Chapter 8

8

BOONE

“ G ood morning,” Georgia said.

The desk clerk from yesterday was standing behind the front desk as I entered the Seduction Summit Lodge lobby. I started to hold myself back from scanning for signs of Skye nearby, then I let myself do just that.

It didn’t matter. That was exactly why I was here—to let Alex know it didn’t matter.

“Is the boss in?” I asked.

Georgia nodded and looked toward his office, which was off to her right. That was the same direction as the gift shop. I could just breeze past Alex’s office and head over to that little tucked-away corner of the building.

Skye was here. I knew that not only because her car was in the parking lot, but also, she told me last night that the store was open from nine to six. She told me that as we lay in her bed after another round of lovemaking. We’d gone back to her place with takeout from Miss Rosie’s Diner and big smiles on our faces.

“I just need to tell him something real quick,” I said when Georgia picked up the phone, probably to call and let him know I was here. “I’ll poke my head in and be out of here.”

She stared at me, mouth hanging open as if she wasn’t quite sure what to do in this situation. She probably had instructions to let Alex know whenever someone was about to poke their head into his office, but I really didn’t want to make a big deal of this.

I started walking and didn’t even look back to make sure she was okay with it. She didn’t call out to stop me, so I saw that as a good sign. I didn’t just burst in, though. I knocked first.

“Come in,” a male voice called out.

I pushed the door open and poked my head in, as promised. “You can give Lucky the job,” I said. “But maybe we can work together in the future. I just signed on to handle a big project with Lucas Bennett.”

Alex had turned around in his chair with a curious expression, but now that curious expression quickly morphed into confusion. His brow was furrowed and his lips had formed a thin, straight line.

“I originally reached out to him as a backup option, but it’s a good gig,” I said, stepping into the room but not closing the door behind me. “He’s apparently desperate for lumber for the cabins he’s building.”

In the seconds that followed, the confusion in Alex’s features changed to anger. He looked off to the side a little. I had to tell myself he wasn’t angry at me. If he was angry at anyone, it was the guy with the big sign visible on the main road coming up the mountain. That sign was in front of a show home and advertised custom-built log homes.

“Damn Lucas,” he said, confirming my suspicions. “All those years he lived up in the mountains in that log cabin he built. And now he’s decided to start his own business?” He shook his head. “He’s going to beat all of us to the punch.”

“All of us” was Alex and that Brandon guy, who was building a shopping center near downtown. My research indicated those were the two big dogs around here.

I didn’t care about these guys’ dick-measuring contest. My goal was to run the most successful logging operation in Seduction Summit, even if I had to battle this Lucky guy to do it.

We’d just see how lucky he was.

“I think there’s room enough for all of us,” I said once I took several seconds to think about it. “The builders, the loggers, the shop owners who’ll be coming here… But the biggest reason I chose that job over battling the other guy for this one is that I’m in love with your gift shop manager.”

That brought the biggest change to Alex’s features yet. His lips parted, his jaw hanging slightly as his eyes widened.

Finally, he got it together and asked, “When did you start dating Skye?”

I shrugged. “A couple of days ago. When you know, you know.”

I expected Alex to laugh at that, but he nodded. “That happened to me last summer. She does all the lodge’s marketing. I’d have no problem with you dating one of my employees. Hell, Lucky’s dating Georgia.”

I didn’t realize Alex was dating the woman who did his marketing. Crap. I’d already committed to the other gig.

“Well, Lucky seems like a fine guy,” I said, again after thinking things over for a few seconds. “He’ll do a great job. But I plan to build a pretty big logging crew here in town, so if you have a need to split some of the work in the future, you know where to find me.”

“I’ll just have to ask Skye,” Alex said with a smile.

I returned that smile. Speaking of which…

“I’m heading out,” I said. “But I’m stopping by the gift shop for a second. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

Alex gave a nod. “Definitely. In fact, tell Lucas to stop by here sometime for a drink or maybe a cup of coffee. I’d love to meet him. Maybe we can work together. All of us.”

I liked the sound of that. Seduction Summit’s businesses, all networking and finding ways to help each other rather than compete. I definitely needed to make that happen if I could.

But first, I had to go plant a kiss on my new girlfriend—the love of my life. This time, it would stop there. We’d save the hanky-panky for other places besides her workplace for now. But I had a feeling that eventually, we’d want to re-enact our first time. I couldn’t think of anything hotter.