“Very funny,” she muttered, unfastening the clasp. No doubt Kenny and Jack had put rocks or bricks inside, just to mess with her.
But when she flipped open the top, all she saw was stuff that looked a lot like camping gear. Not that she’d experienced it in person, but she’d seen pictures.
She tried to lift the pack a third time and not only broke a nail but felt a sharp pain in her shoulders.
“This,” she murmured to the empty room, “is going to be a problem.”
CHAPTER SIX
HENRI’S WAS A five-star restaurant tucked into the grandeur that was the Gold Rush Ski Lodge and Resort. A name that made Taryn wince. Whatever had the owners been thinking? The name was so long that it would always look awkward on signage, and she would guess their business cards were a cluttered mess. When it came to names, less was more. Still, not her rock to carry, she told herself as she stepped out of her car and handed the keys to the valet. Her rock was an oversize backpack still sitting on her desk.
She started toward the building, but before taking a step, she paused. A slight shiver tiptoed up her spine. It wasn’t a familiar sensation, but it got her attention. If she didn’t know better, she would swear that she was being stalked. Or at the very least, watched. She turned and saw a black SUV had pulled in behind her car.
The windows were tinted, so she couldn’t see the driver. Had it been any other vehicle, she would have assumed it was Angel. As much as she would never admit it, he seemed to be the only man who had ever had the power to make her quiver with just a look. Only she’d seen what he drove, and the large, loud, aggressive Harley he favored had nothing in common with the Chevy Traverse in front of her.
She was about to head into the hotel when she hesitated a fraction of a second. Then she saw the driver and blinked in surprise. It was Angel. Once again dressed in black and looking very man-about-town.
She waited until he joined her, then glanced back at the SUV being driven away.
“Unexpected,” she said.
“Long story. I’ll tell you over dinner.”
“Don’t tell me you sold the Harley.”
“Never. I still have it.”
He took her hand in his and looked her over carefully. She struck a model’s pose, then half turned so he could see the back.
She’d bought the dress the previous year, but it was still one of her favorites. A Halston Heritage white knit sheath, with black panels along the side and a black band at the jewel neckline. She’d kept her jewelry simple with gold-and-onyx earrings and a gold link bracelet from Tiffany.
Her shoes were one of her favorites. A Jimmy Choo Vero pump. The front was white, the back was black and there was a gold trim that swept across the top of the shoes before looping around to the back.
“Damn,” Angel said. “You don’t mess around.”
“What?” she asked, glancing down at her dress. “This is casual.”
He gave her a slow, knowing smile. “Naked is casual. This is a show.”
“Then I hope you’re entertained.”
“More than you know.”
He released her fingers, then placed his palm on the small of her back. “Shall we?”
They walked through the lobby to the rear of the hotel where Henri’s was located. It was a restaurant to go to for ambience and food, not the view, Taryn thought as they were shown to a booth in a back corner.
The space was subtly lit with soft music and the kind of waitstaff that prided itself on excellent service.
Once they were seated, a forty-something woman took their drink orders before disappearing as quietly as she’d arrived.
Taryn leaned back in the booth and crossed her legs. The one disadvantage of her dress was that it tended to ride up a little if she wasn’t careful. Although tonight that might be a good thing. Angel played the game well. Maybe too well. She had expected to be the one in charge.
Which was the problem, she thought. If she was in charge, she had trouble being interested. She was the boss during the day. She didn’t want that same role at night. But giving up control left her feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable, so she avoided relationships where the man wanted control. Probably why she was thirty-four and had never been in love. The emotion required too much of her.
“That’s a lot of thinking,” Angel said, his cool gray eyes studying her face.
“I’m working things out.” She tilted her head. “Explain the SUV.”
He surprised her by sighing deeply. “You know that old saying ‘no good deed goes unpunished’?”
She nodded.
“A couple of weeks ago I talked to Mayor Marsha about getting involved in town. I wanted a volunteer activity.”
And the surprises kept on coming, Taryn thought.
Angel’s expression turned sheepish. “It’s how I was raised. Small town, people took care of each other. Once I knew I was staying here, I wanted to be helping people. She suggested the Future Warriors of the Máa-zib.”