by D. Kelly
THE LAST RESORT MOTEL
ROOM THIRTEEN
By D. Kelly
COPYRIGHT
Room 13 – The Last Resort Motel
Copyright © 2018 D. Kelly
Editing by – Beyond DEF
Cover design and Formatting by – SK Designs
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information contact
Dee Kelly www.dkellyauthor.com
This book contains mature subject matter and is not appropriate for minors. Please note this novel contains profanity, sexual situations, and alcohol consumption.
ISBN: 978-1-64316-828-9 (ebook)
Dee Kelly
P.O. Box 940123
Simi Valley, CA. 93094
BLURB
Never in a million years did Sage Garcia think she would be spending her three-day weekend at The Last Resort Motel with the man she swore off years ago. If she hadn’t agreed to do a favor for her best friend Baxter, she would be enjoying her time off instead of being stuck up on a mountain with him.
After tricking Baxter into picking him up, Gabriel Ross is looking forward to a guys’ weekend. Besides, he can use all the help he can get while he runs the motel restaurant for the weekend. When he opens the door and finds Sage on the other side, he’s anything but disappointed. Too bad he can’t say the same about her. Sage still holds a grudge from a hookup years ago, but Gabe isn’t the boy he was back in the day and is looking forward to proving it to her.
With their chemistry burning hotter than ever, will Sage give in and let Gabe make amends? Or will she remain resentful while keeping her heart under lock and key?
Visit The Last Resort Motel, your one stop for romance, mystery, suspense, and even the paranormal. 12 rooms. 12 authors. 12 unique stories.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COPYRIGHT
DEDICATION
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
OTHER WORKS BY D
CHAPTER ONE
SAGE
I ROLL OVER IN BED with an exaggerated sigh and punch my pillow a few times. I’ve been looking forward to my three-day weekend for weeks and, wouldn’t you know it, I can’t even manage to sleep in past six in the morning.
As the sun streams in through the slits in my blinds I realize sleeping in is a lost cause. Normally, I’d call one of my two best friends and go out to breakfast, but Holly is out of town, and Baxter was on a date last night with a man he’s flirted with incessantly for over a year online. I’m sure he didn’t get home until the wee hours of the morning.
I suppose I could get breakfast alone and maybe take a walk on the beach, but what’s the fun in that?
My phone rings, and I groan in frustration. There are only two people who would call me at the crack of dawn: my boss trying to talk me into coming in today after all, or my mom hoping to catch me early enough in the day to set me up on another blind date. Neither option is something I’m interested in, so I let the call go to voicemail.
Only when the phone immediately rings again do I pick it up from my nightstand and see it’s Baxter.
“Hey, Bax. Want to go to breakfast and tell me why you’re barely dragging your ass home at six A.M.?” He snorts, and it echoes. “Please don’t tell me you’re calling me from the toilet.”
“Girl, please,” he whispers, and I’m intrigued. “I’m in a bathroom, but I’m not using it. I need you to do me a huge favor.”
“How big of a favor are we talking? You’re-going-to-owe-me-breakfast kind of favor or you’re-going-to-have-to-name-your-firstborn-after-me kind of favor?”
“The second one,” he admits with a groan, making me laugh.
“What happened? Did someone lock you in? Where are you anyway, and why are you whispering?”
“I’m still on my date from last night.”
“Baxter Ross! Did you finally break your no-sex-on-the-first-date rule?”
“Shh, I swear you’re echoing in here, and no I didn’t. We did things … more than my usual but no sex. Listen, Sage, I’m in Vegas in a suite at The Cosmopolitan. We’re uh … spending the weekend together, I guess.”
Whoa. This is completely unlike Baxter; he’s cautious to a fault.
“So do you need me to come rescue you? Is he a creep? I’ll kick his ass, Bax, just say the word.”
“No, nothing like that. I got a call this morning from my ca— … my friend. He’s stuck out at Spruce Mountain and needs a ride back to my place. He’s in a bit of a bind, and I’m going to help him out for a bit.”
My heart melts. Baxter is such a good person.
“Where is Spruce Mountain?”
“Nevada.”
“Well, that’s perfect, you’re already there. What’s the favor? Do you need me to go to your place and hide your sex toys or something? Put the lube away?”
He laughs and catches himself, once again lowering his voice. “As if I care about that. Everyone has lube, and if you say you don’t, you’re either a liar or you’re clearly missing out. This is far more involved. I need you to drive to Spruce Mountain and pick him up and bring him back.”
His request hits me like a brick. I would do anything for Baxter, but it’s my vacation.
I huff loudly, making my frustration with him evident. “Bax, you know my vacation started today, right?”
“Like I said, I will owe you big time. If Declan were around, I’d ask him, but you already know he’s out of town.”
“But you’re right there, in the same state,” I whine.
“It’s a few hours away, and this is a dream date, Sage. He’s famous, and if I leave, I could be missing out on the chance of a lifetime. But this friend of mine, I owe him a lot, and I can’t turn him down either.”
“How famous are we talking? Big Brother famous? Boy band famous? Or, like, Channing Tatum famous?”
“The last one. Please, Sage, don’t make me miss my Channing opportunity.”
The pleading in his voice removes any resolve I had left. I know he would do it for me if the situation were reversed.
“Do you like him? I mean really like him, or are you under his celebrity spell?” I can picture the dreamy look on his face while I wait for his answer.
“If I didn’t like him I wouldn’t have gotten on that plane, no matter how famous he is. He’s different, but in all the best ways, and he likes me too. I can tell.”
Not only does Baxter sound happy but he sounds hopeful, and he hasn’t been hopeful in a long time.
“How long is the drive?”
He goes quiet for a moment.
“About ten hours from you, give or take.”
And there goes my weekend. “Sage Marie Ross. It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? You’d better have a girl someday, Bax, because she’s going to be named after her favorite auntie.”
His sigh of relief carries across the line, and so does an unmistakable voice. “Baxter, are you okay in there?”
“Yeah, I had to take this call real quick. I’ll be righ
t out.”
“Baxter, is that who I think it is?”
“If you think it’s the man who starred in the movie we watched three times last month, then yes.”
“Marry him.” My response is instant as my excitement takes hold of me. “Get drunk, fall helplessly in love, and get married. I can’t believe you’re with him! No wonder his internet name is Notursugardaddy! Eeeppp, Bax, I’m so happy for you!” I’m kicking my feet in bed like a little kid, but I don’t care. Good things are happening for my best friend.
“Slow down, tiger.” His happiness oozes from each word. “We’re just getting to know each other. He lives in a big world, and I’m not sure I’m up for what comes with it.”
“I’m happy for you, Bax. Send me your friend’s phone number, and I’ll call him and work out the details.”
He sucks in a breath. “Actually, he doesn’t know I’m not coming. He wouldn’t want to put anyone else out, but he’ll be fine if you show up. I’ll give you his number, but please don’t call unless it’s an emergency. Call me first. I love you, Sage. I gotta go.”
“Love you too, Bax. Be prepared to fill me in on everything when you get home.”
My text alert dings the second I hang up.
Baxter: The Last Resort Motel – Room 13 – Spruce Mountain, Nevada. I’ll text his number in a bit. Thanks, Sage, I owe you.
Got it – Sounds ominous – if I don’t come back alive, I’m going to haunt you forever.
CHAPTER TWO
SAGE
Twelve hours.
THAT’S HOW LONG IT TOOK to drive to this godforsaken motel in the middle of nowhere. As I pull into the motel parking lot, I scan the lot. Even though I brought an overnight bag, I’m not sure I want to use it. This motel looks like the place serial killers congregate to plot out their next kill. Who the hell does Baxter know that is staying here, and why in the world would they be here in the first place?
The hotel is shaped like a U. There is a flashing vacancy light—big surprise there—and very few cars in the lot. The restaurant seems busy, though, so that’s probably a good sign. At the very least I won’t starve. Unless the serial killers are serving up their kill of the day. Shivering at the thought, I turn off my car and pull up Baxter’s text—room 13. Seems like an even worse omen now than when I’d learned the name of this hell hole.
As I step out of my car, the curtains move in the room next to the office. It’s probably some creeper who wants to turn me into his vampire princess or some shit. While I walk room to room, none of the numbers make any sense. No room is in numerical order; this is insane. I’m going to kill Baxter.
Finally, at the end of the row, I take the aging cement stairs up to the second floor. The rooms are no better up here, but I finally find room 13 at the far end of the hall. I’m hesitant to knock; I’d rather be on one of my mom’s blind dates right now, and that’s saying a lot. Bracing myself for the potential horror that awaits me on the other side of the door, I raise my hand and knock loudly.
When he opens the door, I’m momentarily stunned silent. It doesn’t last long. My temper flares when I realize Gabriel Ross is in this room. He’s Baxter’s cousin and the only man I’ve ever hated.
“Well, if it isn’t Sexy Sage. I wasn’t expecting you to come with Baxter, but you sure are a sight for sore eyes. How are you, and where is my cousin?”
Gabe pulls me into his arms and looks over my shoulder for Baxter. I push away from him, my hands immediately finding purchase on my hips.
“You don’t get to call me that, and you definitely don’t get to hug me as if we’re long-lost pals.”
A smirk kicks up in the corner of his mouth. His full, luscious lips are even more sensual than I remember, but I won’t fall into his trap again. Not this time.
“Come on, Sage, you’re not still mad at me, are you? It’s been ages.”
He looks me over from head to toe, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t return the favor. Gabe looks exactly the same except, instead of being the hottest guy in high school, he’s probably the hottest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“It has, and I bet you’re an even bigger asshole now than you were when we were kids,” I spit back at him, cursing Baxter in my mind. Gabe flinches at my words, and it serves him right. “Get your stuff and let’s go. I can’t believe I have to ride home another twelve hours with you in my car. Baxter has no idea how much he owes me for this. I can’t believe he did this to me.”
Gabe leans back against the dresser in the room. It looks like the seventies threw up in here. No way am I staying in this motel. God only knows what kind of diseases are floating around. When he narrows his eyes and crosses his muscled arms over his chest, it puts me on edge.
“Still a diva, huh, Sage? That wasn’t one of your better qualities. We’re staying the weekend. It was a surprise for Bax, but I guess it will give the two of us a chance to start over and make amends.”
“Oh hell no. I’m not staying here in this dump with you. Baxter didn’t say anything about spending a weekend in the sixth circle of hell.”
“That’s because Baxter didn’t know. It was a surprise.” He exhales and turns to gather his wallet and key from the dresser. I guess there are no key cards at this luxury palace. “Look, Sage, I’m helping my buddy, Max, and his girlfriend, Aurora, for the weekend by running the restaurant from midnight to six A.M. With the highway under construction, business is booming, but they can’t afford to hire help on top of the renovations they’re trying to make to the motel. Well, Max might be able to, but Aurora has pride and won’t let him help her much.”
“So what? You want me to spend my weekend in a room where the seventies live on in all their brown-and-orange glory? Thanks, but no thanks. Get your friend to take you to the airport next week. I’m out.”
When I turn to leave he reaches for my upper arm, stopping me in my tracks. The warmth of his touch sears into my skin and my heart races. His scent permeates the barrier I’m trying like hell to keep between us, but the blend of herbs and spices in Gabe’s cologne is all man, and I’m nothing if not a sucker for a good-smelling guy. Even if he’s an asshole.
“Please, Sage, I need your help.”
The sincerity in his voice floors me. In this moment I’m no longer Sage Garcia, attorney at law. I’m fifteen-year-old Sage from down the street who was in love with eighteen-year-old Gabriel Ross.
“Give me one good reason I should help you.” My words come out with less conviction than I intended, and when he spins me in his arms, I want to do nothing more than crawl into his embrace and stay there forever.
“I’m not that young kid anymore, Sage. I know I hurt you and I’m sorry. I’d like to make it up to you, maybe get to know you again? But even if you don’t do this for me, please do it for Aurora and Max. They’re good people, and they need help. I’m trying to do a good deed, even if I was an asshole to you, so please don’t make me be an asshole to them.”
Damn him. I don’t want to be responsible for messing up someone else’s business or growth plan. I just wanted a weekend to read, drink wine, and not have to worry about anything.
I can’t think while he’s touching me and his big brown eyes are boring into me as if they can see straight into my soul. “Fine. I’ll stay, but not in this room. Unlucky thirteen will not be where I lay my head. How do I get a room, and what do I need to do to help you?”
His smile thaws the ice off my heart a bit. “Let’s get you a room, and if you’re not too tired I could use your help in the restaurant tonight. Once upon a time, you were the best waitress in town.”
“Yeah, you might be on your own tonight with that one. I’m exhausted. Please tell me there’s some kind of suite in this dump I can rent.”
With a narrowed brow, he leans back, finally releasing me. “This place might not be The Four Seasons, but it’s clean and taken care of with love. Aurora has been slowly upgrading the rooms, one of them is taken, but I think she has one open still. It’s more
expensive, but I guess it will be worth it.”
“Why does that sound like you’re paying for my room?”
“Because I am. You’re helping me out, so it’s the least I can do.”
“No way, Gabe. I’m a lawyer now, I can pay my own way. Bax mentioned you’re going through something and he’s helping you out for a while. I’m sorry things are tough for you right now, but you don’t have to dig yourself into a deeper whole for me. I’m okay.”
His laugh rumbles from his belly and up through his chest before it bursts out of him.
“I’m fine, Sage. More than fine, in fact. I only fed Baxter that story because he’s kept me at arm’s length since all that stuff went down between you and me. I miss my cousin and want to spend some time with him.”
“So you lied to him? That’s messed up.”
He shrugs. “No more messed up than him choosing you over his family. I get that I fucked up, but that doesn’t mean I had to be exiled from his life.”
“After our split, we agreed not to discuss you. It was easier for both of us. I didn’t know you were exiled. Baxter and I have only been hanging out again the past year or so. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve always been friends, but when our friends Declan and Holly split up we had to keep our friendship undercover for a bit.” He raises his brow, but I waive it off. “It’s no big deal. They split for a while, and we were assigned sides, sort of, in the split. We didn’t see each other much, but we still texted and talked. I’m sorry he held a grudge for so long. He didn’t need to on my account. I may not like you, but he’s your family.”
Plopping down on the bed, Gabe reaches for the phone. With his hand poised above the handset, he looks back at me. “And you’re his family as well. He loves you like a sister.”
Without another word, he puts the phone to his ear. “Hey, Aurora, I’m going to go relieve Max from the restaurant in a minute. My cousin couldn’t make it and sent his friend to pick me up. Can we put her in room 519? I’ll pay for her stay through the weekend.”
