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“First, we want to give you an update on the storm damage and how that impacts our opening schedule.”

Various people come to the microphone and explain how things will go over the next few weeks. There’s furniture being stored in some of the conference rooms. This ballroom will be out of action for a period of time.

My mind wanders back to Marion, and how she’s so brave to be talking about breaking free from living under Mom’s strict rule. At her age, I wouldn’t have even dreamed it was possible.

I feel a shift in the room, like someone is watching me. I glance up and my gaze catches on Byron, standing by the door, looking right at me.

My heart hiccups in my chest. I’m going to miss him more than I should when I move. I have to remind myself that we—whateverweare—only worked because there was always a time limit. I didn’t feel he had power over me, because we weren’t anything serious. If we’d ended up dating, things would have changed. Byron would have had expectations, and I would have had to comply. He’s nothing like my mom or Frank, but it would have been inevitable. I was never going to be on equal footing with a man as rich and powerful as Byron—especially not while working for him.

Except as I look at him, I wonder if that’s true. My heart tells me Byron’s not that guy.

But even if controlling me and exerting his authority wasn’t his intention, that’s bound to be how it ends up. How could it be another way? He’s the owner of the place where I work. I’m dependent on him for my paycheck. I don’t want to be dependent on anyone.

Hart starts talking about staff housing, and I pull my gaze from Byron to focus on the stage. There’s been another setback on some of the units, but most staff will be able to move in on Saturday. A little cheer goes up at the back of the room. Hart reiterates that not all units will be available. They’re looking for volunteers to delay their move-in date, and will pay some compensation to incentivize people.

More time at the cabin. Is that what I want?

I glance at Byron, whose steady gaze doesn’t seem to have wavered. My body heats at the thought of more nights with him. In so many ways, I want that. I love spending time with him. I enjoy our time together. It was so unexpected, not what I was looking for at all. But with Byron, I feel like I can be myself for the first time… ever. There’s no pressure. No expectations.

It’s because there’s a natural end date,I remind myself for the hundredth time. Things have been so good between us, I don’t want anything to sour my memories of him. Byron’s shown me what might be possible for me—what life could be like when I’m not simply there for everyone else’s needs and desires. He’s shown me I can be independent even while being with someone. I have to hold on to that idea, even though I can already feel my heart breaking at the thought of ending this.

I can’t be a volunteer. I can’t risk keeping Byron and me on simmer too long, and the pot burning. Better to walk away now, when I still have so much hope about what my future might hold.

Byron and I have hit our expiration date.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Byron

I’ve tried to stay focused on work today, but it’s been tough. Rosey not volunteering to delay her move into staff housing was a surprise. It threw me off-balance a little, so I pushed it to the back of my mind to focus on the various problems that have been thrown at me all day. Now, as I drive back to the cabin, Rosey’s decision comes flooding back.

Maybe I’m an arrogant asshole, but I thought she’d be the first person to volunteer.

I’ve always known things would shift between us when she moved up to the Club. It was bound to happen. I just didn’t expect her to be so eager to make that shift.

I didn’t come to Colorado expecting to find the kind of connection Rosey and I share. I’ve tried to resist it, but I’ve got both feet in now. I thought she felt the same way.

I pull up in front of the cabins and Rosey’s sitting on the porch wrapped in a blanket. It’s so cold. Why would she be out here on her own?

I get out of the truck and our gazes lock. I wander over and she stands. I get to the top of the stairs and she opens her arms, stretching the blanket wide, and envelops me in a hug that shelters both of us in its warmth.

She rests her head on my chest, and I lay my cheek against the top of her head.

I sigh. I’m really going to miss this. I’m going to miss the way she smells like spring in the middle of winter. How she feels warm on the coldest of nights. She’s so calm and considered in all the madness of the Colorado Club.

I lift my head. “I thought…”

She tips her head back to look at me. “I know. I just don’t want to tempt fate. You know?”

I wince. No. I don’t know.

“This is so good,” she says.

“Agreed.” So why change it?

“But it can’t go on forever, right?”

I pull in a breath. I wasn’t suggesting forever. But a few more days would have been good. Maybe from where she’s sitting, that would just be delaying the inevitable.