The limo eats up the miles, spitting them out behind us while we sit, each lost in thoughts we aren’t willing to say aloud. Until Naomi breaks the silence.
“Why me?” It’s not a whine or complaint. Just a genuine question. “You only slept with hookers for years, so why me?”
I don’t have an easy answer, but I give her the most honest one I have. “I lose control and forget my own rules around you. You fuck up my head, Naomi.”
After a moment of consideration, she nods and lies down on the seat. “Only fair I guess. You fuck up my heart.”
Chapter Twelve
Naomi
The sun is just coming up when I wake, stiff from sleeping for hours in the same position on the limo seat. Axton is stretched out on his back on the seat across from me, his arms folded across his chest. Even in his sleep his posture is guarded.
His brow furrows and relaxes. He’s dreaming about something and I wish I knew what haunts him.
I sit up and get a good look out the window at a snow covered landscape. Empty fields stretch out on either side of us, coated with white that’s hard to look at with the sun bouncing off of it. Beautiful.
The events of the night before filter in, and I still can’t comprehend it. Paige. We’ve been friends forever, and I never thought she would betray me. She’s the only person I really trusted. Elliot said it was probably for the money, but that’s hard to believe. I guess she could’ve had trouble finding another job after the nanny agency, but she could’ve called me, and I would’ve helped her.
We’re back in the news again and it’s my fault. I just hope this little retreat Axton planned is as remote as he seems to think it is. I took a few minutes to check out their website and online brochure. It’s not a huge resort. The lodge only boasts about twenty rooms with a few cabins scattered around the property.
The available activities listed include a lot of winter fun, like snowmobiling, sledding, snow tubing, and ice skating. It’s only a few miles from a large, popular ski resort that probably would’ve been Axton’s choice if we weren’t trying to avoid the public eye.
My phone beeps with a text from Patrick. It’s the first time I’ve heard from him since we exchanged numbers at the charity concert.
Patrick: I saw the news on SLY. How are you doing?
Me: I’m okay. Glad to get away. Are you still joining us?
Patrick: I’ll be there tonight.
When I look up from my phone, Axton is watching me. “Is that Dani?”
“No, Patrick.”
He sits up. “Patrick is texting you?”
I don’t like his tone. “Yes, he saw the SLY report and wanted to see how I’m doing.”
There are no further comments from him, but he doesn’t look thrilled with the idea. Fortunately, timing is on my side to avoid an argument and we pull into the White Sky Resort.
Despite being awakened early and in a completely unfamiliar place, Caden is all smiles as I change his diaper and bundle him up.
“Nay-mi!” he cries, pointing everywhere around us, and a smile takes over Axton’s face. Axton gets out of the limo with him and walks a few feet until they’re standing in fresh snow. Kneeling, he stands Caden in it. Caden doesn’t hesitate to shove his hands in it with a squeal.
“It’s snow,” Axton explains. “Snow.”
“No!”
Axton’s head falls back as he laughs at Caden’s gleeful cry. “Ssssss-now. Snow,” he corrects.
“No!” Caden scoops up his mittens full and throws it. “No!”
“This afternoon, we’ll come out and play in the snow,” he promises, picking him up.
“No!” Caden screeches, reaching toward the ground.
It’s a good thing his hunger and love of graham crackers overweighs his need to get his hands back into his new discovery. I take off his wet mittens and put a cracker in each hand. Whatever he eats, he always wants one in each hand.
He munches on the graham crackers as we head inside. Axton checks us in at the reception desk while I get Caden a box of apple juice from the table of complimentary breakfast items.
It’s very early and the place is empty other than the clerk talking to Axton and the porter who waits to help with luggage. Maybe this will be a good place to get away. I haven’t had a chance to look around, but I can see into a large lounge with a fireplace that looks cozy and comfortable. Some time by that fire with a book while Axton wears Caden out in the snow sounds like a plan.
Axton returns and hands me a key. “We’re in cabin four.”
What? “No, I’m with Dani. In the lodge, not a cabin.”
“That was before your face was sprayed all over the TV. I want you and Hatch with me.” His tone allows no argument. Alone in a cabin with Axton sounds like a great way to yank my heart around some more. Fuck.
What the resort described as a cabin is actually a beautiful A-frame house with a breathtaking view of the snow covered hills and forest. A wooden deck wraps around the house, freshly cleared of snow.
I barely listen to the porter as he shows us around, I’m so into exploring the place, but I do catch his remark that meal delivery is available in the cabins as well as the lodge.
“We’re also happy to send someone to build a fire in the fireplace at your request.”
“I think we can handle that,” Axton tells him. Two of our security guards enter, carrying the last of the luggage. There’s no traveling lightly with a baby. Axton tips the porter and sends him on his way, then turns to talk to security.
“Get checked in. Keep your phones on at all times. I don’t need you hovering while we’re here, but I want you nearby and ready to assist if we start having issues.”
“They aren’t staying with us?” I ask, surprised when they leave.
“No, half the point was not to have security breathing down our necks all the time. If word gets out that we’re here or we start having problems, I’ll have them stay. If you go anywhere with Hatch, you call one of them to escort you, even out to play in the snow. We’re off the beaten path, but we aren’t exactly unrecognizable right now.”
My expression must reflect how I feel because he grabs my shoulder as I start to walk away. “This isn’t your fault. Having your life broadcast, complete with lies and rumors, is a part of fame.”
“I never wanted to be famous.”
“I know.”
Hatch starts fussing and Axton picks him up. “I’ll order some breakfast.”
We spend the next hour or so getting settled in and unpacked. The cabin has two bedrooms right across from one another, and I get Caden’s playpen set up beside my bed. He won’t play in it, but it’ll work well as a temporary crib.
The cabin is beautiful. The living room is cozy with a fireplace on one wall and a hot tub tucked into a corner. There’s a small kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, and coffee maker. A few basic staples are stocked, such as milk, orange juice, and coffee. I’ll have to find a store to grab some of my cold brew and some hot chocolate. My favorite spot is the loft that’s lined with floor to ceiling windows, giving an amazing view of the nature around us. Narrow, highly polished wooden steps lead up to it, making me wonder how they got the overstuffed couch and end tables up there.