In any event, she wasn’t the one who had to live here. In less than a week, she’d be heading back to Vermont, and Finn would be left to deal with any negative fallout from their time together.
Hopefully, that wouldn’t happen. She liked Finn, maybe a little too much for someone she’d just met. Leaving was going to be hard enough without thinking she’d made things difficult for him in her wake.
“Dr. Swann!”
Lainey slowed her steps, allowing Mo to catch up. “Hi, Mo. What’s up?”
“Are you enjoying your stay?”
“Very much so, yes. Why?”
“We haven’t seen much of you. I just wanted to make sure you were having a good time.”
“I am,” Lainey assured her. “I’m afraid I’m not much for group activities.”
“No worries. Not everyone is. I did want to let you know about our Christmas Eve festivities though, in case you’re interested.”
Lainey remembered seeing something in the schedule of events but hadn’t paid much attention. After the welcome dinner, she wasn’t inclined to participate.
“It’s very casual and laid-back,” Mo assured her when Lainey hesitated, searching for a way to politely decline. “After a special Christmas Eve candlelight dinner, we’re gathering in the indoor lounge on the second floor. We’ll be showing Christmas movies and decorating the big fir there.” Mo’s eyes sparkled. “Santa might even make a surprise visit to deliver gifts. His home base isn’t too far from here, you know.”
Lainey laughed. “Good to know, thanks.”
“I hope to see you there!”
Lainey thanked her for the update and managed to get away without committing to anything. Truth be told, it didn’t sound too horrible, and it wasn’t as if she had other plans.
Once back in her suite, she ordered dinner and started a fire, determined to not worry about Finn or overanalyze how they’d left things. They’d had a great time, and he was being careful. End of story.
She was just finishing a scrumptious dessert when she heard a commotion that sounded awfully close. Walking over to the sliding glass doors, she peered out, flicking on the outside lights.
She was completely unprepared to see a polar bear on the deck. It opened its mouth and made a sound kind of like a half-growl, half-bark, and then it moved closer to the glass, stood on two legs, and peered back in at her.
The bear wasn’t nearly as big as the one she’d seen the other night, but it was still close to seven feet tall when standing up like that. Lainey didn’t know what to do. It was a beautiful creature, and it seemed more curious than threatening.
As they stood there, staring at each other, another polar bear appeared at the railing and let out a loud roar, like a warning. The bear against the window returned to all fours and trotted to the railing before climbing over. She swore both bears turned to give her one last look before they disappeared into the darkness.
Heart pounding, Lainey opened the door and looked out, catching only glimpses as at least half a dozen bears trotted off into the trees.
A blast of frigid air reminded her that she hadn’t taken the time to put on a coat or shoes before rushing outside. She was just settling back down in front of the fire when a knock sounded at the door.
Lainey rose to answer the door, her mind on the furry beast who’d been on the deck. What was it doing out there? Looking for food? Being nosy? Would it have dared to climb over the railing if she’d been in the hot tub when it happened by? And why had it looked at her with such intelligence in its eyes?
Clearly, Aurora Falls was getting to her.
She looked through the peep hole, the familiar tingles taking hold when she saw Finn standing there. She couldn’t open the door fast enough.
“Hey,” Finn said softly, looking as handsome as ever in his worn blue jeans and boots. The dark green thermal he wore accentuated not only his eyes, but also his broad shoulders and muscular chest and arms.
“Hey.” Lainey stood back in silent invitation. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to see you again and apologize.”
“Apologize? For what?”
“For being rather abrupt earlier.”
“No worries. I understand.”
“I’m not sure you do,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck in that gesture she was coming to adore.
“You mean, you’re not under a no canoodling with the guests mandate?”
He grinned at that. “It’s complicated.”
“I bet.”
She offered him a glass of wine, which he accepted, and then he went on to explain, “Employee-guest canoodling is generally frowned upon.”
“But you don’t work for the lodge, do you?”
“Technically, no. However, Mayor Bill did ask me, as a personal favor, to ensure you had a good time.”
Lainey stiffened, the implication chilling the warm and fuzzies created by wine and Finn. “Is that why you—”
“No,” Finn said firmly, cutting her off before she could finish her question. “Not at all. Bill didn’t even approach me until after the welcome dinner, and by that point, I’d already known I wanted to spend more time with you. The official request just gave me an additional reason to. And to be clear, Bill’s suggestion included only resort-approved, family friendly, wholesome activities, nothing more.”
She relaxed slightly. “You didn’t want anyone to think there was more to it.”
He nodded. “The no canoodling rule, as you called it, is taken pretty seriously, though it does happen. Bill just asks for discretion when it does. He worries about the reputation of the lodge and the people who live and work here. Aurora Falls depends on tourist money to survive.”
“I get it,” Lainey said. And she did. It wasn’t any different than anywhere else really.
People had affairs at the animal hospital all the time despite the fact that they were strongly discouraged by management. It wasn’t an issue unless someone made it one—usually a spouse or a jealous crush.
The older woman who’d been ogling and pawing at Finn came immediately to mind.
“Did someone say something?” Lainey guessed.
“Another guest noticed the time we had been spending together and complained. Bill, of course, believed it was because of his request.”
“Did you correct his assumption?”
“No,” Finn admitted.
While she understood, it still stung a little. “I see.”
“Like I said, it’s complicated.”
“And like I said, I get it. I’m only going to be around for a few more days, and then I’ll be heading back to Vermont and hopefully a regional directorship. So, let’s enjoy the time we have while we have it and not overthink it, okay?”
Instead of the relief she’d expected to see on his face, the corners of Finn’s lips turned downward. She took the initiative, straddled his lap, and tried to kiss his frown away.
“And I promise not to include any of your very personalized attention in my Yelp review.”
Finn
THE THOUGHT OF LAINEY leaving wasn’t a pleasant one. His bear didn’t like it either and pawed at his insides in protest. However, with Lainey’s warm, soft weight in his lap and her sweet lips touching his, it was difficult to think of anything beyond the fact that they had the entire suite to themselves.