Bellamy thought people thought she was a hooker.
I was taking care of this shit right now.
That cockamamie idea never even occurred to me because it was fucking ridiculous. But now the thought was out there. I saw the pain in her eyes.
Sure, people were talking. I’d been seen with her since she got here. I very rarely was seen with the same girl more than twice. Alex accepted her, too, something else I was sure had tongues wagging. Lunch with the same girl and my best friend?
They were probably already planning the giant town wedding.
Jesus A. Christ.
I never worried about what other people thought before. Quite frankly, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass now if it was me they were thinking and talking about. But it wasn’t just me now.
There was Bellamy.
And I was going to make it abundantly clear exactly what was going on and exactly the kind of respect everyone would damn well show.
Down in the lodge, I crooked my finger at the couple employees who were bypassing us down the hall. Their smiles turned wary, but they reversed direction and followed me anyway.
Bellamy gave me an odd look, but I ignored her.
At the front desk, the attendants stood a little straighter as I approached. “Liam?” the girl to the right said.
I made a motion with my finger. “Round up the staff. The ones around anyway. I want a word.”
Bells gasped. “What are you doing?”
I lifted an eyebrow and said, “Setting the record straight.”
“Oh my God!” she hissed. “This is not what I wanted.”
I grunted. “It’s what I want. I insist.”
She turned to the employees behind me. “I am so sorry. Just go back to work.”
“They don’t work for you, sweetheart,” I said gently. I’d already made her cry once today. That was pretty much my lifetime limit.
The man standing there nodded at her apologetically.
She groaned.
Once the girl behind the counter hung up the phone, she discreetly nodded toward me. A couple were coming in the front, luggage behind them. I pointed to Kenny. “Stay here and man the front. Shelby can fill you in after.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, glancing at Bellamy.
I had to hold back a snap ordering him not to look at her. It was irrational, but Kenny needed to keep his eyes in his head.
Clearly, after what happened upstairs in the bedroom, the possessiveness inside me was making me downright beastly.
Back behind the front desk was a room where guest mail came, an extra computer was hooked up, etc. Behind that room was a breakroom for the employees. Out in the hall, I opened the door and motioned for the few people following to go ahead. Once they were inside, I glanced down at Bellamy.
She narrowed her eyes as if issuing a warning.
I kissed her.
Inside the room, about twelve employees stood around, including the bartender and Sharon. It was a very small fraction of the people who worked here, but it was enough to send word spreading through the resort like wildfire.
I closed the door behind us and let go of Bellamy’s hand.
Stepping forward, I cleared my throat. Everyone waited quietly, sort of warily. “Relax, guys,” I said, offering a smile. “It’s not like I’m lining up a firing squad.”
“You don’t normally call meetings,” someone said.
“You never do.” Someone else piped up.
“Just let him speak.” Sharon shushed everyone.
I gave her a grateful smile.
“I just wanted to address all the talk going around about Bellamy here.” I gestured to Bells. She turned as red as a tomato. “I know everyone is talking.”
A few people looked embarrassed, a few intrigued.
“In case anyone is wondering, Bellamy is my girlfriend. Her room is under my name here out of respect for her privacy. She’s still paying all the bills, and I hope you all treat her as a guest, because that’s what she is.”
“Of course.” Sharon nodded.
Someone in the back raised their hand. I had to hide a snicker. I felt like a teacher. “Yeah?”
“With all due respect, you’ve never had a girlfriend.”
I shifted so I could stare at the woman speaking. “Just because you say with all due respect doesn’t mean you can ask whatever you want.”
She flushed.
People glanced around uncomfortably.
Bellamy stepped up beside me and smacked me in the stomach. “You called a meeting to make some announcement, and then you wonder why people are curious. Don’t be a turd.”
A few laughs turned into coughs.
Sharon just outright laughed. “I like her.”
“Fine,” I muttered, then offered the girl a smile. She relaxed and smiled back.
“You’re right. I’ve never brought a girlfriend around here before. I’ve known Bellamy for years. She’s not someone who just showed up and now we’re together. It’s been a long time coming.”
People turned curious glances to her. It was the truth. Plus, it would take some more suspicion off her. People didn’t need to know she ran off eight years ago and I let her. Let them think I’d met her during my time away as a pro snowboarder. Yeah, there had been flings since I’d been home, but that was none of their damn business.
“Anyway, the point is Bellamy is part of the BearPaw family now. She’s my family now. You all know how much my father and I value respect and loyalty. That now extends to her. If anyone has a problem with that, you can see HR and pick up your last check.”
Bellamy squirmed uncomfortably. She was just going to have to be uncomfortable because I meant this.
Sharon was the first to step forward. She reached out her hand, introduced herself, and then pulled Bellamy into a hug. At first, my girl was surprised, but then she hugged her back.
A few more people came to introduce themselves, and then I told everyone to get back to work, only after telling them to let their fellow employees know.
The door was barely shut behind the last person when Bellamy swung on me. Her hands fisted on her hips, and the look on her face was fiery. “What the hell did you just do?”
My reply was mild. “I made sure everyone knows you aren’t just some girl.”
“You announced that I’m your girlfriend!”
“You don’t want to be?”
“You don’t announce it first and then ask after!”
“That wasn’t a no.”
She tossed her hands up in the air. “You are impossible!”
I started toward her, but she held her hands out, palms up. “Oh, no you don’t. Keep your magic paws off me!”
I bit back a smile. “Now why would you want me to do that?”
“‘Cause I can’t breathe or think when you touch me!”
I opened my mouth, but she made a sound. “No trying to charm me either, mister.”
I closed my mouth and stared at her. She was pretty cute.
“I’ve barely been here a week. A week, Liam! Now you go and tell everyone we’re together… that we’re… we’re family.”
“You are my family,” I said quietly. “That won’t ever change.”
She groaned. “Liam.”
“That’s all it took last time. One week.”
“We’re adults now.”
“We still have the same hearts.”
“My life is complicated.”
“I don’t care.”
With every rebuttal I made, I took a step forward. I don’t think she realized I was getting closer; she was too busy spazzing out.
She stopped pacing and looked at me. “If you knew, you would care.”
“Then tell me.”
She shook her head and stared up at the ceiling. “What am I doing?”
I caught her around the waist, and she stiffened.
“How’d you get over here?”
I smiled. “Do you want to be my girlfriend?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is.”
“Maybe in your caveman mind,” she muttered.
I laughed.
“I seriously can’t believe you just did that.” She glanced at the door.
I pulled her face around and stared into her eyes. “Did what? Made sure everyone knew you were important to me? Made sure you got the respect you deserved? Let everyone know in no uncertain terms that if push came to shove, I would choose you every single time?”
She sighed. “How do I fight that?”
“You don’t.” On the tail of that, I repeated, “Do you want to be my girlfriend?” Actually, I wanted her to be more than that, but I had to start somewhere.
“I wish I could.” The wistfulness in her voice made my feet tingle.
“How about you make that a yes?” She started to speak, but I put my lips against hers, quieting the words. Still holding my lips against hers, I whispered, “Until you can prove to me you can’t be one.”
Her lips moved against mine. “I don’t want to prove it.”
I know. That’s exactly why I said it.
She nodded.
I pulled back. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.”
I picked her up and spun her around. Charlie jumped around us and barked.
“I never worked so hard for anything in my life.”
“If you thought that was work, then you’ve had a life of leisure, my friend.”
I laughed and set her down.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “For making sure no one thought I was taking advantage of you.”
“I really don’t think anyone thought that. It was probably the other way around.” I laughed low. “But you’re welcome.”
I took her hand and led her toward the ski instructor quarters, Charlie loping along beside us. A few employees stared as we went past; a few more poked their heads out of their offices.
Word was spreading.
Good.
Inside the quarters, I picked up the clipboard with the schedule and flipped through. Then I picked up the phone and made a couple calls, arranging for all my afternoon lessons to be covered.
When I was done, I turned to see Bellamy sprawled out on the floor with Charlie. “What was that all about?” she asked.
I opened my locker to get dressed. “I cleared my afternoon. I’m taking you to town.”
She pushed up on her elbow. “You didn’t have to call out of work.”
“I’ve barely taken any time off at all since I started working here. It’s fine.”
“Are you sure?”
I finished zipping up my coat and pulled her to her feet. “Positive.”
I watched her get her coat and pull on her hat and gloves. Charlie stood beside her and wagged his tail. That damn dog was just as in love with her as I was.
“Ready to go outside!” she asked him enthusiastically. He leapt up and nearly knocked her over.
“Whoa,” I said, rushing to catch her. “Careful.”
She just laughed.
We went outside, and she went off to walk through the snow and play with Charlie while I worked.
I smiled to myself, watching her, noting the way some of the employees watched her as well. Pride swelled in my chest because she was mine.
And now everyone knew it.