“Evie, look around you. Hell, look back at the cabin. Milo and Nora are perfect examples of getting it all wrong until they met and then it was…you know…right. You’re being too hard on yourself, and you shouldn’t be.”
“I just hate people thinking poorly of me.”
Reaching over, he gave her hand a quick, friendly squeeze. “Well, no one here thinks poorly of you. We all think you’re great. And I guarantee when we get to the resort and you meet everyone, they’re all going to feel the same way. Maybe you just need a change of scenery to change your mindset a bit. Or, at the very least, to just feel better about yourself.”
“Maybe.”
They sat in companionable silence for several minutes before there was a knock on the cockpit door.
“I guess that means they’re done?” she whispered with a giggle, and Slater couldn’t help but laugh with her.
“God, I hope so!”
Standing, Evie opened the door, and he heard her laughing with Nora, and it made him feel better. Listening to her sounding so down on herself just made him want to turn the plane around so he could go and beat the crap out of Tucker. If Milo had just listened to him…
“We’re going to have something to eat,” Evie said, interrupting his thoughts. “Want me to make you a sandwich?”
Glancing over his shoulder, he nodded. “That would be great. Thanks.”
“Hey, what are friends for, right?”
And as she walked out, the strangest thought popped into his head: Why did it suddenly feel so wrong for Evie to say they were friends?
“Oh my goodness! This is amazing! And you’re all really okay with me staying here for a month?” Evie looked around the rustic cabin and found it to be absolutely charming.
“If you’d prefer a room up at the lodge, I can take care of that for you,” Milo said. “I just thought you might prefer really experiencing the resort this way.”
“Are you kidding? I love this so much more than staying in a hotel room. Although I’m sure the ones up at the lodge are lovely, this is just ridiculously cozy.”
He smiled and visibly relaxed. “I really appreciate you being willing to come here and help me with the new office, Evie. I know it meant taking time away from your life, and I know you have your brother’s wedding coming up, so…”
“Milo, we talked about this. I’m happy to help. I still don’t think you’re going to need me for an entire month, but I’m here to do whatever I can.”
“Thanks. And for what it’s worth, I know what you’re saying. I hope it won’t take an entire month to get things set up and for me to be comfortable, but if we get done sooner, maybe you’ll still hang out and take a mini vacation. You’ve earned it.”
Aww…
“I might just take you up on it,” she told him. “So…what do I need to know about this place? Do I need to go shopping or get anything?”
“The cabin is fully stocked, housekeeping will come in daily if you want, or at least three times a week. Lexi—who you’ll meet at breakfast tomorrow—even purchased some groceries for you. I told her some things you liked, but if there’s anything you want, you can go into town and…you know…get it. You can use Nora’s car or mine or even Slater’s. But you and I can drive to the office together in the mornings, and you can explore the town and shop or do whatever.”
“The town looked really small when we drove through it. And the nearest city is about…an hour away?”
He nodded. “It is. I know it’s a big difference from living and working in the middle of Seattle, but hopefully you’ll enjoy it. And the town has really revitalized since the resort reopened. There are some great little shops and restaurants, but there are also plenty of things to see and do right here.”
“Oh, Slater’s apparently got a list of things he swears I need to experience,” she said with a small laugh. “I’m not planning on jumping in right away, but I’m looking forward to checking some of them out.”
“Slater’s always on the move,” Milo said absently before shrugging. “Sometimes I wish he’d just find his peace.”
Evie thought about the conversation she and Slater had earlier.
“Does that really bother you? The way he lives?” she asked carefully.
“I worry about him. He’s got his demons, and they keep him from maybe being truly happy.”
“You don’t know that for sure. Maybe he enjoys being on the move. Not everyone’s cut out for settling down and buying the house with the white picket fence,” she reasoned. “We don’t all follow the same path. No matter how much we may want to.”
He studied her for a moment. “Are you still upset about Tucker?”
