Page 48 of The Last Resort
“If Dan can find a way to forgive you, then I think his parents eventually will. That only leaves you. Don’t let your mistake define the rest of your marriage.”
Yeah, and I’m a big fat hypocrite who has no business handing out relationship advice.
Kellie turned her gaze away as Dan made his way back to the Bronco, then returned with another of Rachel’s suitcases. His steps were so heavy with doom that Rachel wished she’d stayed in bed.
“The boiler is working but it’s making some horrible noises.” He reached into his jeans pocket, then handed Rachel a creased business card. “That’s the maintenance man. If the boiler throws a fit, call him. But I must warn you, he’s a busy guy, so it might be some time before he can come out here. Unfortunately, he’s the only one I’ve been able to find in town who can keep the ancient machine going.”
Hopefully I won’t be here too long. Then again …
Rachel studied the card.This could be a handy bargainingchip.If the boiler did die, she could use the promise of being able to get the heating and hot water fixed, to extract some major concessions from Matthew Royal. She put the card in her pocket, then reached for her suitcase. “I’m ready to be shown to my suite.”
The word suite was a rather loose concept to describe her accommodation. A cramped, shabby, and smelly room would have been closer to the truth. Threadbare carpets and the lack of curtains on the windows were a noticeable feature. The odor of damp and decay certainly wasn’t anything she’d ever smelt in a five-star hotel. If she had to give it a name, the scent would have beenEau de gag.
I’d hate to see the budget rooms.
Rachel dropped her suitcase and box of groceries on the cleanest patch of floor, and took a minute to take it all in. “How am I going to sleep a wink in this place?” she whispered.
Her gaze settled on a closed door on the other side of the room. As she made her way toward it, her misgivings about agreeing to this madness quickly rose to panic level. On the other side of that door had to be the bathroom.
Visions of horror movies, along with the obligatory psychotic soundtrack popped into her mind. What evil lay beyond the door? She reached for the handle. Her fingers touched the cold hard metal.
“Hi,” said a male voice, and a hand landed on her shoulder.
“Aaaah!” Rachel squealed. Her years of self-defense classes kicked in and before she could stop herself, she’d turned andlanded a hard punch to Matthew’s solar plexus. He staggered back, clutching his hands to his stomach. “Oof! Oh god!”
There were footsteps outside, and Kellie and Dan came racing in. Her brother-in-law took one look at Matthew and dumped the suitcase he’d been hauling. The anger in Dan’s eyes spoke of a man intent on violence as he moved toward Matthew, who was doubled over in pain.
Rachel rushed forward. “Stop. No, it’s my fault. I punched him.”
“Well done,” muttered Kellie.
Matthew wrapped his arms around himself. “I didn’t realize she hadn’t heard me when I came into the room. I startled her.”
There went any chance of her spending some time alone to get her emotions sorted before having to face her nemesis. Less than two minutes in the place and she’d already attacked him.
He was in pain. She should be feeling guilty about having punched him. But she didn’t. Instead, Rachel had to console herself with feeling guilty over not feeling guilty.
“Where did you come from?” asked Kellie. “I didn’t see another car outside.”
Wincing, Matthew slowly righted himself. “I parked around back near the supply entry. After last night I’m not exactly the most popular person in Aspen, so it made sense to keep my Jeep out of sight. I got here an hour ago. I came to investigate the noise in this room.”
“It’s my room, and I’ll thank you to leave it,” said Rachel. She wanted to make it clear that Matthew wasn’t welcome in her personal space. Not anymore. Picking up her sleeping bag, she tossed it onto the bed. Doing her best to ignore the puff of dust which rose into the air, she added, “This suite is out of bounds as far as you are concerned, Mister Royal. Now, get out.”
“I’m going. I’m going.”
He left the room, still grimacing as he went.
On the drive out to the resort, Rachel had been sorely tempted to tell her sister and brother-in-law about her and Matthew’s prior romantic history. She was relieved she hadn’t. Matthew had surprised her, and his injury had been purely an accident. But if they thought she’d deliberately hurt him, they might have second thoughts about letting her finish the contract. This design project was crucial for her resume. For her new life.
Successfully negotiated with a major resort company to save and restore an historic ski lodge in Colorado, creating a striking but eco sympathetic construction during the transformation.
That was the sort of piece which would shine brightly in her new design portfolio. Those words would help to see her stalled career resurrected. As much as it annoyed her to agree with him, Matthew had been right last night. He wasn’t the only one who needed this project. They both did.
Her sister’s worried expression had Rachel making hurried reassurances. “I’ll talk to him later and smooth things over. In the meantime, he can go lick his wounds. Mister Royal was the one who snuck up on me. A bit of pain will remind him not to do it again.”
He wouldn’t move so quietly about the resort now that Rachel was here. She’d packed one hell of a punch, and he didn’t need to scare her into giving him another one. Back in his suite next door to hers, Matthew attempted to sit down, then decided it might be better to walk around for a bit. His plan to approach Rachel and have a quietchat with her in the hope of avoiding an all-out war hadn’t quite worked out.
She’d made her position clear. His name was mud. And apart from when she absolutely had to, Rachel had little to no interest in talking to him.
