“Is Ulysses going to be okay?” Zoey asked softly.

“Fifty-fifty shot.” His voice was harsh, clipped, and angry. “Some get hurt in the move, and some don’t come out of the tranquilizers well. He’s an easy target until they wear off. He won’t know where to get water or find food or shelter. All because some piece of shit wanted to take a picture.”

“It could have been an accident.”

“No way. I know exactly what happened because I see this crap all the time.”

“Graham—”

“No. No, this is exactly what it’s like living here. Zoey, you don’t have to like it, but you are the problem. You, Lana, and all those assholes up there. You come here, you get your kicks, and then you’re gone. And screw whoever you hurt in the process. It’s all in the name of a good time, right?”

Flinching at his attack, Zoey stood up straighter. “Graham, I know you’re upset, but that’s not fair.”

Inhaling three deep breaths, Graham finally shook his head. “No. It’s not. You didn’t do anything. But I’m so damn tired of all the people who do.”

Clearing his throat, Graham gripped the counter with white-knuckled hands. He walked away, then turned and slammed his fist through the wall. Right next to Barley the Biker Bear. “Zoey,” he rasped. “You don’t get it.”

Except she did. At least as much as she could.

“He was your friend.” Coming up behind him, Zoey wrapped her arms around Graham’s waist. “You lost a friend today. I’m so sorry, Graham. This wasn’t fair to either of you.”

He turned, and the hand that had gone through a wall cupped her cheek as carefully as if she were made of glass.

Zoey went up on her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s just a moose,” Graham finally whispered.

“But he was your moose.”

“You’re right, Zoey. He was my friend.” Leaning his forehead against hers, Graham closed his eyes. Then with a soft noise of surrender, he dipped his head down and kissed her. Just like last time, his lips were warm and soft, but this time, they tasted of whiskey, sweet and strong.

Graham turned, pressing her back to the wall as he deepened the kiss.

A picture frame got caught between her shoulder and his hand fisting into her hair. When the picture fell, Graham ignored it. He ignored two more that hit the floor when he hoisted her up with the strength of one arm, guiding her legs around his waist with the other.

“This stops when you say so,” he whispered against her neck. “This doesn’t even start unless you say so.”

Pulling his face to hers, Zoey crushed her mouth to his, a silent but clear reply. In response, Graham muscled her higher in his arms. But when she started to fumble at his shirt, he pulled back, abruptly releasing her back to her feet.

“Not here, Zo. Not like this. Not some one-night stand.”

“We’re not—” she started to say, but Graham shook his head, eyes pained.

“But we are. All of this was never a good idea.” He braced an arm over her head, resting his forehead to hers. “I can’t, okay? This relationship, or whatever it is, is going to end with you walking away. Listen, gorgeous. You and me, this was a mistake. I like you so much, but, Zoey, all of this—”

“A mistake.” Just because she understood why he was saying it didn’t make those words any easier to hear. “I should go.”

He’d been drinking, and he’d been her ride. Even now, Graham wasn’t leaving her stranded. “I’ll find someone to drive you.”

“It’s fine. I’ll call Lana to come get me. Or I’ll call a rideshare.”

Ducking under his arm, Zoey took her wounded pride and tucked it into her pocket. She was hurt and still breathless from his kisses, but he was hurt too—more deeply than she was right now, for far more important reasons. Having her feelings hurt was nothing close to losing a friend forever.

And if he could love an animal this much, Zoey had no illusions to how deeply this man could love another person if he gave his heart away.

Graham was right. She was leaving in five days, and she needed to walk out this door. But even as she thought it, she hesitated at the doorway. Graham was watching her leave. The look he gave her…so helpless…so hopeless…broke her heart all over again.

“He’ll be okay,” Zoey promised softly from the doorway. “And you will be too.”

Chapter 14

There would be no saving the dress.

Between the hike through the woods, rolling a moose, and multiple encounters of the sexy kind with Graham that evening, the delicate layers of fabric had been ruined.

“I’m sorry, Zoey.” Quinn held it up to the light as if better illumination would help her find some inch of fabric not damaged by the evening before. “We can have it cleaned, but this part won’t hold a stitch without unravelling more.” Turning the dress over, she pointed at the worst of the tearing. “And this can’t be stitched without it showing. If you want, I can try.”

“It’s okay. I won’t waste your time.”

Disappointed, Zoey accepted the dress back from the hotel’s expert seamstress. Quinn was a woman of many talents, including the ability to be truly crestfallen at Zoey’s misfortune. If Quinn couldn’t save it, it couldn’t be saved.

Quinn’s domain was a tiny windowless office just off the main laundry rooms. For a resort this big, they kept their laundry machines running nonstop. Detergent, bleach, and heated Egyptian cotton mixed unpleasantly in Zoey’s nostrils, but Quinn seemed oblivious to the smell.

“I wish there was more I could do for you.” With a wistful sigh, the hospitality specialist turned in her chair. “You looked so pretty in this last night.”

Warmed by the unexpected compliment, Zoey sat down in the other chair in the small office. “Thank you. I didn’t see you there. I saw Diego, but I didn’t recognize anyone else.”

“Oh, Diego is in training to be a butler. He and Grass are both in the running.” Lowering her voice conspiratorially, Quinn added, “I bet Hannah gives the job to Diego, even though Grass would be so much better at it. Mrs. Harris kept promoting all the out-of-towners over people from here. Hannah is trying to even things out. Which I’m completely in favor of, except have you noticed how Diego bares his teeth at everyone?”

Giggling, Quinn did an impression of Diego that was spot on. Quinn’s cheerfulness was infectious. Zoey had been down all morning, distressed beyond what was reasonable for a weeklong pseudo-relationship and unable to get Graham out of her mind, but she felt better being around Quinn.

“Is it like that even here in the resort?” Gesturing to the hotel around them, Zoey turned to Quinn. “Because it seems like out there, it’s town versus hotel to the extreme.”

“I think it depends on who you talk to. I really like meeting new people all the time. But there’s some people in town who are getting really frustrated. It didn’t used to be so bad, more like they thought the tourists were an annoyance, but whatever. Then a few years ago, someone got drunk and ran a red light.” Quinn’s large eyes gleamed in remembrance. “They sideswiped a car coming through the intersection. Killed almost an entire family.”

“That’s awful. Whose family was it?” Zoey couldn’t help but ask.

Shifting uncomfortably, Quinn glanced guiltily at the door as if someone might hear. “Diego’s family. He was the only one who survived the crash.”

Her heart went out to the awkward, grumpy concierge instantly. “That’s so sad. Why would he work here, then?”

“Because there are only so many jobs around here, and the hotel offers benefits a lot of the local businesses can’t. Health insurance, retirement, housing. And they pay for career training in the off-seasons. I’d never be able to afford college if it weren’t for the Shaws paying for classes. We don’t like to admit it, but without the hotel…”

Without the hotel, the community would suffer.

“I shouldn’t tease him,” Quinn whispered. “He has every reason to be grumpy.”

Reaching over to squeeze the younger woman’s hand, Zoey murmured, “Thank you. You’ve been very sweet to try and help me.”

When Zoey stood up to go, Quinn popped up to her feet, once more a bundle of energy and enthusiasm. “Are you looking forward to the fireworks?”

“Hmm?”

“Everyone is saying this year will be the best. Although after last night, who really knows what will happen now. Maybe next year’s will be even better if more people are around.”

“What do you mean?”

Quinn blinked owlishly. “You don’t know? All anyone can talk about is Ms. Montgomery’s plans for Moose Springs.”

“We had to make a dramatic escape prior to the scheduled programming,” Zoey replied drolly. “I think I need to talk to Lana. Do you know where she is?”

More than happy to be of help, Quinn immediately said, “Up in her rooms.”

Zoey tilted her head, confused by Quinn’s certainty. “I was just there. Lana’s not inside.”

“No, not the one she’s staying in with you. The other rooms she reserved. The executive suite and the presidential suite. Ms. Montgomery booked out the entire penthouse floor. Mr. Montgomery—oh my gosh, he is so gorgeous, isn’t he—and his companions are staying in one, and she’s running the other as an office space.”

“Quinn, can you get me into Lana’s suite? Her office, not Killian’s room. My keycard won’t let me access the penthouse floor.”

“Sure.” Quinn was more than willing to help. “But let’s take the staff elevator so no one sees. I’m technically not allowed to let any other guests on the penthouse floors.”

Seeming to enjoy sneaking around, Quinn led her to the service elevator allowing staff up to that level. The entire elevator ride, Zoey’s heart raced. Graham had been beside himself last night. Knowing something that mattered to him so much had been ripped away by the people visiting this hotel only made Zoey more anxious as they arrived at the suite.