Goodbye Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A 'HOT' Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Book 5) (13 page)

Before she changed her mind, Carmen typed up a quick email. She knew she couldn’t take the manager position, even if it was offered, just as she knew she could no longer stay in her current role as the customer service manager. She read over her resignation email again, and hit send.

As the email left her outbox, a sense of calm washed over her. For the first time in years, she had no idea what she was going to do, or where she was going to go. But she didn’t feel panicked. It felt right.

“Carmen?”

She broke out of her reverie and looked up to see Quinn standing in her office door.

“There’s someone here who wants to talk to you.”

She nodded, although her insides were churning. She didn’t know what to say to Dylan. Or if she could even say anything. “Thanks, Quinn. I’ll be right out.”

Carmen took a breath and smoothed her blouse before walking to the front desk. But it wasn’t Dylan waiting for her. The sink of disappointment she felt was followed quickly by fear as she saw her mother wrapped in a robe and hugging herself.

“Mom?” Carmen hurried around the desk to meet her. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Her mother nodded. “I’m fine. I just couldn’t sleep. Your father gets snoring and I…well, it doesn’t matter. I remember you saying you were going to be working the night shift, so I thought I might come and see if you wanted some company.”

Carmen smiled, unexpectedly grateful for someone besides Quinn and her own mixed-up thoughts as company. “I’d like that,” she said. “I’ll grab myself a coffee. Would you like an herbal tea or something?”

“That would be nice, dear.”

Carmen prepared their drinks, and with a quick word to Quinn, who smiled and nodded, she went to sit with her mom in the wing backed chairs by the fireplace.

“You’re sure you’re not tired, Mom?” Carmen asked as she handed over the tea.

“Not at all.” Her mother sipped at the hot beverage. “But I did want to talk to you, dear. Sit.”

Carmen eyed her mom, who, although it was the middle of the night, did not look tired at all. She was pretty sure that she herself looked like she could close her eyes and sleep for days. But that’s what stress and emotions could do. Her mother did look worried, though. Icy fear trailed down her spine. Maybe that was why she was here in the middle of the night, and why they’d come a week earlier to visit.

“What’s up, Mom? Is everything okay?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Carmen’s heart stopped for a moment. For as much as her parents drove her crazy, if anything ever happened to them, she didn’t know what she’d do.

She reached out and grabbed her mom’s hand. Holding it in her own, she realized it had been a very long time since she’d held hands with either of her parents. Probably not since she was a child. She made a silent promise that as long as everything was okay with her parents, she’d hold their hands more often. “Tell me,” Carmen said. She braced herself for the worst. Cancer. Heart troubles. Whatever it was, she could take it.

“Your father and I are worried about you,” her mother said simply. “Something doesn’t seem right with that young man of yours.”

It took Carmen a second for her mother’s words to sink in. “Wait,” she said. “What?”

“Your young man. Dylan.”

“He’s not my—“

“I have to tell you, Carmen, how happy it made your father and me to see the two of you together today.”

“Mom—“

“I don’t know why you didn’t tell me about Dylan earlier,” her mother continued, completely oblivious of Carmen’s distress. “Well, actually, I’m sure I do know why you didn’t say anything.” Her mom reached out and squeezed her hand. “I know we’ve never been easy on you when it comes to men and dating. We just want you to be happy, dear, and it would make me happier than anything else to see you settled with someone like Dylan.”

Carmen pulled her hand away and picked at her cuticles. “Let’s be honest, Mom. You’d just be happy to see me with any man. Married and preferably pregnant, right?” She tried, but failed to keep the edge out of her voice.

“Carmen Kincaid.” Her mom used the tone that she used to reserve for Carmen when she was twelve and being incredibly rude. “That’s not true at all. I would absolutely hate to see you in a situation that didn’t make you happy. All we’ve ever wanted was to see you happy. Like we did today.”

There was a shift in her mother’s voice that caused Carmen to look up. She hadn’t expected to see tears glistening in her mother’s eyes. In fact, Carmen couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen her mother cry. “Mom. About Dylan.”

“I know. I know.” Her mother held up her hand. “You two were having a bit of a fight or something. And that’s why I’m here.”

“What?” Carmen shook her head. “What do you mean?”

Her mother took another sip of her tea and took her time putting the cup down before she responded. “That’s why I’m here. Your father and I noticed the connection between you two up at the lake. I mean, it was so clear that he’s the one, Carmen.”

Wait. The one? What was she talking about? Carmen’s head spun, trying to keep up with her mother’s train of thought.

“And,” her mother continued, “it’s normal for every couple to have little arguments, especially when the chemistry is so strong between you. But it’s important to know that those moments are temporary and you need to move past them and fight for the relationship you have.”

“But, Mom…” She was going to tell her mom that there was no relationship to fight for, but something stopped her. “What do you mean, the chemistry is strong?”

Her mom giggled like a little girl and blushed. “I know I’m not a young woman any more, but I’m not blind either. I see the way you looked at him, and the way he was always touching you. Like he couldn’t stand to be apart from you. That type of chemistry can’t be faked. And it’s very rare. Look after it.”

Carmen lifted her mug to her mouth and let the hot coffee warm her insides while she let her mother’s words sink in. There was a chemistry between them. Hadn’t it been there from the moment they met? Maybe her mom was right? Maybe she did need to look after it.

“I know it’s going to be hard,” her mother was talking again, “when Dylan moves to his Springs. And your career is important to you, dear, and neither your father or I want to see you give that up; you’ve worked too hard. But the two of you will be able to make it work—I just know it. I can see it in the way you look at each other.”

An image of Carmen’s resignation email flying through cyberspace popped into her head. “I’m not going to be working here much longer, Mom. I decided I needed a change.”

Her mom clapped her hands. “Oh, Carmen. You’re going to go to the Springs with Dylan? That’s just fabulous news. I know it will be a challenge for you to start at a new hotel, but if there’s anything you’ve proved, it’s that you’re up for the challenge.”

“Wait, Mom. No. That’s not it—“

“Oh.” Her mom stifled a yawn and stood from the large chair. “I think your news has given me the peace I need to sleep tonight.”

Carmen stood as well and opened her mouth to tell her mom that she was definitely not going with Dylan, that they in fact weren’t even a real couple and it was all a hoax. But she didn’t. Instead, she smiled and said, “Good-night, Mom.”

The women hugged and with another yawn, Carmen’s mom wrapped her robe up tighter around her and shuffled off down the hall to her room.

Carmen watched her go and tried to process everything she’d just heard. Her parents just wanted to see her happy and they thought they’d seen that in Dylan.

She gathered up the mugs and carried them to the back room. She’d spent most of her adult life trying to prove her parents wrong and show them she could make it on her own. But what if all that time, they’d just wanted the best thing for her? What if that thing was Dylan?

As much as Dylan wanted to immediately go find Carmen and make everything better between them, or at the very least, see if there was anything left to salvage between them, he had enough sense to wait until morning.

He owed it to Trent to look after their project because for everything screwed up and wrong that Trent had done, he had done it all because he cared. And he had a point. Dylan needed to focus on the Springs, because without both of them giving the project their full attention, it would fail and neither of them could afford that.

But the one thing his conversation with his big brother had made clear to him was that there was room in his life for both business and love, and despite his best efforts to avoid it, he had fallen in love and he could no longer deny it. Nor did he want to.

He didn’t get much sleep, but as soon as it was decent to do so, Dylan showered, dressed and made his call to Sam Braxton. Luckily, he knew the man was an early riser and liked to get an early start on the day. Sure enough, he answered on the second ring.

“Braxton.”

“Mr. Braxton? It’s Dylan Harrison. I’m so sorry I missed you yesterday at the Lodge. It was a nasty stomach bug,” he lied. “And I didn’t want to risk anyone else getting sick.”

“You’re feeling better today, I take it?”

“Much. Thank you, sir.” Dylan rubbed a hand across his face, thankful the other man couldn’t see him. “Trent said you had a few more questions for me,” he said, eager to get to the point. “Let me see if I can answer those for you so we can move forward.”

They spent the next twenty minutes discussing some of the finer points of the contract and the business aspect of the Springs. Overall, Sam Braxton was an astute businessman, and Dylan was impressed with his questions. But by the time he’d answered everything, Sam Braxton also seemed impressed.

“Well, Dylan,” he said. “I think we have ourselves a new partnership. I’ll be more than happy to sign the paperwork and get the first installment transferred into the account so we can keep the build on schedule.”

Dylan almost cheered from the relief of the other man’s words. “That sounds great, Mr. Braxton. I can’t wait to share the news with Trent. Thank you very much.”

When he hung up, Dylan knew he should probably go find Trent and tell him immediately that everything would be a go-ahead with the Springs. But, he settled for a quick text message and headed to the lobby. He had more pressing issues to deal with.

He was worried that Carmen would be off shift and already back in her apartment by the time he got there, but he’d already decided if that happened, he wouldn’t hesitate to bang down her door until she agreed to speak to him. As it turned out, he didn’t have to go to such measures. After a quick stop in the gift shop, he strode into the lobby, holding a large paper bag and found her leaving the office, with her jacket in her arms.

She didn’t see him come up, which wasn’t surprising, since she looked exhausted or maybe sad. Or more likely, a combination of the two. “Carmen?”

She turned and the look on her face when she registered that it was him standing in front of her almost broke his heart all over again. For a moment, he was afraid she was going to turn around and walk away. If she did that, he wasn’t sure how he’d handle it. He’d planned for many different eventualities, but that wasn’t one of them. He needed her to listen to him. He needed her to talk to him.

“Please,” he said. “I know you must hate me right now, but—“

“Wait.” She tipped her head and stared at him as if he’d just said the most ridiculous thing. “I must hate you? I know I’m tired,” she said. “And I really haven’t slept much. But, is that what you really just said?”

He nodded. “I was a jerk, Carmen.” She dipped her head and he resisted the urge to reach out and lift it so he could look in her beautiful eyes. “I didn’t mean what I said about trying to get you to work at the Springs.” She looked up then. “I mean, I’d love it if you would, of course. But that was Trent’s idea. He mentioned it and told me I should ask you.” He was aware that he was rambling, but he couldn’t seem to get the words out in the way he wanted. He took a deep breath and slowed down. “But that wasn’t why I was spending time with you. And I don’t care whatever deal you may or may not have made with my brother.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but Dylan laid a gentle finger against her lips. He stared directly into those eyes, so deep and green they would always remind him of the lake where he first kissed her. “Carmen.” He spoke slowly, making sure she heard every word. “I was with you because from the moment I met you, I haven’t wanted to be anywhere but right next to you. I can’t explain it, and I don’t care to try, but I’ve never met a woman like you before, and I certainly have never felt the way I feel when I’m with you and I don’t care what brought us together. All I know is that I’m not going to stand by and let anything break us apart. Because I know you’re scared, too. But scared or not, we both feel it and—“

Her lips on his swallowed whatever else he might have said. He slid a hand behind her head and drew her closer, needing to feel all of her against him.

Dylan was the one to finally break their contact. He pulled away, only far enough to look in her eyes, but kept both hands on her lower back, holding her firmly in place. He wasn’t going to risk her getting away again. “I need to know,” he said. “I need to know you feel the same way.”

She tipped her head back and laughed. The sound escaping her throat was beautiful, and Dylan wanted to capture it to remember the moment forever. “If you need me to say it,” she said after a moment, “I will.”

He nodded and waited.

“I absolutely love your brother,” she said.

Dylan almost dropped his hold on her, but the sparkle in her eyes gave him pause. He narrowed his eyes and said, “Oh really?”

“Absolutely. If it wasn’t for him and his asinine deal, I never would have asked you to go out that first night,” she said. “And I never would have fallen completely, unexplainably, and totally in love with you.”

His heart lifted at her words and he was about to pull her in for another kiss when she said, “Dylan, I’m so sorry. You need to know that—“

“No,” he said, silencing her. “I know the truth about everything. And you’re right. We owe Trent and his backwards, screwed-up ideas for bringing us together in the first place.”