120 days... (20 page)

“I can’t believe you,” Ethan said to Marissa. “I never knew you to be so cruel. Peter.” He nodded toward the man who looked like he’d swallowed something rotten, and Ethan thought he may have. He always knew they were superficial people, but this short conversation was an eye-opener. He was going to have to reevaluate his business dealings with the man. And he suspected that’s why Peter looked so sick. He knew he was going to be losing out on a lot of money.

Ethan turned, assuming he’d find Sam either sitting at their table or at the front of the restaurant. When she wasn’t in either of those spots, his heart started beating double-time and he rushed to the door and out. Taking a few steps to the left looking for her before turning around, Ethan saw her turn a corner a few streets up. Running after her, he ignored the honking horns as he moved as fast as he could. Slipping as the rain started again, there was something inside of him, pushing him harder, telling him that if he didn’t catch her now, he’d lose her forever. He was afraid if he lost her, he’d be the one who would end up lost forever.

“Samantha!” he yelled. “Stop. Wait up.” With his lungs starting to burn, he kept running to her until he finally reached her. Grabbing her arm, he spun her around. “Stop. Please.”

She looked up at him with huge eyes filled with tears he knew she’d be too stubborn to let flow. His heart broke seeing the sadness in them. “Oh, honey, no, don’t listen to them.” He took her face between his hands and forced her to look at him when she tried to turn away. “No, you know who you are, what you do. Don’t let them win. We’ll prove them wrong.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly into him as the gentle rain fell, his mind whirled, trying to think of the right thing to say to her. “Come on, let’s go home.”

“I do, I do want to go home.” Her voice was muffled against his jacket. “
My
home.”

His heart broke for her. He knew what it was like, wanting to run home, but not being able to. “I’m sorry, but we can’t yet. I can take you to my home. It’s not yours, but it’s not bad either. We could play a game. I’ll even let you win.”

“Ha! There is no
letting
me win.”

“See, there’s my girl. Come on.” He pulled away and tipped her chin up. “I’m serious, Sam, don’t let them win. What you do is important. It means so much to so many people. You know this. Remember when you first had the idea for Last Resort. Remember when your first guest, Kenneth, arrived. Remember the days he spent with you. Remember how he died and every single guest after him. Think of the difference you made in
their
lives. You gave them extra days, extra days to live. Samantha, everyone should know how amazing you are. Those people,”—he shook his head—“I’m sorry I ever knew them. They’re the ones who need to wake up. Just like you made me wake up. What you do blows me away.
You
blow me away every day with your devotion to your guests, your cause. More people need to know how wonderful Last Resort is. I can tell you, that
their
opinion isn’t what most people with half a brain would have.”

Sam smiled sadly at him. “I know, Ethan. It still hurts, but I know what I do matters. You don’t need to worry about me. I guess I’m a little emotional today.”

“A little?” He tried to tease a smile out of her. “Because I’m pretty sure I’ve got proof somewhere you’ve been a tad bit over the top today.” He burst out laughing when she glared at him. “When was the last time you spent a night away from the resort? Years, I’d be willing to bet. Let us have this night. Don’t let them ruin it. Please, who knows when we’ll get another one like it. When the two of us can get away together.”

Her face was beautiful as her thoughts spun. He picked out confusion when her brows pulled together and shock that he knew her so well, as she blinked her huge eyes rapidly. Finally hope and resolution settled on her face when she smiled softly at him. “Let’s go,” he said. “I know exactly what we can do.” He spun her around and pulled her back into him, dancing off down the street back to his car with her laughing at him. This he thought, was a perfect moment.

Sam lay back with her head on a pillow and couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so much in one evening, especially considering they took the whole ‘laughter is the best medicine’ approach to heart up at the resort. Once they were back at Ethan’s house, he made a huge production of setting up a picnic in the middle of the living room with the food they’d purchased from a second stop at the store. Lighting the candles around the room, she could tell they’d never been lit before. No doubt they were put there by some designer to make the place seem less cold.

They spent the rest of the evening talking, playing games, listening to music, and spending time together with no other obligations hanging over either one’s head. She had to admit, it felt good. Deep down, she knew the resort could run without her. Maybe it was time for her to take some personal time, here and there. A night off, away, every once in a while.

“Here, have some more.” He poured her another glass of wine.

“Why, Mr. McGregor, are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Hardly. I still remember what happened the last time we drank together . . . well, most of it anyway.”

“It’s what you don’t remember that you should be scared of.” When his eyes opened wide, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Just kidding. You should have seen your face. Priceless.”

“I’ll show you priceless,” he growled. Moving quickly, he rolled over, pinning her legs down with one of his. Grabbing both of her hands, he held them tightly in one hand while the other tickled her side.

“Stop . . . not . . . fair . . .” she said around fits of giggles.

His fingers paused. “You want to know what’s priceless? Hearing you laugh.”

Flexing his fingers at her side, she didn’t laugh this time when he leaned in closer. His eyes were intense and so close to hers. The heat of his body washed over her and warmed her soul. It felt so right, his weight partially on hers. She wanted more.

Licking her lips, she lifted her head and captured his lips with hers. Slowly, her head fell back on the pillow, and his followed hers, never breaking contact. Moving, he let go of her hands. Once they were free, she used them to touch him. She wanted to feel all of him.

“Are you sure?” he asked softly in her ear.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

Gathering her up in his arms, he stood, his eyes locked on hers as he walked to his bedroom. Butterflies filled her stomach anticipating what would happen next.

Day 31

Ethan–

You know I thought going down into the city would have made me realize how much I missed it, but it had the exact opposite effect on me. It made me realize how much Last Resort has healed me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still dying, but in my soul I’m at peace. When it all comes down to it, I’m really not the city boy they used to call me. I think I like the quiet better.

You should stop and listen once in a while.

Evan

The first thing Ethan noticed was the lack of quiet. For weeks now, it had been silent when he woke up, no city hum to greet him. He found it jarring, irritating him, and making him want to lash out. Usually he slept with the window cracked at the resort, the crisp morning air helping him wake up. But in the city, he kept the windows closed, all year around. No one wanted to smell exhaust fumes.

He felt the uncontrollable urge to go to the resort; he didn’t belong here. It no longer felt like his home anymore. While it was familiar—he’d spent years here—it didn’t have his heart. Last Resort did. Samantha did. Samantha . . .

Reaching over to the other side of the bed, he wanted to gather her up in his arms, but they came up empty. His eyes flew open. He couldn’t tell if she was still there or not. He leapt up, pulled on his pants and raced out of the room, skidding to a halt when he saw her curled up on the couch, looking out the windows. The bright sun reflected off the water and, as promised, the bridge was visible. Breathing out a sigh of relief, he changed direction and went into the kitchen, filling up a coffee cup and enjoying the first morning taste of it before walking back out and sitting down next to her.

“You were right,” she said.

“I usually am, but about what specifically?”

“Ha! Keep telling yourself that.” She nudged her shoulder at him. “But you were right about being able to get back up to the resort around lunch time.” She waved her phone at him. “Everything I’ve been able to check says that while there has been some damage, it wasn’t too bad. The worst is the phones are out, along with a cell tower, so I haven’t been able to talk to anyone up there yet.”

“Well, that’s great, but why don’t you look happy?” He hoped she wasn’t having second thoughts about their night together. He’d never had that kind of connection before, and he didn’t want to lose it.

“I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about last night. I’m sure you can figure it out. I typically don’t go jumping into men’s beds, but I also know there are no guarantees in life. I don’t need any promises, empty or otherwise. I’m a big girl, and know everything can change in a moment. I need you to understand I’m going to take this for what it is and not ask you for anything.”

He frowned at her, trying to understand what she was saying, or not saying. “Why are you talking like this?”

“Ethan, I’m not some young naïve girl. Look around here.” She waved her arm. “This isn’t me. There is nothing here that could fit into my resort. This is so far from what the resort stands for, but this is who you are, this goes with your job, where you make your money. I can’t see you staying at the resort, and I’ll never ask you to.”

Standing up, he started pacing the room. Hadn’t she heard anything he’d been saying over the last couple of weeks? She was confusing him and he needed to know why. “Sam, what’s this all about? You know this means nothing to me. It’s like the resort has seeped into my system so completely, it’s changed me, made me a better person. I don’t think there could ever be anything to make me leave.” He stopped in front of her and dropped to his knees. “Don’t you understand?
You
are what makes the resort. Without you, there’s nothing. You both go together. It’s not just the place that’s in my system,
you
are who I don’t want to leave. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”

“But those people last night.”

“Screw them. You didn’t stick around to see the look on Peter’s face. He knows his business dealings with me are done and he’s scared. I’ve made him a lot of money over the years, and now he has to come up with something else to keep Marissa happy.” He laced his fingers with hers. “Sam, I have more money than I know what to do with. Don’t you understand what this could mean for the resort? Think of the wildest dreams you’ve ever had for the place. I can make them all happen for you. You’d never have to stress about running out of money, ever again. You’d be able to help so many more people. We could build something even more amazing, together.” He looked at her with hope in his eyes. He was asking for more than just to be part of the resort with her. He tried to appeal to her first as a businessman, which was what he knew. All these feeling he had for her were so scary, he didn’t know the right way to approach her, so he fell back on what he knew. Money.