Finding Reese (Tremont Lodge Series Book 1) Read online

  “Hey, beautiful,” he says. I take a deep breath so I don’t give away my own butterflies that flutter faster every time I see him. “You look good in uniform.” I want to stay mad at Finn for lying to me. I keep thinking about what Lawson said about him being a high school dropout. And then I think about the night he kissed me and…

  “Thanks,” I say.

  “It’s a nice surprise to see you here tonight,” he whispers, pulling me away from Murphy and Tinley, and toward the music corner of the dance floor where he proceeds to set his music out on a stand. I follow him like the pull of two magnetic poles drawn together.

  “I thought you had all your music up here,” I say, pointing at my head and then pointing at the stand. His dimples jump and down.

  “Ha! That, my dear, is just a ruse. It makes the bride happier thinking that she paid a lot of money for the sheet music I don’t really need, so I’ll indulge her by keeping up appearances.

  “You’re so thoughtful,” I say.

  “So tell me something. Is Tinley up to no good?” I shake my head yes. “I figured. If you need any help, let me know. I’m only here through dinner. What about you?”

  “I’m assigned to service and clean-up after dinner, but I don’t have to be here for the whole night, either.”

  “Good. There’s something I want to show you when you’re done.”

  “Finn, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Why?” He looks frustrated as he slams his guitar case on the floor.

  “I don’t know…maybe because you aren’t who you’ve said you are. Maybe it’s because you’ve been lying to me.”

  “Are you serious, Reese? Because of what that asshole said?”

  “Well…I…maybe.”

  “Cut that out,” he says.

  “What?” I ask.

  “That.” He points to my cheek. “You bite your cheek when you’re angry or nervous. There’s nothing to be nervous about with me, Reese. Give me a chance to explain. I didn’t lie to you. He’s just messing with your head. I’m one of the good guys. You have to believe me. You just called me sweet. Remember?” He takes a deep breath, letting it hit me with gentle force when he exhales. I close my eyes and shake my head yes. “Good. Wear jeans and a sweatshirt and meet me at the dormitory patio at 10:00.” He reaches down and kisses me on the forehead. I wonder if my mind could be any more confused.

  The bride and groom are introduced by the DJ who plays a rap version of the song, Here Comes the Bride. That’s a first. A couple dozen college staff members stand around the room in their assigned positions, ready to serve the guests, but first the bride and groom stuff cake in each others’ faces which always seemed like such an odd ritual considering how much money they spent on their clothes, especially the bride. Why care so much about the crystals on your bodice if you are going to let your new husband rub his cake-smeared face in your bosom?

  When the wedding party is seated, it is our cue to begin dinner service. Finn’s gentle strumming fills the room as a lovely background to the celebration. I watch him for a moment, closing his eyes for several bars at a time as if he’s becoming one with the music. Part of me still feels like I’m being played by the summer fling king, but part of me hopes he’s for real.

  “Come one, Reese. The food’s ready for table three,” says Tinley. Look who’s being the responsible one now.

  “You took everyone’s orders?”

  “Yep, four smothered chicken and six fish dinners,” she says. I follow her back to the kitchen where we load up our trays. This is how it goes for the next fifteen minutes. With only one table remaining, I’m beginning to enjoy myself. Maybe working a special event every now and then will be more of a fun way to earn extra money than a chore. But when I see who is sitting at the table we are about to serve, I am reminded my real purpose of the evening—keeping Tinley in check.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” I say, taking Tinley by the elbow and directing her back toward the kitchen. Murphy and I will take this table. Right, Murphy? He’s been like a puppy all night trailing right behind us with his water refills.

  “Uh, sure, Reese, I can serve. They didn’t call me Smooth Moves Murphy in football for no reason. But what’s wrong with Tinley?” he whispers.

  “Nothing’s wrong with Tinley. She’s just….” I turn to look toward the kitchen. “I think she’s needed in there for something.” And in the time I’d looked back toward the kitchen, Tinley has swooped past us and is currently taking orders at Dean and Harrison’s table, along with several young women who seem, at the moment, to be completely enthralled with their conversation. Shocker.

  “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the help,” says Dean. “I knew we’d see you again.” Harrison glares at me behind Dean’s back but doesn’t say anything. “You look good in men’s attire, Tinley. It suits your personality as the stiff you really are.”

  “Why you son-of-a….” Tinley says, her knuckles clutched around the top of Dean’s chair and turning bright white. But before I can even redirect, she changes her act.

  “Yes, sir. I am here to help you and these lovely ladies. What can I get for you tonight?”

  “How about you turn around for us and let me see what my dear cousin’s money is buying us tonight?” Without hesitation Tinley spins slowly in front of Dean allowing the table a slow motion view of Tinley’s perfectly toned body.

  Murphy whispers in my ear again, “What the hell is she doing?”

  “I’m not really sure, but it can’t be good.”

  “What can we get you all? The kitchen is closing soon, and we want to get you all served so you can enjoy the rest of your evening,” I say.

  “I’m enjoying my evening just fine,” says Dean. He grins at Tinley while his date punches him in the shoulder. “Yeah, I’ll take the smothered chicken,” he says. “I like things hot and juicy.” Now his date blushes, but Tinley doesn’t bat an eye as she continues with the orders before turning to walk toward the kitchen.

  “What was that all about?” I ask, seconded by Murphy.

  “Just having a little fun with the guests.” She’s filling the orders on our trays before I can think of anything else to say. “Three fish and seven chicken dinners,” she says, handing me the fish dinners.

  I am back to the table within minutes and have the guests with fish dinners served before she returns. “So sorry about the delay, sir,” she says, putting a smothered chicken plate in front of Dean. Murphy is wedging behind her to refill waters, giving me the chance to grab hold of Tinley and drag her away from the table before she hatches any plans.

  “What do you think we should do until dinner is through?” I ask from the entrance to the kitchen, watching Finn’s fingers play a new melody on the guitar.

  “Now….” Tinley grins, her perfectly expensive smile filling the width of her face, “now we wait.” The first thing I hear over the sound of Finn’s guitar are the screams of a young woman.

  “Someone call an ambulance!” I look in the direction of the screams to the table we’d just served. Dean is holding both hands around his throat like he can’t breathe. Harrison is jumping over his date to loosen Dean’s tie. Dean starts pointing at an older woman sitting at a nearby table. She rushes over and thrusts a needle into his thigh. By the time the paramedics arrive, Dean is sitting on the ground drinking water. The reception is in pandemonium. Like a slow impact crash that causes gaper’s delay on the interstate, everyone has stopped what they were doing to observe the action which at this point simply involves watching the paramedics talk to Dean who is pointing at the kitchen in a wild manner. I look for Tinley, but she is gone. Murphy shakes his head like he has no idea where she went, either.

  It was determined that one of the fish dinners was accidentally smothered in the chicken gravy though no amount of apologizing by Jerry can make Dean forgive him for the mix-up. I decide it might be best for me to ditch early, too.

  Back in the room, I change clothes. Tinley returns as I’m sli
pping a pink sweatshirt over my head. I zip up my jeans and put on tennis shoes. She sits on the bed across from me—and waits.

  “How’d you know?” I ask.

  “That night we were together we were playing a stupid what’s your favorite? game. I told him that coconut-crusted shrimp was my favorite food in the world. He told me he’s highly allergic to fish and needs an EpiPen to keep him from keeling over in the event of an accidental ingestion.”

  “How did you know that he’d have that EpiPen tonight?”

  “Of course he would. He showed the stupid thing to me that night. Plus, it’s a family wedding. I knew his mommy would fly in to the rescue, on her broom, presumably. And she did.” Tinley gets an evil gleam in her eye that spreads to the same smile I witnessed in the reception hall.

  “Remind me never to mess with you,” I say.

  “Good. Lesson learned then. Ha! Where are you headed out tonight?” she asks.

  “I’m not sure. Finn is taking me somewhere secret.”

  “He’s pretty hot,” she says.

  “I hadn’t noticed.”

  “Make sure he treats you like a lady,” Tinley says.

  “And Murphy will be doing the same with you, I presume?”

  “Murphy? He doesn’t have impeccable manners, but he’s harmless.”

  “Make sure you’re careful.”

  “Man, you sound like my mother.” I wouldn’t know. I don’t have a mother anymore.

  I skip down the stairs to the patio outside the dormitory. Finn is sitting on top of a table scrolling through his phone. “Reading anything good on there?” I ask.

  “Well, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married after all,” he says.

  “That is good news,” I say.

  “I wasn’t sure you were going to show.”

  “Why did you think that?” I ask.

  “I couldn’t find you anywhere at the reception.”

  “Oh, that. Let’s just say that Tinley had to make a quick escape, and I had to help her.”

  “Do I want to know if this has anything to do with that guy having an allergic reaction to fish?”

  “No. No, you do not want to know.”

  Finn gets up from the table and grabs my hand, pulling me toward the lodge. We walk across the large lawn, full of activity. I follow him into the recreation office that’s across from the stage where Finn usually performs. Tonight there is a woman I’ve never seen before who is playing a banjo and singing. She’s really good.

  “That’s Mona. She lives in Traverse City and fills in when we’re short a performer. She’s got a set of triplets. Can you believe that?” I shake my head no because she is so petite I wonder how a body so small can grow three babies at the same time.

  A guy behind the counter shakes Finn’s hand and gives us forms to fill out. “What is this?” I ask.

  “I need you to sign your life away. It’s a legal requirement, but I’m going to be really weird and ask you not to read anything.”

  “So, sign away my life and don’t read any of the rules?”

  “Pretty much,” says Finn. Well, if I’ve learned anything, it’s that you only get one chance at living, so I might as well make it as fun as possible. Next, Finn tells me to close my eyes and gives me directions like, Lift your right leg. Lift your left leg. Hold out your arms. And asks me questions like, Does it feel tight enough? Is anything pinching? Then he ties a blindfold around my eyes. “Okay, Reese. You’re doing great. Are you scared?” I don’t like not being in control, and it’s unnerving to put your life into the care of a guy who’s virtually a stranger, but something inside stirs excitement and ignites a thrilling sensation that I’ve rarely experienced.

  “No, I’m not scared.” I reach for him and grab hold of his arm. He tenses at my touch but moves my hand to his waist.

  “Good. Hold on to my waist. We’re going to get into a golf cart.” I follow Finn out a different door than the one we’d entered. We both clank as we move, and I wonder what kind of contraption we are wearing, though the helmet tips me off to some sort of danger. The wind whips through my sweatshirt as we move at a good pace in the golf cart.

  When we stop moving, I can feel Finn watching me, his silence speaking volumes, and the hairs on my arms stand up. “Do you trust me?” he asks. I should say no. For all I know, everything he has told me has been a lie, like Lawson said. But something inside me wants very much to trust him.

  “Yes,” I say.

  “Get out of the golf cart. When you feel me, take my hand. I want you to follow me. Go slowly, and don’t move anywhere I don’t tell you to go. Understand?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “And when I tell you to, you’re going to climb a ladder. Just go slowly and you’ll be fine. Listen for my instructions.”

  As I climb the ladder, I can feel my hands sweating as I tighten my grip to keep from falling. From below I hear Finn yelling up to me. “One more step up, Reese. Then stop. Don’t move until I get there.” Finn makes a lot of noise climbing the ladder as he is wearing the same equipment as me.

  “Are we going rock climbing?” I ask. “Because I think I’d do that a heck of a lot better with my eyes open.”

  Finn laughs. “No, we are not rock climbing. Would you like to do that someday?” My heartbeat quickens again at the thought of going on another adventure with Finn.

  “Maybe,” I say. My body is jostled as Finn moves my equipment around.

  “Reese, trust me, okay? I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “I believe you,” I whisper.

  “Okay. Take a step forward on my command. I’ll be with you soon, and then you can take off your blindfold.” I shake my head in understanding. The cold wind makes me shiver—that, or the fear that sits within. “Okay, go.” I step forward and flail for a second as I realize that there is no surface beneath my feet, and I am moving. No, I am flying. I reach my hands out and brush against the branches that stick out from the surrounding trees. The sounds of birds calling to one another amplify through the air. A light rain falling gently on my face makes me feel alive—alive like I’ve never been before, more alive than the most memorable night with a lover. I want to stay here forever. I want to be free. I want to be me. I don’t realize I am crying until I land with a thud, my feet once again finding familiar footing. Finn lands right behind me and is pulling off my blindfold and unchaining my cord from the zipline as fast as his fingers will allow.

  “Oh, Reese, I’m so sorry. Are you hurt? Man, I am so sorry. I didn’t think it would hurt. I thought it would….” I blink open my eyes and put my arms around Finn’s neck and bury my head in his chest. He takes a deep breath, his body relaxing beneath my touch.

  “It was amazing,” I say. He takes a step back and looks at me with wide eyes.

  “But you’re crying.”

  “I am?”

  “Yes, yes you are.”

  “Then I’m crying because that was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done,” I say. “Thank you.” I lean closer and kiss Finn on the lips. With his lips still on mine, he helps me step out of my safety harness and then removes his own. I have never wanted someone to touch me as I much as I want Finn to touch me right now. I don’t stop to think if it’s the right thing to do, if it’s the smart thing to do. I just want the sensation of being fully alive to last. Finn pulls me closer, his tongue parting my lips as if asking for permission. I answer with the full force of my mouth on his. We’re moving so fast it feels dangerous to lie down on the narrow platform, but that only makes this feel even more right. Finn lowers me to the ground and hovers over me, his breath falling on my neck as the breeze blows droplets of water from the leaves onto my body. He reaches under my sweatshirt and I shudder.

  “Reese?”

  “Don’t talk, Finn.” I reach for his neck and pull him closer.

  “Reese,” he breathes into my neck. “I swear this isn’t what I had planned for tonight. I don’t want you to think….” And then the force of what we are about
to do hits me. I push Finn away.

  “You’re right. I’m…we…no, this isn’t a good idea.” Finn shakes his head like he agrees, which makes me feel embarrassed.

  “Come on. Let’s get off this platform before someone gets hurt.” He holds out his hand and pulls me up.

  I follow Finn up a narrow path surrounded by trees with branches that overhang in our way. We climb higher and higher, the sounds of the guests on the lodge lawn below mixing faintly with the music at the old restaurant that lies several hundred feet above. Then we come upon a clearing off the side of the path. A blanket lies open on the ground with a picnic basket aside it.

  “Sorry,” says Finn. “It’s going to be a little wet. I didn’t count on it drizzling.”

  “It’s fine,” I say. “It’s perfect, actually.” Finn directs me to sit while he opens a bottle of white wine and pours it into two plastic wine flutes.

  “Cheers to new friendships,” he says, clinking his glass against mine.

  “Cheers,” I say. Friendships. Yeah, how could I be so stupid? If I’m not going to be Finn’s summer fling, then all I can be is his friend, right? What did I expect?

  Finn points out constellations in the night sky. It’s so clear here, an even better view than from the top of the mountain because there are no lights to compete with the stars. I lie down on my back and breathe in the crisp night, feeling like I am one with the sky, like I’d felt earlier ziplining through the trees with a blindfold on.

  “Have you ever done that before?” I ask.

  “What’s that, Reese?”

  “Kidnapped a girl and taken her blindfold ziplining.” He laughs.

  “No. I have never done that before, though my buddies and I have gone night ziplining after hours. It’s a different kind of rush.”

  “So, your friends work in the recreation office?” I ask.

  “My friend Jeremy is the recreation director at Tremont Lodge. He’s been here almost as long as me.”