Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(8)
But who knew? Maybe Barry was right. Maybe the Grand Resort, Wyoming, was where he’d meet the true love of his life.
He doubted it, but it was a nice thought.
4
Ashby
For a split second, Ashby considered asking his driver to turn around and take him somewhere, anywhere else. But he looked a little closer at the resort and decided that, really, it wasn’t that bad.
In fact, it had probably been utterly charming once upon a time. But it had obviously been a while since anyone had shown this place some TLC. That didn’t mean it was bad. The reviews had been good, after all. It was just a bit run down.
Ashby was here to get away from his usual life, and that included the trappings of ridiculous wealth he’d known his whole life. He wanted somewhere peaceful, and if that meant his lodgings were less than luxurious, he could manage.
“It’ll be like camping,” he said to himself as he bundled back up in his scarves. His driver had already gotten out of the car to fetch Ashby’s suitcase. So he glanced at the meter to get the right money out before he braved the snow again, adding a generous tip. “I’m sure everything will be fine once we take a peek inside.”
His driver thanked him for the cash he handed over, then hopped straight back in the car to escape the cold. Ashby took a moment to absorb the Grand Resort in all its glory before the wind got too much for him to bear.
It really could have been quite wonderful if it hadn’t been allowed to fall into disrepair. There was a foot of snow over the triangular roof of the main lodge. The building itself was made out of timber. The resort’s sign had a Scandinavian look to the lettering and the whole picture reminded Ashby of a Christmas card, despite it being early April. Icicles hung from the wooden beams and lanterns. If only the owners had kept up the replacement of blown bulbs, he could have overlooked the cracks and peeling paint on the door and window frames.
Ashby shuddered against the wind buffeting against him and decided he’d gawped at the outside of the building long enough. Time to check out the inside. At least there were a couple of cars parked outside, so he knew he wasn’t the only guest. He disposed of his empty coffee cup by the entrance, then hauled his heavy suitcase over the snow and pushed against the door to let himself in.
He found himself inside a very bland lobby. A gust of freezing wind accompanied him inside, making the half a dozen people milling around turn and look at him as he struggled to shut the door again. He tried not to blush under their scrutiny. “Sorry,” he whispered.
The guests on the floor went back to their business as Ashby unwound one of his long, woolen scarves. He used the moment to take in his surroundings.
Again, the place had probably been lovely a decade or two ago. There were wooden beams everywhere, a large fireplace, and although they weren’t to Ashby’s personal taste, he could see why the stuffed buck heads on the walls would suit the aesthetic. But they were dusty. The upholstery on the many sofas and armchairs littered about the room was faded and frayed. The plastic plants looked cheap and ugly.
But the fire was roaring in the fireplace. Ashby smiled as what looked like a couple of grandparents showed their small grandchild, wearing enormous glasses, how to hold their hands up to the flames to warm them safely. The architecture of the room was well thought out and the large windows probably showed the snowy mountains beyond to their full advantage during the daytime. Chatter filled the air as well as relaxing country music. He found himself smiling despite his apprehensions. It may not be the sort of accommodation he was used to, but he could certainly see beyond the slightly shabby surface and take the resort for what it was.
A getaway. A sanctuary.
“Hi there,” said an extremely perky young woman as he approached the reception desk. She was in her mid-thirties and had her blonde hair in a short bob around her ears. Her uniform was an unflattering brownish red color with too-large shoulder pads, but it was pristine and she evidently wore it with pride. “Are you checking in?”
Her name badge read ‘Kadie.’ Ashby smiled and unwound another scarf. “Yes, thank you,” he said. He pulled his reservation details out from his carryon. “The name’s Ashby Wilcott.”
Her green eyes sparkled. “Oh, wow,” she said. “I love your accent. You sound like Harry Potter.”
Ashby chuckled. “I never got my Hogwarts letter though, much to my dismay.”
Kadie laughed. “Me neither. I would have made a great Hufflepuff.”
Ashby gasped and placed his hand on his chest. “Me too,” he proclaimed.
Kadie continued grinning as she brought up his reservation on her big, boxy computer. “Okay, Mr. Wilcott. Ah, it says you’ll be staying with us for three whole weeks. That’s wonderful!” She seemed genuinely delighted by the prospect as she fetched an actual key for his room. “There you go. Is it just yourself staying with us?”
“Yes, no boyfriend this time,” Ashby said with a chuckle. Then he froze, horror holding him captive. What the hell? Why had he just outed himself to a total stranger? Panic threatened to overrun him.
Katie’s eyes went wide, her hand hovering midair with the key she was still offering. “O-oh,” she said, her cheeks going pink. “Oh, um, no, that’s fine. Sorry, I’ve never met a, um, well, a gay man before.” She whispered the last part like she was afraid they might be overheard. But she smiled broader at him and tucked her short hair behind her ear. “You know, I love that makeover show. The one where the gay guys come in and fix everything.”