Goodbye Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A 'HOT' Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Book 5) (4 page)

“Of course it’s not a problem, Mom,” she lied, forcing herself to smile. “I can’t wait to see you guys.”

“Oh good. We’ll be there before you know it.”

That was exactly what she was afraid of.

“A real lifesaver?” Dylan spoke to the empty room. “Did I really just say that to her?” He slammed his palm down on the table and shook his head.

Ever since Carmen had left the room, he’d been beating himself up over his stupid choice of words. Could he be any lamer? He was an absolute moron in the female department. He was ridiculously out of practice talking to a woman.

“You do your job really well.” He mimicked the words. “I’m seriously an idiot.”

“Yes you are, brother. But I’ll defend you if anyone says it.”

Dylan turned around at the sound of Trent's voice.

“Why are you an idiot today?”

The last thing Dylan wanted to do was confide his women troubles to Trent. Not that they were troubles so much as a complete inability to say anything intelligent to a woman he found remotely attractive. And he did find Carmen attractive. More than he wanted to admit. And there was no way he’d be admitting it to Trent, anyway. There was no point.

“Because we didn’t have the projector for the meeting,” Dylan lied. “Carmen just rushed it down here for me.”

Trent raised an eyebrow. “Well, I hope you didn’t give her a hard time. She looked a little frazzled to me.”

Frazzled? Hopefully not because of anything he’d said or done. Or maybe, not said. Dylan dismissed the thought and shook his head. “Of course I didn’t. She’s great. Besides, it wasn’t her fault you forgot to put the projector on the order.”

“I did no such…oh, yeah. I probably did,” Trent admitted. “I have a million freakin’ things going on and if I forget one or two things, you’re just going to have to deal. I can’t wait to be done here. I can’t keep anything straight anymore.”

Dylan gave his brother a quick once-over. “You’re sure you’re okay with leaving the Lodge? I know how much you like it up here and nothing’s guaranteed with the Springs. If it doesn’t work out, I don’t know what we’re going to—“

“It’s going to work out,” Trent said quickly. “Besides, there’s no reward without a little risk, right? Isn’t that what Dad used to say?”

“Dad used to say a lot of things,” Dylan mumbled.

Ignoring him, Trent walked around the table and opened his briefcase. He pulled out a stack of shiny folders. “I had these made up,” he said and handed one to Dylan. “I like them. What do you think?”

Dylan took the glossy folder in his hands and examined it. On the front there was a photograph of mountains, not unlike the ones out the window. “The Springs” was in large bold script across the picture. It was classy and understated, just the way the brothers pictured their resort to be. He flipped it open and scanned the information inside.

“I included all the financial projections, as well as the floor plan and progress pictures of the hotel,” Trent said, explaining the pages Dylan was looking at. “I know the investors are mostly interested in the bottom line,” he continued. “But I thought it was important for them to see exactly what we’re hoping to accomplish with this development.”

“I agree.” Dylan nodded and closed the folder. “It’s great, Trent. And in my presentation, I have the latest images from the job site and a few shots of the town and lake. The resort is going to be the whole package and more than just a place to go for healing and spa treatments. I want to offer the outdoor experience, as well. I like what you do here at the Lodge. I think we should be able to incorporate some of that into our plans as well.”

Trent walked around the table, setting a folder in each place. “I agree one hundred percent, brother. And I think the Braxtons will too.”

Dylan hoped he was right. They needed the Braxton family to get on board with their vision, which is why they’d brought them all the way to Castle Mountain Lodge. The Braxtons ran a successful chain of resorts and hotels in the Eastern states, but it was rumored they were looking for an expansion plan, and what better investment than a thermal hot springs spa in the Canadian Rockies? Dylan and Trent had used their own substantial savings, not to mention bank loans and other investors, to get them as far as they had in their development. But in order to take it to the next level and be on track to open their exclusive resort in time for the busy summer tourist season, they were going to need the backing of the Braxtons.

“Don’t worry, Dylan. We’ve got this,” Trent said. He straightened his tie, smoothed his suit and gave Dylan a confident smile. “Oh, and if we can convince them to stay at the Lodge tonight, I’ll handle the wining and dining.”

“Don’t you mean, we both will?”

“You’re meeting Carmen for a drink, remember?” Trent wiggled his eyebrows and Dylan shot him a look. “Okay fine,” Trent said with a laugh. “I know it’s not like that. But I do need you to relax. You deserve it. Go have some fun. I can handle the Braxtons.”

Dylan had most definitely not forgotten about his date with Carmen, if he could even call it that. Besides, he had responsibilities to Trent and their project. “I’ll meet her later,” he said. “First we need to take care of this deal. Drinks can wait.”

Trent narrowed his eyes. “You’re really going to blow off a date with Carmen?”

“That’s not what I’m doing,” Dylan answered too quickly. He took a breath and continued, “But this is important.”

“I got this, Dyl. Trust me.” Trent flashed him a toothy grin. “Besides, maybe you can talk to her about an idea I had.”

“What’s that?”

Trent paused for a moment before he said, “I know you were kidding earlier, but I’ve been thinking about what you said about Carmen being perfect to come work for the Springs.”

“I thought you said she was up for the general manager position here?” Dylan narrowed his eyes and tried to figure out what his brother was up to. He couldn’t be sure, but he knew there was something more going on that Trent wasn’t saying. “Why would she want to give that up to come work for an unknown resort?”

Trent shrugged. “Maybe just get a feel for it,” he said. “I mean, I wouldn’t bring it up right away, but maybe you can plant the seed of change with her. You’re good at that type of thing,” he continued. “Make it seem like it’s her idea. That way if she doesn’t get the job here, she’ll have options. And she really is good at her job.”

Trent wouldn’t meet his eyes, furthering Dylan’s suspicions that he was up to something. But before he could push the issue any further, there was a knock on the door and Sam Braxton, the patriarch of the family, followed by his son, Les, entered the room, and there was no more room for discussion.

Dylan could hardly keep his mind on the important meeting taking place around him. He should have been focused on listening and answering the questions that could make or break the Springs resort, but instead he found his mind constantly drifting to Carmen and the idea of spending some time with her. Maybe he could even repair some of the damage he’d done with his stupid comments earlier.

As the meeting started to wrap up, Dylan glanced at his watch and jumped on the opportunity to seal the deal for the evening. He stood and shook Sam Braxton’s hand.

“Thank you so much for coming all the way up to the Lodge,” Dylan said. “I do hope you see now what we’re hoping to accomplish with the Springs in creating a similar type of atmosphere. Although, as we said, the Springs will definitely have a spa feel, and be primarily a place of relaxation, escape, and healing.”

“Of course,” Sam Braxton said. “You both did an excellent job conveying that, and my son and I have a lot to consider.”

“I do hope you’ll be taking us up on our invitation to stay at the Lodge tonight and enjoy everything Castle Mountain has to offer,” Dylan said. “Trent will be happy to show you around some of the finer points of the Lodge.” Dylan avoided making eye contact with Trent and continued, “No one knows the Lodge better than he does.”

“Is that right?” Sam looked to Trent and then to his son. “I think we did plan on staying,” he said. “At least for one night. Isn’t that right, son?”

“Might as well,” Les said. “We’ve come all this way. It would be a pity not to enjoy it.”

“Excellent,” Dylan said. “And I wish I could join you, but I have a prior engagement.” He pushed back his chair and stood.

“That’s a shame,” Sam Braxton said. “I was looking forward to asking you a few more questions regarding the financials.”

Dylan hesitated, his desire to be with Carmen warring with his commitment to the project.

“Perhaps we can set something up for lunch tomorrow,” Trent jumped in. “Unfortunately, Dylan has an important meeting tonight regarding staffing for the Springs.” Dylan shot Trent a look, but his brother continued speaking. “We’re already starting to put the key staff members in place, and I’m sure you’d agree, proper staffing is crucial to the success of the venture.”

Sam nodded his head. “Staff is important,” he agreed. “I’d be happy to meet you for lunch tomorrow.”

“It’s settled, then,” Trent said.

Dylan nodded and shook the man’s hand. “Well, I’ll leave you in my brother’s very capable hands,” he said. “Thank you, gentlemen. It was a pleasure.”

Dylan slipped from the room and all but ran down the hall to the elevator. He took another quick look at his watch. Perfect. He had enough time to go back to his room, change into something that wasn’t a suit, and meet Carmen at the Grill.

He ignored the little voice in his head that was telling him he didn’t have time for women. Dylan was a businessman, married to his job; there was no room for anything, or anyone else in his life. That was the way it’d always been and with the Springs resort set to open in less than a year, he didn’t see that changing anytime soon. But there was something about Carmen that made him forget all of that. He had to know more about her, even if it didn’t make any sense at all.

CHAPTER THREE

All Carmen had been able to think about all afternoon was meeting Dylan for a drink. The moment her shift was over, she grabbed her purse and ducked out the side door to head back to the employee residence and change into something that wasn’t her uniform. She took her time walking through the wooded path, enjoying the quiet of the crisp fall evening, forcing herself to calm down and reminding herself that she wasn’t meeting Dylan as a date. She was only going out with him as a favor to Trent. A favor that could very well lead to a promotion.

Her roommate and friend, Astrid, was just leaving the apartment when Carmen arrived.

“Are you coming to the bonfire tonight?” Astrid asked her. “It’s probably going to be the last one before it snows and then we’ll be stuck inside. You have to come.”

Astrid knew as well as she did that Carmen rarely partied with the rest of the staff, but it didn’t stop her friend from trying.

“Sorry,” Carmen said. She continued to talk to Astrid, who’d followed her into her room, while she changed. “I actually have plans tonight.”

“You do not.” Astrid dropped to the bed.

Carmen spun to look at her friend. With her long braids pulled back in a bandanna and an oversized cable knit sweater worn over ripped jeans, she looked every bit the woodsy hippy throwback she was. And despite their differences, Carmen loved her. Astrid had moved in with her almost a year ago, when Morgan, a mutual friend of theirs, moved in with the outdoor activities director, Bo. Carmen made a mental note to talk to Bo about finding something for her parents to do next week.

“I do,” Carmen said, focusing on the conversation. She winked at Astrid and pulled a soft sweater over her head.

“Like a date?” Astrid had sat up and was listening with rapt attention. Carmen going on a date was big news. “Please tell me it’s a date. Or even just a fling. You know how I feel about boyfriends. But boys…they’re all right.”

Carmen laughed. “It’s hardly a date,” she said. “I’m just taking Trent’s brother, Dylan, out for a drink to show him the Lodge. He’s here for a few days and—“

“Wait.” Astrid jumped up. “You’re telling me that you’re going out with Trent Harrison’s brother? That’s juicy.”

“It’s not.” Carmen wiggled into a worn pair of jeans and turned to look at herself in the mirror. “It’s nothing. Just a drink.”

Astrid let out a low whistle. “Whatever you say. But by the way you’re getting ready I’d say it’s a bit more than that.”

Carmen froze before putting on lip gloss. She capped the tube and made a point of putting it back on the dresser. “It’s nothing,” she repeated and walked out of the room.

Astrid was hot on her heels.

“Besides,” Carmen added. “Weren’t you telling me that I needed to have more fun?”

Astrid laughed and together they walked out the door. “I did say that, you’re right. Go have fun.” They reached the fork in the path—one way led to the bonfire, the other direction, back to the Lodge. The two friends parted ways, and Astrid called back to Carmen, “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Carmen laughed and shook her head. That didn’t leave a lot of options, she thought with a smile.

She still had time, so she took the long way through her favorite trail back to the Lodge. So late in the season there wasn't much of a risk of bears, and although she probably should be more concerned with cougars, Carmen had always thought the risk was worth the reward. There was nothing better than a quiet evening walking through the trees, listening to the sound of the owls calling in the distance, it was Carmen’s little bit of therapy and if all it took to keep her grounded, was being alone in the mountains at night, even for a few minutes, she’d take it.

She was enjoying her walk, and too soon she arrived at the main lodge. It’s not that she wasn’t looking forward to spending time with Dylan; she was. And under any other circumstance, she’d probably be really excited about it. But with Trent’s words looming over her, she couldn’t shake the heavy feeling that clouded over her.

When Carmen walked into the Grill, she didn’t immediately see Dylan, and waving off the hostess’s help, she scanned the room herself.

“Carmen.”

She turned in the direction of the voice and saw Dylan standing and waving his arm in her direction.