Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
He laughed. “What’s this beneath the words?” His finger rubbed the spot. “A dragonfly?”
“A firefly. That’s what he used to call me. Firefly.”
“I like that. It suits you.”
“Do you have any ink I haven’t noticed yet?”
“No tattoos on me.”
“You don’t like them?”
“I like them fine on other people. My two older brothers have a bunch. I just can’t think of anything I’d mark on my body permanently.”
“You do have to make sure it’s something you’ll always love,” I agreed.
My eyes were drifting shut when he spoke again.
“Firefly,” he said.
“Hm?”
“That’s what we should call the bar at the top of the mountain. Firefly.”
I smiled, picturing it. “I’d like that.”
He played with my hair, sweeping it off the back of my neck, then he pressed his lips there. “Good.”
A week later, Tabitha returned with sun-kissed skin and a strangely agreeable attitude.
When she showed up for work her first day back, I’d expected either more silence or a sullen attitude accompanied by demands for “her money,” but instead she wore an angelic smile and greeted me with actual good cheer.
“Good morning!” She set her coffee cup down and rubbed her hands together. “I hear things are going well around here. Gran says work is going to start soon.”
“Yes,” I said, wary of her complete one-eighty. “We hired a contractor and work should begin by Thanksgiving.”
“A-maze-ing.” She beamed. “You must be so happy.”
I was happy—everything was falling into place. The renderings of the new space had brought me to tears, they were so beautiful. We’d hired a designer who understood our vision and a spa manager who’d run a successful hotel spa down in Detroit and had recently moved to the area. Devlin had met with a representative from an aerial lift manufacturer based in Utah, who’d flown in to tour Snowberry and offer advice on what new technology would best fit our space and budget, and the snow gun maker had offered us a great deal on two new fans.
But I didn’t feel like sharing any of that with Tabitha.
“So you’re good to work tomorrow and Saturday, right?” I asked instead, gathering up my things behind the desk. Our flight to Boston left late tonight. Our pitch meeting was tomorrow morning.
“Sure,” she said, giving me a thumbs up. “Absolutely.”
“Thanks.” I paused, convinced something was not right. “How was your visit with your dad?”
“Great!”
“Did you have nice weather in Florida?”
“Beautiful.”
“What did you do down there?”
“Oh, you know, went to the beach, went boating. Took some business meetings.”
I blinked. “Business meetings? What business?”
“I can’t say as of yet. But it’s very interesting.”
I squinted at her. “Is this a game, Tabitha? I don’t have time to play.”
“I know. You’ve got your big important meeting with investors tomorrow.” A slow, I-know-something-you-don’t-know smile took over her rosebud lips. “Good luck.”
Gooseflesh blanketed my arms. I hadn’t told her about the meeting. “How do you know about that?”
“Maybe Gran mentioned it.”
I stood there a moment longer, unease creeping under my skin. She obviously had something up her sleeve. “Look, Tabitha, I know we’ve got our differences, but we’re family. And everything I’m doing, I’m doing to hold onto what our family has built.”
“Everything? Like marrying the guy who tried to get you to sell in the first place?” Her eyes had a little fire in them now. “Yeah, I know all about that. Did you know he got fired when he couldn’t close the deal?”
“He didn’t get fired. He quit,” I said hotly.
Her laugh rang out like a bell. “Of course, that’s what he told you. But I have it on good authority that when he was taken off the account, he punched someone in the face right there at the office, and then got fired.”
My entire body blazed with fury. “That’s not true.”
“Ask him,” she said with a cool confidence that had me a little nervous. “Ask him what happened that day. Then ask yourself if you think it’s a little strange that he suddenly decided he’s in love with you. Ask yourself what kind of game he might be playing.”
“The only one playing games is you, Tabitha. I saw those photos from The Summit.” I shook my head. “How could you?”
“They paid me. They recognized my talent. And I need the money.”
“It would break Gran’s heart if she knew.”
She reached out and patted my arm. “That’s how I know you’re not going to tell her.”
I yanked my arm out of her reach. “Well, while you’re out there betraying her, I’m just trying to do what’s right.”
“What’s right? Like a quickie marriage just so you can inherit the place?” She snorted. “That’s rich. So how long are you planning to stay married? Just long enough to get your name on the deed, I bet.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She waggled her fingers at me. “Have a nice trip.”
Heading out to my car, I tried to reassure myself that she was just saying shit to get under my skin, the way she always had. She’d obviously talked to Bob Oliver, and he’d fed her false information.