Broken Hero

We spend nearly an hour looking at Sarah’s suggestions, and I have to give it to her-she has a real eye for this sort of thing. The list in Oliver’s green notebook grows by the minute. Shelves, a huge number of towels, essential oils, an essential oil burner. A changing room needs to be put in place, the bathroom decor updated. A few chairs for the waiting room…

“There needs to be a no-shoe policy and a shoe rack, right over there.” I point at the hallway.

Sarah laughs. “Right. This is a farmhand-free zone.”

“Oliver mentioned something about a hot tub?”

“Yes, we want to install one right outside of this wall… maybe over there.” She points through the windows to a spot outside, near the thickets. “I’m thinking that guests could book it in advance.”

“It could be part of some sort of spa package… A one-hour deep muscle massage, half-an-hour in the hot tub, a face mask… There are tons of things we can do.”

Sarah grins at me. “I’m so excited! And I’m really happy that you came to Claremont, and that I have your help in this.” She leans closer. “Between you and me, Oliver is the numbers guy. I had to convince him that a spa was a good idea, but I know this place has potential.”

“Is that so?”

“Oh yes. Is there anything else you can think of that we should absolutely have? You’re free to think big here. I’m certainly not a numbers girl,” she says with a wink.

“Yes, actually, this large room would make a great yoga studio, or a meditation space. Can you imagine being on your mat here with the sun rising on the meadows through the window? It would be amazing.”

Sarah’s eyes widen. “Oh my God. You’re right. Yes! We could have yoga classes in the morning when we have big parties of guests, or when we get a group booking for a weekend. Maybe even during wedding season… You don’t happen to know some yoga, do you?”

I smile. “I’ve practiced yoga for years, actually, and I even took a twelve-week course to become a teacher a couple of years ago. But I haven’t taught since then.”

Unexpectedly, Sarah pulls me into a hug. She smells like cinnamon and baby powder, and her hold is strong. “Lucy Rhodes, I don’t know why you decided to move to Claremont, but I’m damn happy you did.”

“Just make sure you’re here by noon tomorrow.”

“Absolutely, sir. We’re sorry again about the delay.”

I clear my throat. “Shit happens. I get it.”

“Until tomorrow, then.”

I hang up and let out a groan. The contractors I work with are great-that’s why I keep giving them my business-but they use sub-contractors in turn. Sub-contractors that are okay with subpar work, and shoddy delivery times.

We’re nearly two days behind schedule on the work on the spa. It’s not much, but I’d like to have the place up and running before the first wedding reception in June. The spa has already been announced on our website.

I rise from my desk, and like clockwork, Austin gets up from his sprawl by my feet. He shakes out his fur and stretches.

“I know how you feel.” My muscles are sore-the familiar ache in my shoulder is back from the recent days of construction work. The fucking thing has never been the same since I got shot, despite all the hours at the physical therapist’s office before I delisted. It’ll never be the same again, but I know I’m a hell of a lot luckier than many others. I made it back.

I look out across the courtyard and the rest of the ranch. It’s easy to see this place and remember the good times, Mom hanging laundry or Sarah playing fetch with the dogs. Bread rolls fresh from the oven and the sound of laughter. Now, all I hear are farmhands cussing or the house staff’s pleasant chats with guests.

I can clearly see the spa’s roof in the distance, the tiles shining bright red in the sunlight. A small truck is parked outside, and I know without seeing the logo who it belongs to.

Logan has been here for two days in a row, getting the electricity fixed in the spa. It’s minor work, and I suspect he would have finished it in a couple of hours if he wasn’t taking his sweet, sweet time doing it. I’m pretty sure I know why, too-the answer is spelled Mandy.

I’ve pretended that I haven’t overheard the low conversations in reception, or the awkward pauses when I walked through. Whatever happened between the two of them, Logan’s not sharing, but I can tell there are still feelings there. Lord knows Logan needed a woman’s touch in his life. The dark circles under his eyes weren’t getting any better.

My eyes still trained on the spa, I see a lithe figure step out through the front door. Even from this distance, I can see the hair shining under the spring sun.

I look down at Austin. “What do you say, bud? Should we go for a walk?”

His tail starts to wag and he sets off down the stairs. I follow him, knowing all too well that we’re really doing this for my benefit and not for his.

Because since Lucy started coming up here every other day to check on the work, I’ve done all I can to get glimpses of her. Seeing her smile, even when it’s not directed at me, has become one of the best damn highlights of my days.

Because I’m breaking my own rules when it comes to her.

Jack and Tim wave at me as I walk past them, busy trimming the flower beds along the courtyard. I nod. They’re good lads, but I would be lying if I said that I haven’t noticed them paying extra attention to the lawn in front of the spa section lately.

I’d blame them for it if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m heading there for the same purpose myself.

Sarah and Lucy are sitting on the small bench outside the entrance to the spa, bent over a clipboard. Their heads are touching, light to auburn.

They look thick as thieves.

“This treatment looks great. Three hours long?”

“Yes. It should be great for guests looking for relaxation, rather than the ones who want to be… well, sporty. We’ll combine a few elements.”

“The face mask sounds like a treat. How expensive is that to purchase in bulk, though?”Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Lucy gives a small, excited laugh, and the sound makes me want to smile. I feel like a creep, standing here watching them, but I don’t want to interrupt quite yet.

“It’s not expensive at all! It’s a classic spa recipe, but the ingredients are actually quite cheap. A mixture of carrier oils, clay and a couple of essential oils. Does wonders for the skin without costing a fortune.”

Sarah claps her hands excitedly, the same way she did as a child. “Can you show me the recipe?”

“I’ll send it to you.”

Austin bounces up next to me, having finished examining the new flower beds, but he doesn’t share my desire to stay unseen. He runs on ahead with all the eagerness of someone expecting a warm welcome.

The girls look up.

“Austin!” My sister is all head rubs and floppy ear tugs, but Lucy glances up at me. Her eyes grow still. The laughing ease she had with my sister is gone.

But she doesn’t look displeased, either. Just… aware.

I’m aware of her, too. Aware of the way her hair curls behind her ear or how she frowns slightly when she’s focusing hard. I saw the strap of her dress slip down her shoulder a few days earlier, revealing a bare, freckled shoulder. I had to turn away from the sight.

Her eyebrow rises. “Hey.”

Sarah follows her gaze. “Ollie! You’re just in time. We’re reviewing the final draft of the spa menu.”

Lucy taps a pen against the clipboard. “It still needs a bit of work.”

“Well, it’s basically finished.” Sarah waves a hand, the one not occupied with giving Austin a belly rub. He looks like he could faint from pleasure, tail tapping rhythmically against the dry ground.