Goodbye Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A 'HOT' Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Book 5) (3 page)

She was still standing behind the desk when the arrival of a young couple provided the perfect distraction. “Hello,” she said, slipping easily into her role, “and welcome to Castle Mountain Lodge. My name is Carmen. How can I help you today?”

“We’re checking in,” the man said.

“He surprised me with this trip for our one-year anniversary,” his wife said. “Isn’t he the sweetest?”

Carmen smiled genuinely. “That’s very sweet.” She felt a twinge of jealousy as she processed the checkin. The couple in front of her was roughly the same age as she was, and they’d found happiness. She wondered what the woman did for a living. Had she given up her future for her husband? It was a ridiculous thought and one Carmen knew she had no business in having, but she couldn’t help it.

For a crazy moment, she considered asking the woman if it was worth it, but common sense prevailed and she handed over their welcome package and sent them on their way.

When the couple was out of sight, she dropped her head to the desk and silently reprimanded herself.

“Are you okay?”

The voice shocked her back to her senses, and Carmen jolted up right, looking directly into Dylan Harrison’s eyes.

Perfect.

“Mr. Harrison,” she said, stumbling over his name. “How can I help you this afternoon? I hope everything is okay. If there’s anything I can—“

“It’s fine.” He held up his hand and smiled. It wasn’t Trent’s lady-killer smile, but it sent a shock through her and she blushed. “I wasn’t coming to complain,” he said.

Carmen forced herself to relax. She took a breath and said, “Well, I’m glad to hear that. What can I help you with then?”

A ridiculous part of her hoped he wasn’t coming to cancel on their date, or whatever it was. Even though that might be the best solution to the situation she’d put herself into. Trent couldn’t hold it against her if she’d tried to take Dylan out and he’d canceled. Not that it would help her with her currently skewed sense of right and wrong. She wasn’t thinking clearly.

Dylan crossed his arms, and leaned on the desk. “It’s not a big deal, really,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. “But I have a meeting starting in twenty minutes in the Spruce Room, and Trent said there’d be a projector for me to use.”

She nodded. “He did mention that.” Carmen turned to her computer and started tapping on the keyboard. “Yes,” she said. “He reserved the Spruce Room, a screen, and coffee service. But there’s no projector on the order.”

“Really? Leave it to Trent to forget the details.” Dylan sighed, but he didn’t look angry. “I’m sorry.” He stood and shrugged apologetically. “Is there any way we can get one on such short notice?”

“Of course, Mr. Harrison. I’ll figure it out right away.” She reached for the phone. “I’m so sorry for the inconvenience.”

“It’s no trouble,” Dylan said. “It wasn’t your fault. And please, call me Dylan.” His lips curled up into a smile again, and for a second, Carmen lost focus.

“Sorry, it’s habit.”

“No problem.” He tapped his hand on the desk and turned to leave.

It wasn’t until he’d disappeared down the hall that she shook herself out of the trance she was in and punched in the number for Erin, who was in charge of managing the boardrooms and meeting rooms. She had a job to do and it wasn’t going to get done if she didn’t stop behaving like a silly school girl. She’d never let a man affect her like that before, and she wasn’t about to start now. Especially with a man who happened to be Trent Harrison’s brother and that she happened to invite out for a date only to further her career. It was skeevy. It was awful, and totally not like her. The last thing she needed was to develop actual feelings for him.

Erin picked up the extension, and Carmen immediately barked into the phone. “I need a projector.”

“Pardon me?”

Carmen caught herself. It wasn’t like her to snap at the other employees. She prided herself on handling even the toughest situations with grace. She took a breath and tried again. “I’m sorry. It’s not your fault, but I need to know if we have a projector available for a guest meeting. It was left off the order and he has a presentation in less than twenty minutes.”

“We should have,” Erin said. “Just give me a…yes. I have one. I can—“

“No,” Carmen interrupted. “I’ll do it.” She scanned the lobby. It was slow, and as the customer service manager, she really should take care of these issues herself. At least, that’s what she told herself.

“Carmen, you really don’t have to—“

“It’s fine,” she said. “I’ll be right there to pick it up. Mr. Harrison is an important guest. I want to see to this problem myself.”

And, she thought. Carmen quickly dismissed the thought. No. She was just trying to do her job to the best of her ability. That was it. There was nothing more to it.

She hung up the phone and with a quick word to Joe, who was manning the other checkin computer, she took off for the events office.

Even as she walked down the corridor, she knew there was more to her quest to keep Dylan Harrison a satisfied guest of the Lodge. How could there not be? Ever since he’d looked at her, she hadn’t been able to get him out of her head. The whole thing was ridiculous and if she could just see him again, in a professional capacity, she’d certainly be able to diffuse whatever it was that was going on in her head.

“Carmen, I’m so sorry that there was a mix-up,” Erin said as soon as she stepped into the room. The woman handed the projector case to Carmen. “It wasn’t on the list and—“

“Don’t worry. It wasn’t your fault. I’ll take care of it.”

She immediately spun on her heel and before Erin could trip over herself with any more apologies that weren’t necessary, she headed out the room and down the hall towards the conference rooms.

There was only ten minutes before the meeting started when Carmen walked in the room. She expected to find Dylan buzzing around, stressed because of his lack of equipment, and generally behaving as she would if things weren’t going according to plan and she had an important meeting. Instead, she found him lounging in one of the chairs, his leg crossed at the knee, flipping through a sheaf of papers.

She stopped in the doorway before announcing herself. It was ridiculous. More than ridiculous, but he looked so at ease. So comfortable and calm that she didn’t want to disturb him. Of course, she must have moved, or made a noise, or maybe he just sensed her, but he spun around easily in his chair. When he saw her, his face split into a smile.

“Carmen,” he said as he stood and crossed the room towards her. “You didn’t have to come.” He took the projector from her, but locked eyes with her for a moment. “But I’m glad you did.”

Her mind spun with what that comment was supposed to mean. There was no way it could mean that he was glad to see her; he’d just seen her at the front desk.

“I really need this projector.” Dylan moved over to the boardroom table and started unpacking the equipment. “The investors will be here any minute, and without it, my whole presentation would be useless.” He looked up and met her eyes again. “You’re a real lifesaver, Carmen. Thanks.”

Of course. He’s just happy to get the equipment. She forced the smile that suddenly felt hard to hold. “Just doing my job,” she said. “Good luck with your presentation, Dylan.”

She turned to leave. The disappointment at his lack of response rushed through her, followed by confusion, which was ridiculous. He was a means to an end for her. Even if it was underhanded, and beneath her to accept Trent’s offer, she’d done it. And now she had to live with it. It would be a whole lot easier if she stopped whatever feelings she was having for Dylan altogether.

“Carmen?”

Automatically, she turned to look at him, a thrill slicing through her at the sound of her name on his lips.

“You do your job really well,” he said. “I’ll see you later?”

“Of course.” She sucked in her bottom lip and nodded her head.

Before he could say anything else that concreted exactly how ridiculous Carmen’s feelings for him were becoming, she left. Carmen got all the way down the hall before she stopped and leaned up against the wall, tipped her head up to the ceiling and closed her eyes.

No. This can’t happen. None of this can happen, she told herself, forcing her thoughts to slow.

She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.

She needed to tell Trent that whatever he was playing at, it was over. She wouldn’t sacrifice her morals just to get a leg up with the job. She couldn’t do it. Especially with someone like Dylan. She needed space from him, not closeness, not if she was going to escape unscathed. It was probably for the best anyway. No. It was definitely for the best. She opened her eyes and pushed off the wall, running smack into a solid, very male chest.

“Carmen.”

“Trent?”

His hands squeezed her upper arms, steadying her.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t see you there and I wasn’t really expecting you to—“

“I’m fine.” She wiggled out of his grasp and tugged on her blouse to straighten it. “Actually, I was going to come and find you because, I just can’t—“

“I was hoping to see you, too.” He eyed her with suspicion, but there was no point in getting into anything with him. “I’m really happy you decided to take me up on my offer with Dylan. I know the two of you will have a great time together and—“

“No.” She shook her head. “I can’t do it, Trent.”

He tipped his head and smirked. “Why? Is it his looks? I know he’s not as handsome as his big brother, but I didn’t think—“

“Stop it. That’s not it. I just don’t feel right about it.” She took a step backwards, needing distance. “I…I just…”

“You want the job, don’t you?” His straightforwardness grabbed her attention. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.” He took a deep breath and looked around a little uncomfortably. “Look, Carmen. Let me be straight with you.”

She stared at him, waiting for more.

“I don’t make a practice of abusing my position with the staff, but I really need a little help here. My little brother refuses to take any time off and I’m worried about him.”

Carmen nodded. Despite how he’d approached it, he did seem to genuinely mean what he was saying. The look of concern in his eyes was real and Trent really wasn’t a bad guy. “I’m listening.”

“I’m just trying to be a good brother. And I’d really appreciate it, okay? It’s not like anyone’s going to get hurt and if you can do me this little favor, I promise to put in a good word with management. It’s win-win, really. Plus, it’s not like he’s a bad guy. A bit of a workaholic maybe, but he’s a good guy and he’s not going to take advantage of you or anything. Who knows, maybe you’ll actually enjoy yourself.”

That’s what she was afraid of, but she didn’t say so.

She stared at Trent, looking for any hint of insincerity. Something that would tell her he was being a jerk and totally stepping out of line. But really, he did just seem to be a concerned brother. It would be like doing a favor for a friend; she just wouldn’t think of the added bonus there might be at the end of it. Slowly, Carmen nodded. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll do it.”

“Thanks, Carmen. I owe you. And like I said, maybe you’ll actually have fun with him.”

She bit her lip and turned away. Because that’s exactly what she was afraid of. Before he could say anything else, Carmen scurried down the hall and back to the front desk. With any luck, she’d be able to immerse herself in work and forget about everything else, because whatever attraction, or whatever it was that she was feeling for Dylan, it wasn’t going to happen. She wouldn’t let it.

The phone rang, and she looked around for her front desk staff, who didn’t seem to be anywhere in sight. With a sigh, she snatched it up on the second ring. “Castle Mountain Lodge. It’s a beautiful day in the Rockies. My name is Carmen, how can I help you?”

“It’s so cute how you answer the phone, Carmen.” Her mother’s voice came over the line. “I can just picture you at your little desk every time you say that.”

Carmen winced at her mom’s dismissive tone. She knew she wasn’t trying to be that way; it was just the way her mom was. If she wasn’t baking cookies for a husband and child in some sunny kitchen somewhere, she wasn’t living up to her full potential, according to her mom.

“Well, I am at the front desk, Mom,” she said. “And I have quite a bit of work to do, so can we talk later?”

“Oh, of course you do, dear,” her mother said. “But this will just take a minute. I was just calling to let you know that your dad and I can’t come up for Thanksgiving.”

Despite the fact that they drove her crazy and were completely condescending about her career choices, Carmen felt the sting of disappointment.

“Why not? I thought you were looking forward to it. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, yes.” Carmen could picture her fluttering around and waving her hand as if she could see it through the phone. “But we’ve been invited to a big potluck at the club and these things are always so much fun,” she said. “I’m going to make my potato casserole. You know, the one with the hash browns and the sour cream? But you can’t tell anyone it uses hash browns. I like people to think I chop all those potatoes myself, you know?”

“Yes, Mom. I know.” Carmen rolled her eyes. “But why is the club having a potluck on Thanksgiving? Aren’t people with their families?”

“We’ll do it on the Saturday, of course. That leaves lots of time for turkey on the Sunday and Monday.” She spoke as if it’d been obvious and Carmen hadn’t been paying attention to a word she said. “But it’s hardly worth us coming out for a day, is it?”

“No, Mom.” Carmen rubbed her temple and took a deep breath. “I suppose it’s not.”

“That’s what we thought. So we’ll see you this weekend, then.”

“Okay, Mom, that’s—wait. What?”

“This weekend,” her mom repeated. “It makes perfect sense for us to come up this weekend. We don’t have plans and you’re always saying how it’s your slow season at your little hotel, so why not.”

She let the comment about the little hotel slide and focused on the real problem. “But, this weekend?”

“Is it a problem?”

Carmen knew it was a loaded question. Of course it was a problem. She needed time to psychologically prepare for a visit from her parents. Plus, at Thanksgiving, she could usually find small issues to busy herself with so she didn’t need to spend too much time with them. But if they came in two days…and there was the small matter of Dylan Harrison and her promise to spend time with him. She shook her head. No. Dylan couldn’t impact her decision. Why should he? There was only one way to answer her mother.