?”
“Fuck, Cleo. What kind of guy do you think I am?”
My eyes pop open and there’s a big box in his hands.
He shoves it toward me. “It’s a damn pair of boots.”
The hurt in his gorgeous brown eyes unnerves me. The fact that I’m the cause of that look winds a tight knot in my stomach.
“Dick would’ve been better.” He splashes on a big smile to mask the pain, but I can’t unsee it. It’s an expression I’ve never seen on him before.
I bend down and open the box, revealing a pair of boots like the ones that were lined up at Austin and Holly’s house. They probably have some kind of custom logo on them the way people love this family. But instead of brown or black, the fur that lines the inside is hot neon pink. “Thank you.”
I toe out of my sneakers and slide on the boots, sitting down to lace them.
“You have to get them tighter.” Denver bends down on a knee, lacing my boot as if I’m a child. He does it with a diligence I admire.
“Thank you, Denver,” I say.
He must catch the hitch in my voice because he glances up at me and his expression softens. The same one that Bridget heard when I had to ask her for money during my junior year in college because I’d gotten laid off.
He finishes tying my boot, takes off my other shoe, slips on the boot, and ties that one before even looking at me. Sitting back on his heels, he stares at my tied boots like a work of art that took him five years to finish, then his gaze slowly moves up to mine and holds there. “You’re welcome. We have to get you snow gear still. Even my sisters don’t have a ton of stuff that will keep you warm the entire time up there.”
I nod, unable to say anything. My apology for thinking the worst of him rests on the tip of my tongue.
He stands. “We can do that tomorrow.”
My ass grows cold on the concrete floor even though the hangar is heated. I stand, wipe off my butt, and pick up my sneakers, heading into the office to let him pack all our gear. I’ll find a way to apologize to him at some point.
At the end of the day, I enter the lobby of Glacier Point Resort. I’ll only be here for three more nights. Stopping at the reception area, I inform the employee that I’ll be checking out—because I’m not spending Bridget’s money when I won’t even be here, but on a mountainside. Bridget knew I was leaving, but she’d think nothing of paying for a room I wasn’t actually sleeping in for nights on end. Just as I’m telling the resort employee my plans, Wyatt comes out of the office that says Manager on the door.
“Cleo!” He looks as if it’s nine o’clock in the morning the way his suit is still wrinkle-free and his tie in a nice Windsor knot. Even his hair is gelled back. “I heard you and Denver are heading off on an excursion.”
I nervously nod while mentally repeating to myself that I can do this.
“And with Griffin Thorne?”
“Wyatt, do you read Buzz Wheel by chance?”
He laughs. “Once you’re in it, you kind of relish when you’re not the center of it.”
“Okay, we have you all set to check out in three nights,” the front desk clerk says.
“Three nights?” Wyatt asks, looking over his shoulder at his employee. “I just made arrangements with Bridget for the rest of the week.”
“I’m leaving in four days for the excursion, so there’s no reason to keep a room.”
He scratches his head. “Where will you stay when you return?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet. But I can’t afford it here.”
The employee politely steps away, and Wyatt motions for me to follow him to the side of the long counter. He seems like a good guy. The Baileys love him. Brooklyn is
over the moon in love with him, that much is obvious.
I’m sure he’s about to offer me a broom closet or, knowing this town, maybe even a room in his house, but I straighten my back and lift my hand. “Before you offer something, I have to decline. I’ll find somewhere. If need be, there’s always my dad’s place.”
He steps back and lets my words soak in. I feel like a scorned student. I want to raise my hand and admit I’ve yet to go to my dad’s because I’m a chicken-shit.
“Brook will kill me if you end up in a box on Main Street.” His lips lift. I definitely see how his smile could draw Brooklyn to him.
I put my hand on his arm. “I promise I won’t end up in a box. I doubt anyone in this town would allow that to happen.”
He nods. “Well, let me know if it changes. You’re practically family.”
I cough out a laugh. “Um, not really.”
He winks, grabs a messenger bag, and touches my arm. “At least I know with Denver, you’ll be safe up there.” He says goodbye and steps away toward the front door.
Thinking about Denver, my stomach rolls with excitement. I place my hand over it.
“Oh, Cleo?” Wyatt turns around in the middle of the lobby that’s more like a grand foyer. “You had a bunch of boxes delivered today, so I had Mac put them in your room.”
“Boxes?”
He nods. “Yeah. Someone loves you.” He winks then waves goodbye to the young bellhop, Mac, and disappears through the doors.
The woman behind the counter steps back over. “Anything else, Miss Dawson?”
“No. Thank you.”
She nods politely and goes back to doing whatever they do between guests.
Heading to the elevator, I have no idea who would send me something, but it’s the first thing in weeks I’ve been excited about—besides seeing Denver. And the former needs to change.
When the elevator doors open on my floor, I’m skipping like a toddler on her way to a toy store. Using my key, I open my door and blanch. When Wyatt mentioned boxes, I thought some Amazon boxes, not moving boxes.
All of them have a company logo I’m not familiar with stamped on the sides. Tossing my purse onto the table, I try to toe out of my boots, but it isn’t as easy as my flats. Once I’m finally free, I pounce on the bed and drag over a box.
Yanking and tearing, I pull out a white one-piece snowsuit with gold around the stitching.
“It looks like an Elvis costume,” I murmur.
This is totally Bridget.
I move to the next box and find a retro snowsuit with color stripes that reminds me of the eighties doll, Rainbow Bright. It pulls a smile from me.
By the time I finish, there are three snowsuits, all ugly and bright. Long underwear, gloves, hats, scarfs, thermal socks, and even a face protector that looks as if I’m going to rob a bank.
It’s all spread out on the bed, and I pull out my phone.
Me: You didn’t have to.
Bridget: I wanted to make sure if you go missing it was easy to find you.
I smile and hug my phone as though she’s right in front of me.
Me: You’re the best sister.
Bridget: Nah, you are.
Me: Thanks so much.
Bridget: Save the one with the stripes for me. I think I’ll rock it.
Me: You got it. Love you.
Bridget: Love you.
Putting the phone down, I look at the new clothes that probably cost her thousands of dollars. I hope I can be there for her one day the way she’s been here for me through this.
After snapping a picture with my phone, I send it to Denver, and he replies instantly.
Denver: Man, who is your Santa? And where do they shop because I’ll never go there.
Me: I guess I’ll keep it all for myself.
Denver: Can’t say we’ll lose you in that outfit.
Me: You better not lose me.
Denver: I always have one eye on you, Cleo.
My heart flips and flops as I fall into the softness of my mattress. I’m in so much trouble. I’m headed into the Alaskan wilderness, and I’m more afraid I’ll sleep with Denver than be attacked by a bear.
Fifteen
Denver
Days later, at six in the morning in the darkness, a white goddess walks into Lifetime Adventures. Cleo is all decked out in a white snowsuit with metallic gold trim.
“All you need are some blue suede boots,” I say.
She takes off her hat. “Funny. But it’s the best of the three.” Stopping, she looks at me and frowns. “Where’s yours?”
“In my bag. You’re not going to want to wear that in the plane. We’ll be cozy in there as it is.”
“Oh, okay.”
I shake my head. “Strip, baby.” My eyes fall over her body. I’m kind of hoping she wore nothing under that snowsuit.
“I have clothes on underneath,” she says as if she can read my mind.
“Damn.” I laugh and finalize the paperwork since Nancy is off for the weekend. Straightening it, I put it inside the folder and turn to her. She hasn’t taken off the snowsuit yet. “Do you want help?”
“No.”
“I’m always here to lend a hand or a finger or… whatever you need.” I laugh, walking into our office. It’s quiet in here this morning, so I hear the torturous sound of her lowering her zipper. Expectations to prepare for takeoff hit my lower region.
Sorry, fella, not today.
“Where’s Griffin?” she calls.
“He and the camera crew are meeting us this afternoon.”
“Why didn’t I know that? It would’ve saved me from waking up at four in the morning to do my hair and makeup.”
I turn my head toward the door. “You do look good. I meant to compliment you, but we’re not filming until tonight. They’re letting me set up camp first, mostly because they care more about how I’m going to teach you and Griffin to get your dinner.”
“So it’s just us?” she asks.
I smile when I hear the hesitation in her question. Maybe I’m not the only one thinking about the other one naked. This’ll be interesting.
I come out of the office, and she’s stepping out of her boots to get her snowsuit off. I see that she is indeed wearing pants and a T-shirt. Not nearly enough clothing to keep her warm when we get up in the air. I snag my sweatshirt off the desk and toss it at her.
“What’s this?” she asks.
“You’ll need it on the plane.”
“Then why am I getting out of my snowsuit?”
“Because I don’t want to crash land when an eagle flies into us, thinking God is calling him home.”
She doesn’t laugh at my joke but distorts her face into a look that reads, ‘That the best you’ve got?’
I go back into the office and grab the sweatshirt I wore yesterday and forgot here and stuff it into my backpack. “You ready?”
She inhales. “Yeah.”
“Have you flown in a bush plane before?”
“With my dad when I was, like, fifteen.”
“Then you know what to expect.”
“I do.”
She follows me out into the hangar, and I open the door. We get the plane out. It’s perfect timing because the sun is just coming up over the horizon.
Twenty minutes later, her white snowsuit is shoved in the back with our bags, she’s sitting right behind me, and we each have our headphones on. She’s definitely more familiar with this routine than I thought she would be.
“Tell me you aren’t afraid of flying?”
“No.” Her voice has that hitch I’ve realized she gets when she’s not admitting to something. Getting on a bush plane isn’t an easy thing for some people.
“Then let’s get going.” I start the plane and strap myself in. Within minutes, we takeoff after taxiing down the plowed path made just for the bush planes. “You okay?”
“Yep.”
We’re still climbing, but steadily enough not to scare her too much. I maneuver t
he plane and all my anxiety about this trip disappears with our view of the landscape below. When I fly, I tend to forget that I’m with people unless I’m on a tour.
I must’ve zoned out because when Cleo speaks through the headphones, I startle.
“It’s so beautiful. The land. The snow. The blue water.”
I glance over my shoulder and see her face is plastered to the window. “I kind of thought you’d put your head between your legs and pray until we’re back on the ground.”
She giggles. “I told you I’ve flown in one before.”
“Yeah, but you’re trusting me to get you where you’re going.”
There’s silence. I hate that I can’t look at her while we’re talking. “So?”
“So trusting your dad and trusting me are two different things. Especially since you hate me.” I slowly turn us to head south.
“You wanna know a secret?” she says, her voice lowering as if she shouldn’t tell me.
“Who doesn’t love secrets?”
Another pause. “I don’t hate you. I kind of admire you.”
“Admire me?” We head over a glacier and I take us lower to give her the million-dollar view. And to show off a little, if I’m honest.
“You’re doing what you love. So many people dream of that and never find it. To wake up every day and do what you love.”
I think for a moment, allowing her to ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over the glacier. “That’s why I was unsure about taking on Lifetime Adventures. It takes away from my freedom of being able to get in my plane and go. I tend to use it to escape.”
Her hand touches the back of my neck in a gentle manner. “Everyone needs an escape sometimes.”
I nod but think back to how many times I disappeared for days in order to avoid family shit. I recognize how it was for them now only because Kingston is doing the same thing. Using the excuse of his job to dodge his problems.
“If we keep Lifetime Adventures, it will change that for me,” I say.
