Chapter 8

Xavier

I’m mid-way through my workout routine, covered in sweat and stinking to high heaven when the phone rings.

I lean against the wall, taking a few breaths before I wipe my sweaty palms down my utility pants.

Since no one really calls Gerald during winter, I’m expecting Julie again, but when an unknown masculine voice comes on the line, all my muscles prime for action. “Gerald?”

I swallow and use the line Julie made me memorize. “Gerald’s visiting his sister in Sacramento for the season. This is Xavier, his nephew.”

Silence travels down the line and my already pounding heart beats a little quicker. “Ah, yes. Hadi has spoken of you. And Stephen mentioned you’re just as handy as your Uncle.”

I keep my voice casual. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“Yes, Mr. Reid. I’d like to meet with you. There is a possible opening, and I’d like to see if you’re a good fit for our team.”

Everything hinges on how I present myself. Too eager and I might tip someone off. “Sure. Things are quiet around here. I could use the work.”

“Good. Come to my office within the hour. Bring a bag, we’ll trial you over a week.”

He hangs up without telling me his name. Not that I need it. I know I just spoke to the resort manager just like I know pretty much everything else about the resort.

I don’t even need to think, I immediately hang the phone up, and pull out my cell. Julie picks up instantly. “I got the call,” I say.

“It’s about time. Are you set?”

I scratch my chin and look at my car as I prepare for another reprimand. “Looks like they are considering me for a permanent spot, but there’s a slight chance I might run into Carrie.”

That’s a big lie. Since I have her phone, I need to actively seek her out so I can return it.

Since she was delayed here, she’s only at the resort for the night, this is my only opportunity to hand it over to her.

Or, if I can wrangle it, leave it with the reception desk and do my best to avoid her altogether.

Julie curses down the line at me. “The damage has already been done. But if you play it right, it may work in your favor that someone knows you. Just be careful. We have no idea who is a part of this.”

My fingers tighten around the cell. “Roger.”

“Xavier, do not engage with her more than it takes to establish credibility, if she asks questions, blow her off.”

When I can’t answer she reminds me of what’s at stake.

“This offer is what we’ve been waiting six months for. You’ve made a good impression with the winter staff, now it’s time to step things up.”

I release my breath and start walking up the stairs. “I’ll contact you when I can. You still have eyes in the sky?”

“And a team on the ground. We’ll be watching close.”

I press the end button, and strip off my shirt as I head towards the shower.

I have one chance to make a good first impression. If the manager has any doubts, the cover I spent the last six months working on, will have all been for nothing.

I change as quickly as I can, grab Carrie’s cell phone and make it outside in ten minutes flat.

I throw the sheet off the Fastback, slide behind the wheel, and cross my fingers it’s going to cooperate.

The key turns smoothly and the Fastback roars to life making the two hundred horsepower engine rumble pleasantly under my seat.

I buckle my seatbelt and roll the car out for the first time in weeks.

With the road still under a foot of water in places, I take it easy until the highway exit is in my sights.

I signal, wait for a clear path, then floor the gas and hope there’s not a lot of traffic on the road.

By the time I’ve reached the resort, my training is kicking into gear and I’m calm and focused.

I park close to the back of the resort, away from the guest parking, and head straight to the service entrance beside the dumpsters.

I take a few seconds to appreciate the view of the mountains, and the clean air, before I step inside what I already know is one of the fanciest places I’ll ever work in.

Since wandering around is a good way to attract attention, I head straight to Omar Aamer’s office.

I’m almost at the door when I hear a sharp inhalation of air coming from behind me.

“Xavier?”

I spin around, already knowing who is going to be standing there. Sure enough Carrie is right beside the door to the kitchen with Hadi.

And from the expression on her face, and the way her shoulders are rigid, she’s none too happy about me being here.

More disturbing is why she was talking to Hadi. I can’t think on that right now. I need to meet with Hadi’s boss and get in his good graces too.

Hadi extends his hand, and we shake with the politeness I’ve come to expect from him. “Xavier. I heard you’d be tending bar for us again. Maybe you’ll be able stay for the summer?”

I smile at him, while Carrie looks on, looking a little puzzled. “That’s the plan.”

Hadi nods and sends me a knowing look that lets me know he remembers the conversation we had a few months back. “I’ve been speaking to Omar about you. I’m sure the position will be yours.”

He smiles at Carrie. “I’m sorry. I need to go. I have to meet with a supplier. Perhaps I will see you before dinner?”

She nods, and smiles with enough uncertainty to make me wonder what they’ve been discussing.

When Hadi leaves us standing awkwardly, I wait for him to be out of earshot before I slide my hand inside my pocket and withdraw her cell. “I found this.”

Her movements are stilted as she reaches for the phone, she doesn’t seem surprised I’ve worked here. “Well, thanks. You saved me another trip to Fraiser’s Gully.”

I shrug and jam my hands into my pockets. “Yeah. We wouldn’t want that happening.”

Her eyebrows rise, but she doesn’t say anything in response. I’m staring at her perfect lips, thoughts running wildly in the worst possible direction at the worst possible time when someone calls her name.

She looks over her shoulder and flinches. “Oh, shit. That’s my mom. I was hoping to avoid her until I had a shower. I’m a mess.”

I run my gaze over her and can’t agree. She looks as gorgeous as she did this morning in my garage. But now isn’t the time to say that. Rather than put her in an awkward situation, I look in the direction of the lobby.

When I see a thin woman, dressed to the nines, with a pinched expression on her face heading my way, I start to move away but before I can, her eyes narrow and she’s beside Carrie.

From the way Carrie jerks back from her, and forces a smile, this is not the place I want to be right now, but I’m penned in, unable to knock on the manager’s door, but I can’t leave either.

Carrie looks about as trapped as I feel. And the second her mother opens her mouth, I can understand why. “So this is where you’ve been hiding. Tina said you’d arrived. Where is Myles?”

Carrie swallows. “Sorry. I was talking to the head chef and Myles isn’t coming.”

Myles. Ah, shit that’s his name.

“I see. That still doesn’t explain why you haven’t let us know you weren’t in fact lying somewhere dead in a ditch?”

Carrie’s mouth opens, and I’m sure I see a tiny twitch at the corner of her eye. “There was no phone service. I came as soon as I could.”

But her mother isn’t buying it. And her expression is so laced with poison I know Carrie wasn’t exaggerating.

She looks me up and down as Carrie’s cheeks turn crimson. “And you are?”

Carrie shakes her head slightly as if warning me off. “Xavier was kind enough to fix my car and let me sleep at his place.”

When she can’t meet my eye, it’s a struggle to keep a straight face. “And there was a blackout, not to mention the flooding that made it impossible to get here,” I say.

Somehow that seems to make it worse, and Carrie’s discomfort grows even more when her mother looks from me to her daughter.

“She stayed with you, and then you brought her here?”

Carrie is quick to shake her head. “Xavier works here, mom. And we should really let him get back to it.”

But her mom dismisses her with a hand wave. “Hmm. Jack of all trades are you?”

I shrug lightly and for no good reason decide I want to piss her off. “Yeah. And I’m master at none.”

With that, I bob my head at Carrie and prepare to excuse myself before things get even weirder.

But just when I’m about to step out into the lobby, with a plan to visit the bar until they’ve moved on, her mother suddenly decides to introduce herself. “Since Carrie has no manners, I’m Ava Miller, Carrie’s mother.”

She extends a bony hand, and I have to hide my reluctance as her skeletal fingers pinch into my skin. “I’m sure she’d be thrilled if you joined us for dinner this evening?”

Carrie looks anything but thrilled. She looks more like a deer in headlights. Every emotion under the sun is flashing across her face while I try to smile through my surprise. “Thanks, but if I’m still here, I’ll be working.”

I’m all set to walk away when the door opens behind me and Aamer steps out. His eyes narrow, then he seems to check himself when he sees paying guests are the ones congregated outside his office.

With him standing there, looking straight at me, I have no choice but to be polite while simultaneously making a good first impression with the manager. “Excuse me a minute.”

Before she can say anything, I turn my attention to the extremely polished and suave, Arabic middle aged man trying to get past me. “We spoke on the phone earlier. I’m Xavier, Gerald’s nephew.”

Recognition flitters over his face and he nods slowly. “I’ve heard a lot about you Mr. Reid. Please come take a seat.”

I nod way too quickly. Incredibly relieved I’ve found a way out. With a nod at Carrie and a grim-faced Ava, Omar gestures to his office.

As I pass by Carrie, I can’t help but notice she looks as relieved as I do.

I came here to get a place on staff for the off season. And after six months of waiting around, finally I might just be able to do it.

***

Carrie

Mom is silent the entire ride in the elevator making my anxiety rise even further.

I should have known she’d pick the worst possible moment to find me. She always seems to know when I’m at my weakest, it’s a special gift of hers, and one I know she’ll exploit.

And now she knows why I’m late, and that I not only didn’t bring Myles, but spent the night with Xavier, it’s only a matter of time before the snide remarks begin.

Sure enough as we reach the third floor, she turns and looks at me with her signature disdain. “Does Myles know you spent the night with a…mechanic?”

The way her lip curls at Xavier’s profession makes my ire rise. But I’m not about to correct her. To do that would add fuel to an already burning fire.

Better to avoid the subject than to invite more criticism. “Mom, I’m really tired, and I need to call the insurance company again, not to mention check in with work. Can we talk about this all later?”

I know that won’t be good enough for her, but I also know telling her about Myles when I’m exhausted won’t lead anywhere but down a road I really don’t want to travel.

She narrows her eyes. “Are you trying to hurt me? I feel you do these things on purpose. You know how important this weekend was to me and your father. We barely see you all, and you purposely arrived at the last moment.”

I gape at her but I refuse to be drawn into this. “I’m not trying to hurt you, Mom. I can’t control the weather.”

When her lips press together, I know she’s saving the rest for later. Probably at dinner where she’ll try to get dad to side with her.

At least Danny is here, with any luck he’ll manage to diffuse the bomb before it blows up.

Despite all odds, I make it to my floor without having an argument with my mother.

The silence has grown stony and I know she’s just waiting to pounce, so the second the doors open, my electronic key is already in my hand.

I offer her a weak smile as I step out the door. “I’ll see you for dinner.”

Her voice is dripping with sarcasm. “Only if you can tear yourself away from—”

I miss the final rebuke as the doors close on her. I smother a laugh in case she hears me, and turn on my heel, ready to take a shower, and nap until I have to face the firing squad.

I check out my room, draw the drapes, put my cell on charge and set the alarm to wake me in a few hours.

When I’ve unpacked, and am stifling yawns, I go take a long hot shower.

As I crawl under the covers, clean, dry and wearing my pajamas, it’s Xavier I’m thinking about.

I don’t really know him, or what he’s hiding from me, but it’s strangely comforting to know he’s going to be around today.

I close my eyes and fall asleep with the slightest of smiles on my face.

***

Carrie

Sunday 6.03 pm

I wake to the sound of a knock at my door and bolt upright. Rubbing my eyes, I curse as I see the time.

Damn it. The alarm was supposed to go off thirty minutes ago. I throw myself out of bed and open the door without thinking.

Tina is standing in the hall, wearing an elegant and conservative evening dress, as per mom’s instructions. Her makeup is flawless, hair immaculate, but the effect is ruined by the sour expression on her face. “You’re not even ready?”

I back up and allow her entrance so she can lecture me while I get dressed. “The stupid alarm didn’t go off. What time is dinner?”

She huffs out a breath, draws the curtains back then takes a seat on the end of my bed. “She wants us there at seven. I was hoping we’d get more time to talk.”

I start searching through my bag for the cocktail dress I brought with me. “Sorry. I’ve lost an entire day.”

She mumbles a reply. “I’m glad you’re okay. And that that guy was able to help you.”

Since I’ve actively avoided discussing this with her and with Danny, I just duck into the bathroom and talk to her through the door. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you here on your own. How was mom about Mitch not coming?”

As I strip off my pajamas and pull out my straightening iron, I hear the tension in her voice. “About what you’d expect. She thinks it’s my fault. Just like she thinks it’s your fault you had an accident.”

I roll my eyes and wish I could find something to say to lighten the mood. As I find my concealer, and switch the iron on, the words tumble from my mouth before I can think of the consequences. “Why don’t we have a drink at the bar before we go downstairs?”

Shit. Why did I just suggest that? I scowl at my reflection in the mirror and the assorted makeup scattered over the vanity.

I know why. I haven’t had a reason to dress up in way too long to remember. If Xavier is around, it would be a shame to waste the effect.

Tina’s voice is muffled as she replies. “The lounge bar doesn’t open until nine. The restaurant-bar is the only one open. And mom and dad are probably heading there now.”

I sigh as she steps in the room just as I’m stepping into my dress. It was probably a silly suggestion anyway.

Xavier will be working, and whatever this weird electricity is between us, it’s unlikely to continue now I’m not sharing a space with him.

I tug the dress over my hips and we both gape at the way my ample cleavage is now pushed up and on display.

I pull a face as panic starts to throb in my chest. “I can’t wear this! I look like a hooker!”

She winces. “Didn’t you try it on?”

I shake my head as tears start to sting my eyes. “I kind of grabbed it off the rack in a hurry. I didn’t try it on till I got home, but I was wearing a different bra. Oh, shit Tina, I cannot go downstairs in this and try to tell her about Myles.”

Tina exhales and does her best to calm me down. “Maybe I have something you can borrow?”

We both know she’s two sizes smaller than me, but I’m desperate enough to consider it.

I look myself over and sigh. The dress is a little snug, but it’s also incredibly flattering.

I’ve always been on the plumper side of slim. And cooking for a living has only added to the curviest parts of me.

But in this dress, with the smoothing gusset and the way it sucks everything in, I look ten pounds lighter, and with the heels, I can add an inch to my five-seven frame.

If there was ever a man I wanted to dress to impress, he’s downstairs and probably serving drinks to my parents by now.

“This is ridiculous. I have a dozen employees, I can handle two hundred diners a night and this is the first time I actually like the way I look in a dress.”

Tina frowns at me. “If we were having dinner with anyone else, I’d tell you to go for it. But mom is already pissed at you, and you know how she is about clothes, do you really want to provoke her further?”

I don’t really. But I’m also getting a little tired of mom still trying to control me. The ultra-conservative and repressed thing is her deal, why does it have to be mine?

For the first time in my life, I feel good about my body and thanks to Xavier, I feel extremely sexy right now.

Why shouldn’t I wear a dress like this to dinner? It’s still tasteful, and with the hours I keep, and the slow trickle of weight gain over the last year or two, this might be the last chance my body gives me to be able to pull it off.

Tina’s eyes are roaming over me, and I can see her priming to try to talk me out of it.

It would be nice to have someone in my corner for once. Someone who’d back me up and tell my mom to butt out.

Dad wouldn’t dare rock the boat. And Myles said it was none of his business. Even Danny and Tina spend so much time trying to not be the target, it’s every man for themselves when mom is at her worst.

And the scene with Xavier, and the silence in the elevator means she’s only warming up.

I exhale slowly and open the mini-fridge to see what’s inside. When I find a decent Sauvignon Blanc, I pull it out and show it to Tina. “If I’m going to do this, I’m going to need a lot of alcohol.”

She releases a long sigh and grabs the bottle from my hands. “Finish getting ready. I’ll open the wine,” she says.