Tessa Dalton slid the client’s paperwork into a folder then dropped it into the filing cabinet and closed the drawer, eager to end her day of prepping for the upcoming wedding, the one for which she wouldn’t be present. She stood and shrugged on her jacket, hoping, yet not hoping, she could sneak past her sister Michelle on her way out the front door.
If she saw Michelle again before she left, she would give Tessa those blue puppy dog eyes, roll out her bottom lip, hang her head, and walk away without a word, continuing her almost perfect attempt to make Tessa feel guilty about leaving the company even though she was entering a contest that could change her life forever. God knew she was going to miss Michelle, helping her plan dream weddings and being part of a family team. But finding her own path in this thing called life was her ultimate goal. Going after her own future, her own dream of being a well-known wedding planner, maybe even owning a venue of her own, was the only thing she truly wanted. Not continuing to make Michelle’s dreams a reality.
Nor was it like she was leaving Michelle high and dry. Even if she did come out the other side of this eight-week adventure victorious, which she most certainly planned on doing, Michelle’s business was booming, clients lined up for many months for weddings, and the calendar was full of upcoming events. Michelle would be more than okay without her. She’d made sure of it. So no. Tessa had nothing to feel guilty about.
More than anything, she wanted her sister to continue her success. And as much fun as Tessa had helping her along every step of the way, she wanted something different for her own life. Yet something identical. In a different setting. In a whole new state.
A new life was waiting for her out there. In the mountains of Colorado. This contest was going to open that door for her, and fulfill another dream of hers, to one day live there, whether she conquered this quest or not. She was going to step through these next phases like a damn boss and dare anyone to stand in her way.
Tessa grabbed her purse and took a final glance around the office. There was a huge chance that she would never work here again. A chance that she wouldn’t have her sister in the office next door. Wouldn’t have their assistants to eat lunch with or help plan those fabulous weddings with.
In just a few weeks, this life could be over for her and a new one beginning.
The thought made her smile.
“Did you really think you were going to sneak past me today? Of all days?” Michelle leaned against the doorframe, thankfully, with her red tinged lips in place and not poked out like a pouting toddler.
“Just getting everything squared away for you.” Tessa pushed the chair under the desk and faced Michelle, wishing her older sister was more like their half sister, Monty, who couldn’t wait to drop Tessa off at the airport, eagerly pushing her to go grab the stars, beyond thrilled that Tessa was going to hang her hat on the moon. And if she made it to the final week, when only two teams were standing, she was going to join Tessa in Colorado and do just that. Help her hang her hat on the moon.
“I know I’ve given you shit the past few weeks about leaving me, because I’m going to miss the hell out of my sidekick, my admitted favorite sister, but you know I’m proud of you, right?” Michelle curled her lip out and angled her head to the side, spilling her blond hair over a shoulder. “I’m so, so proud of you.”
Tessa went to her and wrapped her in a tight hug. “I do know that. And I love you for it. And I’m really going to miss you, too.” She stepped out of her hug. “Speaking of sisters, Monty asked me to relay a message. She said to bite her.”
“The jerk.” Michelle chuckled. “And let me guess. You’re rushing out to meet her at that disgusting little bar where her disgusting twats gather to catch a glimpse of her. Or should we call it her favorite pickup fuck palace?”
“Be nice.”
Michelle had never bonded with their much younger half sister. She secretly blamed the “other” woman, Monty’s mother, for their parents’ breakup. As much as Tessa loved and adored their father, the blame rested solely on his shoulders. He was the married one. He was the one with a wife and children waiting for him at home. He was the one who was supposed to be loyal and true. Having an affair had been his choice and his choice alone.
The hostility Michelle carried after that affair had trickled down to Monty, the innocent result of their father’s mistake. The fling that rocked the sturdy ground beneath the Dalton family’s feet. Their parents had tried to salvage the marriage, to no avail. Truth was, that attempt was nothing more than a Hail Mary pass. Their relationship had been doomed long before their father admitted his guilt, or he wouldn’t have succumbed to weakness in the first place. Many moons before he hesitantly announced that he was going to be a father, again.
Tessa had remained neutral through the whole ordeal. No matter how sad she’d been, no matter how enraged she’d felt, she still loved her daddy. Even at only thirteen, she knew she had to continue to share that love between both her mother and her father. Actually, their mother had encouraged as much. She’d done the exact thing any mother should want for her children and did everything in her power to make sure they remained bonded to their father. But Michelle had refused to even speak to him. She wouldn’t take his calls. Wouldn’t answer his texts. And didn’t lay eyes on the baby until Monty’s first birthday. Even that was awkward, with Michelle standing in the distance, blank facial expression. But she’d gone, reluctantly and extremely verbal about her dislike of being made to go, but her appearance was a tiny step in the right direction and that was all Tessa could ask for.
Monty had been a happy, curious little thing, sharing Tessa’s and their father’s striking green eyes. She always wanted Tessa with her. Her love for Tessa kept her close, and their bond only grew stronger over the years.
While Tessa took pride in having another sister, Michelle refused to have any part of her. Even to this day, years away from that drama, her relationship was rocky with their father, and practically nonexistent with Monty except to exchange playful insults, and occasionally Monty would steal a hug. Their father had eventually married Monty’s mother, and although their mother had come to grips with the outcome of her marriage, that it was over, that he had moved on, that she would do the same, Michelle just couldn’t find the same peaceful conclusion.
Tessa doubted she ever would.
Michelle shrugged. “Like father, like daughter. Neither knows how to keep their dick in their pants.”
Tessa couldn’t argue with that. Monty had gained a reputation for being the town playboy. She dated no one, but fucked anyone. Married or single. Green, brown, black, or white. Monty had no partiality to the women she carried to her bed. A fact that drove Tessa insane. Color and creed were unimportant to Tessa as well. But that married thing. Absolutely not.
Monty was the opposite of the Dalton girls, or rather, the original Dalton girls, who were loyal, devoted, and were fairly picky when it came to relationships.
But Tessa couldn’t love Monty more even if she hated that one ugly trait. That she was basically a slut who never asked questions because the answers mattered not.
“Hug me again, mean ass. I promised Monty I would meet her for a celebratory drink.” Tessa squeezed Michelle as she stepped into her arms. “I’ll update you every week, every day, and every chance I get. I promise.”
Michelle faked a sniffle. “I want you to go rip all their heads off. Show them who the hell runs Colorado.”
Tessa giggled. “I was taught by the best so they don’t stand a chance.”
Thirty minutes later, Tessa walked into the bar. Monty’s second home. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to run off the eager beavers looking to be Monty’s arm candy tonight. She wanted to spend some time with her without having to swat blatant invitations away.
This was a world she didn’t understand. The women. She just couldn’t understand them. It was like Monty had some magic aura around her that drew women, all women, married or not, right into her web. It was disturbing, actually. They just moved toward her, drawn to her perfect smile, hypnotized by Monty’s daunting eyes.
It was sick. Especially the married ones. They made Tessa’s blood boil. And sometimes, a lot of times, so did Monty.
As expected, she found Monty at one of the high-top tables, wearing her normal jeans and T-shirt, ball cap turned backward, and a group of women forming a semicircle around her.
Tessa sighed and made her way across the room. Without apologies, she eased onto a stool and took Monty’s drink from her hand. “Sorry to interrupt your ‘eeny, meeny, miny, moe’ decision-making moment, but I only have a few hours to spend with you and I absolutely refuse to spend that time watching grown women beg to be the notch on your bedpost.” She cut her sights on the women and let her gaze walk over each of their faces. “In case none of you understand my sarcastic comment, what that means is you’ll have to come back later.”
Grown, beautiful women. Well dressed. Appeared to have their shit together. Yet the fact that they were circling Monty like vultures proved they didn’t. Whatever was wrong with them? Didn’t they have self-respect? Didn’t they care about love? Didn’t they know that they were jostling for the attention of a well used fucking machine?
Yes. That was her sister. Monty. A fucking machine. And she was damn proud of it sometimes. She didn’t care if she broke hearts. She didn’t care if she busted up marriages. She just didn’t care.
That part ate at Tessa the most. That Monty didn’t care. That she could lay her head on her pillow every night and sleep like a baby knowing she’d slept with a married woman and that woman was going to go home to her wife and act like she hadn’t just fucked a stranger. Nothing really mattered to her. She was out for one person and that person was herself.
God help her, but Tessa loved her anyway. No matter what. She had from the second her daddy carried Tessa to the hospital to meet the brand new tiny addition to their family. Tiny little fingers. Tiny little toes. Cute little button nose. And a head full of black hair. She was the cutest thing Tessa had ever laid eyes on, and she vowed to always be her friend and protector.
Problem was, she couldn’t seem to protect Monty from herself. Especially when Monty didn’t see anything wrong with the way she lived her life. With the many bar fights that had ensued from her careless behavior.
“Sorry, ladies.” Monty gave each of them a sexy smile. “My sister appears to be a little grouchy tonight. Can we catch up later?”
The women gave sweet smiles to Monty then cut fuck you glares on Tessa as they slowly moved away.
Tessa gave a few finger waves as they, one by one, turned around and started across the room.
She looked back to Monty. “Don’t you care that none of these women have any morals?” she asked as Monty looked away from their retreating asses.
“Morals? Who needs morals when you look that fine?” She took her drink back from Tessa. “Now, you have my undivided attention. Happy now?”
“Happy that I had to peel a huge portion of cheating women off of you? Not really.”
“You ready to get this show on the road? Ready to go kick some ass?”
Changing the subject was Monty’s cue that she was already over the motherly conversation. Sucked that Tessa always felt the need to be the mother figure. Why couldn’t Monty just be a normal sister? Hanging out or shopping or even taking vacations together instead of this constant need to score? The life she lived, accumulating fucks, was far from normal.
JP, the bartender, set a beer down for Tessa with a wink. “Good luck with the contest, Tess. Go knock them all dead.”
“Thank you. That’s definitely my plan.”
JP inspected Monty’s drink then walked away.
“I haven’t been nervous until now.” Tessa took a sip, giving Monty the change of subject she seemed eager for. Fact was, she didn’t want to talk about those women. She wanted to talk about her new adventure. She wanted Monty to calm her nerves in that natural way she had of easing Tessa’s stress. “Michelle got all serious on me before I left tonight. Told me to go win the damn thing.”
“Finally, she offers something intelligent.” Monty set her drink down and slowly stirred the ice cubes. “Think she’s ever going to like me?”
Tessa wanted to lie. She wanted to give Monty a shred of hope that one day her big sister would come to her senses and welcome Monty with open arms. Truth was, Tessa and Monty never lied to each other, no matter how ugly the truth was. That’s likely why they got along so well. There was never any bullshit between them.
“Not a chance.”
“Her loss. I’m kind of awesome.” Monty picked up her drink. “Okay, so tell me how this contest works. Again.”
Tessa angled her head, unsure if Monty was playing or not. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Eight groups of five. I remember that part.” Monty wiggled her brow playfully. “Oh, and you’re the kickass leader of one of those groups.”
“Yes. And? What else?”
“You get a secret client every week and you have to be their personal ‘bend over and fuck me’ workhorse.”
“Just know that in eight weeks, if I’m still standing, after knocking out six other teams, you will be booking a flight to Colorado if only to come hold my hand. I’ll be in meltdown mode at that point and running on pumped adrenaline.”
“You think you’re the shit? Think you can knock out all those other amazing planners? Think you got what it takes, Tessa Dalton?” Monty growled out her last question.
“Damn right!”
“That’s my girl.” Monty shucked her chin. “Send them all home in tears.”
“Did you just change the subject because you can’t remember the rest?” Tessa asked.
“What? Would I do that?” Monty pushed the glass to her lips.
“You can’t remember, can you?” Tessa picked up a peanut from the basket and threw it at her. “You’re an impossible jackass.”
Monty dodged the flying food and laughed. “So violent! Fine. Fine. It goes something like this. You’ll have an assistant planner, a decorator, a photographer, and a caterer, all at your disposal, all of whom already have experience working in their respective fields, and together you guys will plan whatever your secret client wants, like good little private escorts.”
Tessa threw another peanut at her and again, Monty dodged to the side before she continued her description, almost word for word the way Tessa had described the contest.
“You won’t know who your clients are until each Monday morning, unless you win top points, which you will because my sister is badass, in which case, you’ll get their video, I think you said, on Sunday which gives you an extra day to plan, and then you’ll have the week to strategize and put those plans into motion. Clients arrive on Fridays. You guys will cater to their every whimper and cry and all the blah blah blah in between until they leave on Sunday but not before they score each of your crew members in several different categories, each category changing every week to keep it fair, which is how the points are accumulated and a winner revealed. And if you score enough points, or rather, if you’re not on the bottom, which you won’t be, because again, my sister is badass, all teams except the losers get a night out on the town to be party animals. And to conclude, one team goes home each week until the final round, which is where I’ll join you for all that handholding before your last hoorah, which will be an over-the-top extravaganza of a wedding, which you swear you hate, for whatever reason, even though you throw yourself headfirst into every detail of every wedding you’ve ever planned.” Monty arched an eyebrow. “Did I get it right?”
“I think I’m going to throw up.” Tessa gave her a smirk, but the truth was she was so ready to get this journey started. Beyond ready to get on with the next phase of her life.
And if all else failed and she didn’t win, she wasn’t out of the race. She was going after that new life, and even being beat out of a contest wouldn’t stop her. This was just the beginning of reaching that goal. And she was going to do it in that breathtaking state. A place she’d been longing to return to since her first trip there.
A woman hesitantly walked toward the table and smiled down at Monty. “Hi. Do you remember me? I’m Abigail?” She pushed her straight hair behind an ear.
“Of course I remember. How could I forget you, Abigail? How have you been?” Monty smoothly took a sip of her drink, her brow creasing. Clearly, she didn’t have a clue who this woman was.
Had Monty fucked so many women that she couldn’t even remember their faces anymore?
The woman reached out for the chair closest to Monty as if the question was an invitation to have a seat. A diamond eternity band glistened on her ring finger.
The insinuation that she was free to have a seat, as well as that little band around her finger, pissed Tessa off quickly. What the hell was wrong with these damn women?
“No, sweetheart. No one gave you permission to join us.” Tessa growled. She pointed toward the corner where the rest of the women had gathered. “You’ll have to go wait with the other misfits until I am done with my sister.” She leaned toward the woman. “But a word of advice. You should go right on back home to your wife. Tell her what a piece of shit you are for chasing after a piece of ass. And that you want a divorce. Be a fucking woman instead of a disgusting cheater.”
The woman’s eyes widened and she stepped back from the chair as if burned, her gaze immediately swinging to Monty then back to Tessa. “Me and my wife are—”
“Separated. Sure you are.” Tessa sternly pointed. “Please go away from me. And don’t come near this table again until I’m long gone.”
Monty reached out for Abigail’s hand and gave a gentle squeeze. “Please forgive my sister. Her delivery is crash and burn style.” She pulled Abigail down and whispered in her ear.
Tessa rolled her eyes and slammed back in the chair.
Monty was incorrigible. She was downright disgusting.
The smile on Abigail’s face was even more disturbing as she stood, gave Tessa a sorrowful expression, then scurried toward the bar, alone.
“What is wrong with you? Did our dad not give you enough kisses when you were little?” Tessa dove into big sister mode, the same mode that Monty claimed was mothering and smothering. She wished there was something she could say, something she could do, to make Monty see that her life was twisted. That this wasn’t normal. That this was downright wrong on so many levels.
“God, don’t start again, Tess. I’m single. I don’t have to answer to anyone. And it’s my life. Mine.” Monty spat the final word, giving more impact to its meaning than she probably intended.
Fact was, Monty was her best friend. Her little sister. Her blood. There wasn’t a single thing she could do to make Tessa ever disown her. To make Tessa hate her. But Tessa didn’t have to like it, or even like her, and she damn sure didn’t have to be quiet about it. Nor would she.
Tessa rose from the table, too angry to hang out any more, not to mention the next interruption she got from some bitch wearing a wedding band begging for another bitch to jump in her pants, was going to send her into full postal mode and it wasn’t going to be pretty when she was done with the whole lot of them.
“I’m out, Monty.” Tessa shoved the stool into place.
“No, Tess. Please don’t go.” Monty grabbed her arm and batted those puppy dog eyes. “I wanted to hear more about this contest.”
Tessa pried her fingers loose, then kissed the back of Monty’s hand. “I love you, dear sister, but I’m not in the mood for your rotten antics tonight. I have to get packed up, grab some sleep, then head to the airport first thing in the morning.”
“I thought I was taking you to the airport.”
Tessa glanced toward the corner. The women were glancing in their direction while they attempted to appear like they weren’t.
Monty would be fucking one of them, possibly more than one, before long. Tessa was only standing in her way. God forbid she take just one night off. Michelle was right. Maybe Monty was a hopeless cause.
“I changed my mind.”
“You don’t trust me, do you?” Monty grinned, but Tessa could see the plea in her eyes. She didn’t like it when Tessa was upset with her. Although she did very little to reverse the situation until she was done doing whatever Monty wanted to do.
“I trust you with my life.” Tessa kissed the top of her head. “But I don’t trust you to get me to that airport on time.” She added a chuckle but didn’t mean it. It wouldn’t be the first time Monty had bailed on a plan. This time, that plan mattered more than anything. This time, the plan couldn’t include her sister’s crap or tardiness. “So, go put one of those idiots out of their wet misery. I’m going home to finish packing.”
Tessa had been packed for weeks now. Monty knew that. But she didn’t argue as Tessa walked away. Even she knew when Tessa had reached her limit. That limit was now. She also knew that tomorrow Tessa would be over it and Monty would likely be the first number she dialed when she got to the airport, before she boarded, after she boarded, and once again as soon as she touched down in that beautiful state of Colorado.
She loved her sister. So much it hurt sometimes. It wasn’t wrong for her to want all the great things in life for Monty. But she couldn’t force those things on her. Monty thought she had all of those great things. Hell, maybe she did. Maybe it was Tessa who had it all wrong.
Regardless, Tessa made a solemn vow that she wouldn’t let anything stand in her way.
That included Monty. Not even Monty would stall her from grasping that new life.
* * *
Marci Jones sipped a glass of red wine while her best friend, Wendy, drilled her about life. Not just any life. Marci’s life.
“I know you’re sick of this same conversation, but you have to agree with me somewhere deep down in that shriveled up prune-looking heart of yours.” Wendy rattled the ice in her glass. “It’s time to get back out there, Marci. Time to get back in the saddle.”
Wendy was right about one thing. She was sick of this same conversation. Always the same damn conversation.
“Who gets to say when it’s time? You?” Marci took another sip and looked around the room so Wendy wouldn’t see how angry this subject was making her.
The restaurant was crowded for this early afternoon. The vacationers were beginning. Soon, this beautiful old town at the base of the mountain would be crawling with shoppers and skiers and the normal adrenaline junkies.
She loved this state, this city, and for sure, she loved the resort that Wendy and her twin brother, Landon, took over after their parents’ retirement.
Marci had grown up on this mountain. This resort was her first job. Her summers and winters had been spent learning to ski, learning how to earn a dollar by cleaning rooms and vacuuming hallowed halls, and especially shoveling snow off of every inch of concrete surrounding the resort.
She’d experienced her first kiss with Shelley on this very ski slope. Her first sexual encounter only a few weeks later in one of the empty rooms in one of the wings farthest away from the lobby. The rooms that were always booked last. The rooms that overlooked the face of the mountain instead of the mountain slopes that always glistened with lights at night. Every great memory had stemmed from this mountain. From these surroundings. Some from the very resort where she now worked. Again.
How she’d ever left this place, she’d never know. She’d never wanted to leave. Never planned on leaving. Yet someone had managed to change her mind. Ashley.
“Don’t get testy. You know I love you. Your best interest is always my only concern.”
Marci did know that. Had always known that. From middle school where they’d met, to now, after a busted marriage, Wendy was still watching out for her. If not for Wendy, she’d still be back in Arizona, licking her wounds, unable to look any of her old friends in the eye, terrified of running into that cheating ex.
Embarrassed. That’s what she’d been. Ashley had committed the ultimate cruel act of betrayal. She’d fucked another woman. A woman who was at least ten years younger than Ashley. In their home. In their bed.
Worse than all of the above, Marci had come home early to surprise her wife with a date night, bundle of peach roses in her grasp, perfect evening plans, and she caught them in the act.
The image of their naked bodies would forever burn in her mind. Her Ashley. Her wife. Betraying everything their commitment stood for. Or at least everything Marci’s commitment had stood for.
Even now, almost a year later, the images awakened that angry monster. The monster that had wanted to deck the bitch who had barely grown pubic hair, then shake the hell out of Ashley. She’d wanted to. She’d felt the need, the urge, to do just that. Yet, she’d done none of those things. Instead, she’d stood frozen while Ashley covered her naked flesh, her hand over her mouth, tears welling in those beautiful hazel eyes.
Her young fuck hadn’t moved. No attempt to cover herself at all. No attempt to run. No attempt at anything. Calmly, she’d waited in silence, keeping a wary eye on Marci as if she expected the action, expected Marci to charge at her.
As much as the inner demon had wanted to do just that, to rush at her, to swing until she couldn’t swing anymore, the calm voice inside her head, the one that had never led her to trouble, had won that mental battle.
She’d closed the bedroom door, dropped the flowers on the carpet, and walked out the front door to the sound of Ashley’s voice screaming out her name.
There was no looking back. She couldn’t. Her pride wouldn’t let her.
So she did the only thing left to do. She called the one person who knew the call would come sooner or later. Who had warned her. Repeatedly. She called Wendy. The silence on the other end of the line only proved that Wendy had said the words in her head instead of out loud.
I told you so.
She spent a week at a hotel, quit her job, changed her phone number, and arranged for a close friend, one who wasn’t a huge fan of Ashley, to meet her at the house to pick up her personal belongings while Ashley was at work.
Another week went by while she packed her belongings and had them shipped ahead of her to the resort in Colorado, while Ashley moved out, to where, she didn’t know, and didn’t care. And finally, she was on a flight back home. To the home she should have never left. A home that Wendy begged her not to leave. But Marci had been in love with the hottie who’d spent her vacation at the resort. The hottie who had talked Marci into leaving her perfect world behind. Leaving all of her hopes and dreams and goals on that snow covered mountain.
What an idiot she’d been.
“Are you listening to me?” Wendy rapped her knuckles on the table.
Marci took another sip and inhaled. “Can’t we talk about something other than Ashley? Why do you always have to bring her up? Aren’t you sick of this broken subject?”
“Because you’re avoiding it, that’s why. You’ve become a hermit. You’re mean and spitey, and fucking these tourists every weekend isn’t helping you get over the fact that your wife screwed you over and broke your heart.”
Shattered was more like it. Yes. Shattered. That’s how she felt. Pieces. She was in pieces. That pissed her off just as much. That she’d allowed Ashley to break her. That she’d allowed anyone to break her.
She was strong. Independent. She loved people. And she used to trust openly until someone gave her a reason otherwise. But not anymore. Now, she trusted no one, immediately. She wasn’t very proud of this new personality, but for now, it was the only defense mechanism she knew. The only one that felt right.
And Wendy had a point. Marci had become spiteful. She trusted no one. Fucking the women she would never see again was exactly how she wanted to live the rest of her life.
Yet there was always something nudging at her brain. Something pecking at her memory. Wasn’t that how she’d met Ashley? Hadn’t Ashley been one of those vacationers? One of those tourists? Hadn’t she been one of those weekenders that Marci would never see again?
Sure. But things were different now. She didn’t have a heart for anyone else to break. Ashley had taken care of that. She’d made sure that no one else would ever get close. And Marci hated her for that too.
“Stop, Wendy. Just stop.”
Wendy leaned back in her chair and sighed. “I’m so sorry.”
Marci looked up at the seriousness in her voice. “Sorry for what, exactly? There are so many reasons.” She added a smile to lessen the sarcasm.
“For not fighting harder to make you stay. For not finding a way to reveal her true colors before she got her claws in you.”
Marci looked away and focused on the waitress disappearing through the swinging door of the kitchen. “No one could have changed my mind.”
“She was a loser and everyone saw it but you.”
As much as Marci wanted to agree with her out of bitter anger, Wendy was wrong. There had been great times with Ashley. They’d planned a wedding, moved in together, went on a few great vacations, to name a few.
Fact was, when they were good, they were indestructible.
But when they were bad, they were hell-bent on Armageddon. Actually, that had been Ashley. Hell-bent to turn minor into major. A molehill into a mountain. And Marci had been determined to be the calm in her storm. Desperate to fuck her back into the calm, loving Ashley. And usually, it worked. Until it became a pattern. And even then, Marci still wrangled up the same outcome.
Eleven years’ worth of those ups and downs, but until the end, Marci wouldn’t have changed a single day. She’d been in love. Had built a life with Ashley. The life that was destroyed now.
“It’s over, Wendy. I’m here. She’s there.”
“You’re wrong, my friend. It’s not over. You’re not here. Not all of you, anyway. You left the best pieces of you back in Arizona, and I’d appreciate it if you’d go back and pick them up. And spit in her face. For me.”
Marci snapped her sights back on Wendy. Yes, it was over. She’d put her house up for sale, sold everything she owned, and blocked all paths for Ashley to get to her because she damn well would never have enough balls to show up at the resort. For sure, what they had was over.
Wendy stirred the ice cubes again. “You hate her. What she did broke you. Broke your soul. Until you put yourself back together, it won’t ever be over. And I fucking miss you, so sue me for being pushy and demanding and all in your business during your healing process.”
Marci was touched. Wendy was her best friend. They went so far back she couldn’t actually remember where the beginning had started, only that Wendy was one of the first people she spoke to after her parents moved her to Colorado. She loved her instantly. Wendy had been the constant in her life. The one who never held back when it came to her opinions. That opinion had been so loud about Ashley, it had created a deep wedge in their relationship. One that Marci had to continuously hold together, even when Ashley was trying to tear it down with her bitterness and immaturity.
Somehow, they’d managed to survive the distance with phone calls and yearly trips that Marci was forced to make alone. Ashley hated the cold. Hated Colorado. And hated Wendy even more.
“I love you.” Marci reached out and squeezed her hand.
“I love you, too. But I’m worried about you.”
Wendy’s cell phone chirped. She briefly poked out her bottom lip then dismissed herself from the table.
Marci scanned the room. Was Wendy right? Had Ashley broken her for good? Had she damaged Marci beyond repair? And was it so bad to ride out the waves with a stranger in her bed in the meantime? She didn’t think so. Nor did she care what Wendy thought. This was her personal self-medication. And right now, it was working.
“This can’t be happening!” Wendy dropped back in the chair, breathless. “Selena is being admitted into the hospital. She was having contractions and they had to stop them. Bed rest until the twins arrive. What the hell am I going to do now?”
“Cancel the contest?” Marci asked with glee.
The event planner contest was all she’d heard about since Wendy and her brother had concocted the whole idea as a way to staff the newest resort. The construction was just about complete, and instead of doing the boring interviews, they decided that a little adventure along the way, and a means to bring more people to the resort to see the newest housing, would be far more fun. They had ironed out all the details, and before Marci knew it, the wheels were in motion.
Not that any of it pertained to her. She had a cushy job, in an office, behind a closed door, where all she had to do was make reservations for people calling the resort. No sales pitch. No urging people to spend their vacation at the resort, old or new. Just answering phone calls for those already prepared to spend their time on a snowy mountain. Easy. And alone.
Sure, Wendy had stuck her there to keep her away from people. Marci was more than fine with that. She didn’t want to deal with real people anyway. She didn’t want to deal with people unless it was a female screaming under her tongue. And she dealt with those as often as she could.
“Don’t be a smartass. I’m serious!” Wendy wrung her hands, picked up the cell phone, laid it back down, and went back to wringing her hands. “What am I going to do? I can’t be a liaison for these group leaders and be their boss at the same time. I legally can’t be both.”
“You have tons of people working for the resort. Just ask one of them if it’s that easy.” Marci took a long sip of wine, hoping they could wrap up this dinner soon so she could swing by the club. With the crowd already thickening, surely she could find someone to help her forget this conversation ever took place. The one that seemed to take place far too often lately.
“It’s not like I have extras just lying around. I need someone who can handle multitasking every week. Reservations. Placing orders. Running errands. For eight different groups to start off. Oh my God!” Wendy picked the cell phone up again and sent several texts before she went back to wringing her hands. “I can’t believe this is happening. Monday. Every participant will be here on Monday.”
Marci could see Wendy was about to blow her top. Wendy was almost always calm. Rarely ever did Marci see her lose control. “Calm down. Everything will be fine. You’ll find someone.”
The phone chirped and Wendy yanked it up then she sank even deeper into her seat. “Mike is out of town. He can’t help.”
“What about Randy? You said he left on good terms. Maybe he would come fill in.”
Wendy grinned and started punching buttons on her phone. “Yes! Cross your fingers.”
Time seemed to stand still while Wendy sucked at her ice cubes and stared at the phone.
Finally, it chirped, and once again, Wendy deflated.
“He’s working for a wedding venue in New York now.” Wendy tossed the phone on the table. “I’m screwed. I’m totally screwed.”
“I’ll do it.” Marci spit the words out before she could change her mind.
Wendy cut her gaze around and then giggled. “Thanks, bestie, but I need a people person. Someone who can smile and talk nice and actually pretend to like the human race. Not a man-eater living off tourists.”
Marci shot her a “fuck you” glare. “I said I’ll do it. You better say thank you before I take it back.”
Wendy narrowed those dark blue eyes. “You’re being serious?”
“Yes. I’m being serious. How hard can it be to babysit a bunch of grown toddlers and make a few extra phone calls?” Marci wiggled her brow.
“These professionals are far from toddlers.” Wendy leaned toward the table. “But you could do it. I mean, all they need to do is bring you their itinerary and you can make arrangements and reservations per their needs.”
“See. I told you. Easy.”
“Don’t tease me, Marci. I’m freaking the hell out.” Wendy gave her that serious expression, the one that teetered on uncontrollable tears or hysterical laughter.
Marci downed her drink and checked the time. “I’m not teasing. They give me a list, I make phone calls. I don’t have to hang out with them. I’m not their boss. Easy. Stop panicking. I got this.”
“And you’ll be nice?”
Marci snorted. “I didn’t say that. I just said I’d handle it.” She blew a kiss toward Wendy. “And I will handle it.”
Right now, she just wanted to get to that bar.
Sex and a passage out of her thoughts was all she needed.