He gives my ass a squeeze before he gets in the shower, and when I’m done brushing my teeth, I swipe on some mascara and my red lipstick. I throw my hair into a bun at the nape of my neck and put on old, ratty clothes that I don’t mind getting splattered in paint.
I go downstairs and make a cup of coffee. I’m sitting at the counter in my kitchen, scrolling through my phone and my never-ending to-do list. I call Popster to talk about our plan for today.
He picks up on the first ring. “Hi, Popster! I’m finishing my coffee, and I have a few emails to take care of, but I’ll head over after that. See you at The Rose in an hour or so?”
“Mornin’ lazy bones! I’ve been at it since the crack of dawn. I cleaned up, moved furniture so we can paint, washed a load of linens, and started clearing out the old storage room to see what’s what. I’ve been running errands, got caught up at the hardware store… you know how I like to talk,” he says and laughs. “I’m heading to the bistro to pack a lunch for later, and then I’ll head back to The Rose.”
I smile. He’s been at it for hours already. “Great! Thanks for the early start. I’ll see you soon.”
I end the call and start thinking about what I’ll work on there today. Ryker is coming, too, which will be great. Not only fun, but I can really use the extra hands if we’re going to open on time.
I’m drinking my coffee, when the sexy devil himself strolls down the stairs, his T-shirt draped over his shoulder. He knows what it does to me when he walks around half-naked. My knees go weak. I often find myself dropping down on them, in front of him, worshipping. I can’t help it.
As usual, one peek at his perfect body, and I’m ready to climax again. He winks at me. I think he knows. And my heart turns to sticky goo because his wink is a special gesture that spins my heart. When he does it, it tells me everything I need to know about how much he cares for me. How playful he is with me. And how he wants me and needs me. All in a single wink.
It’s no wonder I find myself so eager to do anything he asks.
My romantic thoughts are interrupted when my phone rings. It’s the real estate office. Strange. I answer the call on speakerphone. “Hi, this is Aspen.”
Ryker carries his cup of coffee over to me and stands on the other side of the counter.
“Aspen, it’s Becky!” she shrills in a frantic voice.
“Becky! What’s wrong?”
“Your hotel! It’s on fire!”
28
Aspen
My veins fill with terror, and I shake in my seat at the kitchen counter. I stare, unblinking, at Ryker, and I yell to Becky, “What?!”
I pick up the phone and hold it closer to my mouth, even though she’s on speaker phone, and she can hear me. “What are you talking about?”
“I was on my morning run, and I saw flames coming out the window of The Rose! I called the fire department! And then I called you. Get down here!”
I can’t move.
I’m in shock.
My passion, my project. I was almost there. I was so close. What is happening? What does this mean?
No words escape my mouth, and Ryker yells into my phone. “Becky, we’ll be there in ten minutes! Tell the fire department there shouldn’t be anyone inside.” Ryker ends the call and throws on his shirt as he comes around the counter where I’m sitting, rigid. He grabs my hand and says in a calm, reassuring voice, “Everything will be OK, Aspen.”
It hits me, and I start to shake again. He grabs my shoulders and squeezes them hard. “Aspen!” he barks. My eyes flick to his. “I promise you,” he says, his voice solid steel. “I promise this will be OK. Now, put your shoes on.”
I still can’t process what’s happening… I’m in a daze. But I do what he says and put on my shoes. We get into his car, and Ryker is saying something, but I don’t know what… all I see are the trees going by. The next thing I know, we’re at The Rose. Firetrucks are there, and thick, black smoke is billowing out of the windows on the south end of the building. Ryker hasn’t even come to a complete stop, and I’m trying to get out of the car, but the doors are locked.
Everything is in slow motion as he puts the car in park, and I throw open the door, running to the building. He runs after me, catching me in two strides. “Aspen! Stop! You can’t go in there.” A fireman runs up and waves us off.
“Ryker!” I cry his name, and it hits me as I see my dream going up in flames. I fall to my knees, and I start to cry. Wailing, I drop my head into my hands. I can’t stand the sight of it. Everything I’ve been working for. He squats next to me and wraps his arms around my trembling body. “Aspen. You don’t have to worry. I promise it’ll be OK.”
I look at him, and another wave of tears crashes down my face. “How can you say that?”
He pulls me up, and holding me, we walk off to the side, behind the emergency vehicles, watching the firemen work to put out the fire. I’m helpless. I’m dizzy and I feel like I need to throw up. I would’ve fainted and cracked my head on the pavement, if it weren’t for
