The man is bossy, and if we were in bed, I wouldn’t mind. I like men who take charge. Now, I’m not in the mood.
“I plan on listening to—”
“No. You’re going to pay attention to my instructions,” he orders, nostrils flaring and skin darkening.
“Bossy.” I wink at him because if I’ve learned anything in my thirty-five years of life, it’s that men like him hate when you flirt. If he’s going to be an asshole, I plan on being one too. I can be the best passive-aggressive asshole in the world.
He glares at me. I smirk.
He opens the door and explains to me the basics. Seat belt, headphones so we can communicate, and he needs me to be silent. Before he shuts the door, he puts on a pair of sunglasses. Slack jaw, I stare at him.
Vance Aldridge could star in the Top Gun sequel. He’s taller and hotter than Tom Cruise. This guy could be Christian Bale’s doppelganger. He’s so fucking hot that I could eat him or let him eat me. Either way, we could have some fun. Not that it can happen. He’s related to my employer, and I’m not interested in straight men.
Less than thirty minutes later, we land close to what I assume is the ski resort. When Hayes mentioned The Lodge, I assumed that’s just what they called it. No. There’s a big sign that reads, The Lodge. I laugh. It’s almost as funny as calling an ice cream shop: The Ice Cream Shop.
When I climb down the helicopter, Vance is already holding my luggage.
“After you check in and freshen up, I’ll give you a tour of the place. There are three restaurants inside the hotel. The diner is a couple of miles from here. It’s open from seven in the morning until nine. The coffee shop opens at six, and so does the bakery. You already have Henry’s number. Call him if you have any questions.”
“I feel like you’re dumping me.”
He glances at me. “You’re assuming. I just told you that I’m going to give you a tour.”
“Is it me?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “What are you talking about?”
“You look like you want to bite me and not in a good way.”
He huffs and walks faster toward the lobby.
“It’s definitely me.”
Vance
I watch as Darren walks toward the elevator.
“So, he’s the new doctor?” Mills asks.
“Why are you working today?” I ask instead of answering the obvious question. He should know it drives me crazy when people ask questions just for the sake of filling the silence.
“Why are you in a fucked up mood?” he retorts.
I stare at my brother, unsure about my answer. It didn’t bother me to pick up the doctor. In fact, I’m glad he’s here because we need someone to take over the practice before Blaire goes into labor. In my opinion, she shouldn’t be working anymore, but no one listens to me.
When I saw Darren by the gate, I was almost speechless.
Hazel eyes, crooked smile, and a gorgeous face. He wore a pair of dark chinos, a green sweater that made those eyes pop, and his brown hair parted in the middle, casually.
Fuck, I need to stop hanging out with Sophia and Leyla. I don’t notice that shit. It’s not my thing. Every time we’re watching a movie, they make sure to highlight all the attributes of any hot dude that appears on the screen. They do it to fuck with their husbands. It bothers them to no end.
Darren Russell is attractive. In another life, I would’ve followed him to his room, undressed him, and taught him what I like to do with handsome men like him. I’d be delighted to fuck his mouth so he’d stop smirking as if he holds a secret. A secret I want him to tell me. I won’t ask. He’s too different from me. He smiles freely. He seems loud, happy.
I’m nothing like him. One look at those hazel eyes, his handsome face, and those lips, and I want more. I want to touch his lean, long body. The wrenching want is easy to tame as I remind myself what happened the last time I was with someone. It didn’t end up pretty. According to my therapist, I have to go to a fucking therapist twice a week because I’m fucked up. Well, those weren’t his words. Dr. Sanders said, “you need more help than you’re willing to admit.”
“If I offer to take this shift and the next, would you give him a tour of the place?” I ask with a pleading voice to Mills.
He laughs. “Why?”
“Because I’m not the right person to play host.”
Mills smirks. “I hate to agree with you. Why don’t we call someone who might be more capable than either one of us? It’s all about convincing him that this is the town for him. Who better than our Henry? He knows how to close the deal, doesn’t he?”
It doesn’t take long to convince Henry to take my place. However, I owe him a favor. For some reason, I feel as if I was selling my soul to a demon. He’ll probably abuse that one favor, but it’s better than not having a new doctor, isn’t it?
Chapter Seven
Vance
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, things don’t go as you plan.
I like to strategize, plan for my future. I like to win. Most of the time, I compete against myself. Growing up with a military family means following rules at a young age. I like order. Structure and discipline are my allies. For the past fourteen months, I have experienced chaos. The disarray my brothers live in makes me want to jump out of my skin.
I hate the unknown. While I was on the battlefield, I had weapons to fight the enemy. In Baker’s Creek, I feel powerless as I try to understand my brothers and fight my dead father. Some days I feel like I’m playing this game called don’t let your father dictate your life from hell.
Guess what?
He’s fucking winning.
It feels like I’ve been living in Baker’s Creek for a lifetime. Most days, I want to escape. Others, I want to fix everything that I broke. Then there’s the occasional day I wonder what would happen if I killed my brothers because they are fucking annoying. I’m yet to figure out how they’re married. My sisters-in-law are either blind or saints.
When I enter the kitchen, I spot my brother, Pierce. I’m tempted to leave because these days, it’s almost impossible to have a conversation with him that doesn’t include a lecture or some ‘wise’ advice. It’s never wise, but he believes he’s smarter than everyone else in this house, and therefore, his advice will save or improve our lives.
The moment he sees me, he asks, “You know what you need?”
I want to say, “For you to leave me the fuck alone.” Unfortunately, he has his son, Carter, in his arms, and I try not to cuss in front of the children.
Fuck, how is it that we went from only having Arden in the house to now having three children? Don’t get me wrong, I love my three nephews, but three is too many. Sophia is also pregnant with twins. In a couple of months, there’ll be five children crying. Yet, another reason to leave this place, stipulations be damned.
Still, I don’t say anything. Instead, I wait for him to speak.
“To get laid?” Henry says as he walks past me. “I heard the new doctor is moving in a few days. There’s your chance.”
Fuck, where is Sophia when I need her? “Isn’t your wife calling you?”