by Elle Chance
“Yep, you’re picking up names quick,” I told her. “Refresh your drink?”
“Sure, thanks, Josh,” Sofie said.
I could use a minute away from her to remind myself I was only in town for this week. And I wouldn’t be kissing any grey-eyed beauties soon.
SOFIE
JOSH SPENT THE rest of the week more cautious around me, which I hated. When I told him there was nothing between us, I’d heard my mother’s voice in my head. Talking about a suitable match, someone who would help the family reputation.
Which Josh Chase wouldn’t be doing soon, live-tweeting celebrity gossip and bartending at his brother’s lodge in his hometown. But that didn’t stop me from missing him once he politely backed off. It was driving me nuts to see Josh hanging out downstairs in the bar for work and greeting contractors. I wanted his attention again, his easy laugh. Why couldn’t I just let things be easy?
Because I wanted Josh in a way that went further than a small town fling. The friendly smile he gave to everyone, how he’d figured out which shows Rocco liked and watched a bit of them so they could chat. His attractive concentration when he was focused. And the friendly warmth when he caught sight of us heading out to visit my father, always wishing us a good day.
And the week was rough on its own. I had wheedled a couple more of my employees in the city to come up for a couple days a week. It was all untenable, and a nightmare, and I was paying huge sums of money from my personal coffers just to keep my foot in the Foundation. Patty was losing it from being cooped up in the middle of nowhere. Rocco was running out of books.
But Cory had got housekeepers in early. And he had secured a business interested in expanding into the bar and restaurant space. The Lodge itself was coming together and filling up with more people each day we were there. And he hadn’t objected at all when I added a few more rooms to my reservation.
“That’s no problem, ma’am,” Cory had said in his tall, polite way. “You let us know if you need anything else from me.”
By the time Friday hit, I just wanted to curl up near the fireplace in the bar and make out with Josh for a while until I forgot about all the annoyances of the week. Curse the family and the consequences.
We had hit the lodge lobby when Patty caught my interest with a status report. “Your brothers should be here by tomorrow.” She double-checked an email. “Or so they claim.”
I stiffened a bit at that. As though this week wasn’t weird enough. “I’m impressed they can get away from Barlow Corp long enough.” I willed my tone to be mild but it came out freezing cold.
“Well, you’ve been here for a week already.” Patty rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’ll believe it when they get here. I know they’re your brothers, but they act like they built the business themselves. And like we’re doing nothing.” She let out a long, angry sigh.
“Well, we know the good we’re doing.” I couldn’t believe my brothers would be as annoying as I knew they’d prove. “And Dad will be happy to see them.”
Patty nodded to me. “All right, that’s it for the week. I’ll head back to the city and I’ll see you later.”
Rocco watched her leave. “It’s probably for the best that she has some time out of here.”
“Are you sure you don’t need time off? I don’t want to drive you nuts.”
“It’s a few months is all.” Rocco shrugged. “I’ll save money for Christmas.” And with that, he told me he’d see me downstairs in a bit and left.
And for a blissful moment, I was the only person in the lobby of the Homesburg Lodge. I wanted to sink to the marble floor and just take a nap. My brothers changing everything tomorrow was enough to make me push through my discomfort to actually text Josh.
“you around?” I texted him with a drink emoji.
He sent me back a series of cocktails almost immediately.
I’d been a little afraid my best friend in the small town had snuck back to the city without me. I couldn’t blame Patty or even my brothers for liking to stay in town. I got it, and I was starting to miss the rush of the city compared to here.
But outside of that, I was also just looking forward to getting more than tipsy with Josh. It would be the last time I’d see him while he was gone. Maybe something more than just small talk could happen.
With that in mind, I went upstairs and changed into a pretty blue dress. I left off the cardigan that I would have worn if we were going into town. I put on my tallest heels and gave myself a smile in the mirror. “I deserve to have a little fun, right?” I muttered to myself as I put on lipstick and checked my mirror.
My reflection didn’t have any good advice on the matter.
Josh was already downstairs in the bar when I got there. He was in red flannel and looking at his laptop with annoyance when I appeared in the bar. “I’ve never been so happy to bartend. My boss just realized how much I do during the week and convinced me to work this weekend.”
“Overtime can be nice, right?” I felt awkward like I usually did with the money. I didn’t want to assume that he needed overtime. But it sounded innocuous.
“I’m salaried,” Josh said with an annoyed sigh. He snapped his laptop shut. “I’m asking for a raise the minute I’m back in the office. Now my boss can’t deny that I’m worth it, at least.”
He stood to let out a back cracking stretch that showed off a slice of his midsection. I had a visceral reaction to the muscles there. Warmth rushed through me at the sight. I wanted to touch my friend Josh. Who I’d just told earlier this week I didn’t want to see romantically.
My brothers weren’t even here yet, and they were already driving me crazy. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
Josh really took in the dress I’d worn for the first time. He froze mid-stretch and took his sweet time checking me out before meeting my gaze.
“I definitely need a drink.” Josh led me over to the bar. I couldn’t help but appreciate his lean form, take in his broad shoulders as he walked. “I will say, I’m happy to be back in the office. It’s tough for me to just cobble together social time between you guys and the contractors.”
My smile disappeared when I remembered Josh was heading back into the city. We hardly knew each other. It shouldn’t matter at all but that thought had been bringing on a sinking feeling in my stomach all week. Josh was the closest thing I had to a friend in this small town that didn’t work for me. I cherished those people in my life, especially now when I wasn’t back home in New York.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. Rocco and Patty are great conversationalists but there’s only so much only a couple people can do.”
Josh nodded at me thoughtfully mid drink mixing. It looked like something with vodka, orange juice, and some garnishes I didn’t know he’d had around. “So what brings you for a drink tonight?”
“My brothers are finally coming to town. They’ve been putting it off for the week but they’ll finally be here.”
I sat down on a stool at the bar. I didn’t want to have to send Josh back and forth for drinks. I’d be having more than usual tonight
“Ah, right, for the family stuff. Well, maybe it’ll be nice to have some backup.” Josh said set one drink in front of me.
“My brothers and I aren’t like you and Cory, unfortunately. We have different moms and different takes on life.” I tried to think of how to explain Lou and Tom to someone who didn’t know them. “They’re both competitive.”
Josh came around the bar to sit next to me. “Hmm, competitive but they’re coming here together. So they’re both competitive with you, then?”
Josh almost had me convinced he was just a friendly, handsome nobody. It sometimes took me aback when he could see through me so easily. I must have shown my surprise because he shrugged. “My sister Anita can be like that sometimes. Her against the world.”
“Yeah, well, it’s just stressing me out to think of them here.” I was chewing off the pretty lipstick I’d put on just to flirt with this guy I’d just turn
ed down this week. Usually, I’m not this much of a mess, I wanted to say.
“Well, you know people around here and you got a fantastic history lesson on the town.” Josh’s gaze drifted to my mouth as he spoke. “You have a better claim on the town.”
I face Josh on the little barstool. “So I have the home team advantage?”
“That’s a good way to put it.”
His gaze had snapped up to my eyes, so the dress was working to tempt him. And then his dark eyes were impossible to look away from. I could feel all the air in between us like it had caught on fire. And without thinking about it, I leaned into Josh. I wanted that warmth to burn away all the frustration and anxiety of this week and tomorrow.
Josh hesitated before his mouth claimed mine. One of his broad hands traced my jaw to run his hand to the back of my neck so he could deepen the kiss. The other hand pulled me to him. And I was right. Everything but the taste of the cocktail and Josh’s warm mouth faded out.
The feel of his hard muscles under the soft flannel he was wearing sparked heat in me. My whole body suddenly ached to be closer to this man who had made me laugh, made me drinks, and showed off this town to me. He was really the bright spark during this strange time of my life.
Josh broke the kiss and moved our drinks down the bar. He lifted me onto it in one smooth motion. He ran his hands up from my knees up to my thighs, giving me a wicked grin as I shivered and spread my legs for him. More wonton than I’d ever been.
Then Josh dared to withdraw his hands from underneath my skirt and instead step closer.
“I can’t believe you’re such a tease.” There were outrage and amusement coloring my voice.
Josh laughed at that as his hands traced from my hips up to my back. One hand tangled fully in my hair so he could bring my mouth down to his. “Believe it or not, that’s the first time someone has called me that.” He pressed a light kiss to my lower lip, holding me in place when I moved forward for more contact. “But you seem to like it.”
I let out an annoyed growl and pulled him to me, wrapping a leg around his waist to hold him in place. Josh’s smug smile quickly turned back to more heated kisses. The bar was half-lit and the only people here were upstairs in bed. I wanted to let this play out for as long as it could, right here on the bar.
Josh nipped at my lower lip with his teeth and all my thoughts faded to the hazy warmth of his hands and lips and body against me.
I was so deep in the feeling that I almost didn’t recognize my brother’s laugh.
I broke the kiss and saw my brothers were standing in the doorway to the lobby. Our blond hair would be recognizable anywhere.
“Well, it looks like she’s figured out how to drown her sorrows,” Tom said to Louis.
“Crap!” I said, pushing a confused Josh away from me.
My life had just gotten far more complicated than I’d like.
JOSH
SOFIE LOOKED LIKE she’d seen a ghost when the two guys showed up. It took me a minute to get my bearings. The lack of blood in my brain slowed me down.
One of the sleek men spoke up from the lobby. “Are you the concierge we’re supposed to check in with?”
“Yep, let’s get right to that,” I said, stepping further away from Sofie.
Sofie looked like she wanted to crawl behind the bar and hide. She hopped off the bar and followed me on her ridiculously high heels. A blush was darkening her cheeks. Yet she still walked with her head held high like we hadn’t just got caught necking like teenagers.
“So, how is Father doing?” the taller man asked when Sofie reached them. “The doctors said it was time for a more aggressive round of treatment.”
Sofie gave me a pinched look. It wouldn’t surprise me if she was holding her breath.
She nodded to her brother. “Yes, that seems right. He’s doing radiation now but using a different technique than before.”
That explained how Sofie knew Straubing Medical Center. They had a world-renowned oncologist on staff that a few friends recommended. The realization hit me that Mark Barlow the billionaire was sick. And Sofie hadn’t told me.
That realization cleared my head instantly. I’d never felt shittier for my original plan to flirt my way to a good piece of Barlow gossip.
I zoned out their talk about their father while I got the two brothers signed in to our new system.
I handed them their keys. “I can walk you upstairs if you need to. We’ll be fully staffed starting Monday.”
“I’m Thomas Barlow. And how do you know our sister again?” the taller man asked.
I had a hard to resist an urge to knock him in the smug mouth at the sight of his smirk.
I said, “My brother owns the place.”
But Sofie interjected, “We’re dating!” at the same time.
Sofie’s gaze was frantic on me. “That’s how I got us rooms here before opening,” she added in a rush.
“Right. The dating.” I tried to make a face like this wasn’t news to me. I had nothing convincing to say. The only things I could think of would tip Sofie off that I’d been pretending I didn’t know who she was. I’d still never explicitly told her I knew her name, and net worth, from the moment we met.
“You started dating this week?” The other man asked doubtfully, looking back and forth between us.
“We fell in love in New York,” I explained. Because screw it, right? I was heading back anyway this week. Sofie would have to deal with this bed she was making. “But I’m from the area. My brother’s opening the Homesburg Lodge in the winters. The Harcourts, who own the place, are getting on in years.”
“Right.”
Both Tom and the shorter brother still looked skeptical.
I glanced at Sofie. She was looking anxiously at her brothers, as though she wanted more than anything for her to believe her.
I reluctantly added, “I was sorry to hear about your father. Mark Barlow is such a huge name. I read his book Passionate Purpose back in school.”
Anger and confusion crossed Sofie’s face briefly before she smoothed her expression.
But that seemed to convince Tom and Louis I at least knew enough about Sofie to have conceivably dated her.
The shorter man smiled again. “Well, then. Good to meet you. I’m Louis. I’m happy to hear Sofie hasn’t set up in the wilderness with a stranger. And we’ll be fine at finding the rooms.”
I gave them more clear directions and watched as they headed upstairs.
When they were out of sight and out of hearing distance, Sofie turned to me angrily, her voice a quiet hiss. “I don’t remember sharing my last name. And you read my father’s book?”
“I did, honey,” I said. “What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t care about your sick father?”
“Oh no, you don’t get to play down that you’ve known who I was this whole time!” Sofie pulled me towards the bar, her voice still an angry whisper. “So what else have you been lying about?”
I shut the doors to the bar firmly behind me and then let out an angry chuckle. “Oh, what I’ve been lying about, Cleo? Funny you should ask. That was all from me, but none of what you’ve said to me has been the truth! And I can see your check-in information. I’ve been working for the place you’re staying!”
Sofie stalked closer to me. “So you just found out who I was this week? Last weekend, you still thought I was Cleo? Touring the stupidest locations in this tiny town?”
I looked away from her.
“You don’t see how creepy that is?” Her voice was tight, and I felt like utter crap.
Because she had a point. Part of my anger came from knowing it was a little creepy of me all along. I hadn’t expected to catch feelings for a rich girl who wasn’t telling me anything about her apparently sick father.
But I wasn’t ready to back down from this fight. “Oh, so I should call the billionaire’s daughter out on a fake name? Really?”
“It’s not safe for me to talk about my life the way you do
!” Sofie’s eyes were glacial.
I walked back to the bar, suddenly in need of the end of that drink. “Right, poor people don’t matter to the Barlows.”
Sofie pulled back from me at that. “I really wish you would have told me you thought I was such an uptight brat before this.”
“Yeah, well, I wish you’d told me we were dating. I could have been way less confused that way. Have fun dealing with that while I’m back in New York City.”
“Oh, no, you don’t get it.” Sofie turned back to me. “I’m stuck with you now.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Sofie came over to where our half drank drinks were on the bar.
I gestured toward the work laptop was still in the bar. “I’m going back to New York this weekend. I have a raise to get, remember?”
Sofie laughed at that and then downed her drink in one swallow. She pulled her phone from a pocket on her stunning little blue dress and started texting. “You don’t get it, Josh. I can’t just make out with a hotel employee while my father is sick.” Her grey eyes had never been colder when she looked at me.
“Are you incapable of talking to me in anything but lies and riddles? Who cares if your boyfriend goes back to New York, anyway?”
Sofie grabbed the remains of my drink from my hand and finished that one too. “How much was your raise going to be? Five dollars an hour?”
“Christ, you are out of touch.” It embarrassed me to be talking numbers with her. “It would probably be about one dollar if I was lucky.”
Sofie set the drink down on the bar. “Well, I can offer you a raise. How does ten thousand a week until my father finishes treatment sound?”
I was taken aback the number she’d just thrown out. And how casually she said it. “You’re paying me to pretend to date you for an unknown amount of time?”
“No.” Sofie’s phone buzzed, and she sent a quick response. “I’m paying you to help me not break my father’s heart while he’s in treatment in rural New York. The last thing Mark Barlow wants to hear is that his daughter was making out with a bartender in the middle of nowhere.” She put the phone down and covered her face with her hands for a moment, letting out a frustrated sigh.