Loving Reese (Tremont Lodge Series Book 2) Read online

  Finn is behind the DJ stand with Murphy when I find him. They are in deep conversation, and it takes a minute before Finn even realizes I am standing there. “Hey, Reese. I’ll be a few more minutes. Do you mind grabbing me a beer?”

  “Sure. No problem.”

  When I am walking away from the bar with Finn’s beer and a rum and Coke for me, I see Tinley through the old restaurant windows. She seems to be having an animated argument with someone. I decide to take a detour. Heaven knows what kind of trouble she’s gotten herself into this last night at the lodge. “Is there a problem, Tinley?”

  She turns in my direction. “Oh, Reese, look!” She points to the table in front of us. A large sheet cake decorated with vanilla frosting spells out the words, “Will you mar me?”

  I can’t help but laugh. “Is this really what you want to be asking Murphy tonight?”

  “REESE! Cut it out! This is not funny.” She is in near tears. “I wanted to do something that Murphy wouldn’t expect…”

  “Well, I think that the fact that you’re asking him to marry you will fall within the category of unexpected happenings for the evening,” I say.

  “I mean that Murphy wouldn’t expect me to cook for him. He knows I can’t cook and…and…” She starts blubbering and drops into a chair next to the cake.

  “And the cake was supposed to represent your stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something selfless to prove your love and devotion to Murphy,” I add.

  “Yeah, only you said it nicer than I could have.”

  “Oh, Tinley, it’s a beautiful sentiment. What happened?”

  She points at the poor guy who is still standing there beside us and probably wishing he could run away. “He dropped a knife on my cake! And now it’s ruined!” Cue the tears—again.

  “I already apologized like a hundred times. She’s nonsensical. Can’t you just fix it or something? Look, I have to go. My girlfriend’s going to kill me if I don’t get back to the party.” As we watch him go he continues to mutter under his breath. “You do one nice thing for a stranger, and this is what you get.” Then he shakes his head and exits the restaurant, never looking back.

  “You don’t even know that guy?” I ask.

  Tinley shakes her head no. “I met him at the bottom of the chair lift. I needed someone to carry the cake up the mountain, and he’s visiting his girlfriend this weekend. She was cleaning staff on the floors above ours.”

  “Okay. Give me that knife,” I say, pointing to the table. “We have work to do. And Tinley…” I wait for her to make eye contact. “Everything is going to turn out great. Trust me.”

  After about fifteen minutes and a reallocation of frosting and blue icing, the message Tinley intended upon the cake is recognizable once again. She’s hugging me tight and jumping up and down at the same time which isn’t particularly comfortable when we hear a loud boom coming from outside the restaurant. “What the hell was that?” she asks. Then we hear it again, what could only be some kind of explosion. I grab Tinley’s hand, and we run outside together.

  “Look!” we hear someone yell as soon as we are out the door. “Fireworks!” Tinley and I look toward the clearing in front of the large trees that surround the northern perimeter of the restaurant.

  “How cool of your dad to do this for us,” says Tinley.

  “I told you not to say that…Tinley, look.” I point toward the sidewalk that is closest to the field with the fireworks. “It’s Murphy.”

  “What?” she says. The DJ makes an announcement to give our attention to Murphy Stalter. “What is he doing?” she asks again. All I can do is smile because I think Murphy has beaten Tinley at her own game of surprise. Good for him. This is one competition the guy should win, if you ask my opinion.

  “Go on, Tinley.” I nudge her in the direction of Murphy, where she moves slowly in a state of shock. For liking to be the center of attention, she sure is acting timid all of a sudden.

  “Mind if I watch the show with you?” Finn asks, grabbing me from behind and resting his chin on the top of my head.

  “Not at all,” I say, leaning back against his chest. “Is this the little project you were helping Murphy with?”

  “Yes, and you’d be amazed at how hard it is to set up a fireworks display in 15 mph winds.”

  “Mr. Oakley is going to be so pissed.”

  “I know, but since I’m your boyfriend and all, I thought I might get a pass.” He kisses my neck. The DJ starts playing All of Me by John Legend, and my heart melts a little bit more. By now Tinley is standing in front of Murphy. He sinks to one knee. The DJ hands him a microphone.

  “Tinley, when I came to Tremont Lodge this summer, I was a careless, irresponsible college guy with only one thing on my mind.” The crowd chuckles, and his face turns red. “Anyway, that all changed when I met you. Well, at least my focus changed to only you.” Everyone laughs again. He takes her hands in his, and I can tell Tinley is shaking. “You make me a better man. You challenge me like I’ve never been challenged before, but the reward is so much greater than anything I could ever have imagined. My day is dull if you aren’t in it, and I don’t want to live my life going through the motions. I want a partner who thrives on the excitement of life.” He pulls a box out from his pocket and opens it. “Tinley, will you marry me?” A wave of ahhhs pulsates through the crowd. Tinley throws her arms around Murphy and kisses him for a long time in front of everyone before holding out her shaking hand to be presented with her ring.

  “How did he afford that?” I ask Finn.

  “He sold his truck.”

  “Well, that’s pretty selfless.”

  “Yeah, but I imagine Tinley will buy him a new car anyway.”

  I laugh. “Sounds like a match made in heaven.”

  “Kind of romantic, though,” says Finn, spinning me around. “I’m not sure how I’ll top that proposal.”

  I feel my heart rate quicken. “Finn…”

  “Shh…just kiss me.” When our lips meet it is like there is no one else on this mountain but the two of us, and I let my mind wander to a future that is free of stress and worry and fear and realize that maybe Finn is the key to the kind of future I want to live in. “Do you want to dance?” he asks. I meld my body into his without answering, and we sway to the next love song the DJ plays, the perfect ending to a hectic week.

  “We have cake people! Join us for cake!” Tinley yells as the happy couple pass through the crowd.

  “Did she say cake?” asks Finn.

  “Don’t ask.” I giggle. “Let’s just say that when it comes to Murphy and Tinley, great minds think alike.”

  When we’ve eaten our cake and congratulated the blissful couple, we take the chair lift to the bottom of the mountain. We hold hands in silence as we walk back to Finn’s room because no words need be spoken when things are this good.

  Finn puts his hand on my shoulder as I walk up the stairs ahead of him. I am contemplating the fact that I haven’t packed an overnight bag, but an old t-shirt of Finn’s is sounding pretty hot right now. I squeeze his butt as he turns the handle on the door, sending him into a fit of laughter. I undo the belt on his shorts and pull him closer to me, letting him feel my curves in the darkness of his room. “I want you so bad,” he whispers into my ear, sending chills up and down my body.

  “Finn?”

  I stumble forward at the sound of another woman’s voice in Finn’s room and stub my toe on the corner of his desk. “Crap!”

  The light flicks on. Both of us turn toward the sound of the voice…and Finn’s bed, where Samantha is lying—naked—covered only by a thin sheet that barely rises to the top half of her breasts.

  Chapter 7:

  “Sam? What in the hell are you doing here? How did you even get in?”

  She smiles sheepishly. “Oh come on, Finn. Don’t you remember how you taught me how to pick a lock that summer after my senior year when the lodge had the old kind of locks? I think we made out on every floor until we
got caught on the fourteenth floor by the floor supervisor. I still remember the look on her face when she demanded we come out from under the sheets. Ha! Surely you remember, Finn?”

  I bite the inside of my cheek so I don’t explode with the rage that is building inside.

  “Put your clothes back on, Sam.” Finn tosses her discarded clothes onto the bed and walks toward the bathroom.

  “You don’t want to watch?” she asks, slipping out from under the sheet and letting it fall to the floor.

  Finn continues into the bathroom and shuts the door behind him, leaving me to deal with Samantha alone. The rage I’d been holding in bursts open like a dam. For a split second, I contemplate taking a picture of Sam standing naked in another man’s room and sending it to Anthony, but I won’t stoop to that level yet, not if I don’t have to. Finn’s made his feelings clear. Now it’s my turn. “You have exactly one minute to get your clothes on and get your ass out of this room. You may find it appropriate to spend the eve of your wedding throwing yourself at Finn, but I don’t and neither does he. You keep your problems out of my boyfriend’s life and out of mine, or I promise you will be sorry you ever stepped foot on the property of Tremont Lodge.” I look at my phone and start counting down the seconds.

  Samantha’s lets out an exasperated sigh and starts getting dressed. Before she opens the door, she grabs her purse, pausing to turn back and look at me. “Finn is too good for you. Finn is too good for everybody. You can’t keep him. Someone like that deserves a princess. You, my dear, are no princess.”

  I slam the door in her face, flick off the light, and push back the curtains, letting the full moon’s light into the room. “Argh!” I pick up pillows and start throwing them around the room. It’s a better alternative than having a panic attack. I guess fury trumps stress.

  Finn opens the bathroom door and moves quickly toward me. He takes a pillow out of my hand and pulls me close. “Hey there, tornado. What did my poor room do to you?”

  I ball my fists up on Finn’s chest. “I just hate this whole situation. Why is she trying to mess with us? I never did anything to her. You ended things years ago, right?” Finn pauses and looks away. “Finn?”

  “We haven’t dated for a couple of years. That’s true…”

  “But?”

  “But we’ve kept in contact via Facebook and texting and stuff. I thought she was coming to visit this summer.”

  “You knew she was having the wedding at the lodge, you mean?”

  Finn runs his hands through his hair and rubs his forehead. “No. I didn’t know anything about Anthony.”

  ‘But you said you follow Samantha on Facebook.”

  “I know. That’s the weird thing. She never talked about him or the wedding or anything like that….”

  “So, when she talked about visiting you this summer, you thought she meant to hook up again or whatever the hell that means?” The picture forming in my head makes my stomach churn, but I tell myself to keep breathing.

  “Reese…” He puts his hand on my arm.

  “Don’t touch me! You were planning on hooking up with Samantha this summer!” I bat at my eyes because I don’t want to let Finn see me cry.

  “It’s not what you think. I haven’t heard from her since June.”

  “You met me in June!”

  “I know. That’s what I’m trying to say. Once I met you and things started getting serious, I stopping talking to Sam. You have to believe me.”

  “Why should I?”

  “Because it’s the truth.” He stares at me, his big green eyes begging for acceptance.

  “If it is the truth, then she’s using this wedding as a way to make you jealous or something sinister like…”

  He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me toward him before I can think of resisting, though I don’t really want to. “I don’t care what or why she’s here, Reese. I am in love with you. Nothing can change that.” And when he kisses me, I close my eyes and feel my body melting into his, and wonder why the fates are conspiring against my happiness when I never asked to be born in this world in the first place.

  Chapter 8:

  When Finn’s alarm clock goes off, I reach for the snooze button, knocking my phone to the floor with a crash. “Crap!” I say, reaching under the bed to retrieve the phone.

  “Do you have to leave so early?” asks Finn, rolling over and spooning behind me.

  “Tinley leaves for the airport at 9:00, and I promised her I’d be back to say goodbye. Plus, there’s this little wedding I have to orchestrate today.” I push away from Finn, still angry at him for keeping his recent communication with Samantha a secret even though I know he didn’t owe me anything in June when we met. I click my phone on to check for messages. “Shoot! My screen is cracked.”

  “You really should take it in and get it fixed. Your battery’s faulty anyway. It hasn’t been able to hold a charge for the last month.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right, but there is just no time.”

  “Here. Give it to me.” Finn takes my phone and puts it on his nightstand. “I’ll take it to the phone store when I head into Tremont City later. I have some errands to run in town.”

  “Thanks. That would be so helpful. I’ll carry an official lodge walkie-talkie and go all old school today.” I kiss Finn on the cheek and throw the blankets off the bed. “I’ll call you later…and thanks for the t-shirt.” I rip his old Chicago Bears t-shirt over my head, letting it drop to the floor, and let him watch me walk to the bathroom just so he doesn’t forget about me during his day.

  When I get to my room, I can hear Tinley yelling through the closed door. I open it quietly, but her back is toward me, so she doesn’t see me while she argues with someone on the other end of the phone. “But, Daddy, I’m not a baby. You can’t control me anymore.” Pause. “Yes, of course I’m going back to UCLA. I’m not stupid, but Murphy’s coming with me.” Pause. “He’s going to stay in my apartment.” Pause. “No, he’s not a mooch. He’s going to look for a job.” Pause. “Just give him a chance. Trust me. He loves me.” Pause. “Yes, I know you love me, too, but prove it by trusting my judgment.” Pause. “Fine. We’ll see you at the airport. And tell Mommy to be nice, too. For me.” Tinley throws her phone on the bed and lets out a scream that most likely woke everyone else on this floor that was still in bed this Sunday morning.

  “That didn’t go so well, did it?” I ask.

  Tinley pivots around, her eyes as big as saucers. “Reese! You scared me half to death. How long have you been here?”

  “Long enough to get the gist that the conversation with your parents about your engagement didn’t go so well.”

  “That’s the understatement of the century.”

  “Sorry to hear that, Tinley. But I’m sure as soon as they meet him, they’ll see how crazy he is about you.”

  “That…or they’ll just think he’s crazy.”

  “Well, there’s that possibility, too….” I duck as she sends a pillow flying my way. “Seriously, I’m really going to miss you, Tinley. When are you leaving?”

  “In about fifteen minutes. Murphy is bringing his truck out front to help me with my luggage, but…” She eyes the 10+assorted bags in front of her. “But I could use some more help if you’re offering.”

  “I’m at your service, my lady,” I say, doing my best imitation of a royal curtsy, and shoving back my questions about why Murphy still has his truck if he sold it to buy her ring.

  “How are you going to survive without me?” she asks, a big pouty look forming on her face.

  “Well, for starters, my chance of showing up on The Fashion Police will rise with my style dictator gone…but at least I’ll have more room to put clothes.”

  She smiles. “Or you could move Finn’s clothes in here.”

  I roll my eyes. “I’m not sure we’re ready for that step just yet, Tinley. Not everyone can be as sure in love as you and Murphy. Plus, I did find another woman in his bed last night…”


  “What?” Tinley lets the handle on her Gucci luggage slip from her hands, sending clothes spilling onto the floor when it snaps open.

  “Ha! It’s not what you think, though that was pretty much my reaction, too, when Finn and I got back to his room last night only to find that Samantha, his ex-girlfriend that’s getting married today, had picked his lock and thrown her naked body into Finn’s bed.”

  “She didn’t!”

  “Oh, she did.”

  “What did you do? I would have killed her.”

  “Finn played it cool and didn’t give her the time of day. I yelled at her, but she wasn’t fazed. Turns out she was planning on coming to the lodge all along to see Finn. I don’t know why she can’t let him go, but you can be damn sure I’m going to make sure her ass gets married today.”

  “You mean you’re not going to tell her fiancé?” she asks surprised.

  “No way. Not if I don’t have to. I want her married and as far away from Finn as possible.”

  “Wow! I think I need to rearrange my flight to leave tomorrow. This is too good to miss.”

  “No, Tinley. Your parents are already stressed about your big news. Show up when they are expecting you. I promise to give you a full report.”

  “You’d better,” she says, repacking the contents of her suitcase. “Hey, you don’t happen to know if this Samantha chick is allergic to fish, do you?”

  “All I can say about that, Tinley, is that I’m judging you a whole lot less harshly than I did the night of the Albert wedding. Come on. Let’s get you packed up.” I pick up two bags, one in each hand, and sling a bag on each shoulder.

  Murphy is waiting by his pickup truck when we get downstairs. “Hey, Reese!” He waves. “You need a hand there?” He takes the bags from my shoulders and puts them in the back of the truck. Then he does the same with Tinley’s bags.