Maggie sat in the office, staring at the accounting program as she reviewed the expenditures from the previous month for the hundredth time. Things weren’t adding up.

How did John Sumner do all this?

Maggie had always known John did a lot of things around the lodge, and she’d always appreciated it, but in his absence, she’d had to pick up many of his tasks. Tasks she wasn’t prepared for, like accounting. Now she was doubting her dream of owning her own hotel one day.

If she were really honest, Maggie would admit that her dream was starting to morph a little. She wasn’t so sure she wanted her own hotel anymore. Maybe managing the lodge, managing the staff, working with Valerie was truly her dream. All she’d ever wanted was that feeling of accomplishment that always seemed out of her reach.

Maggie refocused on the work in front of her. She had experience with most of the job functions she performed, and those she didn’t she learned quickly. But balancing the books might be too much. The stress was killing her. The business of running the lodge without John, mixed with taking care of her father, was draining her.

And then there was Ben.

God, last night had been something out of a romance novel.

Or porn movie. Maggie laughed to herself.

“What’s so funny?” Emmett asked behind her. He’d taken up permanent residence at John’s old desk and no one seemed to mind.

“Nothing,” she shook her head trying not to remember Ben on top of her, behind her, in front of her—

“You and my big brother have fun last night?”

“What?” Maggie whipped around in her chair. “What are you talking about? Did he say something?”

Emmett shook his head and smirked. “Didn’t have to. Saw it written all over his face this morning. So did our mom. It’s all over your face now, too.”

Maggie cupped her face, feeling it heat. It was bad enough Emmett knew about the two of them but Valerie, too? She wanted to crawl under the desk and hide for the rest of the day. No, the rest of her life. How would she face Valerie now that she knew Ben had spent the night with her?

“And the smile on that guy’s face tells me one thing,” Emmett said.

“What?” Oh, God, please don’t let him say something sexual. She glanced under the desk. There was room for her under there, wasn’t there?

“He’s nuts for you, Maggie Lawrence. No surprise though.” Emmett leaned back in his chair. “Always has been.”

Maggie leaned toward him. “What are you talking about?”

“He’s been in love with you since high school. Well, I guess for teenage guys, it’s more like lust, but you know what I mean.” He smiled but Maggie saw no humor. She thought she might actually vomit. “But, listen, Maggie,” he leaned in closer, “I don’t want you to get hurt here.”

“What? Why would I get hurt?”

Maybe because she was giving Ben more than just her body.

“You don’t want more?” he asked.

“He’s going back to Seattle, Emmett. How could this be anything more?” She mocked with air quotes.

“Maybe.” Emmett sat back up and stared at his screen.

Maybe? What did that mean? Did Emmett know something she didn’t?

She loved spending time with Ben, especially in bed…or on the floor, or against the wall—Stop! It didn’t mean she wanted more. Did it?

“Your phone is ringing.” Emmett nodded toward her desk.

Maggie’s head was such a mess, and her emotions all over the map, she hadn’t even heard it ring.

She picked up the receiver. “This is Maggie Lawrence.”

“Meet me in the maintenance room in five minutes,” a husky, familiar voice spoke from the phone.

“Why? What’s happened?”

“We’ve got a big problem,” Ben said.

“Oh, no. All right, I’ll be right there.” Maggie hung up the phone and jumped from her seat. “I’ve got to go, Emmett. Ben said there’s a problem in the maintenance room.”

“Sure, there is,” Emmett smirked, never looking up from his computer screen.

“Wait, what are you saying?”

Emmett finally glanced up. “Go take care of the problem, Maggie. And tell my brother I said hello.” His resounding laughter echoed through the room as Maggie closed the door.