by Jill Sanders
Word had gotten out around town about the resort’s amazing new chef, Tim, and a steady flood of locals streamed into the newly opened dining area in the lobby and bar. The main dining hall was still being worked on and would be shut down for at least two more weeks.
She’d found an antique chandelier at an online auction that was perfect for the center of the dining hall. The old chandelier was beyond repair and too outdated for Raven’s tastes. The plan was to place the grand piano directly underneath it, in the center of the room, with the tables in a circle around it and the massive two-story stone fireplace, which was being converted to gas.
The chandelier was being delivered early next week, which meant that the rest of the dining hall had to be ready by then.
David’s original crew were working quickly on getting everything ready. Each day when she walked through, she was even more impressed with how well his team worked.
Rachelle kept proving to her just how invaluable she was to the resort. She always lifted the morale of the employees. Just before her weekly meeting with Rachelle early Friday morning, Raven made a quick determination to give the woman a raise.
She clearly deserved it. Besides, Raven knew that she had been seriously underpaid over the years while her aunt and uncle had been grossly overpaid.
“Morning,” Rachelle said, knocking on Raven’s open office door. “Coffee and muffins?” She held up a mug and a plate of muffins.
“Yes.” Raven motioned her inside. “I didn’t get a chance to head down to the kitchen and eat anything yet.”
“I figured as much.” Rachelle sat down and handed Raven the coffee as she set the plate of muffins down on the desk. “So, I’ve heard from the bar crew that the new fridge was set up before shift last night. It should be helpful for the crowd that we’re expecting tonight.”
Raven sipped the coffee and watched Rachelle open a notepad and skim through the pages.
“First order of business…” Rachelle started.
“I’m giving you a raise,” Raven broke in.
Rachelle’s eyebrows shot up. “You… are?”
Raven smiled. “You deserve it.”
“Of course, I do.” Rachelle laughed. “I just never expected to get one. I’ve worked here for so long and this will be the first.”
“Seriously?” Raven was shocked. She’d known she was underpaid, but surely, she’d at least gotten one raise in the last eight years.
Rachelle shrugged. “The work was my only reward, until now.” She smiled. “Do I get a fancy new title as well?” she joked.
Raven laughed. “What is your official title now?”
“Hotel Manager.” Rachelle rolled her eyes. “Not bad, but it doesn’t really encompass everything I do.”
Raven thought about it and nodded. “How does Resort Director sound?” Raven asked.
“Fancy,” Rachelle said with a smile. “I’ll take it.”
“Good. Now what do you say we get this meeting started.” She flipped open her own notebook and got to work.
Even though she hadn’t seen Cade all week long, they had been texting or calling one another multiple times each day and each night.
Darby and Carrie were meeting her in the lobby later for dinner for girls’ night, which was becoming a weekly thing with the friends. She’d convinced them to have dinner at the resort and hang in her rooms since she hadn’t wanted a repeat of last week.
She knew from the gossip going around town that her aunt and uncle had been questioned about the break-in, but just like Joseph’s murder, it appeared that the police weren’t sure about who had done it. At least not yet.
The gossip about Joseph’s death hadn’t died down yet. Speculations were floating around town and rumors had her at the top of the guilty list. At least she shared the number-one spot with her uncle. It wasn’t the first time she’d been guilty without proof in the eyes of the townspeople.
Since she’d been avoiding going into town all week, she hadn’t run into her aunt or uncle now that they were back in town.
Liza, on the other hand, was still living in a room in the main building where Raven had her own room. She’d moved twice already, trying to stay out of the way of the construction. She didn’t mind it since she currently only had a suitcase worth of clothes. She’d gone into town one day and had purchased a few more outfits for work along with some more casual clothes. Still, they all easily fit into the small hotel closet.
After meeting her friends in the bar, the three of them settled down at a table near the back of the area.
There were four employees working in the bar area tonight, and Raven had wanted to keep an eye on two of the newer ones to make sure they could handle a busy night. Not that she didn’t trust Rachelle’s judgment in the matter. But Raven knew one of them personally.
It wasn’t as if Heather was going around causing problems. Rachelle had let Raven know that, since she’d been hired, she’d convinced a bunch of the locals who still held grudges against Raven to start frequenting the resort bar.
Raven was fairly sure it was for her own selfish reasons, since she needed the tips.
The new uniform for the employees was classy and sleek, but somehow, on Heather, it looked downright slutty. Raven had watched the woman flirt as she worked the room, and Raven realized that the outfit she’d changed into after work was far from sexy.
She’d picked a pencil skirt and a cream-colored blouse with a matching pair of boots that she’d found at the local shoe store in town. She knew that her friends would expect her to wear something better than work slacks and this was the best she had currently. Besides the sexy red dress, which she was saving for tomorrow night.
Her friends were both dressed in what Raven would describe as club attire, making her feel even more ordinary.
Darby was dressed in a little hot-pink number with heeled boots. Her blonde hair had been curled, and she was easily wearing twice her normal makeup.
Carrie had on a slinky black dress that hugged her curves and showcased her long curly hair.
When she’d noticed what her friends were wearing, she’d instantly wished that she could have made it into the city to get something a little sexier.
“You seemed preoccupied,” Carrie said after their drinks had arrived. “Did something else happen?” she asked with a slight gasp.
“Your aunt and uncle? Did they do something more?” Darby jumped in.
“No.” Raven shook her head and then took a sip of her wine. “No, I haven’t seen or heard from them since I saw them in the diner.”
“Good.” Darby leaned back. “They haven’t been back since.”
“What’s on your mind then?” Carrie asked.
“I have a date tomorrow night with Cade,” she answered.
“Oh.” Darby smiled. “I knew there was something between the two of you.”
Carrie rolled her eyes. “Duh-doy. Everyone in town knows that Raven spent the night at Cade’s last week. That’s how someone broke into her rooms and…” Her friend stopped talking and reached over and laid her hand over hers. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m over it. I hated my wardrobe anyway.” She tried to make light of the situation. Over the past few days, she’d been consoled so many times about her ruined things that she was almost numb to it. After all, it wasn’t the first time in life she’d lost everything dear to her. This time it had just been clothes. Last time it had been so much more.
“When we head up to your room, we’ll help you pick out something sexy for your date,” Carrie said, holding up her wine glass.
“I have a little red dress Cade’s been looking forward to seeing me in,” she replied with a smile.
“Go, girl,” Darby said, holding up her wine glass.
“Let’s forget men and enjoy girl time.” Carrie held her glass up.
The three friends clicked their glasses together and drank.
Less than five minutes later, Andre Walker strolled into the bar with a few of hi
s friends.
“Oh my god,” Darby sighed as she watched the men settle at the bar. “He’s just so… damn hot.”
Raven watched her friend’s eyes go dreamy as she looked at the group.
“Which one?” Carrie asked. The tone of jealousy in her friend’s voice had her eyes moving over towards her.
Carrie’s eyes were glued to Andre. Was there something between the two?
“Tony Ellis, of course,” Darby clarified, sounding a little shocked and offended. “Not Andre.” Darby rolled her eyes.
“What is going on between you two?” Raven asked.
Darby leaned closer; her eyes glued to Carrie’s. “Everyone in town knows that Andre and Carrie…”
Raven’s eyebrows jumped. “You two?”
“No,” Carrie denied it quickly. She took a sip of her wine as her eyes moved away from the group of men.
“No as in… not any more or no as in… never?” Raven asked with a smile.
“No as in… no.” Carrie’s tone turned sad. “Everyone in town knows Andre’s father is very anti…”
“He’s the biggest racist in town,” Darby jumped in.
“Doesn’t his family own the large ranch outside of town?” Raven asked, trying to remember more about the man. She knew that he’d gone to school with them and was a year or two older than they were. But outside of that, she was drawing a blank.
“And the local hardware store,” Darby added. “Benjamin Walker purchased up most of the businesses in town after the fire. The grocery store, hardware store, and even the gas stations. He bought them all for pennies after the fire and has made so much money. Not that they needed it. They were loaded to begin with.”
“What does Andre do?” Raven tried to remember something about the guy. He was extremely good-looking, almost a little too good-looking for her tastes. She leaned towards the more manly, outdoorsy alpha-male type.
“He’s studying in the city to become an actor, and works as a volunteer fireman. So do the rest of the gang with him,” Carrie supplied.
“Including Tony,” Darby added with a wishful sigh.
“God. Why don’t you head over there and ask the man for a drink already?” Carrie nudged Darby’s shoulder.
“Me?” She shook her head and looked a little scared.
“Ugh.” Carrie jumped up from the chair and headed towards the bar. Darby watched with a shocked and scared look on her face.
“Relax. You know she wouldn’t do anything to embarrass you,” Raven said, touching Darby’s arm. “You have it bad for this guy?”
“Tony has come into the diner every day for the past year.” Darby’s eyes turned towards hers. “Every single day. He’s sweet, sexy, and…” She turned back to the scene at the bar. “One of the nicest men I know.”
“And slow,” Raven added with a chuckle. “If he hasn’t asked you out once in the past year.”
“Yeah.” Darby sighed, then stiffened when Carrie motioned towards their table. The fact that she was talking to Andre and not Tony had assured Raven that her friend wasn’t embarrassing Darby.
Suddenly, the entire crew of men started heading towards their table. Raven wondered where Cade was since it appeared as if girls’ night had now changed directions.
The three friends were joined by Andre, Tony, and a guy by the name of Kevin. She remembered seeing both Tony and Kevin helping Cade out before. Kevin was shorter than she was by at least half a foot, and as thick as her uncle. He wasn’t bad looking, but he was a few years younger than she was.
The moment Kevin sat next to her and gave her a look of interest, she jumped up and made a quick excuse about needing to make a phone call.
Stepping into the quiet lobby, she punched Cade’s number. He answered on the second ring.
“Hey, I was just thinking of you,” he said smoothly.
“What are you doing right now?” she jumped in.
“Blue and I are sitting on the back porch,” he answered. “Why?”
“Come save me from a very awkward predicament. My girls’ night has now turned into an impromptu triple date.”
“What?” She could hear the frown in his tone.
“Just come to the bar. I’ll explain later. Save me from Kevin,” she begged.
“Kevin?”
“We’re at the bar at the resort. I’ll see you in ten.” She hung up when her friends called her back over to the table.
The next ten minutes were the longest in her entire life. She swore that she could even hear the tick of the second hand on her digital Apple watch.
She kept having to scoot her chair farther away from Kevin when he talked to her. Darby and Tony were huddled together, flirting, and Carrie and Andre seemed to be in a heated conversation. Which had left Kevin’s attention solely on her.
Without coming right out and saying she wasn’t interested, she sat in the corner and sipped her wine while her friends downed their second and third drinks. They’d switched from wine to shots and beers after the men had arrived. She’d stuck to the wine.
When Cade finally strolled in, she realized just why she was so drawn to him. The man oozed sex appeal in everything he did. Even walking into a bar.
“Hey,” he said, stopping directly behind Kevin’s chair, “you’re in my seat.”
Kevin glanced up and then between his friends, who all nodded. Then he slid over to the empty chair with a slight frown.
“Hi,” Cade said to her with a smile. “You look nice tonight.” He took her hand in his and then waved for a waitress.
“Thanks,” she said, trying not to fidget. She was still feeling seriously inferior to the rest of the crowd that had gathered in the bar.
Heather walked over and, after taking Cade’s and the rest of the table’s orders, she disappeared.
“So,” Cade said, leaning a little closer to her. “Girls’ night turned into something more?”
She rolled her eyes and lowered her voice. “Apparently, Carrie and Andre,”
Cade chuckled. “Old news.”
She shook her head. “To some. Well, Darby and Tony…” Cade’s eyebrows shot up as his eyes moved to the pair, who were laughing about something on Darby’s phone.
“That one’s news to me,” Cade offered.
“Yeah, when your guys showed up…”
“My guys?” Cade asked.
Raven shrugged. “Apparently you own anyone who works at the fire station.”
Cade smiled. “Does that make all of these people your workers?” He motioned to Heather, who was walking towards them with a full tray of drinks.
“Something like that.”
For the next two hours, the six of them laughed and enjoyed their time together. Kevin had made some excuse a few moments after Cade had showed up and left. Raven felt a little bad, but then Cade hinted that he had a live-in girlfriend, and Raven stopped feeling bad for the man, who’d obviously been on the prowl.
Almost four hours after her friends had walked into the bar, the three of them stepped into the elevator together. Andre and Tony were getting rides home from Cade, who had nursed a single beer since arriving. She wanted to kiss Cade good night, but since he was practically holding up Tony, she settled for telling him that she’d see him tomorrow night.
She had to admit, she was thankful that they had decided to stay in her rooms for the night instead of trying to drive back into town. After three glasses of wine, she could barely hit the correct floor number button in the elevator. Even then, she was giggling so hard at something Darby had said that she had to hold onto the railing to stop herself from sliding to the floor.
“I can’t believe Tony finally asked me out,” Darby said with a sigh as she rested her head back against the mirrored wall of the elevator.
“Finally,” Carrie snorted. “I heard you dropping hints all night.”
“He’s just shy,” Darby supplied.
“I didn’t think he was really interested in you at first, but the way that boy looks at you…�
� Raven tapped her heart.
“Like Cade looks at you,” Darby added.
“Girl, the way Cade looks at Raven is nothing like how Tony looks at you. Not yet anyway.” The elevator stopped. “Cade looks like he wants to devour Raven. Tony looks like a lost little puppy willing to follow Darby around anywhere.”
The friends were laughing as they stepped out of the elevator.
When Darby gasped and cried out, at first Raven didn’t understand why. Then she followed her friend’s gaze and felt her stomach lurch. Rachelle lay just outside the elevators, her pale skin a dark ashy grey, her glassy eyes staring up at the ceiling, unseeing.
The desire for blood had to be quenched.
Even if, this time, no blood had literally been spilt. There were, after all, other ways to feed the flames. Watching the ash color flood over the normally soft-pink complexion was even more rewarding than they had assumed.
“More,” the monster deep inside growled. Now that it was awakened, it was a daily battle to quench the thirst.
Tempering the desire to put something in the proverbial town’s well hadn’t been easy. Still, knowing that, once again, their staging would shock the one person they hated the most fulfilled those desires.
Giddiness overcame upon thinking of the three friends finding their prize. Yes, they would have to do this again. Soon.
Chapter Twenty
Foul water will quench fire ~ English proverb
Less than five minutes after stepping inside his house, his phone chimed. Seeing his uncle’s number on his screen, he frowned and began to worry.
“Hey, what’s up?” he answered.
“Hey, better head back up to the resort. Something tells me that your girl is going to need your support right now,” Sean said.
“What’s wrong?” He turned back towards the door and grabbed his coat. He decided this time to take Blue with him.
“She and her friends found Rachelle Braun’s body,” Sean answered.
Blue followed Cade outside and jumped into the truck when he opened the door for him.
“What happened?” Cade asked, starting the engine.