Page 20 of Unconditional

“How much room you got?This one packed a mall.”I hooked a thumb in her direction, dodging a hand that hovered in the air between us as I made my way to the trunk.

In less than a second, the concern vanished and was replaced with a scoff.“I packed an appropriate amount for a woman who was going on a spur of the moment trip across six states, thank you very much.”

Rodger looked her up and down before jolting back to me with a questioning brow.I gave him a subtle shake of my head.Man Speak for,You sure you know what you got yourself into with this one?AndYeah, pray for me.

Out loud he said, “I’m sure I’ve got the space.Let’s get moving before the snow comes in.”

It was a five-minute drive to The Lodge, a historic looking hotel tucked between bare trees on the outskirts of the forest.The windows inside lit up the walkway leading to the porch, and a few people could be seen beyond through the glass sipping at steaming cups of hot chocolate.It was like looking at the cover of a fucking Hallmark movie.

Rodger told us to leave our things in his truck until after he talked to Susie, the woman stated to run the hotel.Misely gave me a questioning look that I had no response for, but everything fell into place on its own within five minutes of being in the company of Susie.The expression she gave Rodger was one of pure reproach, her small arms coming up to cross over her chest.

She was a slim, older woman with white hair piled atop her head in a neat bun and thin lips pressed into a sharp line.She wore a dress that seemed almost as historic as the house we were standing in the foyer of.

“Rodger,” she scolded, her voice impatient.“Check in is atfour.We can’t keep having this conversation.”

The man in question removed his hat and ran a hand through his hair.It was the first I’d seen the man look anything other than bored.“I know, Miss Susie, but there’s a storm comin’ in and these folks don’t have nowhere else to go.Their car is broken down at the shop.”

Her eyes, warm despite her obvious annoyance with the man beside me, darted between Misely and me.She released a sigh, before clapping her hands together.“Oh, all right.Let’s see what we’ve got available.Even in the snowy months we tend to book up.”She skirted around us to a podium close to the door, flipping through a spiral bound ledger.“Ah, the Lapis suite is available.You’re in luck, it’s the only one left.”

Susie smiled brightly at Misely and me, clicking her pen emphatically.“What name can I put down for the reservation?”

Misely spoke first, not hesitating to give her real name.Internally I groaned, wishing I had the freedom to shake her.But before I could give her my best you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me look, Susie was turning to me expectantly.“And what is your first name, Mr.Fisher?”

Misely’s mouth gaped, but a curl of sick satisfaction had me smiling back to the older woman.“Talon, ma’am.”Without a clue in the world to what she had just implied, Susie jotted our names down on her roster.

“Go on and get their things, Rodger.You know the drill.”He grumbled something but obeyed, toddling out the door like a well chastised child.Susie’s smile was still fixed in place, humor laced into the creases beside her eyes.“He keeps bringing me you strays after check in, he might as well get a job here as a bellhop.”

Misely, seeming to have recovered from her momentary stunned paralysis, giggled.“Does that happen a lot?”

Susie nodded.“Unfortunately, around this time of year a lot of folks run into car troubles, especially when there’s snow.There isn’t a whole lot of autobody shops in the area, and with the holidays just coming to pass, some of our locals aren’t quite back from their trips.

“Especially our Paulie.He likes to take his time in Florida with his daughter or out on his hunting trips.But no Paulie means that Rodger is out here by himself and there’s only so much he can do.A lot of the times his customers will have a bed here while they wait for their vehicles to be repaired.”

“Are there no other hotels in the area?”

This made Susie’s smile broaden.“Oh, there are.But Rodger insists—”

“There’s no better spot to stay in Elk Mountain.”Rodger’s gruff voice interrupted her, the tops of his cheeks turning pink when she gave him a scornful look.He whispered an apology her way before hefting our luggage in our general direction.“You weren’t kidding.This girl needs a U-Haul.”

Misely’s enraged harrumph paired so beautifully with fists clenched at her sides, that it made me bark out a laugh and wasalmostenough to help me forget what a total shit show this day had been.

thirteen

Misely

Wyominghadneverbeenon my bucket list of destinations for travel, but what I'd seen of Elk Mountain so far had me tempted to return under better circumstances.The Lodge was, by far, the best thing that had come of this trip.The hotel was old and large and beautifully kept.And it smelled like candy canes and brownies coming from every single room we passed.

The guests that we saw were all smiling, cheeks pink from the warmth coming from gorgeous Victorian fireplaces, and laughter clung to the air.I was going to assumethey’dall checked in on time.Susie led us down a long hall with floral pinstriped wallpaper and sepia photographs hung in ornate frames, until we reached the end, in front of a door with the number 4 hung on it.

Opening it, she stepped to the side to let us enter, holding out an arm.“This is the Lapis Suite.You’ll find that you have a private bathroom, terrace, and a queen size bed.There are fresh linens in the closet, but if you should need anything, there’s a pulley beside the door that will ring for a housekeeper.I’ll let the two of you get settled.”She took a step out of the room and then halted, twisting in to face us.“Oh!Have you had dinner yet?”

As if answering for itself, my stomach growled loudly, making my face flame.

“Why don't you get settled and I'll be back in twenty to escort you to the dining room?”Her smile was knowing as she pulled the door shut behind her.

I turned around slowly, taking in the space around me.Painted a gorgeous light blue, the bedding several tones darker.Everything I’d seen since we’d entered The Lodge was true to its origins, perfectly maintained in a way that was awe inspiring, and this room was no exception.I felt as though I’d just stepped through the pages of time and right into the early 1900s.

The queen bed called to me, tempting me with ideas of a long overdue nap.I was tired to my very bones, still rigid from the chill of the air outside but everything about this room waswarmand inviting.The man that stood beside me grunted though, dropping his bag and the two of mine to the floor.Images of my wrist handcuffed to the gold painted metal headboard, fighting to get comfortable for hours into the night, ruined any illusion I had of a peaceful slumber.

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