Freeing Reese (Tremont Lodge Series Book 3) Read online

  I excuse myself from Finn to check with the DJ to make sure he is all set to get this party rocking once the appetizer portion of the night is complete. There has been no formal dinner at the Christmas ball at the lodge for several years, so to make up for it, there are more appetizer selections added yearly, and when the desserts roll out later, there is no excuse for anyone to go home hungry.

  “Miss Reese, you look beauuuutiful,” says Helen, grabbing my hand and twirling me around in front of her.

  “Thanks, Helen. You look great, too.”

  “This old suit? Well, it is my best color.” Helen is wearing a two piece pant suit—a deep green color that makes her eyes stand out. I couldn’t imagine Helen wearing a dress anyway, so this is the perfect choice for her. “I’d like you to meet someone special.” A small man steps out from behind Helen, his stature barely matching that of Helen’s. He’s got one of those bad combover things going on, but when he smiles, I can see why Helen loves him. There is something both warm and trusting about that smile that says, I got your back, babe. Helen is a lucky woman. “Nice to meet you, Reese. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  I thrust my hand into his, careful to not squeeze too firmly lest he break. “It’s nice meeting you, too. I’m so glad you could come tonight. And, Helen,” I say, addressing my former floor supervisor, “Remember that this is not entirely a working party. Make sure you two get out on that dance floor.”

  “Is that an order, dear?” She giggles, and her husband puts his hand on her shoulder.

  “Yes.” We hug goodbye for the moment, and I continue making the rounds, checking on the kitchen staff and even inspecting that the bathrooms are fully stocked with toilet paper and scented hand towels, another tradition.

  Finn is standing in a circle of employees that includes Bree and Jeremy when I meet up with him again. “There you are,” he says, when I squeeze in next to him. “I thought you’d gotten lost.”

  “Nope. She’s just being bossy,” says Jeremy. I shoot him a, Hey, you’re being an asshole look. “Oh come on, you know what I mean. You’re the boss, after all.”

  “Cut it out, Jeremy. Let Reese have some fun tonight without the ribbing, okay?” Finn puts his arm around me protectively, and for a minute I feel like I’m back at my high school prom with my date who I so desperately wanted to fight another guy who kept stepping on the train of my dress. I swear he was doing it on purpose, too, because by the end of the night no matter what I did, I couldn’t get my dress to stay high enough on my chest. I was so embarrassed I had to wear my date’s tuxedo jacket until he dropped me off at home. He’d insisted we go somewhere private first, but no way was he getting access to the goods under my dress after not defending me. At least Finn values my happiness. And wants the goods.

  Something about Bree looks different tonight. “Are you going to stare at me much longer because it’s creeping me out?” she says, giggling nervously.

  “Sorry, you look—oh, I know what it is. You look tall!”

  Bree glances at her feet which are currently standing in two inch black heels. She leans against Jeremy for support. “Well, that’s not the first compliment I was hoping for, but okay, whatever.”

  “I’m sorry! You also look gorgeous.” She brightens. “Purple is such a great color with your skin tone and hair color. Love it!” One more hug and all is well. In fact, the evening is so quiet and uneventful, that I’m actually a little bored. My life has been anything but slow since I arrived at the lodge, and I’m not quite sure what to do when there’s nothing to do.

  When the appetizer plates lessen in frequency, I wait for the first song to strike from the speakers that line the dance floor, Jailhouse Rock, another tradition. I can’t help but smile wondering if Lawson is here somewhere and if he’ll dance to the song. Thanks to his early encounters with me, he spent a little time in jail. I really think he’s kicked his addiction—for now. But his asshole meter still signals high more times than not. “Want to dance, Reese?” Finn puts out his hand. I offer mine in response and begin what I know will be hours of dancing. Perhaps normal is something I could get used to after all.

  I am snuggled into Finn’s chest as Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton plays, letting his cologne mix with my perfume in an aroma of sweet ecstasy I know we will both appreciate later, when I glance toward the couple to our right. I recognize the girl first. It’s Georgia, Ted’s secretary and longtime lover, twenty years his junior, and also currently Lawson’s secret flame. She is laughing at something her partner is saying—a partner that I can clearly see is neither Lawson nor Ted. And when she laughs, her large bosom heaves in and out, which leaves little to the imagination. I glance down at my own chest to make sure it is still in place.

  “What’s the matter?” asks Finn.

  “Georgia is looking pretty chummy with her dance partner.” I point in their direction.

  “Why do you care?” he asks, more sweetly delivered than the words themselves.

  “She’s just such a tease. Ted, Lawson, and now some other guy. Does she have no morals?”

  “I think that can be said of a lot of people we know, Reese, but let them sort out their business. It doesn’t affect us.”

  “I guess not,” I say, nestling back into Finn. But I can’t stop watching Georgia and the mystery man over Finn’s shoulder. He is stroking her hair and rubbing her back. When he kisses her neck I feel myself grabbing on tighter to Finn. There’s no way I’m letting that girl near my man. Girls like that are evil. And she hates me already. Ever since I caught her and Lawson finishing up one of their trysts in his office, she won’t even look me in the eye. Truthfully, she probably started hating me first when Lawson went to jail after shoving me earlier in the summer. I imagine their little affair has been going on for quite some time. I close my eyes and try to shut out the ugly images in front of me and concentrate on Finn.

  “How long do we have to stay?” he whispers so lightly into my ear it tickles, and I shiver.

  “The bitter end,” I say, reaching up to kiss him softly on the lips.

  “Really? Can’t you delegate? You did such a great job setting everything up to run smoothly without you being here in the beginning. Can’t you do the same to close down this party without your being here?”

  “Maybe. Why? What did you have in mind?” He answers by pulling me closer if that’s even possible and running his hands down my back, grazing the top of my butt as the song switches to All of Me by John Legend.

  “Lawson! What the hell are you doing?” I jump at the sound of the screaming woman next to us: Georgia. Lawson has one hand on her and one hand on her date. The guy looks pissed. I mean, why wouldn’t he? He was practically a shoo-in for taking this girl home for the night, right? He takes a swing at Lawson who ducks just in time to send the guy’s fist into Georgia’s face. Finn releases me in time to catch Georgia and stop her from falling to the floor. “My eye! My eye!”

  “Reese, get the girl some ice!” Finn says, lowering Georgia to the floor. By this time Lawson and the guy are going at it, each landing successful punches as evidenced by the blood that is spraying the dance floor around me. Jeremy and Connor are rushing to the dance floor to try to break up the mayhem before someone gets killed. I run to the kitchen to get ice but meet Helen halfway there.

  “Here, honey, take this to the poor girl,” she says, handing me a bag of ice. Yeah, poor girl, right.

  Most of the guests have left by now. It didn’t take long after the melee to send people scurrying for the door. This wasn’t a simple fight. Lawson was angry, fueled by the intoxication of something that he’d only recently sworn to me he’d finished. Right now he’s sitting in the corner of the room, a self-imposed time-out of sorts with his own bag of ice on his right cheek. Georgia is gone, whisked away to who knows where, by the same guy that caused Lawson’s rage. Thank God no one called the cops. That’s the last thing I needed was the cops being called to the annual, sweet, lovely, always calm, Tremont Lodge Christma
s Ball, the first year I’m put in charge.

  Finn walks toward me away from Lawson where he’s been for the last twenty minutes with Jeremy. Bree is stewing in the kitchen where she’s kicked off her heels to pitch in and help wash dishes. “He doesn’t want to talk to you right now,” Finn says before I can ask.

  “Well, I don’t give a damn what he wants. He owes me an explanation as to why he’s decided to ruin the biggest night of the year for the lodge. This is what people will remember about our local thank you to them. What kind of message do you think the lodge is sending? And what if the guests get word about this fight? Then what? I’ll tell you what! They will be scared of the lodge and think it’s not a safe family destination. Pretty soon no one will want to come here, and the lodge will lose money, and then it will have to close, and…and—it will all be Lawson’s fault because he had to think with his pants instead of that pea brain knocking around inside his head!”

  “Whoa, I think you’re being a little melodramatic, no?”

  “NO!”

  “Maybe just a little?” Finn jabs my side, finding that spot where I can’t help but squirm and giggle, which makes me madder because I do not want to giggle right now!

  “Fine! But he’d be mostly responsible. Georgia gets the rest of the blame! And I’m talking to him anyway. And you can’t stop me!” I shake off Finn’s protective hand which has been trying to pull me in close to grab a kiss, and stomp toward Lawson, stopping only to pull up my dress, a flashback to high school popping into my head again.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” I yell into his ear, hoping that his presumed splitting headache doubles in size.

  “Shut up, Reese.”

  “Don’t tell me to shut up. You ruined this night—this perfect night!”

  “Why do you care?”

  “You’re leaving in a couple of months anyway, remember?” He looks up, pressing the bag of ice back into his right cheek.

  “All the more reason to leave my legacy at the lodge intact,” I say.

  “Your legacy? Really?”

  “Oh! You are so infuriating! Why did you have to go and sleep with the boss’ girlfriend and then get pissed when she drops her panties for some other guy that comes along? I mean, are you really surprised? Seriously?”

  “Shut the hell up, Reese. I swear I’m going to blow again if you talk about Georgia like that.”

  Something about the way he says my name, short and staccato, REESE, makes me scared, and I close my mouth before continuing with my line of thinking. We both turn toward the door to the ballroom as it crashes open, slamming shut behind the new party guest who is walking with heavy steps in our direction. And I wish my silver sparkly shoes would turn red and I could click my heels and disappear…because Ted Oakley is not someone either of us wants to talk to right now.

  Chapter 3

  “Hello, Mr. Oakley,” says Finn.

  Ted barely glances his direction as he turns toward Lawson and me. “What the hell did you do to scar the reputation of my Christmas ball?” yells Ted, both hands shaking violently, even the one holding onto his cane.

  “Look, Ted, let me explain. It was a lovely evening. Most of the guests had a wonderful time. I can assure you that no detail was left unattended to…”

  “Then why have I received over twenty…twenty…calls about the chaos that just ensued? I damn near called the cops myself to see what was going on in a room in my own home. Yes, home. Tremont Lodge is my home, and it could be the lifetime home to the two of you screw-ups if you’d pull your heads out of your assess and start acting like mature human beings and not—not animals!”

  I can feel my face get hot as the blood rushes there in a fireball of anger. I busted my butt to make this ball perfect. And it was. Until Lawson showed up. To be lumped with him as the cause of this debacle is infuriating. “Ted, I understand your frustration. But directing your anger at me really isn’t fair. I’ll leave you and Lawson alone to talk.” I turn back toward the kitchen. I expect Finn is following me.

  “You are both on administrative leave, effective immediately,” says Ted.

  I turn around slowly. “What?”

  “Yes, you heard me. You and Lawson. Both of you. Take a break. Give me a chance to get my head on straight. I’m sure there will be reporters here by tomorrow sniffing around for a statement. I sure as hell don’t want the two of you giving any version of your story.”

  Lawson doesn’t move, other than to shift his bag of ice to the other side of his face. “You can’t do that,” I say. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “What’s the matter, Reese? Can’t believe your daddy could still punish you after all these years?” Lawson sneers, daring me to darken his growing black eye.

  “Enough, Lawson. You’re more of a child to me that Reese will ever be, and you, of all people, should be appreciative of all of the chances I’ve given you.”

  I just stand here like I’m invisible listening to the slurs and personal attacks, wondering why I even cared about this place if I’m not appreciated. Finn puts his arm on my waist and gives me a gentle push toward the door.

  “Let’s go,” he whispers into my ear. “Come on, Reese.”

  I slip off my shoes and stomp with as much force as I can muster toward the outside door of the ballroom which leads onto the covered lawn. I wait for Finn to pick me up and carry me down the sidewalk and over the brick road back to the dormitory I’ve called home for six months, no matter what Ted says. This place has been like a home. How dare he! How dare he!

  Finn deposits me on the floor in my room and turns the heat up. Then he opens my dresser drawer and pulls out my favorite fleece pajamas. “Here. Put these on. You’ll feel better. I’m going to my room to change. I’ll be back in a few minutes, okay? I’ll stay here tonight.”

  “No!”

  “You don’t want me to stay?”

  “No. I mean, yes, I want you to stay, but I’m not staying. I’m going home. My grandmother died. Blake needs me.”

  “Reese, come on. We talked about this. You’re leaving tomorrow. You are not driving this late at night in your state of mind.”

  “I sure as hell am. If you don’t like it, then come with me, but I’m going.” I pull my duffle bag out from under my bed and start throwing clothes inside. What do you wear to a funeral? Do you still have to wear black?

  “Wait. You…you want me to come with you?” Finn says.

  I grab a black skirt and a green silk shirt out from the back of my closet. I stop to look at him. “Of course. You’re my boyfriend. Why wouldn’t I want you to go?”

  “You’ve just never talked seriously about introducing me to your family.”

  “Well, there’s not a lot of family to introduce you to—just my brother and grandfather. But, yeah, I want you to come. I need you to come.”

  Finn takes the clothes from my hands and lays them on the bed, careful not to wrinkle them. “I love you, Reese. And all the crap that’s swirling around in your head right now—I want to be the one to make it all be okay. You have to trust me.”

  His eyes are moist, and I’m not sure I can stand seeing him look like he’s about to cry. “Look who’s being the melodramatic one now,” I say. “It’s a funeral, Finn. It’s not like I’m taking you to a family reunion.” I smile with only half my face, so he knows it’s okay to laugh, and when he does I melt a little more.

  “Would it be inappropriate if I helped you get undressed?” he whispers into my hair. “You are in a hurry after all.”

  “It would be highly inappropriate, Finn.” He nuzzles my face with the stubble on his face, which he let grow a little longer than he should have—just because he knows it drives me wild. I reach out and touch his butterfly and think of those that walked the path of life before me, all of those that have shaped me and molded me, for good or bad, but all who made who I am. And I wrap my arms around Finn and kiss him with the emotion I’ve been failing miserably to keep suppressed. And when he hangs up my
skirt and blouse and pushes everything else off the bed and lays me down gently in the pile of messed up blankets, I let him.

  Chapter 4:

  Blake holds open the screen door of the house for Finn and me when we arrive at my grandparent’s farm, my family home since the age of five when my parents abandoned us. When we are inside the house, Blake grabs hold of me and hugs me so tight I feel like I could suffocate. He swallows a sob which is totally unlike the congenial, silly little brother I know. Death is a bitch.

  “It’s good to have you home, Reese,” he says, pulling himself together for the sake of my guest.

  “This is Finn, Blake.” They exchange pleasantries in the form of a handshake.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you, Blake,” says Finn, smiling. He’s wearing the new argyle sweater I bought him when I went shopping with Bree in Traverse City. I still can’t believe he’s standing in my home. There was rarely a guy in high school who I’d bring home and no one from college. The realization that my summer fling has more legs to stand on than I could have ever thought possible is just a little bit scary and also exhilarating.

  “Where’s Grandpa?” I ask. Blake points toward the living room. I follow him there with Finn trailing behind.

  Grandpa is sitting in his recliner watching Wheel of Fortune, his feet propped up on the footstool of his recliner. Pat Sajak’s voice is echoing off the walls as he declares, There are no R’s. The crowd sighs, and the next contestant spins the wheel. “Hi, Grandpa,” I say. He barely glances my direction.

  “Hey, Grandpa. Can Reese and I…and her friend Finn watch the end of the show with you?” asks Blake, ever the peacemaker. He shifts his eyes sideways at Blake as if giving him permission.

  We sit in silence until the show is over, the final contestant missing the puzzle at the end that would have given him $25000. Ooh. Ahh. Even I could have figured it out, too. Famous person. Mother Teresa. Who couldn’t get Mother Teresa? More like, stupiiiddd, idiotttttt… This is ridiculous. My grandmother died. We have to talk about it. I’m not suffering through Jeopardy next. I grab the remote and shut off the television. That causes a reaction, though not the one I’d hoped for.