Page 46 of Privileged (Adrenalin)

If I could go back and relive that moment, or better yet repeat it like Groundhog Day, I’d do it in a heartbeat, so I never have to wake up alone again.

I can’t even remember the last time I shared a morning with another person. It must’ve been a teammate or a coach during a race, but even that hasn’t happened in years. Not since I was a minor, some ten years ago. And never with a sexual partner, since sleepovers can give the wrong idea.

It’s not that I never wanted a relationship, I just had so many other things I wanted to do first. Plus, in my world people tend to see dollar signs or status, or both, before they see the man, so I was careful not to give anyone the impression I was interested in more than some physical relief. For years, I found that satisfying. Now…

I plate my eggs and collapse into a seat at the counter, taking bites I don’t even taste.

How is it possible my lifestyle feels meaningless after just one night with Sloan? Wait, that’s not right. It started to feel meaningless the moment we started talking. Until then, I hadn’t had any conversations that didn’t revolve around business for well over a year. Before that it was all about skiing. I thought that meant I was focused. Destined to succeed.

As it turns out, it probably means I’m more like my dad than I want to admit. Obsessed with work to the point I’ve forgotten there’s more to life than my job.

Growing up, I always hated the amount of time he spent working. I had everything I ever wanted since he was so successful, but even before I left to live with my ski team, it felt like I barely knew the guy. Sporting events, vacations, anything that might represent family time was also a networking opportunity. And that’s one of the many reasons I didn’t want to follow in his footsteps. I didn’t want my life to revolve around work, yet somehow, I walked right into that lifestyle without noticing that I was going down the same slippery slope.

Whether it’s because I don’t have a family to balance with work, or I so desperately want to avoid working for the family business, I’ve justified isolating myself in the name of success. I like to say it’s because I feel pressure to save this town, which is true to an extent, but it’s probably more accurate to say I want to be able to show him, andeveryone else, that I can do it. That I might not have had the skiing career I wanted, but I still made my mark.

A few weeks ago, I saw no flaw in that motivation. Now I wonder if it makes me no better than him, especially since my actions have left me with a reputation so questionable that Sloan isn’t sure he wants people to know about us.

True, the workplace overlap is his primary concern, and part of that comes from his own moral code about hard work. But if I’d been more accessible over the past year maybe people would trust that I’m not the type of person to let my personal life interfere with someone’s career. That I don’t let sex dictate someone’s worth in the organization.

My only saving grace is I’m confident Sloan knows that, even if he’s not ready to admit it publicly. Until he is, I’m willing to keep this between us. Hell, in a lot of ways that works in my favor since dear old Dad wouldn’t approve, and I don’t want to give him a reason to question my work ethic or my plans for the future. I have to admit though, I don’t love the idea of sneaking around. It implies we’re doing something wrong, which couldn’t be further from the truth, in my opinion. The optics don’t work in our favor though, and until they do I guess we’ll keep quiet.

If only there was a way to meet in the middle. Something that gives us the privacy he wants without the secrecy he thinks we need. If only he didn’t live with his sister, so much of this…if only he didn’t live with his sister.

My fork falls to the plate with a clatter.

I can do something about that. Employee housing might be full, but I own the whole resort. I’ll just give him a room here. He can stay with me or in his own place, but either way, we’ll be in the same building, and he won’t have to answer to his sister or Finn if he’s out late or doesn’t go home. It’s the perfect option.

Once I’m at my desk, I open the reservation program and check the available rooms. There’s a junior suite that’s been blocked off while we fixed a minor leak in the bathroom. It looks like the work is done, but the room hasn’t been released yet.Perfect. I put a permanent block on the room and send Sloan a text asking him to meet me in my office.

***

“You asked for me?” He closes the door behind him and crosses the room, rounding the desk to take the hand I have extended. As soon as I have his fingers in mine, I give them a firm tug, so he falls into my lap.

“Carter,” he gasps, eyes darting to the door as if he’s expecting to be caught in a compromising position. “What are you doing?”

“I have something for you.” I drop his hand to wrap my arm around his waist and give him a slow, sweet kiss.

“You called me up here for a kiss?” His cheeks flush as my fingers draw circles on his hip.

“Not specifically, but since you’re here.” I lift my shoulder.

He playfully rolls those pretty green eyes and swats at my chest. “What do you really want?”

“I called you up to give you this.” I reach for the inside pocket of my suit jacket as Sloan holds out his palm, frowning as I place the card in it. Holding it up with two fingers, he flips it over to study each side. “I don’t understand. You already gave me a key to your room the first time…,” he trails off.

“That was for my room. This is foryours.”

“Mine?” He leans back to study my face.

“I put you in a junior suite. It’s a studio with a kitchenette and a living room. A small apartment really.”

“This keycard is for this building. Isn’t employee housing in a different one?” His eyes narrow as he turns the card over in his hand, almost as if he’s hoping to find a difference between this key and the one he has for my room.

“It is, but like you said there isn’t any space there. Besides, the junior suite is much nicer.” I lean in to plant a soft kiss right behind where his earlobe meets his neck.

“Do any other employees have rooms here?” He pulls away from my touch.

I shake my head no.

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