The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska #1)(93)

“You probably deserve it.”

In the end, they found her keycard after hunting for their clothes. Hastily dressing, they snuck up to the resort. The interior of the hotel was empty, with all the guests and employees outside watching the fireworks. The elevator took twice as long as it should have to reach her floor, or maybe that was just Graham’s impatience getting the best of him. Arm around her shoulders, Graham held open the door for Zoey after she unlocked it with trembling fingers. Graham felt the same. His hands might not be trembling, but his entire body was tensed with anticipation. Wanting her was killing him, especially when she kept stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye, unconsciously wetting her lower lip.

Unable to keep his eyes off her mouth, Graham stole her hand as soon as the door closed behind her, pulling her back into his arms. The room was dark, lit only by the low summer light and the fireworks still exploding above the mountainside through the windows. The view was incredible, but all Graham could see was her.

“Are you sure, Zo?” He had to ask one more time because more than her fingers were trembling now. “We can take this slow.”

“I’m trying not to attack you,” Zoey replied, breathless. “How am I doing so far?”

When her hands slid beneath his shirt, tracing his abdominal muscles, Graham groaned, capturing her mouth. Fingers kneading into her hips, he whispered against her lips.

“Bed or couch, gorgeous?”

“Both,” she breathed. “Or the window. The shower. Maybe the elevator.”

Not asking her to marry him right then and there was only possible because his hands and mouth were currently otherwise occupied.

They were halfway to the couch when Graham heard a small noise that didn’t belong. Disengaging Zoey’s hands from him, he pulled her behind him protectively, scanning the suite for something out of place.

“What’s wrong?”

“I heard something.”

Not something. Someone. As he stepped closer to the partially open door to Lana’s bedroom, he saw movement next to the bed. This time, the noise was a small sniffle, feminine and familiar in tone.

“It’s L.”

Zoey pushed past him, turning on a light and making a little noise of distress in her throat.

For the first time since he’d met her, Lana looked rough. She’d been crying, her face and eyes reddened. Hair a mess and clothing—

With a growl of instant rage, Graham realized her clothing was dirty, as if she’d fallen, and there was a scratch on her arm.

“Who did this?” he demanded. “Did someone hurt you?”

“Graham, give her space. Lana, what happened?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just a small disagreement, and then I tripped.” Lana tried to give them a breezy grin, but it fell flat. “Did you two crazy kids have fun on your date?”

Her shaking hands would have given her away even without her makeup running down her cheeks in thick streaks. Taking Lana’s hands in her own, Zoey sat close.

“Lana, it’s okay. You can tell us.”

“Word about the condos has spread. It appears not everyone is happy about my little investment project.” Sniffling again, Lana raised her chin defiantly. “But I refuse to be intimidated.”

“Who was it, L? Did you recognize them?”

“No, but that nice boy from town stepped in. The place with the pool tables.”

“Rick?” Zoey asked quietly. Lana nodded.

“He should have done more than step in,” Graham decided, incensed. Taking Lana’s wrist, he gently turned her arm. “That’s a bad scratch you have there. Rick should have gotten you medical attention.”

“I told him I was fine. I don’t need a man to hover over me when I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”

Even as she said it, Graham noticed the empty bottle of wine on the nightstand. She might not need a man, but it was clear she was distraught, half-drunk, and needed a friend.

“Graham, we need to get her cleaned up.”

Curling her arm over his shoulders, Graham locked his arm around Lana’s waist. Zoey did the same, although the height difference between the two women wasn’t going to make it easy for her to help.

“I got her,” Graham promised. “Okay, let’s get you somewhere more comfortable. Upsy-daisy.”

Picking her up, Graham carried Lana to the bathroom, carefully setting her on the vanity counter next to the sink. “You didn’t take anything with that wine, did you, sweetie?”

Lana glanced at him guiltily. “Nothing worth talking about.”

“Let me guess, more baby aspirin.” Sighing, he kept a steadying arm around her as Zoey found a washcloth. It must have stung when they scrubbed the dirt and debris from the scratches on her arm, but Lana was tough. Other than clenching her teeth, she ignored it.

“Was this down in town?” Keeping her voice soft so as not to pressure Lana. “Or was it somewhere on the grounds?”

Staying quiet for a long time, Lana finally whispered, “I went down to the lake because I wanted to talk to you two. I didn’t want you to be mad at me.”

“We weren’t parked with the others. Zo and I were aiming for some alone time.”

Graham leaned a hip into the counter next to her, taking Lana’s face in his hands. In all their years of steadily growing friendship, he’d never seen her like this. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Graham waited until she was able to look up at him.