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1
MARLEY
Ihadn’t been back to Mountain Ridge Resort since Mom had died, but nothing had changed at all. That was why I liked coming here every summer since I could remember. No matter what was going on in our lives, this place was the same. Even some of the staff were still around from when I was a kid. It was like coming home in a lot of ways. We had a lot of great memories of this place as a family and it was where I had my first crush and my first kiss.
They’d done some renovations here and there to fix things or modernize them, but always managed to keep the original integrity. Despite the shitty last couple of days I’d had, I was happy to be here and spend the time with my dad.
It didn’t hurt that his best friend, Silas Clark was here as well. I’d had a crush on that man since I was sixteen. Who wouldn’t with his salt and pepper hair, muscular build, and dark eyes that always seemed to peer into your soul when you talked to him.
I hadn’t seen him since mom’s funeral, having fled home to go to Chicago. I hated leaving Dad alone, but at the same time, I needed to get away and start fresh. I missed Mom so much, it hurt. She’d been my person and as an only child, we were incredibly close. When she got hit by a drunk driver and killed instantly, it had been devastating for us all.
I hadn’t planned on this vacation, but when I found out the PR firm I worked for doing graphic design since I’d moved to Chicago was sold, I also found out my whole department lost our jobs. They told us they loved our work but wanted to bring in their own people.
I had loved working there and wanted to build a career, so I was pretty upset at the news. Dad told me he had a two bedroom cabin and I should come spend the summer with him. I could relax and maybe do a little job hunting from there.
I said no at first, but the more I thought about it, the more appealing it sounded. The time with Dad would be great and getting away from the city didn’t seem like a bad idea. Spending the summer with Silas Clark was the icing on the cake. I called Dad a day later and let him know I changed my mind.
Now we were at dinner the first night, having just gotten settled at our cabin. Silas arrived a few hours after us and planned on meeting us soon. Unfortunately there was a mix up with the reservations and he ended up at a cabin on the other side of the resort. It wasn’t a big deal as everything was within walking distance or they had golf carts for the guests to use to get around.
I found myself almost nervous at seeing Silas again. I kept glancing at the door and not really listening to a word my father was saying to me.
Then he walked in and he was every bit as handsome as I remembered him. There was maybe a little bit more gray in his hair but it only added to his appeal. He was wearing a blue golf shirt and tan slacks. Silas looked every bit the distinguished real estate mogul he was.
Silas’s face lit up when he saw us and my dad stood up. “Silas, it’s good to see you. I’m so glad you could join us this summer.” They shook hands before sitting down. “You remember my daughter, Marley.” Dad nodded at me and Silas looked my way.
“Certainly. How could I forget such a pretty face? How are you, Marley? You’re living in Chicago now, aren’t you? I bet you love it. I have always loved Chicago.”
“Well I do love Chicago, but my PR firm was just bought out and I lost my job.” I shrugged my shoulders. “That’s a bummer, but it did allow me to join Dad on vacation, so I guess that’s a bonus.”
“I know some good PR firms there. We’ll have to chat this summer and I can give you a few leads.”
From what I remembered, that man knew everything. He was a widower, his wife dying not long before Mom did. She had been sick for a very long time if I remembered what my parents had said. Something about cancer.
As I glanced at my two dinner companions, I had to smile. I had the two handsomest men in the whole place dining with me. Of course one was my dad, but I saw the way women were looking at Silas. Women tripped over themselves to be with him. I was surprised he wasn’t remarried.
Dinner was delicious - steak with a light summer salad. We made small talk the whole time and Silas had me laughing and smiling so much, my face hurt by dessert. I was excited at the idea of spending all summer with him. I’d love to do more than hang out and have dinner, but I doubted he would be interested in a girl as young as me - besides, my dad would probably kill me.
A girl could dream though. This would give me masturbation material all summer long.
After dessert, we headed outside and down by the water. Since it was the kick off of summer this weekend at the resort, they had a special band at the pavilion. It was a gorgeous night to be outside and most guests headed that way.
People were dancing at the pavilion. I nursed a drink while Dad and Silas talked golf or the stock market or something else totally boring to me. A woman came up and asked Silas to dance. I narrowed my eyes at her. She was a knock out and looked like she could be a model which was why it shocked me when he told her no.
The woman looked insulted and I wanted to stick my tongue out at her as she walked away.
“Why don’t you two dance?” Silas turned and asked Dad and I.
“Oh my knees are too bad to dance,” Dad responded and looked at me. “Why don’t you two dance? You don’t have to keep me company.”
“Sure,” Silas agreed and my heart started to race. He held out a hand to me. “Marley, care to dance?”
2
SILAS
Asking Marley Roberts to dance was probably not the smartest thing I’d ever done.
I could resist her though. Maybe it was the drinks, maybe it was the atmosphere. Maybe it was the fact that I was on vacation for the first time since my wife died.
