by Caroline Lee
She hadn’t meant to sound so incredulous, but felt him shrug, so maybe he didn’t notice. “This. I think a sunset canoe trip is real nice, you know? I’ll bet a lot of the guests—the ones we know are experienced paddlers, at least—would enjoy it. It’s been something I’ve been thinking about offering. Like, a package where we’ll drive out and drop off the food and set up the fire, and even pick them up and drive them and the canoe back, you know?”
She hadn’t spent years in guest services without knowing how to brainstorm package suggestions. “That’s a great idea! Maybe a guided tour at first? Or maybe a few nights a week, you—or someone—takes a group out here, and one of the other guys is on truck duty? Can you get the bus up here, if you had more people to port the canoes a little farther?”
“To the road, yeah, maybe. And then,” he was definitely getting into the spirit, “After a few trials, we could start offering a solo-service to the couples who we vetted.”
Ellie loved the thrill of helping him flesh out new ideas. It made her feel like…well, like his partner, rather than his employee. But he wasn’t done yet.
“Now that you’ve hired a few new guys, I think we can handle this. Maybe even start this summer.” Together, they’d interviewed two new employees earlier that week, and they—students from the University of Idaho who were off for summer break—seemed to be handling the boathouse and driving duties nicely. “I was also thinking that we could expand our rafting tours.”
“In what way? The river only goes in one direction.” Even his snort and smile didn’t detract from the wonderful feeling of his thumb stroking softly against her skin.
“I mean, longer tours. Like the one you and I did last week. We put in way up-river, yeah? But we did lunch near the river-house. That was something we used to do years ago, but as we lost staff it just wasn’t worth it to drive all that way to pick up the bus. But now…”
She snuggled a little closer to him. “Now, with Josh and Stumpy, you’ll be able to drive the bus back to the boathouse immediately—or maybe just to the current put-in location to set up lunch?—and still handle everything.”
“I figure the days we do a full-day tour like that, we won’t be able to manage an afternoon shorter tour.”
“That’s okay.” She shrugged, loving the brush of skin against his. “Because on the days you offer full-day rafting tours—six hours or so—you also offer the evening canoe trips. Alternating days you offer your usual morning and afternoon tours.”
When he kissed her temple, it felt so natural that she didn’t react for a moment, beyond sighing in pleasure. But then she blinked and turned slightly in the circle of warmth his arm formed. “What was that for?”
“For being brilliant. And for saving this program. I was…” He sighed. “I was in big trouble until you came along.”
She tried to dismiss his praise. “No, you’d have been fine.”
“No, you don’t understand.” He turned that gorgeous white-water-blue gaze back to the fire. “This is my home, yeah? Well, my parents…” He sighed, and she knew there was history there. He’d more than hinted that he couldn’t seem to live up to expectations. “I told you that my parents are traveling around, and sending us tests. You asked if they’d tested me yet, and they haven’t really. But see…” He took a swig of the root beer. “Earlier this summer, they gave me an ultimatum. Either I figured out a way to straighten out the aquatics program, so we had at least a week of no dropped shifts, no screw-ups, no cancelled tours, or they…”
When he trailed off, Ellie’s heart began to pound. “Or they what?”
“Or they cut me out of the will. I don’t get my share of River’s End Ranch. Because I’m not competent enough to run it.” The bitterness in his whisper was too much for Ellie to bear.
“Oh, Will. I’m…I’m so sorry.” She knew what this place meant to him. She’d seen the way he came alive on the river, and remembered the passion he’d captured in his paintings. “That’s awful.”
His arm tightened around her shoulder, and he looked down at her again. That wry half-grin was back, and her heart ached to think that he might be laughing at himself. “Nah, it’s okay, Ellie. Because I was smart enough, at least, to ask for help. You showed up and saved me.”
She had to swallow, because something deep in her chest had crawled up her throat and wasn’t letting her speak. “No.” She tried again. “We did it together. I just taught you how to use some programs—”
“It’s more than that, and you know it. You were the one who saw the issues, and understood how to fix them, in just a minute. And then you did; you went out and fixed them. We’ve got new employees, and you’re still interviewing for back-ups, and the Kates and Joey are juggling the pool awesomely, and it’s thanks to you. You fixed the aquatics program.” He took a deep breath. “You saved me, saved my future. Your vision—”
She couldn’t take the praise anymore. Reaching up to press her fingertips against his lips, she quieted him, and tried not to be too pleased at the way he shuddered slightly at her touch. “Will, I’m not some kind of…of knight in shining armor. You were the one who came up with the job description, and what needed to be done, and hired me. All I did was my job.” She’d done it well. So well that she wouldn’t be needed after next week. Things were running perfectly. “This was all your vision.”
“No, I—”
“Really.” She couldn’t help herself; her fingers traced his lips, and she watched him close his eyes tightly in response. “You just sat here and told me some brilliant ideas on how to expand the aquatics program, Will. You’re the one with the vision. This place means the world to you—is your world—and I know that you’re going to go far with it. All I did was work out some scheduling software. You’re the heart and soul of the program.”
“I can’t run it, though, Ellie.” He captured her fingers in his free hand, and pulled them away so that he could pin her with an intense gaze. “Wade thinks that I should be signing paychecks or filing reimbursements or whatever, and I just can’t. I don’t…” he huffed out a sigh. “I just don’t understand it all. Don’t care.”
“You don’t need too, Will!” Why didn’t he understand? “I’ve made sure that your parents’ requirements are being met, but now you can hire someone to manage all that boring stuff—” Not that she thought it was boring, “—while you concentrate on the big picture.”
“Hire someone?” he repeated, sounding lost.
“Yeah!” She squeezed his fingers. “Hire someone! Like you did me. Someone you can delegate to, someone you trust. And then, bam! Not only will the program run smoothly, but you’ll be able to follow your vision for it.”
He shifted slightly until he was facing her, and tightened his grip on both her shoulder and hand. “Ellie, I don’t want to hire anyone else. I hired you, and you’re perfect.”
Their faces were only inches apart, and Ellie was having a really hard time concentrating on his words when his lips were so close. He’s your boss! Try to remember! Only it wasn’t working; all she could think about was the way he’d kissed her last week, on the river. “What?”
“I said that you’re perfect. For the program.”
“But…” She stared at his lips. “But I’m leaving next week.”
“Stay. Work with me. Be my partner.”
What was he saying? She blinked. “I have to go…” Where did she have to go? Oh yeah. “Home. I have to go home.”
But where was home?
“Ellie,” he groaned, and her gaze snapped back up to his, thinking he was in pain. The way he was looking at her made her think that maybe he was. “Ellie…”
“Yes?” She whispered.
He didn’t answer, though. Instead, he pulled her against him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, and they kissed.
There, under a perfect orange-and-pink sunset reflected off the lake, beside a dying fire, surrounded by the embrace of the never-ending woods, they kissed, and it was as good as Ell
ie remembered.
No, it was much better.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Another few days with Will—dates, work meetings, and kissing—and Ellie was hopelessly lost. Her heart and her stomach couldn’t take much more; she alternated between the thrill of being with him, holding him, and the depressing realization that there was a Boise-to-Atlanta-to-Charleston plane ticket with her name on it, leaving Saturday. She was due back in L.A. next month for her new job at the Hyatt, and she was falling hard for her current boss.
He’d asked her to stay, though. Once, right before he’d kissed her beside the lake. Right before she’d kissed him back, because she didn’t have any other response. Had he been serious? She hadn’t had the guts to bring it back up again, and he hadn’t mentioned it either. So Ellie had to assume he’d just been saying anything he could to get her to kiss him.
Apparently, it had worked.
She’d kissed him any number of times since then, and each time just got better. Their time together just got better. It was wonderful, and she was having to work really, really hard not to blurt out something stupid.
Like I love you.
She was leaving Idaho in six days. She couldn’t love Will Weston, because she was leaving.
Because she’d done her job. Done it really, really well. The pool shifts were running smoothly, and thanks to the two new river crew she’d hired—along with the new gal set to start next week—Will would not only be able to handle the rafting runs more smoothly, but also expand. He’d be able to implement the plans he’d told her about last week beside the lake.
Yep, things were going well for the aquatics program of River’s End Ranch. Today was Monday, and if another four days went by without a dropped shift or a guest complaint about rafting availability or safety, then she’d consider her time here in Idaho a success. She’d fulfill the terms of her contract—which she now knew were the terms Will’s parents had given him to secure his share in the ranch—and be able to fly out, knowing she’d done her job well.
If only she could convince herself that’s what she wanted.
It was only ten in the morning, but she’d already visited the guards at the pool to make sure that everything was set for the day, and now was regretting skipping breakfast. So, knowing Kelsey’s Kafe would be open, she detoured by there on her way back to her room and her computer’s schedules.
Sure enough, the place was open, but almost deserted when she stepped through the front door.
“Hi! Welcome to—Oh, it’s you!” Ellie had become fast friends with Will’s sister Kelsi, because…well, because anything else would be basically unthinkable. When Kelsi decided that you were a friend, you were a friend.
In fact, she smiled over her shoulder to the two other waitresses behind the counter. “I’ve got this table!” And then she led Ellie to a corner booth. “What can I get you? Your usual root beer?”
“Yes, please,” Ellie smiled as she slipped in.
“I ordered a new shipment for you, you know. We Westons drink a different brand, but I like you and want to keep you happy.” The petite Weston practically bubbled over with cheerfulness. “I want you to stick around, you know.”
Ellie forced a smile around the sick feeling Kelsi’s words prompted. She wanted to stick around too, but couldn’t. Ellie had done her job, and now it was time for her to move on. “I’ll be right out with your drink. Want to see a menu?”
“Actually, could I just have an order of cheese curds?” She’d had the completely foreign treat last week, and couldn’t stop thinking about it. The way she was feeling, she figured that she deserved some cheese-therapy.
“Fried?”
“Is there any other way?”
Kelsi’s smile grew. “Not with root beer, there isn’t! One order of delicious fried cheese curds, coming your way!”
As Kelsi turned to leave, Ellie impulsively put her hand on her new friend’s arm, stopping her. Will’s sister had been so kind to her, and had made her feel so at home. When Kelsi turned back with a raised brow, Ellie cleared her throat and confessed. “Thelma and Louise.”
Kelsi’s eyes went wide, and she gasped. “What about Thelma and Louise?”
Ellie ventured a smile, not believing that she was actually confessing this. “You asked me if I’d named my boobs. They’re Thelma and Louise.”
Her new friend screamed. Actually screamed, and bounced up and down, and then clapped her hands. It was a little overdone, but then, so was Kelsi. Finally, the petite Weston spun around in a circle once, stopped clapping, bent down and whispered, “Mine too!” Ellie’s eyes widened at the confession. “Oh, I just knew that we were going to be best friends! How could I not with someone as awesome as you? I have to love you, since Will does!”
“Wait, Will does what?”
But Kelsi was already on her way to the kitchen, probably to explain what the screaming was about, and didn’t hear Ellie’s question. “I’ll be back in a jiff with your root beer and curds, new Bestie!”
Ellie would’ve sighed when the swinging door closed behind Kelsi, but she was still too much in shock. Not over Kelsi’s confession—although what were the odds that they’d named their boobs the exact same thing?—but over her casual remark about Will’s love. What made her think that Will loved Ellie? Had he said something? Is that why Will had kissed her? Asked her to stay, but then not brought it up again?
Ellie groaned, and dropped her head into her arms on the table. Had she thought herself confused before? Now it was even worse; she had her ticket, her future planned, memories of amazing kisses from a special man, and now someone else’s claim that she was loved? This was terrible.
She couldn’t take Kelsi’s word for something so important—especially so casually given. If Will loved her, he would’ve said something. He would’ve begged her to stay, wouldn’t he? The kissing had been nice—more than nice—but maybe she was just a summer fling to him. Maybe he thought that they weren’t well-matched or something. Or maybe… Gah. She groaned again and thumped her forehead once against her arm. She didn’t know what to think anymore.
When he phone rang, Ellie was grateful for the distraction. She fished it out of her bag—she’d taken to carrying around a little knapsack for her notes and clipboard—and wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or not to see a number that wasn’t Will’s.
“Hi, Dink.” She tucked the phone into her shoulder as Kelsi returned with her order and placed it quietly on the table with a smile. “What’s up?”
“Just hadn’t heard your voice in ages. Eons? Wait, is an eon longer than an age? Era, maybe.”
Leave it to Dink to make her smile. “Sorry. I’ve been really busy.”
“Well, at least you’ve learned how to text. That was helpful. Now, we need to get you to stop texting like Muz’s nineteenth-century telegraph-speak.” Her younger sister put on what she probably thought was an old-timey voice. “Work overload, stop. So busy, stop. Idaho gorgeous, totally surprised, stop. Boss is super-hot, can’t wait to jump his bones, full stop.”
“Hey!” Ellie sputtered past her straw. “I never said that!”
“You implied it. I’m good at reading in between the telegraph lines.”
Breaking open a hot cheese curd to let it cool, Ellie snorted. “Did you seriously just call to make fun of me?”
“No, I called to find out how things are going with Will.”
“I’m going to regret telling you about that date, aren’t I?” Thank goodness she hadn’t told her sister about last week’s canoe trip, or the sunset kiss, or the kisses and dinners and deep conversations since then.
“Probably!” Ellie could hear the smile in Dink’s voice, and sighed.
“Things are fine. But he’s my boss, and I’m leaving here in less than a week.” Five days, not counting today. “It was a nice summer, though.”
Her sister snorted. “A nice summer? Sounds like it was epic. I wanna come visit you!”
“Well, I’ll be in Charleston Sa
turday night.” Dink lived in Dallas. “I’ll bet Muz and Dad would like us all home together for a change, now that Elvis is back in school for town.”
“We’ll see, I guess.” There was something…off about Dink’s tone.
“Hey. What’s going on? Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah…”
“Diiiink?” She dragged her sister’s name out like they used to when they were younger.
“Oh, everything’s fine. Except Magnus is a cheating jerk and I packed up and left him and now I’m staying with Suzanne and Chuck and living out of my car, apparently.”
Ellie breathed a curse word, and her sister snorted in agreement. “I’m sorry, Dink. That’s… Well, I’m sorry. He cheated on you?”
“With a gallery manager. Apparently he thought she could get his pieces shown or something. I told him ‘News flash! The owner makes those decisions, dummy!’ And he had the audacity to defend himself. Like it was a career step for him, or something.” Oh, Dink was mad. Ellie could hear her sister stomping around on the other end of the phone call, on the other side of the country. “So I told him that I hoped he and his career would be very happy together, and Hagrid and I left him.”
“Good!” There wasn’t anything else to say.
“Yeah. But now…”
Ellie hated being so far away from her sister when she obviously needed a hug. “If you think your car will make it, you should head back to Charleston next week. Visit for a while.”
Dink snorted again. “If you’re there. I’m still not convinced you won’t stay in Idaho—Idaho, of all places—and marry your dreamy boss and leave me to melt down south.”
She didn’t want to think about an impossible future, so Ellie pushed aside her sister’s words. “Enough about me. Tell me what Suzanne said when you showed up at her door with your sewing machine and Hagrid’s cage.”
That was all the prompting Dink needed to launch into a rant about scuzzy ex-boyfriends and their stupid career goals. Ellie settled down with her fried cheese curds and her root beer, and made appropriately sympathetic noises whenever Dink slowed down for a breath. And it might’ve been selfish, but Ellie welcomed the distraction from her own worries. Dink’s relationship issues were something else she could think about for a little while. While she was listening to the Saga of Dink and Mangus, Ellie didn’t have to think about Will, or how he made her feel, or the fact that she was leaving him in a few days, because she’d done her job so well.