Page 12 of Wild Nights

"The way I see it is, we build these luxury cabins. Then we can add a spa."

I raised a brow, panicking. "You didn't mention these would be luxury cabins. I'd have to redo my analysis."

"I want to see the numbers when you're done, but, Oliver, this is something that I want to do. We need to make it happen."

Whatever Eli wanted to do, we tended to do it. Despite my reservations. My parents believed in him as the eldest. Xander was too busy having fun on the slopes with the snow bunnies, and Killian was traveling the world as a famous snowboarder. Our cousin, Walker, was enlisted in the military, and wouldn't be part of the business for a while, if ever.

The running of the business fell to me and Eli. The only problem was that Eli had his head in the clouds most days. He relied on feelings and instinct versus raw numbers. I didn't understand it. I made careful decisions after months or even years of studying the data. "We're doing well. But I'd love tosee more money in savings before we invest in a project this large."

Eli waved a hand in my direction. "Run the numbers based on luxury cabins. Then we'll talk."

I barely restrained the growl that bubbled to the surface.

Eli made a move to leave, then paused. "What's been going on with you lately?"

I cocked my head, wondering if anyone had seen me leaving Carolina's room that night. "What do you mean?"

"You seem different. More relaxed or something." Eli leaned back in the chair, folding his hands behind his head. "It's almost as if you got laid."

I shifted in my chair, my jaw tightening. "You know I don't have time to date." It was a nonanswer I hoped Eli wouldn't pick up on.

"Life is more than just being a dad, you know. Any one of us would be happy to watch Joey."

I just gave him a look. Of anyone, I trusted Eli or my parents the most. I suspected Xander would use Joey to pick up some poor unsuspecting woman.

Eli held up his hand. "I know you don't trust easily, and you feel like you need to be there all the time outside of work. But you deserve a life too. What Tina did?—"

"Tina did me a favor." I would have married her because it was the right thing to do. I'd proposed when she told me she was pregnant, and she'd laughed at me. She couldn't see herself being tied down to someone as serious and boring as me. It had stung but not as much as her indifference toward Joey.

"I know you see it that way. But I worry that you work too hard and spend all your spare time with Joey."

"That's what a good dad does."

Eli shook his head. "You have to take care of yourself too. You should go on a vacation. Take Joey camping."

"That's not a bad idea."

"I like it too, but it doesn't solve your social problem."

I raised a brow. "My social problem?"

"You don't have a life. You hang out at work, with us at the lodge. You need to get out more. Meet someone."

"I don't have any desire to meet anyone." That feeling had only intensified since my encounter with Carolina. No one could compare to her. She was beautiful and mysterious. Why didn't she want to commit? Why did she enjoy traveling so much? Where was she from? "I have Joey to think about."

"I get it. But if you ever want to go on a date, let me know. I can come over and spend time with my favorite nephew."

I gave him a droll look. "He's your only nephew."

"And it looks like that isn't going to change anytime soon."

Of all of us, I was the most settled. I'd bought a house in town and had Joey. Xander rented an apartment above one of the shops. Eli still lived in the penthouse on the top floor of the lodge where there was a rooftop pool and hot tub. I wasn't sure how many women he brought up there. Unlike my brothers, I stayed out of their business. I'd gotten a woman pregnant, so I didn't have any life advice to offer.

"What else is going on?"

"We're going into our slower season. We have hiking, ziplines, and adventure tours to encourage bookings. We're still relying on winter revenue to last us through the rest of the year."

"Kylie's booking more weddings for the summer and fall."

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