I didn’t know if I was ready to date, and certainly not fall into another serious commitment, but I was human and I’d been hurt pretty badly. I was still entitled to live out my life, and if I wanted to explore what was happening between me and this man I had to chill the hell out.
The room was spacious. The beds were a good eight feet apart and a wide end table was positioned between them. There was a full sized round table in the corner of the room with four chairs. A recliner was in the other corner with a lamp hung behind it to read. The glass windows were the full length of the room. The mountains were the only view we had. It was tranquil and serein. “This is insane. Come check out this view,” I suggested.
“Come check out this bathroom,” he countered.
I hurried to the opposite side of our room to find him standing in the middle of a large bathroom. A two person Jacuzzi tub took up the whole one side. A double sink was on the opposite side, and in a separate room sat a commode. “Holy crap. Did you pay extra for this?”
“No. It’s the standard room.” He noted. “I may never want to leave.”
“Well, it’s getting pretty late in the afternoon. We’re going to need to eat, and I’m sure it would be better for our skiing tomorrow if we had the proper gear and jackets. I know it’s winter, but you and I both know it’s not very cold in Vegas. Just walking in this place made me feel like I was going to freeze to death.”
“I’ve got a heavy coat in my trunk that will be fine. I can double up. We’ll still need to get you something, and then grab two pair of pants so we’re not getting hypothermia.”
I didn’t have much money to my name, but I knew this was an opportunity to enjoy myself for the first time in a long while. If I needed to spend some of it to get the necessary gear, I was going to do it. “Should we go now?”
“Yeah. The sooner we get done the faster I can put my ass in that jacuzzi.”
“You may have to fight me for first dibs.” My response caused a ornery smirk across his face. I had to look away to avoid feeling uncomfortable. If this was just my imagination, I was definitely losing my mind.
Chapter 26
Logan
I was probably getting myself into a situation I’d later find it hard to get out of. It didn’t take a genius to see something was going on between us. She was happy, and it seemed contagious. We clicked, unlike I’d been able to do with plenty of other women. While knowing this was only going to be temporary, I felt like I had every right to be selfish. If the two of us were on the same page, why not act on it? We were both adults, fully capable of stopping if we felt the need to. I was willing to let it ride, even though I knew our goodbye would probably be final. There was a chance I’d never see Cassie again, once I took her home, and I had to be okay with it.
The resort had it’s own shops, so it took us no time at all to find what we needed and reserve our equipment for the next day. While downstairs we located the restaurant to grab some dinner. Just like the views from our room, the snow capped mountains were all the eyes could see, unless they were staring at Cassie. Her eyes were like getting lost in heaven; like going to a place I never wanted to leave.
“I think we should play cards tonight.”
“I’m not into gambling,” I replied.”
“We don’t have to bet anything, silly. Haven’t you ever played for fun?”
I had to look down at my empty plate for a moment to gather myself. “When I was a kid I used to play cards with my family. We kept a tally. You know that box you found with the charred remains of my things? The notebook is still in there.” I turned and stared out the window for a second. “Sorry. I keep that box sealed because I still can’t handle dealing with the secrets it holds.”
She reached across the table and touched my hand, gently bringing me back to reality. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. I was in the wrong for going through it.”
“I would have done the same thing.”
“You investigate things for a living. I’m was a nosey bitch with a drug problem, who’d just caused her boyfriend to be murdered. There’s a huge difference.”
Her hand was still lingering over mine. “I appreciate the sentiment, Cassie. I know you’ve been through hell. Trust me, I get it.”
She finally pulled away. “I know being with him was a mistake. I know I had blinders on for a long time when it came to Brant. I should have never left home.”
“Shit happens. We have to keep going.”
“It’s hard sometimes.” She played with her silverware. “I feel like a jerk sometimes, especially when I think about being with other people.”
Right away she had my undivided attention. Was she referring to me?
She continued. “I don’t mean that literally, it’s more like if it were to happen with someone I don’t know if I’d be against it. Isn’t that terrible?”
“You have to do what makes you happy. That’s how I look at it. What’s done is done. He may have been a lousy boyfriend, but I’m sure he’d want you to go on with your life. He’d want you to be happy.”
“I suppose. It’s hard to picture though. There’s still a lot of guilt.”
“I admire your ability to see the good in people, and to carry the burdens of other people’s sins.”
“You see the good in people as well. I noticed it right way.”
If she kept talking like this I was going to ask if we could skip dinner and share the water in the hot tub. Thankfully, our waiter came to interrupt the seriousness of the conversation.
Of course she ordered a steak with a baked potato and a bowl of homemade chili. She skipped the salad and asked if she could just have another loaf of bread and the honey butter they served with it when they first seated us. I asked for the same thing and laughed the moment the waiter walked away.
“What,” she asked. “You ordered the same food.”
“I’m double the size of you.”
“Not for long it appears.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a woman who enjoys a big piece of meat.” The moment the words left my lips I saw her face react.
We both cracked up, grabbing the attention of the patrons around us. “You’re a funny person, Logan Campbell. I regret keeping my distance for the past couple weeks.”
“It’s probably better. You’d be tired of me by now and wouldn’t have come on this awesome road trip with me. Just wait. It’s only a matter of time before you tell me to get away from you.”
“I doubt it. You’re like me, just the guy version, personality of course. You didn’t run away with a loser and become a drug addict.”
“How about we don’t talk about our pasts? Wouldn’t it be nice to just be us for a few days?”
She smiled. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I keep bringing it up. It must be annoying as shit.”
“I’m used to it. It’s the healing process.” To be honest, I was tired of the back and forth. I didn’t want to talk about my family and the pain losing them had caused me. I spent half my adolescence in therapy, learning how to accept what I’d never be able to change. Cassie had to figure this out on her own. I understood she didn’t have anyone else to talk to about it, and I honestly didn’t mind offering support, but she kept giving me mixed signals. I hadn’t brought her on this trip to get into her pants. Sure, if it happened it would be a nice surprise, but the constant guilt she was feeling had to stop. “I just want you to see how your life is just beginning. The road to happiness is free of traffic. It’s your time to shine. You need to seize every opportunity you get. Be optimistic. Be everything you know you deserve to be.”