Chapter 1

Fisher

Wolf Valley seemslike every other small town in America, and as I drive through it, I wonder why I thought opening my next resort here was such a good idea.

There's no traffic as I cruise down Main Street and turn into the parking lot of the Wolf Valley Lodge. It's the only motel in town, and I frown as I look around.

The motel is like most small town places I've seen over the years, and I smile. I know that having another option in town will be good for this place and for my business.

The motel building is a bit run down and not much to look at, but it will do for this trip. If I have to spend more time in this town, then maybe I'll look at renting a house or buying a place.

I grab my duffle bag out of the backseat and head into the office to check in. I'm only supposed to be in town for the weekend, just long enough to check out a few locations before I head back to Miami.

I'm from a tiny town just half an hour from Wolf Valley, but I got out as soon as I could. I hated it there, where everyone knew me and saw me as a loser, just like my parents. My mom and dad were both lazy drunks. They tried to hide it, but in a small town, there weren't really any secrets. I wanted to get out and make something of myself.

There wasn't much there for me in Clearwater, besides my friend, Bishop, so I left. I stayed in touch with my friend and worked, scrimped, and saved for years to open my first hotel. It was a resort in Miami, and it took off. We were on a few best hotel lists, and I used the success and momentum from that hotel to open my next and then my next. A hotel in Los Angeles, one in New York, then a resort in Mexico, and another in Hawaii.

I've been all over the world in the last eight years, but I still haven't found anywhere to settle down and call home.

I should go back to Clearwater and see Bishop while I'm in town. Who knows when the next time is that I'll be so close, I think as I head into the motel office.

"Hi there! Welcome to Wolf Valley!" Says the chipper front desk clerk as soon as I walk in the door.

She'd be a good hire for the new resort,I think as I force myself to smile back at her.

"Hi. Checking in."

"Awesome! You must be Mr. Collins."

"Yep."

She grabs some paperwork and a key from the counter, and I step forward to sign.

"You'll be in room two hundred. It's right down the walkway there and up the stairs. First door on the left."

"Thanks."

"Of course! Let me know if I can do anything else for you."

She gives me a flirty smile, but I ignore the look and just nod before I grab my bag and head outside.

I take the stairs to the second floor and over to my room. I unlock the door and take a cursory glance around the small room as I walk in and kick the door shut behind me.

The place is sparsely furnished with just a queen size bed, end table, and a dresser with a TV on top of it. The closet and bathroom are on the left side of the room and I peek in, noting that it at least looks clean.

I wonder how many people have stayed here. I get the feeling that not many tourists have been here, or at least not many are checking in today. I mean, the girl downstairs knew who I was before I could even say much. It's possible that she's looked me up. I've been on a few most eligible bachelor or billionaire lists, but I didn't get that feeling from her. I think I'm just the only guest staying here right now.

My phone rings and I smile as I see Bishop's name on the screen.

"Hey, man. How's it going?" I ask as I answer.

"Good, busy," he grunts. "I was calling to see if you had a timeframe for when you'd need us."

Bishop is a contractor. He owns his own company up in Clearwater and I had called him a few days ago about helping me open the resort here in town since it's so close.

"Not yet. I'm here in Wolf Valley now to look at some locations. I should know more in a few days."

"Got it. Why don't you come up here soon? We can grab dinner and a beer."

"I'll try."

The truth is that I hate going back to Clearwater. There's nothing but bad memories there. Luckily for me, Bishop knows that and rarely pushes.

I hear a girl"s voice in the background and my eyebrows raise. Bishop has as much interest in women as I do, but I don't hear any construction sounds in the background so that means that he's at home right now. And there's a girl there.

Interesting.

"Who is that?" I ask and he clears his throat.

"Alba. She's my new housekeeper."

"You don't have a housekeeper. You hate people," I remind him and he grunts again.

"Yeah, well, I do now."

"Is your new housekeeper single."

"Shut it, Fisher."

"So that's a yes."

"No, she's not. Not anymore."

"Uh huh, and does she know that?" I ask.

I can picture him blushing right now.

"Not yet, but she will soon," he promises and I grin.

"Good luck with that."

He sighs and I smile. Bishop has been my best friend forever and I know him better than he knows himself sometimes. I've never seen Bishop into someone before though.

"I'll let you get back to work," he tells me and I laugh.

"I'm here if you need any advice."

"What advice could you give me? You've been single just as long as I have," he whisper hisses at me and I know that this Alba must be close by.

"I know things," I tell him and he barks out a laugh.

"Liar."

I grin and I know that he's doing the same. I've missed this. I should call him more often.

Maybe I will go up to Clearwater to see him.

"I'll talk to you later," he says and then he hangs up.

I laugh, tossing my phone onto the bed and wandering over to the window to look out at the town.

For a moment, I have doubts about opening a resort here. If there's no one coming through, then it's possible that this next resort of mine will be a flop.

Doubt and something akin to fear settles in my gut, but I push it aside. I'm good at what I do. I'm successful and smart. I won't fail.

Studies show that this town is poised to be one of the next big tourist destinations. There are a ton of hiking trails, fishing spots, and lakes nearby, along with scenic views and drives. The thing that really drew me to this place is the wolf sanctuary that this town was named for. I know that if we can market it in the right way, it will draw people to town. People will flock here to relax, reconnect with nature, and slow down a bit. It just needs a little help, and I'm going to be the one to get it there.

Now I just need to find the perfect spot for my resort.

I set my bags down on the bed and stretch.

Time to get to work.