It doesn’t take him long, his voice heralding his arrival as he converses with someone on his cell. Coming to a stop by the wood burner, he gazes out through the doors, down at the lights of the valley. I bring over his drink, placing it and the basket of pastries and cakes on the coffee table between the couches.
Sounding authoritative and in control, Luca says, “Imani, it’s not a problem. Leave it with me. I’ll have it resolved by tomorrow.” There’s a short silence. “You’re welcome. Let’s speak in the morning.”
Ending his call, he types out a text before looking across at me to ask, “Do you drink?”
“I’ve been known to.”
A black brow hitches in amusement. “Join me?”
I nod my thanks, pouring myself a whiskey too, before claiming a seat on the opposite couch to where he settles. Wearing the same perfectly fitting jeans from earlier, a long-sleeved black henley covers his body.
With all the focus of a jungle cat, Luca watches me.
“How do you like it?” I ask. “The cabin.”
“It’s perfect.”
I sip from my glass, trying hard not to think about the way the corner of his mouth hitched sexily when he answered. The way his eyes licked up and down my body. I swear it’s like his hands roam across my feverish skin.
Casually, I let my gaze fall to his left hand. No wedding ring. Not that the lack of a band means anything these days. Some men don’t like wearing them.
We make small talk about his journey, and he generously answers my questions if he’s been to the area before. Between the whiskey and the heat pouring from the wood burner, my body is getting uncomfortably hot. When he pushes his sleeves up to his elbows, I shift out of my sweater, feeling immediate relief.
“It gets hot in here,” he muses, eyeing the patio door as if wishing to open it.
I move to the wood burner, throwing in another log but reducing the air intake. “Will you be hitting the slopes tomorrow?” I ask, returning to my seat.
“Work permitting.” He eyes his laptop bag. “I’m going to set myself up at the dining table. I’d appreciate it if you leave that as messy as you find it.”
“Got it.” No snooping or tidying. “I can set the table at the other end. I don’t have any meal requests for you. Are you planning on eating in the cabin tonight? Or maybe the hotel restaurant?”
“In,” he answers. “Though I prefer not to eat alone.”
I blink, absorbing his softly spoken enquiry. Under normal circumstances, staff don’t mingle with the guests. We serve them, slinking back into the shadows when we’re done. Betsy likened our role to that of dogs. We’re called to heel, there to make a fuss of our temporary owners with our eager smiles and obedience before they snap at us to leave them alone. When she learned that I hadn’t worked in a customer-facing role before, she told me:Remember that, and it will help.
Leaning forward, I pick up the leather-bound Cabin Rules book and walk it around the table to Luca. “Menus are in here, alongside WiFi codes and a whole bunch of other useful information. There are also instructions on how to link documents and videos from your cell or laptop to the TV if you want to view anything on a larger screen.”
“I’d like you to join me,” he says, taking the file from me. Uninterested in the cabin rules or menus, he tosses it to the couch. Then he leans back, an arm slung along the top of the cushions by his shoulders as he blatantly regards me. It’s an entirely confident move, easy and inviting. “Take the night off.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I’m not allowed.”
“Says who?”
“It’s hotel policy.”
“You mean Elias.”
I nod.
“He sounds like a bore.”
I swallow my inappropriate agreement and retake my seat opposite him, a smile breaking free.
“So dinner?” he asks. His eyes ensnare mine, but his hand is sliding out to the hotel file. “What will you have?”
Luca Wolfford, I decide, is extremely dangerous. He’s like newly fallen snow on an already fragile base. All it takes is the slightest movement, the merest touch, and catastrophe strikes. Because in his enamoring presence my thinly-held restraint feels on the brink of total ruination.
“I shouldn’t.” It’s a pathetic attempt to remain firm. To not yield to that slow-forming seductive smile that’s transforming his face. He knows he has me. And if my words aren’t a giveaway, then the breathless way I deliver them must be. “I could lose my job,” I state firmly. While I appreciate Luca hasn’t threatened me with theI’m the guest, I’ll do exactly what I wanttalk, I’m also aware I need to be accommodating.