The tavern right off BearPaw lodge was basically just like every other gathering place here at the resort. With the same soaring ceiling, wooden beams, and views of the picturesque slopes, no one could say this bar felt too much like a bar.
Even though that’s what it was.
The bar itself sat in the center of the room, basically forming a giant U. It was made of pine, and the countertop was a giant map of the resort and surrounding town under a layer of thick, clear resin or something that didn’t let all the alcohol spill through.
Off to one side, there was a stage for karaoke or nights when we had live entertainment. There was, of course, a fireplace, and the rest of the space was filled with tables and chairs.
Alex was already at the bar when I walked in. He signaled, and I headed right for him. The bartender called out a hello and held up a glass. I nodded as I took the stool beside my friend.
“Started without me,” I said, tapping the side of his beer.
“Honestly, wasn’t too sure you’d show.”
I made a face. “When’s the last time I told you I’d be somewhere I wasn’t?”
“Never.” He allowed.
The bartender set a full draft in front of me, and I wrapped my hand around it, sliding it closer.
“Thanks, Todd.”
“No problem, Liam,” he said and moved off to another customer.
“I wasn’t sure what kind of mood you’d be in after the meeting with the big man.”
I chuckled a little. It was funny to me how everyone saw my father as this big head honcho, and I guess he was. I mean, he basically built this entire place from the ground up, and with it came a lot of business and opportunity for the entire town of Caribou.
Some people referred to him as the founder of Caribou.
Some viewed my entire family as the royals of Colorado.
I just thought of him as my dad.
“I don’t know why you call him that, man,” I said, sipping the draft. “He used to change your diapers, too.”
Alex cackled. “That’s why! The big man himself changing our diapers.”
I rolled my eyes and snickered into the beer.
“So how’d it go?” he asked.
I stared at him a minute, taking in his long-sleeved T-shirt and black fleece vest. The collar was flipped up so it shadowed his jaw, which was already shaded with dark stubble.
His hair was out of control, as always. But really, it was part of his charm. The ladies seemed to love the way it was cropped super close on the sides in a fade then sort of full and curly on the top.
Alex always said being born to a white woman and an African-American man gave him the best of both worlds: piercing light eyes and tight curls that were still manageable.
His skin was the color of coffee with cream, and it never burned, even when the sun was nearly blinding as it mirrored off fresh snow. He never got a raging case of hat hair, even when he wore one all day, and his light eyes combined with the rich color of his skin always made the bunnies (as he liked to call them) look twice.
“You checking me out, L?” His teeth flashed as he lifted the beer to his lips.
“Fuck no,” I argued. “Just wondering how much gel you had to put in your hair to make it stay like that all day.”
Alex chuckled. “All natural, my friend. All natural.”
“Dad wants to start training me in the spring,” I said, quiet.
Alex made a sound. His beer thumped onto the bar top. “As in this spring?”
“Shocked the shit outta me.”
“You boys want a pizza?” Sharon said as she walked behind us. She’d been working at this resort for as long as I could remember, and to her, we’d be nothing but boys ‘til the day she retired.
I glanced around and gave her a smile. “Extra pepperoni.”
“Like you need it,” she muttered fondly.
“I’m a growing boy.”
She laughed beneath her breath. “Keep eating pizza and you’ll be growing all right.”
“Thank you, Sharon,” Alex called out as she walked away.
“Yeah, yeah,” she called back.
One good thing about not training constantly was all the pizza and beer I could eat.
“So why so soon?” Alex asked when she was gone.
I shrugged. “He gave some excuse about Mom wanting to take a winter cruise.”
Alex gave me a WTF look.
I nodded. It was complete bullshit.
“Maybe he’s ready for a break and just doesn’t want to admit it.” Alex proposed.
“Maybe.” I allowed. “He sure does work a hell of a lot.”
“You ready for that?”
I made a sound. “I love this place and I want to do my dad proud, but I can’t say I’m too eager to work my ass into the ground.”
“So what are you gonna do?”
“I told him to offer you the job instead.”
Beer spewed out of Alex’s mouth and splattered the bar top.
“Clean that mess up!” Sharon yelled from somewhere in the bar.
I swear she had eyes in the back of her head.
Alex wiped at his mouth with his hand. “What the fuck?”
I laughed. Then I laughed again. “Your face.”
“Fuck you, Mattison. Fuck you.”
I was still laughing when I helped him clean up the mess then tossed the rag into the bucket behind the bar.
A few minutes later, Sharon slid a large pizza dripping with extra pepperoni, sausage, and green peppers in front of us. “I brought plates,” she informed us, giving us one each. “Use them.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said dutifully.
She patted me on the cheek. “I’m so glad to have you back here.” Then her pat turned into more of a gentle slap. “Now eat nice and don’t embarrass me. This place is filling up.”
I glanced around with a chuckle. It was getting full.
Just to irritate her, I grabbed a slice and shoved half of it in my mouth. Groaning around the cheesy goodness, I grinned, showing the food in my mouth.
“Absolutely disgusting.” She shook her head and walked away.
The conversation never did turn back to the meeting, which was just fine with me. I wasn’t sure what to think of the entire discussion. I knew my dad always hoped I’d come back here someday and run the place.
Hell, I never ruled it out either. I just never thought it would be this soon.
It was hard to reconcile what was with what could have been.
That thought brought along an image from long ago that had absolutely nothing to do with business.
I tossed the pizza down and picked up the beer for a guzzle.
Fuck. What is wrong with me today?
“Ladies,” Alex drawled, rotating on the barstool so he was facing into the rest of the room.
A light giggle answered, and my back teeth came together. I wasn’t in the mood earlier, and I was in even less of a mood now.
Alex hit me in the shoulder. “How lucky are we? The ladies from this afternoon have graced us with their presence.”
I took my time setting down the now-empty glass and rotating. My burly attitude was pushed down, and I offered up a smile. “Ladies,” I said. “Looking good tonight.”
It was true. They both looked hot. I knew I could score with one of them. The blonde was looking at me the same way she had out in the snow earlier. Her friend divided her attention between both me and Alex, as if she were trying to decide.
Man candy. That’s all we were.
What a tough job.
If it had been any other night, I’d be up for it. Hell, I’d lead the brigade.
I just didn’t feel like it tonight.
“Shall we grab a table?” Alex hopped off the stool and gestured for the women to follow him toward one of the last tables open in the back.
The blonde hesitated, glancing back at me. I gestured to Todd for a round of drinks, then stood. Out of habit, or maybe because I wasn’t the uncouth boy Sharon so loved to call me, I placed my hand on the small of the girl’s back and led her to where Alex and her friend were already sitting.
She watched me from beneath dark lashes, and I smiled.
I might not be in the mood, but I wasn’t an asshole.
Besides, maybe after another beer, I’d feel differently.
At least now this chick didn’t leave me feeling this funny sensation in my gut when I looked at her. She was more made up now. Full makeup, tight top that left little to the imagination, and her hair was dry and curled so it didn’t wave over her shoulders anymore.
It wasn’t the right color blond now. It was too light.
I should have been relieved.
I wasn’t.
The second Todd brought us our beers, I took a healthy drink. Alex gave me a look, asking me what the fuck was up my ass. I ignored him.
I let him do most of the talking. Charm was his specialty. It could be argued it was a specialty of mine, too. But tonight, I was content to sit back in my chair and watch the room.
The girl—I think she reminded me her name was Heather—was making it pretty easy. The way she crossed her legs toward me and leaned over the table, giving me a straight view into her bra. She laughed and giggled, putting her hand on my arm.
After the second beer was empty, I realized something. It didn’t matter how many beers I drank tonight. I wasn’t going to feel different. I didn’t get drunk just to get laid anyway. That was something only assholes did.
Abruptly, I stood, fished around in the pocket of my jeans, and dropped some bills onto the table. “It’s on me tonight,” I said.
“You’re leaving!” the blonde exclaimed, eyes widening.
“‘Fraid so. I got an early morning tomorrow.”
Alex was staring at me as if I’d grown an extra dick. He knew damn well I didn’t have an early morning. I didn’t do early.
“I can’t convince you to stay? Just one more drink?” Heather asked, jumping from her seat and hanging on my arm.
Casually, I pulled back, smiling down at her. “If anyone could convince me, darlin’, it’d be you. But not tonight.”
Her eyes flickered with shock. She just couldn’t believe she’d thrown herself at me and I was turning her down.
I almost laughed.
“Catch you tomorrow, bro.” I held out a fist to Alex. He smashed his against it, and I started away from the table.
I only got a few feet when he called my name and appeared behind me. I turned, glancing over his shoulder to see both women watching us from the table.
“You’re for real leaving?” he asked.
My eyes met his. “I’m done tonight.”
He frowned. “Yeah. Okay. Want me to come back to your place with you? We can just chill.” He was a good friend, willing to give up the ass I knew he was going to get tonight.
“Nah, stay. I want details in the morning.”
He made a sound. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
I snorted.
After the shit-eating grin on his face died down, he asked, “Seriously, you cool?”
I nodded. “I am. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Alex slapped me on the shoulder and then went back to the table. As I left, I heard them laugh at something he said, and I grinned.
Dude was such a player.
The second I stepped out into the lodge into the quieter tones, I felt some of the tension leave my shoulder blades.
Maybe I just wanted to be alone tonight.
To think.
Coming around the back side of the fireplace, a blur suddenly appeared, and it banged right into me.
“Whoa,” I exclaimed, automatically reaching out to steady what just bounced off.
A little gasp stopped my heart.
I glanced down into blue eyes I honestly thought I’d never see again.
I blinked, thinking my mind was playing tricks on me. I was only seeing her because she’d been on my mind today.
As if testing to see if she was real, my fingers flexed where I held her. She didn’t disappear.
“Bellamy?” Her name ripped out of me like a blast from the past.
Oh my God.
It was her.