Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
I think tonight is sort of a girls night. We’re taking Lexi out for dinner and drinks, and then maybe meeting up with the guys later.
Okay. See you in a minute.
Dash approached and handed me a key card. “Here. Room three-ten. I know you want to stay with Mabel, and I am totally fine with that, but if you want to re-enact that whole sneaking into my bedroom scene, I promise not to reject you this time.”
I laughed and took the card, tucking it into my purse. “Thanks.”
“What room is Mabel?”
“Three-oh-four,” I said.
We rode the elevator up together and walked down the hall on the third floor. At Mabel’s door, I stopped and looked at him. “This is me.”
“Okay.” After a quick glance up and down the empty hallway, he gave me a quick kiss. “Hopefully, I’ll see you later.”
I nodded and smiled, wondering if I actually had the willpower to stay out of his room tonight. “Sounds good.”
He continued moving toward his room, and I knocked on Mabel’s door. As she pulled it open, Dash and I exchanged one last look.
“Hi!” she said excitedly. She was already dressed in dark jeans and a black top, but her feet were bare and her hair was damp. “Come on in!”
I entered the room, which was beautifully decorated in pale woods, soft creamy colors, and cozy textures. The two queen beds were made up with thick white bedding and fuzzy camel blankets draped across the foot. The large windows overlooking the mountain let in plenty of natural light, and I went straight to the glass, dropping my bag to the floor. My breath caught at the view. “It’s so beautiful,” I said, taking in the grassy slopes, the budding trees, the spring flowers blooming at the base of the hill. “I’d forgotten how pretty this place is.”
“Same,” Mabel said. “We came to Snowberry a few times as kids, but I barely remember it. And I certainly don’t remember it like this. Devlin and Lexi have made tons of changes.”
I turned around and took in the relaxing decor of the room. “The place looks gorgeous. They must have spent a fortune on the renovation.”
“I think they did. You should see the spa—it’s incredible. The bar is cool too. I poked my head in there earlier.” She perched on the edge of her bed, leaning back on her hands. “How was the drive?”
“Fine.” I knelt down and unzipped my bag.
“How are things with you and Dash? I take it you forgave him for walking into the kitchen in his birthday suit?”
Laughing, I pulled out my clothes for tonight along with my makeup bag. “Yes. And things are good. Casual, you know.” Maybe if I said it enough times, my heart would start to believe it.
“Cool.” She slapped her hands on her thighs and stood up. “And that’s all I need to hear about that.”
I grinned as I stood up. “I will not subject you to any further details.”
“Thank you. Oh! Let me give you a key for the room.” She went over to the dresser and grabbed a little envelope. “Here. Although, if you want to sleep in Dash’s room, I get it. No worries.”
I took the key from her and gave her a hug. “You know what? It’s girls’ night, and we haven’t hung out in a long time. Let’s just go have fun.”
There were ten of us at dinner—Lexi, her friends Winnie Matthews and Ellie Lupo, her cousin Tabitha, Veronica and Adelaide, Kelly and Julia, Mabel, and me. I sat between Mabel and Ellie, who chatted with me about her experiences in mobile catering—she did a lot of wine dinners at private homes—and patiently answered my questions about the business end of things.
At Veronica’s request, Lexi told the story of how she and Devlin had met and eloped quickly to Vegas. “Probably too quickly,” she said with a laugh. “There were definitely some things we had to work out after we’d already tied the knot, but I’ve got no regrets.”
I smiled at the beautiful dark-haired woman who’d captured Devlin Buckley’s heart so fast, happy for her and hoping one day something like that might happen for me.
If I could ever get out from under Dash’s spell.
We met up with the guys at Snö, Snowberry Lodge’s newly renovated cocktail lounge, and even though I was determined to hang with the girls and not give in to the temptation to stand by Dash’s side, he came right over to me the moment I arrived.
“You look gorgeous,” he said quietly. “I’ve never seen that top.”
“Thanks.” I glanced down at the black lace bodysuit. “I don’t have much of a chance to wear it. I get up and put on a Moe’s Diner uniform every day.”
“You look gorgeous in that too. You look gorgeous in everything.” He sipped his drink. “And in nothing, of course.”