by T N Lowe
“I was, but it ended early. I got your text about going to dinner and thought you were working. But I can see I was wrong,” Dylan says stealing a toast point and caviar from Patrick’s plate.
“Stop stealing my food. And as you can see I’m busy. So if you don’t need me why don’t you go home?”
“Is this a date?” Dylan asks with a shit-eating grin.
“No, we are having dinner as friends,” Patrick hisses.
“Cool, then I can join you,” Dylan retorts with a sly smile.
“No, leave,” Patrick scolds.
“Fine, I’m leaving. Have a good night Lena, and for the record, I think you can do better than him,” Dylan says before returning his chair and leaving us in peace.
“Sorry about that, Dylan can be childish at times.”
“It’s not a problem.”
We return to our meals talking about growing up in Bar Harbor and what it was like for him growing up in the city. At the end of our date, Patrick drives me home, walks me to the front porch, kisses me on the cheek, then tells me he’ll see me tomorrow.
Chapter Six
At six thirty there’s a knock on the door. “Who is that,” I mumble shaking the coffee that spilled from my cup when I jumped. I race to the door pulling it open finding Patrick standing there with a mischievous smile and a white paper bag from a local pastry shop.
“Good morning princess,” Patrick says leaning down and pressing a sweet kiss on my cheek.
“What are you doing here?” I ask shocked to see him this early.
“What I’m not allowed to surprise my girlfriend with breakfast?” Patrick asks stepping pass me and moving into the kitchen.
My heart flutters at the word girlfriend. Is that what we are? We’ve only known each other for three days, that’s a little quick to be called his girlfriend. But I feel like I’ve known him my whole life, he puts me at ease while making me feel alive at the same time. “No you can. I’m just surprised to see you, that’s all.” Then I remember I’m a mess, my hair is still wet from my shower, I have no makeup on and I’m dressed in holey jeans and a t-shirt because we’re going canoeing today. “I’m sorry I’m a mess,” I apologize to Patrick about to rush out of the kitchen to fix my hair and makeup.
But before I can take one step away from him, Patrick snags my waist pulling my back to his front. “You’re beautiful and real, and mine. So stop fretting and eat with me.”
I melt into him; I suck at this friend thing. One day and I want to be more than just his friend.
After breakfast, Patrick drives us to the resort where we meet our canoe guide on the beach. “Good morning. How are you?” The guide asks as we join him on the beach.
“Doing good. How are you?” Patrick asks holding my hand. I try to shake it free, but Patrick just grips it tighter.
“Good, Good. Are you ready?”
“Very.”
“Okay, Mr. Love, you and Miss. Miller will share this canoe, and I’ll be in this one leading you.”
“Lena get in, and I’ll push us out,” Patrick orders following the guides lead. Once the canoe is far enough out Patrick jumps in and picks up a paddle. As we paddle up the coast a couple of otters play alongside our canoe, “Look,” I call to Patrick pointing with the paddle. “A couple of otters have joined us.”
Patrick pulls his cell from his pants to take a picture as he leans over the edge of the canoe to get a better picture the canoe moves with him. Patrick panics and drops his cell in the water. “Fuck,” he roars leaning over to try to catch it.
“Don’t,” I laugh. “You’ll make the boat capsize if you lean too far out.”
“You think this is funny?” Patrick asks cupping his large hand and tossing water at me.
I scream when the cold Atlantic water meets my skin, “Yes,” I laugh. “Because I left my phone in the office with my change of clothes.”
“Well, then smart girl you won’t mind if I borrow your phone for my meetings this afternoon.”
“Go for it, I won’t need it for a couple of hours,” I reply trying not to laugh.
After the canoe trip I go to my office, Patrick follows me taking my phone then disappears into his own office for his meetings. I change quickly then relieve the morning person for lunch. As I am clearing the rooms the housekeeping staff has cleaned and are ready for new guests an older man steps up to the check-in desk looking very unhappy. “Can I help you?” I ask with a bright smile.
“I hope so. When I checked in this morning, I asked for an ocean view mini suite. What I got was a standard room with no view.”
“What room are you in, sir?”
“240”
“Okay, let me look at your account,” I tell him. “Okay, I see here where you requested a mini suite with a view, but the clerk told you it would be two hundred more a night and you did not want to pay the upcharge.”
“That’s correct but now you have empty rooms so why should I pay more?”
Giving him a sweet smile I start, “Sir, those rooms are not empty new guests will arrive shortly. So if you want a mini suite with a view, you will need to pay the difference.”
“I want to speak to your manager.”
“I am the-“
“How may I help you,” Patrick says from behind me. The guest retells Patrick the situation while he reads the messages on the screen. “Well sir, as Miss Miller told you if you want a room with a view you need to pay more.”
“Well, well, I want to speak with your manager,” the guest sputtered.
“Sir, I own this resort. There is no one else to speak to.” The guest turns red and storms away.
“Mr. Love, can I please speak to you in private?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“Right this way Miss. Miller.” Patrick leads me to his office. Taking a seat behind his desk Patrick asks, “What can I do you for you?”
“Patrick you can’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Butt in, I had the situation under control.”
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t like him talking to you like that.”
How can I stay mad at him when he says things like that, “Fine, just don’t do that again, okay?”
“Okay, princess,” Patrick says as he rounds his desk, takes my hands and pulls me into his arms. “I’m sorry princess, I can’t help it. But you need to stop being so stubborn and ask for help when you need it. You don’t have to take care of everyone by yourself anymore.”
I change the subject to something that has been weighing on my mind, “What will happen to me when your management team gets here? Will I lose my job?”
“What? No of course not. No one here is losing their job. While I am bringing in a new resort manager and front desk manager, everyone else will be shift managers or quality managers. You will be promoted to trainer; with how much you know about the resort, I thought that would be a better fit for you.”
I think it over, trainer? Is that what I want to do, train the employees of the resort rather than helping guests? “Training the staff to better help the guests, I think I would be good at it.”
“My thought exactly,” Patrick says nuzzling my neck. I moan when he presses a soft kiss to the sensitive spot behind my ear.
“Patrick we can’t do this here. We’re at work.”
“I know princess, but I’ve missed touching you. Just one kiss then I’ll let you get back to work.”
Three mind-numbing kisses later I pull away. “Patrick I need to get back to work, you know what you pay me to do,” I say kicking myself for giving in to him. I suck at this friend thing.
“I know,” Patrick grumbles releasing me then walking me to his door. “Let me know when you’re ready to leave, and I’ll drive you home.”
“Okay,” I say placing one last kiss before leaving him. I stop by my office to post next week’s schedule before returning to the check-in desk, I knock quickly before opening the door since I’m sharing it with Dylan. With no reply, I open the door a
nd find Willow and Dylan having sex on my desk. I scream then slam the door shut. Patrick hears me and comes running into the hall to find out what’s wrong.
When he sees Willow and Dylan’s disheveled state, he glares daggers at Dylan. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Patrick yells at Dylan.
“I’m sorry it just kinda happened.”
“How do you just kinda have sex with someone?”
“We ate lunch together in the restaurant and got to talking then one thing kind of lead to another,” Dylan says while Willow skirts past us to return to the spa.
“Miss. Thomas, please do not make a habit of this, “Patrick warns.
“Yes, Mr. Love.”
I give Willow a look that says, “We are so talking about this.” She nods and scurries back to work.
“Lena, return to the check-in desk while Dylan cleans yours,” Patrick tells me while shooting daggers at his brother. With his hand on the small of my back, Patrick leads me into his office closing the door behind us, “I’m sorry about that princess. Come find me when you’re ready to go.”
The next morning Patrick is on my doorstep with pastries and coffee, “Good morning princess.” He says when I open the door.
“Good morning, honey,” I reply rising on my tip toes to kiss him. Stepping back Patrick walks into the living room putting the bag of pastries and coffee on the coffee table. I shut the door and take the seat next to him sipping my coffee. “Are you ready for our hike today?”
“I’m excited.”
“Good, I think you are going to like it.” We finish eating our breakfast before Patrick drives us the Acadia National Park.
Patrick is helping me from the car when I look over to find Tim, my high school boyfriend. “This is going to be interesting,” I mumble.
“What?” Patrick asks.
“Um, our guide, this guy's name is Tim. We used to date in high school.”
“Oh. Who ended it?”
“I did. Tim wanted something serious, and I didn’t. The problem is he still asks me out every time he sees me.”
Tim meets us halfway, “Lena, beautiful as always. Are you on my tour today?”
“Yes, Tim. This is my boyfriend, Patrick. He is the new owner of the Resort Inn and wants to ensure all the tours are up to the Resort Inn standards.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Patrick. You must be quite a guy to have captured our Lena,” Tim says shaking Patrick’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Tim,” Patrick says sizing him up. He smiles down at me with a look like I can’t believe you dated this guy. I was in a phase dating outdoorsy/environment guys.
“Okay, let’s get this tour started,” Tim says walking into the park. Turning to me Tim says, “I thought we would hike the Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain. Your man seems like he can keep up.”
“I’m in great shape and can keep up with you just fine, Tim,” Patrick answers sneering Tim’s name for taking a jab at our age difference.
“Is that why you dumped me, I wasn’t rich enough for you?” Tim asked.
“That is not why I dumped you, “I reply rolling my eyes because this is not a conversation I want to have with my new boyfriend standing next to me.
Patrick takes over the conversation with all the power and grace of a CEO, “Tim, I hired you to be our guide today, if your past with Lena won’t allow you to do that, then we will reschedule.”
Tim clenches his jaw, “No sir there is not a problem.”
After that awkward exchange, Tim is quiet only speaking to Patrick and me to ask if we are okay. Before we begin the climb up Bald Peak, I ask Tim if we can take a break, he grumbles something about how I’m always asking for breaks. I ignore him turning to Patrick. “What do you think so far?”
“It is beautiful up here, I see why so many people come here to disconnect on vacation. You have done a great job coordinating the tours for our guests.”
“Thank you,” I say staring at the ground.
“I know that idiot Jarrod had no clue what he was doing. You are the reason the resort has performed so well and is staying open.”
I blush uncomfortable with the praise, “Thank you, Patrick. That means a lot coming from you.”
“I mean it, princess. You are an amazing woman,” Patrick says leaning in to kiss me his lips resting on mine when Tim breaks in, “Okay, let’s finish our hike.” Patrick pulls away muttering something about Tim being a cock block, I laugh because that is exactly what Tim is doing.
We make it to the top of Bald Peak and ask Tim to take our picture, which he was not happy about, but I think he is scared of Patrick and what he could do to his company. We hike down Bald Peak and up Parkman Mountain. Tim escorts us back to the main gate with a “Have a good day.”
♦ ♦ ♦
“Okay spill,” I say to Willow at our weekly dinner.
“I will if you tell me what the hell is going on with you and Mr. Love,” Willow shoots back.
I know I turn six shades of red even thinking of telling Willow what is going on with Patrick and me, “Fine,” I huff out because I’m curious about her and Dylan.
“Okay. Most of what Dylan said was true. I was sitting in the restaurant eating lunch when he asked if he could join me. I wasn’t doing anything, so I said yes. We talked just normal get to know you stuff. Then he leans in and asks have you ever had sex at work? And I was like what the hell is wrong with this man. But then he tells me it has always been on his bucket list to have sex with a beautiful girl on his desk. I thought about it and was like hell, why not and he’s an owner so how much trouble could I get into.”
Shaking my head, “I can’t believe you fell for that. I’m sure he had sex with several women on his desk.”
“Now that I am not overwhelmed by Dylan’s charm and good looks, I know you’re right. At the time I felt special and wanted; I haven’t felt like that in a long time, Lena.”
“Oh, honey. You are beautiful, smart, and talented. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
“I know,” Willow says in a small voice looking down at her hands. She lifts her head with a wicked smile and says, “Tell me about you and Mr. Love.”
I giggle at the thought of Patrick and me, “That is complicated,” I start when the server comes back with our meals. When he leaves I start again, “There is just something about Patrick that makes me feel alive again.”
“Patrick, mmm,” Willow breaks in. “Are you two dating?”
“I’m not sure? I mean I wanted to do the friend thing first, but we seem to be drifting further away from the friend zone and more to the relationship zone. He hasn’t taken me on a date yet, only the tours I’ve booked, and he has shown up at my house twice with breakfast. Oh, he took me to the Resort’s restaurant for dinner the other night."
“Weird.”
“I think so too. Maybe Patrick wants to take it slow,” I offer.
“Could be, he’s older than you, so maybe he is worried about the age difference.”
“That could be I asked about his age during dinner. So, maybe you’re right.”
“I bet that is it, he wants to make sure you’re okay with the difference before he makes a move.”
After dinner I walk home, Patrick had a meeting about a new company he is trying to buy so I’m on my own tonight. Martin is still on his fishing trip with his son, but I stop by and check on his house. I’m surprised to see the lights on as I get closer. I test the front door, and I’m even more surprised to find it unlocked. I open it yelling out, “Martin? You home?”
“In here, Lena,” Martin calls back.
“What are you doing home early?” I ask as I enter the living room.
“Mike got called back to Boston on business, but he said he would come back before the end of the season for another fishing trip.”
“That sucks, but I hope everything is alright.”
“I’m sure it is he said something about a case he was working on and a surprise witness. How is work going with you?
Mike told me he saw you with a man by the docks.”
“Yes, I’m taking the new owner of the Resort Inn on the tours available to our guests. He has been impressed thus far, and he is keeping the Resort open.”
“That’s great news.”
“It is, the Resort Inn is a large employer for the island. It would devastate our community if it were closed.”
“True,” Martin says studying me. “Tell me more about the new owner; Mike said you, and he looked cozy together.”
“Well, we are kind of dating, I guess,” I reply studying the dark brown carpet covering the floor.
“Bring him to dinner tomorrow so I can meet him. Your mother would want me to make sure he is good enough for you.”
“I’ll ask him and see if he has any plans and let you know.” I stand placing a kiss on the top of Martin’s head. “I need to go Martin, but I will see you tomorrow.”
Chapter Seven
“Patrick, I don’t think I can go on,” I pant as he pushes me through our kickboxing class.
‘You are doing great, just a little bit longer then we are done,” Patrick encourages me.
“I just hope you aren’t planning on making this an everyday occurrence because there is no way I’m doing this every day, I’ll stick to jogging.”
Patrick chuckles, “Okay princess.”
Twenty minutes later the trainer is praising us for a job well done and dismisses us. “Thank god. I can’t do anymore.”
After showering and changing Patrick and I meet our bird watching tour guide in the lobby of the Resort Inn. “Mr. Love, Miss Miller, how are you doing? I’m your guide, Phillip.”
“Phillip, it’s nice to meet you. We’re well,” Patrick replies taking my hand.
“Great, let’s start our tour then. We will stay on the resort grounds, but will be closer to the mountain in the wooded area,” Phillip explains.
“Lead the way,” Patrick says.
We spend an hour following Phillip through the woods looking at all the different birds that live around the resort. Now I’m not saying I didn’t have a good time, but watching birds fly around is not my idea of a good time. When we’ve seen all there is to offer Phillip escorts us back to the Resort lobby.