Page 74 of Worthy

″Please,” she scoffs, putting my signed receipt in the register. “Cade wouldn’t go through the trouble of planning a special date for just anyone. That man cares about you. A lot.”

″I know,” I insist. Despite not putting a label on it, it’s clear Cade and I both care about each other in a more than friends way. “But this is the man who’s never really dated before, so that just makes anything he plans seem like a big deal.”

″You’re totally going to ignore the part about you guys caring for each other?” She frowns, hurt.

″I’m not ignoring it.” I shake my head. “Of course, we care about each other. We wouldn’t be spending so much time together if we didn’t. But you’re trying to make it more than that.”

″Are you telling me it isn’t?” she presses. “Are you telling me he’s not in love with you? Or you with him?”

″I’m telling you he hasn’t said that, and I won’t put words in his mouth.” I set my mouth in a firm line to avoid giving anything away.

″Fine. Then tell me howyoufeel.” She crosses her arms and waits for my response.

I hold my breath, trying to decide how to answer. I like Ally, and I want to be honest. But I don’t want to fuel town gossip that might put Cade in an awkward position, and I don’t feel right telling her things I haven’t told Cade.

″Maddox, I’m not trying to pry.” Ally seems to read my mind. “I’m only trying to point out that you two have something real. Something that makes you both happy.”

″He does make me happy.”

″And,” she prompts. “Is that all, or do you want more?”

″For now, happy is enough,” I say. “Anything more is up to him.”

Ally sighs and offers me a weak smile. “Okay, I’ll drop it. I didn’t mean to overstep. I just don’t want to see my two friends miss out on something real.”

″I know,” I tell her.

″Ally, I need an interview outfit, stat!” I turn to see a stunning brunette man barreling through the door, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling with excitement.

″Lennon was only kidding about you interviewing for the waitress job. It’s yours if you want it.” Ally gives me an apologetic smile then turns back to the man. “You don’t need an interview outfit.”

″I do when the interview is for the resort.” The man spreads his arms wide.

″You scored a meeting with the team doctor?” Ally rushes him and is enveloped in a hug.

″No.” The brunette deflates a little. “The spa at the resort. But massage is a foot in the door.”

″People don’t go to the spa for physical therapy.” Ally gives the hands she’s holding a little squeeze before dropping them.

″Tourists might. And at least they’ll have my name on the payroll.” The brunette guy seems determined to stay upbeat.

Ally seems ready to respond when she catches sight of me. “Oh, I’m sorry. Maddox, this is my brother, Sloane. Sloane, Maddox.” She gestures between the two of us. “Sloane just moved here to pursue a job in physical therapy. He’s hoping to work for the ski team.”

I shake hands with Ally’s brother, finding it impossible not to return his smile.

″A job at the resort sounds like a good start,” I encourage him.

″Right!” Sloane agrees. “It’ll put me closer to the team and give me a chance to perfect my massage techniques. Win, win.”

″The spa doesn’t pay as well as the doctor would.” Ally shoots me a worried look.

″Then I’ll take the serving job too. Lennon said he’d hire me, right?”

″Finn might need that job with Carter Quinn taking over the resort.” Ally crosses her arms in a huff. “I wish that man would make up his mind about what he’s going to do with the existing staff.”

″He can’t get rid of everyone and still run a resort.” Sloane rolls his eyes when he thinks Ally can’t see it. “Besides, Finn has been here forever and knows the mountain inside and out. This Carter guy would be a fool to get rid of him.”

″I hope you’re right.” Ally worries her lip with her teeth until she catches sight of my bags.

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