Page 8 of Privileged (Adrenalin)

You would think that… I wonder if it has to do with whatever is stressing him out. Is that why he hasn’t made contact with Ryder?

“Dude hardly leaves his office, much less speaks to any of us. What I don’t get is why bother coming here when he clearly isn’t interested in getting to know anyone.” Finn’s brows draw together as he sips his beer.

“Maybe he likes Maddox?” I interject.

“Everyone likes Maddox,” Blake snorts, “but that’s not the point. The point is he’s made no effort to be part of this town. Even the previous owner, sketchy as he was, poked his head out of the office.”

“That guy liked to boast about owning the mountain.” Ryder tips his bottle towards Blake like he’s correcting him.

“At least we knew what he looked like,” Finn scoffs. “And even if he wasn’t cut out to run a resort, you knew he was trying. I have no idea what Carter does all day in his little castle.”Me either, but whatever it is it’s weighing on him. I’ve never seen someone so young so tense.

“We know what he’s not doing.” Deacon shakes his head before taking a pull off his beer bottle. “He’s not pouring money into the place.”

“Isn’t he loaded enough to make some much needed improvements?” Ryder asks.

“Him being loaded and the resort being loaded are two different things,” I say without thinking. Half a dozen heads swing in my direction.Shit.When am I going to shake this need to defend the underdog? As if Carter is an underdog.

“If he wasn’t willing to pump some of that money into the resort, why buy it?” Finn rounds on me with an agitated scowl.

“How should I know? I’m just saying personal finances are different from company finances.” I take a swig of my beer to keep my hand busy and plug my piehole.

“You know what kind of money his family’s company has? Trust me, it’s enough to fix the Pioneer lift on Peak Two and the drainage in the parking lot so the damn thing doesn’t turn into an ice rink.” Finn drains his beer and sets it on the bar so hard the clink echoesaround us.

“Well then, maybe he needed some time to assess all the issues before deciding where to focus money on repairs?” I shrug and take a sip of my drink, wishing I’d never spoken up in the first place. I knew Finn was frustrated with work, though I didn’t realize that was solely directed at the man I’m now defending, and I don’t need to aggravate him when I’m crashing in his spare room.

I don’t even know why I’m defending Carter. The man did just abruptly leave without so much as a hello when I know he saw me. Okay, I’m eighty percent sure he saw me. And I have no more idea what he plans for the resort than Finn, who actually works for him. I have no business volunteering my opinions when I have nothing more than a gut feeling that Carter isn’t all bad to base them on. Yet that gut feeling is pretty strong.

“He’s had nearly a year to scope things out if that’s what he was really doing, but he still hasn’t spent a dime on the resort or told us what his plans are for it.” Finn stares me down.

“Have you asked him?” I hold my breath waiting for a response.Why did I say that?

Finn’s eyebrows disappear under his shaggy hair. “What? No.”

Ryder, Deacon and Blake exchange a look. Apparently, this is news to them.

“Why?” I ask.

“He never leaves his office.”

“You know where it is though, right?” I steal Janice’s line and catch the guys snickering. “Just go ask.”

“Yeah, like he’d tell me anything.” Finn’s eyes roll back in his head as he shakes it back and forth, like that’s the most absurd idea he’s ever heard.

“Maybe he will, maybe he won’t.” I throw my hand up in exasperation. “All I’m saying is it can’t hurt to ask. And if you do, he could turn out to have a plan you actually like.”

“As long as the plan isn’t to turn this place into some swanky high-dollar resort that cares more about appearances than taking care of the mountain, I’m good.” Ryder raises his bottle, an attempt to diffuse my brother-in-law.

We clink glasses, all of us agreeing with that statement. I offer Finn a weak smile, and he gives me a curt nod. He knows I’m a peacekeeper by nature, so I’m forgiven, although I don’t think I should volunteer any more opinions about the resort, or the man I know nothing about.

Chapter four

Carter

Chapter five

Sloan

“Hand me a pen, will you?” I lean over the bar and point to the pen jar sitting on the counter.

---