Page 7 of Thankful for My CEO

“No, I don’t think so… Oh, you mentioned staying by the fireplace to those guests. I don’t have a fireplace in my room and I didn’t bring anything much warmer than this,” I said, touching my sweater. “Is there another room open that has a fireplace?”

Mrs. Taylor started to answer, her expression deeply apologetically. “Unfortunately, Ms. Moreno, only the cabins have fireplaces. I had a family checking out of one today, but they won’t be able to -”

Kit raised a hand.

“Come to my cabin with me,” he said, almost as a command instead of a suggestion. “It’s the least I can offer after requesting you come to the lodge, only to be stuck here.”

I looked at him, trying to keep the skepticism off of my face.

Alone with an angel investor in his cabin?He couldn’t really want me there. Was he just being polite?

“Just for the day. There’s plenty of room. With any luck, the storm will pass and the power will have returned by tonight.”

What was I supposed to say?“Sorry, Mr. Hayes, I don’t want to join you in your cabin because I don’t know what I’ll do first - rip my hair out in frustration or rip that suit jacket off of you.”

There was really no way to go about this except professionally. I couldn’t risk losing his funding, especially when the thing influencing his decision was apparently the personality of those at the company.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling, but not too big. “I’ll grab my things from my room.”

“I’ll help you,” he insisted.

“It’s just a few bags.”

“I’m in the cabin farthest from the main building. And I’ll need to show you which one it is, especially in this.” He waved toward one of the wide windows. It was almost dark as night outside at this point.

Mrs. Taylor looked back and forth between us. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one detecting the tension between us. “I’ll be in room 101 if you need me,” she said, finally. “Cole -that’s our handyman -will pass out lanterns, food, and extra bedding to the guests when he’s back. You met him at the staff meeting,” she added, looking at Kit.

He nodded. “Thank you Mrs. Taylor,” he said.

As she left to keep helping the guests stay comfortable during the storm, he turned to me. “With the weather out here, we’ll need to develop some kind of off-grid energy solution,” he said, almost musing. “It’s one of the first things I’ll be updating.”

“Good idea,” I acknowledged.

I’d almost forgotten that’s why we were both there. He wouldn’t ever have been in this part of the state if not for the fact he was visiting his newest acquisition.

Kitownedthis lodge.

And now I was following him to -what had he called it? -the executive cabin.

This couldn’t be happening.

But how was I supposed to say no?

Jeff would pay for this on Monday.

Mrs. Taylor had left a bucket of black umbrellas by the back door. I wasn’t sure how helpful they’d be against a hailstorm, but I took one anyway. I grabbed another and handed it to Kit.

He took it from me with a nod and together we ducked out into the sleet.

* * *

When we finally made it to the executive cabin, we were both soaked. I barely had time to take in my surroundings before I pulled my laptop out of the laptop bag and made sure it was still dry. I sighed in relief.

Kit took off his suit jacket and walked to a closet to hang it. His curls were soaked, slicked down against the back of his neck. His white dress shirt was soaked too and clung to his muscles to reveal every chiseled facet. I could even see his tattoo on his bicep, where the shirt plastered to his skin.

I was nearly numb from the icy cold of our walk to my room and then down the path to the cabin, but seeing him like that was setting some kind of fire inside of me.

No, I admonished myself. I was only here because he insisted. There was no other reason. There couldn’t be. Not if Earthbloom wanted to keep his funding and if I wanted to keep my job.

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