Page 62 of Love Me Dangerous

I keep my opinion to myself—that Hutch might have a major crush, but on a girl he thinks he can’t have.

At the main gate,Mr. Lennox must have given the guard a heads-up because after he checks my ID, he lets me through without question.

Finn River Ranch’s private residences are located west of the main lodge and the ski lifts. Even though I work here, I don’t know this area very well, and in the dusk, I have to pay close attention to the street signs so I don’t get lost.

That’s the last thing I need.

The homes are giant, some tucked back from the road, all withgorgeous landscaping. Pale groves of aspens. Flowers growing lush and wild. Fancy lighting that gives everything that soft glow.

Mr. Lennox’s place is a two-story log home with an expansive lawn and a treehouse in one of the giant pines crowding the left side. I park in the circular pebbled driveway like Mr. Lennox instructed. When I round the front of my car, the door opens and Arlo peeks out, his eyes bright.

I give him a smile. “Hi, Arlo.”

A security guard dressed in a dark suit opens the door the rest of the way for me. Once I’m inside, he takes my coat and hangs it in the adjacent closet.

“Follow me, please,” he says.

Arlo races ahead, his bare feet slapping the hardwood floor. “Dad! Sofie’s here!”

I resist the urge to gawp at the giant crystal chandelier and framed watercolors and follow the security guard down the left hallway to the back of the house. We enter a media room that opens to an expansive deck and the pool. Though the sun has just set, the last of the colors reflected off the snow-kissed mountains makes me gasp. I’m sure it’s equally stunning from upstairs.

“Hey, Sofie!” Mr. Lennox walks toward me from a kitchen area off the media room with Arlo on his hip.

“You have a lovely home,” I say. “That view.”

“Thank you.” Mr. Lennox turns to Arlo. “You want to show Miss Sofie her room?”

Arlo wriggles from his dad and takes off down another hallway.

“Thanks again for coming,” Mr. Lennox says as we follow. The security guard has vanished. “He’s had dinner, though he was pretty excited, so didn’t eat much. He might need a snack. And his bedtime is nine, but I told him he could stay up a little later tonight. Your call.”

Arlo disappears through a doorway. Mr. Lennox leads me into a bedroom that’s simple yet elegant. And spacious. I could fit several bedrooms from home inside it. Through the glass doorway to the patio, we’re treated to the final splash of color from the sunset. I’m already excited about how pretty the view will look in the morning.

“I’ll be upstairs,” Mr. Lennox says. He slips a small pager from hispocket. “And Jorgen can be reached anytime if there’s any kind of emergency.”

When I take the pager from him, his fingers brush my palm.

The moment turns awkward, and I force a smile. “I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Mr. Lennox nods. “Good. Have fun.”

Arlo comes over to grab my hand. “Let’s go in the pool! It’s warm, I promise.”

With a laugh, I swing his hand and let him lead me from the room.

Arlo fallsasleep on the couch in the middle ofBig Hero 6. We played in the pool for an hour, built an elaborate house with Magna-Tiles, made ice cream sundaes, and read his favorite books. We had a blast. It reminded me of the things Linnie and I used to do when she was younger, and that all kids—rich or not—need the same simple things. Attention, patience, and to feel valued and special.

I wish I had a way to share that with Mr. Lennox.

When I step into the bathroom to brush my teeth, I’m surprised by the giant vase of flowers. I finger one of the petals of the poppies, then lean in to smell the honey-fresh fragrance from the sweat peas. Wow. Where did he get these? Wildflower season is over in these parts.

The king-sized bed feels like an ocean, and the sheets are buttery-soft and crisp at the same time. I’m definitely not complaining, but the house is so solid it’s like a fortress. I can’t hear the wind in the trees or the reassuring sounds of Dad’s heavy breathing or Fergie’s little growls in her sleep.

The light from upstairs casts a pale glow on the pool and the backyard. Is the meeting still going? Or is Mr. Lennox sitting up there with a nightcap, alone with his thoughts?

I try to read the book I brought, but the words just skitter around the page. Finally, I give up and turn off the lamp. It’s then I notice my phone screen lit up.

I pull it closer so I can read the text message from an unknown number.

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