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“Fuck,” he replies. “My plans are in tatters. She’ll have to break cover.”

“I’m going to finance a delivery service between here and Grizzly’s,” I say, before making a note on my phone.

“That place should be nationwide,” Jack says.

“Maybe I’ll have a chat with them,” Worth says.

I chuckle. “If there’s a business opportunity there, I’m claiming it. This is my town.” For the first time in a long time, I can say that about Star Falls, and feel good about it.My town. It has a nice ring to it.

TWENTY-SIX

Rosey

I head back to Autumn from Blossom, part thrilled to have seen Byron and part terrified. Gossip around here spreads like wildfire. I knew Miranda from concierge had changed her hair color before I even laid eyes on her this morning. There’s no doubt the other waitresses in Blossom saw me embracing Byron’s friends. By the end of the day, everyone will know. I need to come up with an explanation that doesn’t include the wordsI’m banging the boss.

As I navigate the stairs to reception, I almost run into Patricia, who’s scurrying toward me at lightning pace.

“Rosey,” she says. “I heard you’re tight with the owners’ friends.”

Wow. Move over wildfire and make room for the speed of sound. That was quick.

“Oh, not at all. I ran into them last night at Grizzly’s—the bar in town. I gave them some change for the pool table.” Both these things are true.

“Grizzly’s?” she asks. “Do you go there a lot?”

“No, it’s just kinda the thing to do after a storm. Everyone was going, and I’ve become friendly with the girl from the vet’s office. She suggested it.” I’m talking too fast, giving her too much explanation.

“Alright,” she says, eyeing me suspiciously. “That’s cool.”

“Didn’t expect to see them up here,” I say. “Are you going to this all-staff town hall meeting?” I ask, trying to distract her.

“Of course I am,” she says, and nods back in the direction she came from. We both head off together, and I can’t help wondering if Patricia was just coming to find me to ask about my connection to Byron’s friends. “Wouldn’t miss it,” she says. “I hear they’re updating the move-in date for staff housing. The storm damage hasn’t set them back as much as expected. I bet you’re up here by the end of the week.”

I should be excited about getting a space of my own—a place that’s close to work that will provide an instant friend network. But there’s one thing the staff accommodation won’t have.

Byron.

I’ll miss him. Yeah, the sex is great. Scratch that—the sex is spectacular. But I’ve never felt so open with someone. So free. It feels like I can’t help but show him my entire soul, and he doesn’t want to look away. It’s a kind of intimacy I’ve never experienced before, and it’s going to be difficult to say goodbye. For me, at least.

I’ll get to see glimpses of him from time to time when I’m on shift. But I won’t be able to trail my fingers all over his body. I won’t be able to watch his ass as he cooks ragu.

The move will be the clean break I need. And what Byron needs too. It may not have been spoken between us, but we both know that whatever we have comes to an end when I move up the mountain.

“You okay?” Patricia asks.

“Sure,” I say. “Just nervous about this meeting. They don’t ask us questions, do they?”

Patricia laughs. “You’ve been quizzed by Hazel one too many times. No, this is a chance for us to askthemquestions. I want to know if staff can expect our own gym facility soon. I figure it’s good to have a healthy work force. It will benefit them in the long run, right?”

“Right,” I say.

“Are you going to ask anything?”

I shake my head. I’m going to focus on not imagining Byron between my thighs, making me come. I’m going to try not to think about drinking hot chocolate with him, playing pool with him, the way he calmed me when we had to evacuate to the shelter. I’m going to try to imagine a time when we’re not sleeping together. When we don’t know each other anymore. And I’m going to do everything in my power to keep it together.

The ballroom has been set up with a raised platform and a row of chairs at the front, with folding chairs in arced rows for staff. Some managers are already on the stage, but I don’t see Byron. Maybe he doesn’t participate in these things, since he’s not part of the management team. Patricia explained the other day that the managers all report to Hart, and Hart reports to Byron.

Hart comes to the microphone at the front of the stage and thanks everyone for coming. I’m half relieved Byron’s not here and half disappointed I won’t see him.