My parents’ world of glamor and fame has grown old over the years. Mainly because every year feels the exact same. And the thought of attending yet another one of these events makes me feel restless and annoyed.
I frown out the window as we pass the main entrance of Legacy Inn. The windows are tinted, but I can clearly see the guests staring, slack-jawed, at the limo driving past. I don’t know why we didn’t just drive ourselves in Dad’s Escalade — probably something to do with keeping up appearances.
Then, I see a dark, high ponytail and the back of a white polo shirt. Before Dad can tell me not to, I lower the window and stick my head out.
“Stef!”
Stefi perks up and looks around. Her ponytail almost whips her in the face as she tries to find where my voice is coming from.
“Stefi!” I call again and, this time, she sees me.
She smiles hesitantly and waves.
“Wow, fancy ride,” Stefi says, her cheeks pink. People are looking at us, but I don’t really care.
“We’re headed to some uptight business dinner in Edendale.” I roll my eyes. Then, I get an idea. I smile mischievously. “Want to come?”
I say it loudly enough for my dad to hear from inside the limo. If I’ve already asked Stefi to come, it will be awkward for him to object. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right? And if I have to spend this evening bored and annoyed, I’d much rather have a friend with me.
Over the past week, Stefi and I have slowly gotten to be somewhat friendly. Friendly enough for her to tell me about the prank war going on between two of her coworkers. I was more than happy to supply a stack of hilarious headshots my dad had taken years ago. They featured his trademark pout, leopard-print pants, and an anaconda. Unsurprisingly, those headshots never made it to his agents.
Stefi’s face turns an even brighter shade of pink. I’ve never seen anyone blush like she does. It makes me never want to look away.
“Thanks for the invite,” she stammers, shaking her head. “But I couldn’t.”
“Why not?” Dad pipes in, popping his head out of the car window.
Stefi’s eyebrows shoot up and her mouth pops open, and to be honest, I feel just as surprised as she looks.
“Oh— Hi Mr. Monroe,” Stefi stammers.
“Would you like to come?” I ask Stefi quickly, wanting to take advantage of Dad’s momentary loosening of the rules. I glance towards Dad, then back to Stefi. “I’d like you to come.”
As I say the words, I realize that I truly mean them.
“I really couldn’t,” she says again. “I have nothing to wear.”
“We’ll find you something. There must be a nice dress hanging around Legacy somewhere,” Dad says cheerily. I hope that he won’t be finding the dress from the same place he found my itchy and uncomfortable suit.
Stefi looks from me, to Dad, and back to me. I raise my eyebrows and shrug. Her face screws up in thought and she bites her lip.
“Okay…” she says hesitantly. “Why not?”
I break into a beaming smile. Without a moment’s thought, I open the door of the limo and gesture for her to get in. “After you, milady.”
“Why, thank you, kind sir,” she responds, her eyes glittering. Her enthusiasm is contagious and, for the first time today, I feel somewhat excited for the night ahead.
12
Cooper
“So. My question is, do you think he wrestled the bear? Or do you think he had the bear as his pet?” Stefi asks, her face deadpan.
I snort as I set eyes on the massive stuffed bear in one corner of Mr. Aberhardt’s dining room. The frightening bear’s paws are raised, ready to fight. Poor beast.
“Definitely had it as his pet,” I say. “A bear would be the best guard dog.”
“Plus, imagine what it’d be like to cuddle with him. Adorable.”
I exhale in a laugh, picturing snuggling with the stuffed bear. Stefi and I have been laughing all night, poking fun at Mr. Aberhardt’s ridiculous decorations. His house is located just a few minutes outside of Edendale, perched on a small hill overlooking the area. The decor is somehow exactly what you’d expect of a mansion in Montana.
The grand living rooms feature several startling stuffed sheep and elk heads, trophies from Aberhardt’s hunts. The rich wood floors and walls add an unsettling monochromatic feeling to the place. And it’s just a touch too cold — I took off my suit jacket and draped it over Stefi’s shoulders so she could keep warm, but I’ll admit I feel the chill in my dress shirt. Overall, the mansion is giving me distinct murder vibes. In fact, Stefi and I have been hiding in the dining room for most of the evening — mostly because it features less taxidermied animals than the rest of the house.
Stefi pats her mouth with a napkin and places it next to her elbow. Her lips are still turned up in a smile and her eyes are shining. “And the next question is… where do you think the bathroom would be?”
I sit away from her to very obviously look around. The dining room features a wall of glass on one side, and two doors on the other. “Pick your poison.”
Stefi frowns, considering. “I’m going right.”
“Good luck!” I call as she stands and leaves the room.
I stare after her absentmindedly. The black and white dress Delia found for her fits her perfectly, hugging her slender frame. Her long hair hangs loose around her shoulders, and the heels she’s wearing make her legs look a mile long. She looks… pretty.
Really pretty.
I smile down at my plate and push a couple of grapes around. The first thing Stefi did when we walked into Aberhardt’s house was head for the food table. I followed her gratefully, and we’ve been back for seconds and thirds throughout the night.
“How’s it going, kiddo?” Dad plops himself into Stefi’s vacated chair.
“Better than expected, actually.”
Dad smiles and looks at the door Stefi disappeared through. “I like her. She’s a nice kid.”
“Funny, too.”
Dad laughs, his green eyes sparkling. I hazard a smile. Though we aren’t close, my dad’s laughter is pretty contagious.
“Now, don’t be getting any ideas, son.” He shakes his head. “Stefi is way too smart for a guy like you.”
I know that Dad means this as a joke, but his words sting. I wince involuntarily, but quickly recover with a smile. “Obviously. I don’t like her like that, Dad.”
He grabs a grape from my plate and pops it into his mouth. I try to keep from fainting in shock — is Dad really eating my leftovers? “Either way, I’m glad you have someone nice to keep you company. She’s a good kid. Trustworthy and honest.”
“Seems that way.”
Dad stares at me for a long moment but I avoid meeting his eyes.
“Anyway, I heard that Mr. Kato is looking for me. Best get back to schmoozing.”
I shoot Dad a sarcastic salute. He pats my shoulder before walking away, but I’m already lost in thought, his words on repeat in my mind. In my dad’s eyes, Stefi is smart, trustworthy, kind. She’s a “good kid” — everything that I’m not. He’s already relaxed the rules for Stefi to come with us tonight, and invited her to stay and hang out with me after her shift the other day.
I bite the inside of my cheek, pondering. He clearly approves of our friendship. Could this be my ticket out of being grounded?
If I spend more time with Stefi, it’ll show him that I can make good friends, that I can be responsible. It could be the perfect way to earn back some parental trust. Besides, I like hanging out with her. I’ve laughed and enjoyed our conversations more than I could’ve expected.
And, it’s not like anything more would come out of this. I’m going back to LA after the summer. Besides, Stefi is nothing like Lila and the girls I date back home. She’s a good person. A good friend.
“Note to self, the bathroom is up the stairs and to the left. Not to the right.” Stefi sighs as she sits back in her seat. “You don’t want to know what’s to
the right.”
“More bears?”
Stefi rolls her eyes. “You can’t even imagine.”
I chuckle and Stefi pops a piece of cheese into her mouth before taking a giant swig of Passionfruit La Croix. She told me earlier tonight that she has a thing for ginger ale but, seeing as there isn’t any here, I turned her onto the sparkling water. She seems to be enjoying it and I’m pleased I could help.
“Hey. I was wondering,” I say quietly. “What was that thing you said the other day about your life not being ‘interesting enough?’”
Stefi picks at a piece of bread on her plate. “It’s nothing, really.” She shrugs but I can tell that she’s bothered. “Apparently, despite having perfect grades and a range of extracurriculars, my college admissions essay is lacking one key thing — new experiences, a ‘different flavor of life.’ According to my guidance counselor, at least.”
“What if I can help you?”
Stefi looks at me, an eyebrow raised. “Help me? How?”
“Well, if you’re looking to make things more interesting, the best way to do that is to get out of your comfort zone…”
Stefi narrows her eyes, but I can tell that she’s intrigued.
“I might have an idea that could help us both.”
13
Stefi
I close the broom closet with my foot, my arms full of clean dish towels and a tablecloth. Cooper has finally made peace with the fact that he’ll be staying at Legacy Inn for a while, and that means that the penthouse kitchen is seeing more use than when I first started two weeks ago.
If I’m being honest, half of the mess is technically mine. Cooper and I have started making lunch together after my morning shifts. I’ve asked Fernando for ingredients and recipes, and the dishes we make are gradually becoming more and more extravagant. After our extra-fancy Wagyu steak and fries yesterday, I couldn’t move from being too full.
Working for a billionaire definitely does have its perks.
I carefully reach out to place the tablecloth on the counter while balancing the dish towels on one arm. But, to no success. The pile of clean towels tips and falls unceremoniously from my arms, tumbling towards the floor.
“No!” I squeal.
A flash of grey flies in front of me as Cooper kneels to catch the dish towels. They topple into his arms, a mess of unfolded — but clean — linen.
“That was close.” He stands, his smile teasing. He’s wearing a shirt today, but it’s a tight, white V-neck that leaves little to the imagination. His light grey sweatpants are a change from his usual pajama bottoms. “You should’ve asked for help.”
I roll my eyes and swipe the towels from him, trying to ignore the warmth in my cheeks. “I can take care of myself.”
“No arguments there.” He smiles. “So, you work tomorrow?”
“Why? Got some exciting plans?” I joke, and then immediately feel bad. Poor Cooper has hardly left the penthouse since he arrived at Legacy.
“Maybe. If you choose to come with me.”
I laugh and lean back against the counter. “Come with you where?”
“I can’t tell you.” Cooper smiles cryptically. “But, I can tell you that it’ll change your life. The catch is that we have to convince Kade to let me out.”
“Why would I do that if I don’t even know where we’re going?”
“You just have to trust me.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re crazy.”
Cooper smiles and my heart does that strange flip thing. “Maybe you need a little crazy.”
I frown as I consider what he’s saying.
Crazy is right.
Ever since Cooper suggested his “big idea” at the dinner last week, I’ve been trying to decide whether I want to go along with it. But “big idea” is a bit of a misnomer — it’s simply that we continue to hang out. He’s going to help me find ways to live a more exciting life, while I help him get out of being completely grounded. For some reason, his dad thinks that I’m a good influence and is happy to have the two of us spend time together outside of work.
But, I’m not sure what to do. If I agree to his arrangement, that means that I’ll be spending even more time with Cooper Monroe. Time that could be spent writing my essay or studying.
I’ve considered asking Kiara, Bree and Anaya what they think. Though the four of us attend Edendale High, we run in different circles and we’d barely said two words to each other before arriving at Legacy. Now, we’re getting to be good friends, but I’m not sure I’m ready to share them into this insane situation. Would they even believe that I was spending my days hanging out with a celebrity?
I can hardly believe it myself when it’s put like that.
The truth is that when Cooper and I hang out, I forget that his dad is a movie star or that they’re filthy rich. He just feels like a friend. Comfortable. Easygoing. Hilarious.
In the grand scheme of things, it does seem like a good idea. The business dinner in Edendale last week was far out of my comfort zone. That night, after getting back to my cabin, I ended up writing a page of ideas for my essay. Seeing the world through his eyes did inspire me...
Cooper is staring at me expectantly. I owe him an answer. But by going along with his plans for tomorrow, am I agreeing to everything — the whole plan?
“Hey, kids!” Kade’s voice echoes through the penthouse, startling me from my thoughts.
Cooper’s eyes don’t leave mine. “We’re in the kitchen, dad.” Then, he mouths. “So?”
“I don’t know,” I mouth back.
He raises an eyebrow and touches his ear, looking confused. He very clearly mouths, “what?”
“I. Don’t. Know.” My lips move over-enthusiastically.
A hint of a smile crosses Cooper’s lips. Again, he mouths, “what?”
Of course. He’s giving me a hard time.
I roll my eyes and lightly shove his shoulder, holding back a smile.
“What’ve you kids been up to?” Kade asks as he walks into the kitchen. “Has Coop been getting in your way, Stefi?”
“Always.”
Kade laughs as he places a very heavy-looking briefcase on the floor next to the counter. I notice the dark circles under his eyes and his messy hair. It looks like he didn’t get much sleep last night.
“So, Dad,” Cooper says loudly, obviously. “I was thinking... I’ve always wanted to see Glacier National Park. Did you know that we’re only an hour’s drive away?”
Kade rolls his eyes, familiar with this game. “Yes, Coop.”
“And, did you know that it spans over 1 million acres with varied flora and fauna?”
“Yes, Coop.”
“And, that it’s called the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem? Really, it’s an educational experience to visit. But it’s probably best not to go alone. Bears and such...” Then, Cooper turns to me, his eyes wide and innocent. “Don’t you have the day off tomorrow, Stef?”
Ah. That’s his angle.
Kade laughs. “Way to make it obvious, son.”
Cooper is smiling but his eyes are a question as he looks at me. My mouth feels dry. The last time I gave in to one of Cooper’s crazy ideas, I wound up at a high-class dinner at a bizarre mansion with too many hunting trophies. But isn’t this exactly the sort of thing Mrs. Higgins would want to read about? What college admissions staff would be looking for in my essay?
Before I can change my mind, I do the last thing the “real Stefi Clark” would usually do.
“You know, Coop, I do have the day off tomorrow.” My voice is shaky, but I hope only I can hear it. I turn to Kade. “Would you mind if we go to Glacier Park tomorrow, Mr. Monroe? For, uh, educational purposes?”
Kade raises his eyebrows and looks between Cooper and I. He seems torn and, for a moment, I think he might say no. But then, his face relaxes into a smile. “Sure. Your mom can’t oppose a trip for ‘education.’”
There’s a distinct note of laughter in Kade’s tone, but I barely notice.
I’m too busy watching Cooper’s eyes light up and trying to tame the nervous butterflies in my stomach. Or are they excited butterflies? I’m not entirely sure. All I know is that tomorrow is going to be a big day. And I kind of like seeing Cooper so happy. I smile wide and my entire body glows.
Cooper slings a casual arm around my shoulders, his torso warm and firm against mine. “I promise that we’ll be on our best behavior.”
Kade nods knowingly and leaves the room, lugging his gigantic briefcase with him.
I turn to Cooper, my eyebrows raised. “Well, an outing to a National Park was the last thing I expected. What, exactly, do you have planned?”
Cooper smiles mysteriously, his black coffee eyes gleaming. “You’ll see.”
14
Cooper
It’s early — earlier than I’ve been up in weeks — but I can barely contain my excitement. The air smells crisp and humid, courtesy of the morning dew. The sunlight is bright and yellow, and the sky is a rich, cloudless blue. It’s a good day to be outside. A good day for an adventure.
I can only hope that Stefi likes what I have planned.
“After you, milady.” I open the door to the limo and gesture to Stefi. I would’ve preferred to drive us in the Escalade, but this was my dad’s compromise — I could go to Glacier with Stefi, but only if Arnold drove us in the limo.
I wasn’t about to argue with this unexpected taste of freedom. Plus, Arnold’s cool. For a middle-aged, limo-driving chaperone.
I sit on the bench seat beside Stefi, and now, I can’t help my smile. With her jeans and cute black top, she looks ready for a day in the mountains. Her hair is half-up, highlighting her cheekbones, and her eyes shine with excitement. She sits ramrod straight, grinning uncontrollably.
“So?” she asks. “Are you finally going to tell me what we’re doing when we get to Glacier?”
The Complete Legacy Inn Collection: Four Sweet YA Romances Page 38