by Dani Collins
Wren tried not to be star-struck, but as she forgot to take off the emergency brake and wound up revving the engine and looking like she didn’t know how to drive, she had to admit, “Nerves. Sorry. I’m a big fan.”
“No problem,” he said easily.
“How, um, do you know Rolf and Trigg?”
“I was surfing with friends a couple years ago. Trigg joined us. He called me a few months ago, asked if I wanted a season’s pass for the new resort. I was going to be in the neighborhood so…” He shrugged. “It’s nice to do an intimate show. Most of mine are arenas these days.”
She knew. She’d tried to get tickets once and the scalpers had wanted a fortune. Even if she did get married someday, her ceremony would never be something like this, where the wedding music featured a live performance by a Grammy winner.
Moments later, she parked. As they crept toward the back of the stage, they could hear Eden speaking.
“…so honored when Glory asked me to sing her favorite song for her first dance with Rolf. This is ‘It’s Always a Good Day When I Wake Up Beside You,’ by Maverick Jace.”
The first notes began. Eden took up the lyrics in a voice that had a sweet and quirky indie sound with a hint of breathiness and rasp.
Trigg was watching for them and pumped his fist in triumph when they appeared. He ran up the steps onto the stage. “Sorry, Eden,” he said, cutting her off.
The band petered out and the whole tent went silent in shock.
Wren moved so she could see the dance floor and stage. Rolf and Glory stood dumbfounded by Trigg’s interruption. Trigg put his arm around Eden as he nudged her aside to speak into the microphone.
“I know you’ve been working really hard on this song and it sounded great, but it turns out one of our guests is peeved he’s not getting royalties from your cover of his song. Maverick Jace is here to sing it himself.”
Amid screams of shock and excitement, Maverick came onstage with a casual grin and wave. Trigg and Eden moved aside and Maverick said, “Congratulations,” to Rolf and Glory.
Glory had both her hands over her gaping mouth while Rolf blistered Trigg with, “Show-off” again.
Trigg shrugged and leapt off the stage to accept Glory’s hug. He picked her up and gave her a spin, saying, “Welcome to the family, Sis.”
Maverick glanced at Eden as he strummed to tune his guitar. “You sounded great. Join me?”
“I’d love to.” She nodded and they started the song over.
It was a waltz beat and Rolf and Glory were beautiful together. Wren was captivated by this special day all over again. Marvin cut in on Rolf so he could dance with his daughter. Rolf moved to draw Vivien onto the dance floor.
That’s when Trigg came up to Wren and snagged her hand.
“What—?” She tried to pull away, wide-eyed with horror. “Sky is—”
“No, you.” Trigg tugged her onto the floor. “We’re done work. Let’s have fun.”
“But I was going to check—oh!”
If she had thought Rolf was athletically graceful to watch, being scooped against the wall of Trigg’s chest by his firm arm and led into swirling steps with confident power and casual elegance was enough to make her bones turn to baby powder.
She felt like a virgin in a historical romance, overwhelmed by his potent masculinity. She hadn’t forgotten their kiss the other day. Not one second of it. The gleam in his eye told her he was thinking of it, too. He drew her closer so he gently squashed her breasts and their thighs brushed.
She fought the glow of pleasure that suffused her. Thank goodness everyone was more interested in finding a partner and joining the dancing than watching them, because she suspected her face was a neon sign of sexual attraction.
His hand splayed at the base of her spine, as though he was trying to touch as much of her as possible within the confines of what was allowed in public. His nose dipped toward her temple and his breath warmed her ear.
“You dance really well.”
“Jazzercise.” Why did she say that? It only made him chuckle so her hair tickled the side of her face.
She let go of his hand to brush at her cheek, then had to put her hand back in his, which felt very deliberate and intimate for some stupid reason.
“Would you quit looking at me like—”
“What?” he prompted.
Like he wanted to kiss her again.
“Like I think you’re sexy as hell? You are.” He lifted her hand over her head and sent her into a twirl, taking in the glimpse of her legs as her skirt flared. When he pulled her back in, the admiration in his expression was even more carnal.
She indulged herself for one second by leaning in to him. A near-unbearable longing clenched in her. She was a master at suppressing her emotions. She nearly always countered temper with patience, worry with hope, fear with caution.
She didn’t know how to block this desire, though. Not this kind, not tonight, not with this man. The men who’d been in her life in the past had never seeped into her system this far. This deep. When she had given in to sexual curiosity, she’d done it carefully. She wasn’t an impulsive person. And she always, always put Sky’s interests before her own.
As she remembered her niece, Trigg’s daughter, she started to push away from him, saying, “You should dance with Sky.”
His arms hardened, keeping her pinned against him while a fierce light sparked behind his gaze. With a dismayed twitch of his mouth, he slowly released her. “Save your last dance for me.”
A lurching sensation in her chest made her catch her breath. She gave a jerky nod because she didn’t know what else to do and walked away, trying not to stumble.
*
If Trigg had to watch one more guy hit on Wren, he was going to kill someone. He watched her dance with Quinn—who rarely danced, the prick—along with a friend of Rolf’s who was too old for her and a contractor Trigg usually trusted, but as he watched him make Wren laugh, became convinced the man was a piece of shit. Even Torsten, a board member with a reputation for stepping out on his wife with younger women, took a turn around the floor with her.
His mother took Wren in hand after that, introducing her to all the relatives. Trigg danced with his cousins and Glory and Eden and a handful of guests who draped their arms around his neck with annoying possessiveness.
He was glad when Maverick finished up and the band took a break. Trigg was able to escape and offer the singer a beer. They shot the shit and took some selfies with Sky and a few other guests before he drove Maverick back to his tour bus.
He returned in time to see the bride and groom loading their suitcases into the back of the ute. Rolf had changed into jeans and one of Wikinger’s long-sleeved, lightweight shirts. Glory wore jeans and ankle boots with a shirt that had ruffles framing her plunging neckline. Her hair was still up and her smile very much in place. Even in the dimness of the growing dusk, she glowed.
“I arrange high-class transport and this oaf puts you in a golf cart?”
“We couldn’t find my keys. But the best view of the fireworks will be from the helicopter pad, so we gotta move it, move it.”
“Right.” They hadn’t been allowed to set off fireworks here at the hill because of the forest fire risk. The display over the lake in Haven had been quite good last year and Whiskey Jack had donated to ensure this year’s would impress the wedding guests even from afar.
“We don’t mind leaving early. We’re ready for vacation.” Glory slid her arms around Trigg’s waist and squeezed. “Thank you for Maverick. You’re the brother I never wanted, but I’m glad to have you.” She drew back. “Where is this helicopter taking us, anyway?”
“Surprise number three. I got you the best hotel room in Billings so you don’t have to get up so early for that flight out of Kalispell. But I’m warning you.” He pointed at her nose. “If you break the bed, that’s on you. I’m not paying for it.”
“Sometimes we like to use the desk if they have one.”
“I love you, too.” She kissed the tip of his chin and stepped away.
“Danke schön,” Rolf said, holding out his hand for a shake.
Trigg switched up their grip and yanked his big brother in for a one-armed hug.
“Don’t burn the place down while I’m gone,” Rolf said, knocking his fist into Trigg’s back.
“Elephant dung works as bug repellant. Use lots. You too, Glory.”
“I’ve packed erotic lubricant that—”
“Stop it.”
Glory snickered and climbed into the passenger side of the ute. Rolf backed it up and puttered around the lodge. He would have to pass the tent. The crowd would likely follow them down to the base. Trigg decided to bring Murphy out for a pee before he went down there himself. He started into the lodge as Wren came out.
“Oh.” She looked toward the outer stairs. “Where are Glory and Rolf? I heard they came to get their luggage. Do they need her keys?” She held them up.
“They took the ute. I’ll take those.”
She handed them over. “So… Are you walking down to the base?” She thumbed toward the path under the patio.
“I thought I’d bring Murphy out while it’s quiet, before the crowd comes back and parties all night.”
“Sky has him. Aiden and Zuzu wanted to see him. Nate is there. He said he didn’t think you’d mind. She kept him on his leash.”
“Great.” His brain emptied of all thought except the fact that, aside from security making rounds and staff bashing around the kitchen, they had the lodge to themselves.
She might have come to that same conclusion. The silence between them stretched. In the fading light, he saw her throat flex.
Come upstairs with me, he willed.
A cheer in the distance made her glance in the direction of the tent.
“Wren.” Her name rumbled from the bottom of his chest where his breath was thick and hot in his lungs. He turned his free hand up in invitation.
“Trigg.”
He heard the refusal. Read it in the way she closed her eyes as though hiding from something painful.
He fisted his hand and shoved it deep into his pocket. Bit back a curse.
This was impossible. Made more impossible because he could tell she was trying to be the voice of reason, but wanted this as badly as he did.
They stood there with a fire raging between them. She had the sense not to walk through it. He was willing to risk it. In fact, he couldn’t wait for it to incinerate him.
The scrabble of paws alerted him right before Murphy ran up, dragging his leash. Sky trailed behind him, still in her dress. She stopped as she saw them in the doorway.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Wren gave her a stiff smile. “I was going to walk down to watch the fireworks. Aren’t you going?”
“Nate said Murphy might not like the noise so I’m putting him in our room. I wanted to get changed anyway.”
“I’ll do that, too.” Wren turned in to the lodge.
“What were you guys talking about?” Sky asked clearly sensing undercurrents.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll take Murphy to my room. See you down there.”
She gave him a disgruntled look, but followed Wren inside.
He picked up his dog’s leash and blew another frustrated curse at the stars appearing in the indigo sky.
Chapter Fifteen
Wren went to bed at two, leaving Sky in the lounge with Trigg and the rest of her new relatives. Sky came to bed a few hours later and was still sleeping when Wren made herself get up.
The morning-after atmosphere in the lodge was less frenzied than the days leading up to yesterday’s wedding, but there was still a lot to do. A number of guests were checking out through the morning to catch flights. Some were staying until Blue Spruce Lodge’s official grand opening on Friday. All the rooms needed turning over with clean towels and sundries. Pretty much every soul in the building wanted fresh coffee.
Wren stepped behind the coffee counter between working the desk and helping a few sleepy parents carry breakfast trays to their rooms and tune the television to the children’s station.
Outside, trucks came and went, taking away dishes, tables, chairs, and tents. Some of the lodge staff were sluggish as they raked, picked up litter, and vacuumed, but they had all worked a lot of long days in a row without complaint. Wren couldn’t take issue with any of them.
She was feeling lazy herself, stealing a moment on a barstool before the lounge opened for brunch. The ducks on the pond went out of focus and she forgot what she was eating as she recalled those interminable moments with Trigg last night.
Had he been on the verge of inviting her to his room? Had she nearly accepted? She had been tempted. Impossibly tempted.
“Good morning.”
Speak of the gravelly-voiced devil.
Her heart leaped and her cheeks stung before she had turned her head to meet Trigg’s heavy-lidded gaze. He was showered but unshaven, hair damp and scrabbled around in the way Sky said made him look like an anime character. His shirt and shorts were Wikinger, the rest of him pure, high-octane man.
She realized he was walking toward her on the inside of the bar.
“Oh. What do you need?” She started to get up.
“You eat.” He reached for a glass and ran a wedge of lime around the rim, then set it in the plate of seasoning salt. He turned to the fridge. “Want a Caesar?”
“The one with clam juice? No.” She didn’t hide her disgust. “Thanks anyway. Have you given any thought to how a clam is ‘juiced’?”
“They milk them, don’t they?” He set the juice on the bar.
“In the clam barn,” she said in a tone of discovery. “Of course.”
“Now you’re just being silly.” He efficiently scooped ice into his glass, poured an ounce of vodka over it, then added the questionable product that looked like tomato juice and tasted like ‘clam.’ He splashed heavy doses of hot sauce and Worcestershire over it, then jabbed a spear of celery into it. “Try it.” He nudged it toward her. “If you like it, I’ll make another for myself.”
“Is it supposed cure a hang over? I’m fine.”
“So am I. Just tired and needing something to get me through another day of visiting when I feel like I should be working. Or at least working out.” He used a little plastic sword to steal one of her hash brown cubes and bit it off the spear. “You’re not working, are you?” He noticed her uniform and scowled. “I’m starting to think you have a problem.”
“Did I spill?” She looked down.
When she looked up, he was staring at her chest. Her tailored uniform had arrived and the vest tapered to flatter her figure.
He started to say something, but his phone buzzed with a couple of texts. He drew it from his pocket to read it, snorted, and showed it to her.
Bruno had texted: Give us your dog.
Sky added: Or else.
He pressed a button and brought the phone to his ear. “Where are you?” He listened, then, “Okay. I just had him out. Get him from my room, but let him have a break from the little kids. The last few days have been a lot.” He ended the call and stuck the phone in his pocket. “They’re going to play video games in your room. You mind?”
“Not at all. But I’m astonished by how they’ve taken to each other. I honestly can’t think of anyone she’s liked that fast or that much.”
“I’m impressed, too. Bruno’s a great kid, but he was very unthrilled to be pulled into the wedding party as escort for a girl he didn’t know. He thought it was one more raw deal this family has handed him.”
“What do you mean?”
“For starters, his mother introduces him as her happy surprise. Always has.”
“Oh, I heard that. Yeah, that’ll do it.”
“Right? And he’s not just a
lot younger than his sisters. He’s the youngest cousin. He was always sent to bed early when we got together, wanted to play the games we’d grown out of. He feels like he has to catch up, or prove something. It’s fun for him to have someone he can lead for a change.”
“Yet another relationship Sky could have been building all this time,” Wren murmured.
“Hey.” Trigg folded his arms on the bar across from her plate. They were eye to eye and something about being this close made her pulse thrum in her throat. “We’re not looking back anymore. That’s our deal, right?”
The deal they’d sealed with a scorching kiss.
Her whole body grew hot and she might have descended into mortifyingly lascivious thoughts if he hadn’t picked up her triangle toast and bit the corner off it.
“The buffet is right over there.” She pointed to the wall that separated the bar from the dining room.
“This is right here.”
His eyes were full of lazy humor, his lips buttered and smiling as he chewed. He was so cocky and handsome she could hardly breathe.
This wasn’t just physical attraction. She was teetering on the edge of genuine feelings for this sexy, sharp, shameless man.
“You finish this, then.” She nudged the plate toward him. “I should get back to work.”
“Wren.” He stayed leaning on the bar, frowning now. “I’m serious. You better be logging these hours to take time later.”
“Your mom booked me for a mani-pedi today. During work hours.”
“All right, then.” He finished the toast in three bites. Picked up her fork and collected several potatoes. “You’re really not going to finish this?”
She couldn’t believe he intended to. Sharing food was what couples did.
“It’s all yours. But touch this?” She wrapped her hands around her coffee cup. “And you’ll die.”
*
Trigg gave what he hoped was his final site tour Thursday afternoon. Work had continued as much as possible this week, but Nate had put off anything that could be considered a safety hazard, given they had so many guests on site. They had beefed up security patrols and offered guided tours almost constantly, trying to keep things orderly and active, reducing the chance that some lone wolf—or minion of Dirk Basco’s—could creep on site to cut wiring or steal their fifty-thousand-dollar electrical transformers.