* * *
One of the many perks of working for a multibillion-dollar corporation was having the use of the company plane at your disposal. Ethan didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of it earlier; he was already pressed for time, so why drive almost five hours each way when he could make it a forty-five-minute flight? He didn’t feel bad about using the plane—after all, this was Montgomery business. Personal business, yes, but Montgomery business nonetheless.
He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or annoyed when he went around to Summer’s place and found her gone. It might have saved him some time and energy if she’d been there, but now he had a little extra time to think about what exactly he was going to say to her. The idea of sounding like one of her brothers didn’t sit right with him. For starters, Ethan didn’t want Summer to think of him that way. Then there was the fact that he had never been on board with how patronizing Zach, Ryder, and James had always been to Summer. She was the baby of the family and the only girl, but it was like they did their best to keep her out of their little inner circle. For all intents and purposes, Summer was an only child with three siblings. He didn’t want to be lumped in with that.
He could present himself purely as her friend, someone who was just looking out for her, but he had a feeling she’d see right through that as well. There was no way to deny that he was there primarily on her brother’s behalf. Although Ethan was many things, he wasn’t a liar. So maybe it was best to play that particular role to the hilt. It was safe; it was expected. Summer wouldn’t question it at all. Meanwhile, he’d get a chance to have some time with her without prying eyes and reassure himself that she was really okay.
Though she didn’t talk specifics about why she had left New York, Ethan was shrewd enough to know she hadn’t left happily. Maybe it was a job issue, or maybe it was one of those times where Summer had grown restless and just wanted to move on. Neither of those would be a surprise, but he had noticed an underlying sadness in her, making him consider the idea that it was something more. People broke up all the time without having to move to another state to get over it. He would have expected Summer to have a big enough support network of friends who would make her want to stay in New York. If it were because of a breakup, just what had this guy done?
The thought filled him with rage. How could any man hurt her? Didn’t the jackass realize how fortunate he was to be with a woman who was so full of life and love and laughter? Ethan had dated a lot of women in his life and none of them came close to the level of vivacity Summer had without even trying. Any man who would willingly walk away from her was a fool. Ethan had searched for a woman who was just as amazing as Summer, and it was damn near impossible. If he had been allowed the opportunity even to consider a relationship with her, he would grab it with both hands and most likely never let go.
Whoa…hold on there, he chided himself as he felt the plane begin its descent to the runway. Where the hell had that thought come from? While Ethan knew there would be issues on many, many levels if he had a relationship with Summer, was he even considering it being a permanent one? Well, that would solve any issues with the Montgomery males wanting to castrate him if the relationship ended, but getting married and settling down was something he had never really given thought to.
Haven’t you? a little voice inside asked. You never thought about settling down because you aren’t allowed to settle down with the one woman you really want. “Oh, shut up,” he muttered and then rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness of his current predicament. He was flying to the middle of nowhere to chase after a woman he wanted but couldn’t have, all in the name of helping out a friend. Sucker, the little voice mocked, and unfortunately, Ethan agreed. “And a glutton for punishment, apparently.”
Distracting himself with the view out the window, Ethan did his best to push thoughts of settling down aside and finally try to come up with what he was going to say when he actually found Summer. He had no idea when she had gotten on the road, so for all he knew, he might arrive before she did. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants? Racing to get there only to end up having to sit around and wait? That would be his luck.
Although Gabriella hadn’t divulged the actual name of the resort, Ethan had gone online to research the area and discovered there were only three to choose from. He had arranged for a rental car to be waiting for him at the airport, and the GPS on his phone was loaded up with all of his destination options so he could make the most efficient use of his time. He probably could have pushed a little harder for the information, but he had a feeling he had already done enough to tick Zach’s assistant off. If he didn’t watch himself, he’d find himself going on his own lunch and coffee runs or ending up with an endless line of inefficient temps to help him on upcoming projects. Gabriella was scary good at her job, and he needed to remember to treat her with respect. Even Zach knew to tread lightly with her most days.
Until today.
Ethan shrugged. Not his problem. Zach would have to work it out with her when he got back from Denali. Right now Ethan had his own problems to deal with. He already had to smooth things out between Zach and his sister; he wasn’t going to get sucked into a tussle between Zach and his assistant.
A guy could only do so much.
When the plane finally came to a halt, Ethan collected his few belongings—his phone and wallet, a jacket, and a pair of sunglasses—and made his way to talk to the pilot. “I wish I could give you a more accurate time that I’ll be back. Unfortunately, I’m not one hundred percent sure where my final destination is going to be.”
“Not a problem, Mr. Reed. I’ve actually made arrangements to take care of some maintenance while we’re here, so I’m good for several hours.”
With a wave and a word of thanks, Ethan made his way through the airport to the rental car agency. Though he’d called ahead, on such short notice, he was unsure that he’d get a vehicle of his liking, but right now beggars couldn’t be choosers. Cursing the slow process, he waited his turn, and when he finally got to the counter, his worst fears were confirmed.
“Seriously?” he snapped at the kid behind the desk as he took a step back to indicate his size. “There is no way I can fit into a compact car!” He was so going to give Zach hell for this.
“I’m sorry, sir; there’s nothing else available. If you’d like, I can direct you to one of the other agencies and maybe they…”
Ethan held up a hand and shut him down. “I’m on a serious time crunch here,” he said. “Just give me what you’ve got.” With any luck, Summer would be at the first stop he went to and his time crammed into the tiny car would be blessedly short. Signing the necessary paperwork and snatching the keys, Ethan stormed out into the parking lot, cursing Zach the entire time.
On some level, he knew he should be equally annoyed with Summer for all of this, but it was far easier to direct his anger toward Zach. He didn’t allow himself to show any emotion where she was concerned; he’d had a lot of practice.
Any hopes of the car being larger than what he thought were dashed as he walked up to the tiny, white two-door vehicle. Ethan sent a prayer heavenward and unlocked the door before bending his body in a way that did not feel the least bit natural. Even with the seat back as far as it could go, he felt crammed in. He got himself situated as best as he could, pulled up the GPS, and did his best to remember that he was doing a good thing. He was keeping harmony between a brother and a sister.
Both of whom he loved.
Just in very different ways.
* * *
Everything felt different. Summer had gotten herself settled into her tepee and felt a sense of giddiness at the experience. The furnishings were sparse and she didn’t consider it a problem. The weather was unseasonably warm, so once she changed into more comfortable clothes, she opened the large flap to let in the fresh air.
“What to do first?” she said as she stepped outside and looked around the
property. “I could go for a swim in the springs or I could just crash right here and relax.” She tapped a finger to her chin while considering the options. It didn’t take long for Summer to realize she was far too keyed up to just plop down and relax anywhere. Glancing back into the tepee, she noticed her traveling companion had decided to relax on the padded pallet on the floor. What Summer wouldn’t give to be able to do that herself.
“Yoga it is,” she muttered, knowing thirty minutes of it would put her mind and body at ease. Then she’d be able to fully enjoy not only the hot tub in the middle of her makeshift room, but also the outdoor springs, if she decided to take the walk down there.
Being well-prepared was something Summer excelled at. Walking across the space, she pulled her yoga mat from her supplies and decided to set it up right outside her little temporary abode. Getting into position, she took a deep breath and then slowly let it out.
Is anybody watching?
I wonder if it’s going to rain while I’m here.
I know I brought my own food, but what if I want to go out to eat?
Do these pants make my ankles look fat?
Relaxing her pose, she huffed with frustration. “Okay, clearly I am not in a good place yet.” Doing her best to clear her mind, she once again got into position and took several deep breaths. Relief hit her when she actually began to hear the sounds of nature and not the voices in her own head. Bending over slowly, she touched the ground and held the pose. Working from her toes up, she felt her muscles begin to relax. Once she had gotten through several basic stretching poses, Summer stood tall and breathed in deeply and finally felt herself reaching the level of peace she had been seeking for over a month.
Unwilling to break the inner peace she had going on, she moved into a series of lunges. She was feeling the burn and scolded herself for taking such a long break since she’d last worked out. From there, she moved into a downward facing dog before deciding she was ready to be off her feet and go to some of her favorite floor poses.
Inversions were always a favorite for her, and it didn’t take long for her to twist and bend until she was completely folded in half in a plow pose. One of Summer’s yoga instructors had told her this pose would help her sleep. She had never found it to be true but was still hopeful. “I could stay like this for hours,” she said softly, listening to the sounds around her. Birds chirping…water flowing…breezes blowing…car doors slamming. Wait, car doors slamming? What the…?
It wasn’t often that Summer made special requests when she stayed at places away from home. This was one of the few times she had. She had asked for a campsite far away from where the general public or other guests were staying. From what she was told, this was sort of a VIP tepee and ensured her privacy. Her eyes were closed, her breathing deep, but there was no mistaking the sound of a car or the footsteps quickly coming her way.
And that’s how Ethan found her. Bent in half in a way he didn’t think normal humans could be. He nearly tripped over his own two feet and his tongue at the sight of Summer’s perfect body folded completely in half.
Without breaking her pose, she said, “Hey, Ethan. What are you doing here?”
Chapter 3
Clearly he was being punished for something he must have done in a previous life. It was the only explanation Ethan could think of for how he found himself in the current situation. “Uh…”
Summer gracefully unfolded herself and ended up in a sitting position before rising to her feet and heading into the tepee. She emerged a moment later with a bottle of water in her hands. “So?” she prompted.
“What? Oh, right,” Ethan stammered. “Your brother was a bit frantic when he couldn’t get you on the phone. We leave tomorrow night for the climb, and he was flipping out wondering where you were.”
She arched one perfectly manicured brow at him. “Really?”
Ethan nodded.
“Well then, tell me this, Ethan,” she said as she slowly walked toward him. “If Zach was so bent out of shape, why is it that you’re here and not him?” She stopped just inches from him with a smirk on her face and her hands on her hips.
The temperature seemed to climb at least another ten degrees, because suddenly Ethan was sweating. “Well, he had a lot of things to take care of before we left. You know, we’ll be gone for a couple of weeks.”
Summer nodded. “And you don’t have a lot of things to take care of, is that it?”
Why isn’t she dressed more appropriately? he wondered. Skintight yoga pants and an equally snug tank top left little to the imagination. What was she doing…bending all over the place dressed like this? Where was the guy she was supposedly here with? “I…um, I didn’t have as much to handle as Zach, so I said I’d come and check on you.”
Disbelief marked Summer’s face. “You know, Ethan, I really thought you were different.” Spinning around, she walked back into the tepee. If it had a door, she would have slammed it. Dropping a canvas flap just seemed like a waste of time and far less impactful a way to drive a point home. He followed her into the tepee regardless, and his hand on her shoulder almost made her scream as he spun her to face him.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Summer brushed his hand aside and moved to put some space between them. “I expected you at least to be honest with me. Zach isn’t here because he doesn’t want to be here. He’s hoping I’ve packed my bags and booked a flight back east. I know it; you know it. It’s not that he’s curious about where I am; he’s mad because he’s not in control of where I am. Big, tough Zach Montgomery pitched a hissy fit and so he sent his little minion out to check on me. Big surprise.” She had hoped to come off sounding mean and confident, but in the end it just sounded mean, and she immediately regretted her words. Especially after seeing the look on Ethan’s face.
He took a menacing step toward her. “Let’s get one thing straight, Summer. I am nobody’s minion. Yes, your brother was upset, and yes, partly because he wasn’t in control, but my being here isn’t because he sent me. I thought it would be better all around if I came and talked to you rather than Zach coming and screaming at you. My mistake.”
Ethan didn’t mean to make such a hasty exit, but he was seriously ticked off. Was that really how she saw him? As her brother’s minion? What the hell was a minion anyway? He stalked to the ridiculous excuse for a rental car and was about to get in when he heard footsteps behind him. Dropping his chin to his chest, Ethan silently counted to ten and waited for what he was sure was going to be a very angry rant.
“Zach’s been yelling at me for over a month and you haven’t done anything to stop him,” she said quietly. “Why now?”
The yelling he could have handled. But this? This quiet plea coming out of nowhere was nearly his undoing. Turning slowly, he faced her. He could just tell her the truth: he was tired of Zach bullying her around. He was trying to protect her. He was trying to keep the peace between them.
“Zach needs to have his head on straight for this climb. He’s leading our team, and none of us has done something this extreme before. I can’t have him climbing while he’s freaking out about where you are and who you’re with.” The look of devastation on Summer’s face nearly had him recanting his words. And yet… “Which brings me to another point of contention. Who are you here with? Who’s the guy?”
“What are you talking about?” Luckily Summer recovered quickly from Ethan’s disappointing admission. She stiffened her spine, crossed her arms, and prayed he’d be on his way shortly.
“We were told you booked this place for you and a guest. Where is he?”
Summer wracked her brain trying to figure out what Ethan was talking about when it hit her. Bless Gabriella’s devious little heart! She almost wanted to laugh out loud, but she held it together just to keep Ethan on his toes for a little bit longer. “I don’t think that’s any of your concern, Ethan. You can go back and r
eport in to my brother that I am safe and sound at the hot springs and I’ll be reporting for duty back in the office Monday morning. Not that I’m needed. Zach made it clear that he wanted me to take a break while he was gone. I guess he doesn’t trust me not to get into any trouble. But like it or not, I’m still going to go in and at least review some of the things I’ve learned so far. I think I’m supposed to be in the marketing department when he gets back.”
They stood facing one another for what seemed like aeons. Finally, Ethan took a step closer. “Look, Summer, I’ve got to get a flight back to Portland and get myself packed and ready to go. Just let me meet this guy so I can tell Zach he’s on the up-and-up, okay?”
She shrugged. “No can do.”
Rage was beginning to build inside him. None of this was damn fair. He was a good friend, a hard worker, and dammit, he deserved to have something go his way for once. The Montgomery siblings were seriously messing with his life right now, and his patience was at an end. He closed the distance between the two of them until Summer had to tilt her head back to look up into his face. “I’m not playing games; I came here for a reason. I don’t want to be here any more than you want me to be here. So bring this guy out and I’ll be on my way. Now, Summer.”
“I would, Ethan, I really would, except…”
“Except what?” he snapped.
“I didn’t come here with a man. My companion is…female.” She purposely put a little sass in her statement and loved the way Ethan’s jaw worked like he wanted to say something but didn’t quite know what. Who knew teasing Ethan Reed could be this much fun?
“You’re…you’re here with a…with a…woman?” He understood that girls went on weekend getaways all the time just for fun, but something in the way Summer announced it had him doubting that theory. He knew she dated men; he’d met many of them over the years. Was this why she’d been so out of sorts lately? “So…” He tried to sound casual, but somehow his words came out more like a croak. “So I would still like to meet her.”
Meant for You Page 3