Page 7 of Savage Mountain Man

But instead, I found myself giving him a smile and a nod as I said, “Sounds like a plan to me.”

4

BRANDON

Kacie kicked my ass on the slopes. It was almost embarrassing.

Most of the past two decades had been spent working for ski lodges, so you’d think I’d know how to tackle a green run. But I was the very definition of all work and no play. And skiing was play.

“I could go for a steaming hot bath,” Kacie commented as we once again sat in front of the fire.

This time, we both held mugs of hot chocolate while we sat on the same couch. There was a cushion between us, but I’d take anything I could get where this woman was concerned.

“There’s a hot tub,” I blurted.

“I don’t have a bathing suit,” she shot back.

The idea of this woman sinking, naked, into a bath sent blood straight to my groin. The image of her wearing absolutely nothing was now imprinted on my brain. Not surprising, considering I’d seen her naked less than a few hours ago.

“The gift shop can help you with that, I said.

I was suddenly very grateful I’d made that suggestion to Alex. I’d overheard someone in the lobby talking about wantingto go for a swim back in August, but the closest place to buy a swimsuit was all the way in Adairsville. Alex had ordered some swimwear and set aside space for it in the gift shop just in time for the outdoor pool to close. The swimsuits were overpriced and lacking in design options, but they helped out people in a pinch…like Kacie was right now.

“I’ll tell you what,” I said. “I’ll grab swimsuits for both of us. Meet me over near the indoor pool.”

Was I being too bossy? Probably. That was a bad habit of mine. I needed to pull back on that and remember that this was a woman I was interested in, not one of my employees.

A woman I was romantically interested in. I thought about that a long moment. Yes, she was definitely a woman I was interested in. But it’d been a long time since I’d thought about romance. It was suddenly all I could think about.

I stared at the fire, holding my breath, hoping like hell she’d take me up on my offer. But if she didn’t, I’d just have to find a way to keep her here in front of the fire, talking to me, until she fell in love with me. I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I had to try.

“It’s a deal,” Kacie said. “Meet me at the hot tub.”

I discovered a new problem as I crossed the lobby alone, heading toward the gift shop. I had a growing erection that I was pretty sure anyone with eyes could see.

“Where’s Kacie?”

The voice came from behind the desk. It was the day clerk, Georgia. She’d worked here for the past few years, according to Alex, and she was now his most valuable employee.

“We’re both going to take a dip in the hot tub to warm up,” I said, coming to a stop halfway across the lobby.

“Of course, Mr. Brighton.” Georgia nodded, keeping a professional demeanor as always. “You know, the door to the hot tub room locks from the inside, so if you both leave and want tocome back, make sure it’s unlocked when you walk out. People get locked out of there all the time.”

At the end of that statement, she gave a little tilt of her head, along with a sly smile. For a second, I thought she was flirting with me, but then I got what she was doing. She was telling me the door to the hot tub room locked from the inside for a reason—a matchmaking sort of reason.

“Good to know,” I said. “I’m going to buy some swimsuits.”

“Have fun,” Georgia said, again with a sly smile.

I liked that woman. I made a mental note to suggest Alex give her a raise.

The woman in the gift shop was around Georgia’s age, and both of them were around Kacie’s age. Like Georgia, this woman had a bright, sunny personality rather than Kacie’s straightforward, no-nonsense demeanor. It was easy to believe Kacie was wise beyond her years because of that.

“Do you know what size she wears?” the gift shop clerk, whose name tag read Skye, said.

Crap. I had no idea.

“She’s about your size,” I said.

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