Finding Us (Happy Ending Resort Series Book 4)

  She moves away from me and flops down on the couch. I follow suit and sit down along side of her, taking her hands in mine.

  “Even though it wasn’t the most luxurious job, I loved working for the firm. I did my own thing, and I did it well.”

  “You’ll find another job, Chelby. You’re smart, have the experience and education to pull off just about anything.”

  “Yeah, I guess, but not every…” I stop her right there. I’m not letting her for a second let my parent’s thoughts of her career choices bog down her mind.

  “It’s fine, it’ll be okay. I promise.”

  Nodding, she squeezes my hands.

  “You’re always so reassuring, Tristan, like nothing in this world could ever get you down.”

  “It’s not always like that, Chelby, and you know me better than anyone. We’ll figure it out, at least that’s one last thing we need to do before we leave. I don’t want you stressing about it or anything else for that matter. Starting right now we are on vacation, to where I don’t have any idea. For the next week, we are going to fly by the seat of our pants and live life with no distractions. It’s just you and me, Chelby, against the world. We’ll take it all in and settle for what comes our way day by day.”

  She looks at me with excitement boasting through her eyes.

  “Thank you for everything, Tristan. This is something that we both need. No stress, no reservations just the relaxation we both deserve.”

  “That’s right, sweet girl. Now let’s get you to bed so we can start off on our voyage with rested eyes. In the morning, I’ll come get you, and we’ll hit the road.”

  “You know you can stay here, it’s kinda late.”

  “I know, but I think for now I’ll just go home. I have to pack stuff up for our trip anyway. I’ll be back before you wake up with coffee and breakfast. Just get yourself some much needed rest, I need my copilot alert and ready to go for our road trip in the morning.”

  Together we stand from the couch as I follow her back to her room. Once she’s nestled under the covers, I turn off the lights and make my way out of her room.

  “I love you,” I whisper.

  Chapter 7

  Tristan

  After getting to Chelby’s place a little after nine, I was surprised that she was up, packed and ready to go. The look on her face, when she opened the door, sent my heart into a fast paced rhythm. Dressed in jeans, a plain white tee and a scarf wrapped around her neck, she looked breath taking. Not to mention her long blonde hair falling in soft waves below her shoulders and those blue eyes pulling me in, this girl could wear just about anything, and she’d still be a vision to me.

  Even though she doesn’t quite see it yet, it’s her inner beauty that attracts me to her. Under the layers of hurt and anxiety, there’s a heart of gold that would do just about anything for anyone. Through everything, she always had a soft side, yet I know her fears and insecurities keep her from sharing it with others.

  We all build walls; it’s a way of protecting ourselves. I just wish those walls wouldn’t be put up against me. She’s scared, and I understand that. I’ve broken through to her once before, and I’ll be damned if I won’t try my hardest and make her see that I’m here to save and protect her.

  The next few days I’m determined to make them the best of our lives. I’m willing to follow through on my promise to spend this time together on her terms, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll be trying to sweep her off her feet.

  After eating the breakfast I brought, we decide to load up the Range Rover and hit the road. Now to decide which direction we should start driving. This is probably the most spontaneous I’ve ever been. Flying by the seat of my pants isn’t like me at all.

  “North or south?” I ask looking over in her direction.

  “What?” she asks with a giggle while opening her window.

  I love her laugh, her smile and seeing her so carefree.

  “Which direction should we head in, north or south?

  Turning her body toward me in her seat, she rests the palm of her hand on my arm.

  “Oh my god, Tristan, you really didn’t plan this out at all did you?” she asks with wide eyes.

  I can’t help but smile at her as those blue eyes stare back at me in astonishment.

  “Nope,” I reply with a grin.

  “Well, okay then. Umm, let’s go south, I mean why not…right?”

  “Sounds good to me, sweet girl, south it is. Find us something to listen to and then kick back and relax. After a while, we’ll stop for something to eat and see where we end up.”

  “You do realize this is the craziest thing we’ve ever done?” she says before playing with the radio.

  “I do,” I reply knowing very well this is going to be one hell of a road trip.

  For the next few hours we follow the highway south, I haven’t a clue where the hell we are or a good spot to stop. The gas gauge is indicating that we should stop fairly soon and by the sounds of Chelby’s stomach growling I’m positive she’s ready to pull off for a bit as well.

  Watching for the next major exit, I turn away from the highway and find us a place to stop and rest. Once out of the car, we both stretch our legs and decide to grab a bite to eat.

  “Where the hell are we?” she asks.

  “To be honest I haven’t a clue, but we should probably figure out where to stop before it gets too late,” I reply.

  Looking across the table at her, she seems to be feeling fine, but I can’t help but worry. She’s a big girl, and I know she wants to do this all her own, I’m just anxious that by asking her it could send her off into her own world of insecurities.

  After eating some lunch and walking through a few of the local stores, we decide to get back on the road. We looked over a map while in the gas station and decided that in about another two hours we call it a day. The town on the map Chelby chose is called Endings. When she mentioned it I was a bit hesitant, I mean come on the name alone is enough to send a chill through your body…Endings.

  Brushing it off, I agreed it would be a good place for us to find a spot to stop. The gas station attendant didn’t know much about the area but said that it’s known for a large resort that has camping sites, cabins, and a few other amenities.

  Throwing caution to the wind, we decided this was the place we were going to stop. With another hundred plus miles to go, we hop back into my SUV and set forth to our final destination…Endings, South Carolina.

  Chelby

  Who knew sitting in a car and watching the scenery pass by could be so relaxing. For the past few hours, I’ve been listening to the music blaring on the radio and letting the wind blow through my hair. Every so often I look over and catch Tristan looking at me with the biggest smile on his face. The thought of seeing him happy and so excited for this trip sends a wave of anticipation through me. I don’t know what to expect from this week, but I do know that I’m anxious to feel a sense of freedom that we’ve both been missing.

  Looking out onto the distance, signs along the highway indicate that we’re close to the town of Endings. I’m so looking forward to getting out of this SUV and start exploring. Even though it’s getting late, I can already feel a bolt of adrenaline getting ready to burst through my body. Maybe it’s all of this sitting, hell, I don’t know. It’s been a long trip, but one that I’m glad I decided to take.

  A large sign sits off the highway showing the Happy Ending Resort is within 15 miles.

  “Ohhh, Tristan, look,” I say pointing toward the sign. “Isn’t that the place the guy mentioned?”

  Watching as he lowers his head to see the sign, he nods and looks to me with yet another huge grin.

  “Yup, I think that’s it, thank God. I need to get out of this car.”

  “Me too,” I squeal with excitement.

  “Someone sounds a bit eager,” he replies with a wink.

  “I know I totally am. I can’t wait to see what’s there for us to do. We needed this, T
ristan, and I’m so glad you asked me to come. This week is going to be amazing, and I honestly can’t wait.”

  “I’m right there with you, sweet girl, but first let’s get there and see if we can even rent a spot.”

  For a brief moment I feel the bubble within me start to burst. It’s not like he’s telling me no, it’s just the thought of not being able to stay at this resort that has me a bit disappointed.

  Tristan reaches for my hand and intertwines our fingers.

  “Don’t sweat it, we’ll be good to go, I promise,” he says with a reassuring smirk.

  Turning to him, I lean across the center console and place a gentle kiss onto his cheek. The world could literally be crumbling to hell, and this man would find a positive way to make it seem like everything will be okay. God, I…

  Nope, not gonna do it, day by day, Chelby.

  He has a way of sending my heart into a frenzy and no matter what, I want to take this time together slow. Yes, he’s the man I’ve loved for years, but now…this time around I want to love myself before I completely let myself go to him.

  After ten minutes, Tristan steers onto the exit ramp and follows the signs toward our destination. As we approach the resort, I can feel my insides beginning to tremble. It’s a feeling I’ve been accustomed to for years, the way my body reacts to unknown situations. I try to take in slow deep breaths without Tristan knowing what’s going on. Closing my eyes, I continue to breathe while I count backward from ten. As the time passes, I slowly begin to feel the tension release from my body and the comfort of Tristan’s hand in mine.

  The car comes to a stop, and a gentle squeeze comes from his hand in mine.

  “We’re here, sweet girl. Why don’t you get out and stretch your legs while I go inside the main office. As soon as I see what they have for us, I’ll come out and get you.”

  With open eyes, I smile and nod while he removes his fingers from mine. Watching as he gets out of the SUV, I do the same and start walking around to see what’s here.

  Taking a deep breath of the fresh fall air, I pause as the wind picks up and tussles my hair in front of my face. It’s just about dinner time, and I can smell the charcoal grills cooking burgers and steaks. My stomach starts to growl, and I’m reminded that we haven’t eaten anything since around noon.

  Mental note…get food in Chelby before she goes into hangry mode.

  I continue to walk around the area, being sure not to go too far before Tristan comes out. I’m taken back by the tranquility that surrounds me; it’s so peaceful here. Beautiful colors cover the leaves in the trees as the season takes on full bloom. Off in the distance, I can see a large body of water, which I can only assume it’s a lake of some sort. The temperatures are still a bit mild, but too cool to go for a swim. Still this place is breath taking.

  “Chelby,” Tristan’s voice calls out to me.

  Turning to face him, I see a key dangling from his finger. With every step he takes toward me, his smile grows as his hazel eyes brighten with excitement. Seeing him happy makes me happy, a feeling that felt foreign for far too long.

  As he steps directly in front of me, I can’t resist the urge to throw my arms up around his neck.

  “Yay, you got us a place to bunk for the week. Thank you so much, Tristan,” I squeal.

  He picks me up off the ground and spins me around in a few circles.

  “I’m so happy right now, Chelby, I don’t think you realize just how much this little getaway means to me.”

  He sets me down so that my feet are firmly planted on the ground. With my arms still wrapped around his neck, I forget about my terms for a moment and let myself fall into him. Our lips meet, and a tingling sensation shoots from the tips of my toes up through the roots of my hair. He pulls me tighter into his embrace as his tongue licks across my lips. I’ve missed his kiss so much, and once again I decide turn off all the warning sirens going off in my head.

  Allowing his tongue to enter my mouth, our bodies swelling with desire for one another, seconds last an eternity as I let go and enjoy this man.

  Chapter 8

  Tristan

  Her lips against mine sent my world into a tailspin. The memories I have of us sharing intimate moments are so fresh in my mind that I know it won’t take long for me to fall right back to where we used to be. But for her, it’s a different story. I need to take my time, even though the wait is an unpleasant agony I’d rather avoid.

  “I’m starving,” she calls out as we make our way back to the SUV.

  Food, of course she’s thinking about food when all I want to do is take her back inside.

  This woman is going to drive me nuts over the next few days, and there’s nothing I can do about it but wait until the time is right…until she’s ready to see that we aren’t too far off from where we left things.

  Pulling my head out of my ass, I slide into the SUV and crank up the engine.

  “Me too,” I agree with a nod. “There’s a place not too far from here we can go to once we get settled into the cabin.”

  Together we drive up the short road to our home for the week. As we approach, I look over to see Chelby bouncing in her seat. She catches my stare as I wink back to her. I love seeing her this way; happiness looks good on her.

  As I round the turn, the cabin sits directly in front of us. Parking on the stones along the side of the cabin, I turn off the engine.

  “So what do you think?” I ask turning to face her.

  I watch as she takes in the scene before us, her eyes lighting up as she looks around.

  “It’s incredible, Tristan,” she remarks.

  “I can’t argue with that and we were lucky enough to get one right here off the lake.”

  “Does it seem crazy that I’m already thinking how I won’t get a bit of sleep tonight knowing what’s out there to explore in the morning?” she beams with enthusiasm like a little kid on Christmas morning.

  “No, not at all. Sit tight, I’ll be right there.”

  Stepping out of the SUV I round the front and rush to the passenger’s side door. Opening it, I extend my hand out to her. Her soft fingers graze against my palm as I pull her out. Together we walk up to the small porch and front door. With the key in hand, I unlock the door to our retreat for the next few days. As we walk inside, we take our time looking around to see what the place has to offer. I wasn’t expecting the Ritz, but this place is great. It’s fully furnished with everything we’ll be needing for our stay, well except for the basic necessities like food.

  “This place is seriously amazing, Tristan, it really is.”

  I pull her into me again and rest my chin on top of her head.

  “This week is going to be wonderful because you’re here with me.”

  She lets out a giggle and pushes away.

  “Well, now that we know we have a place to stay, let’s go grab some food.”

  “As you wish, sweet girl, just let me bring in our bags and we’ll head out.”

  Quickly running out to the Rover, I grab all of our bags and take them back inside. We can worry about getting stuff put away when we get back.

  Looking around the small space I don’t see Chelby.

  “Alright, Chelby, let’s go,” I call out to her.

  “I’ll be right out,” she replies from the bathroom.

  Rather than waiting inside, I decide to take a walk around the cabin. The sky is starting to darken as a cool breeze picks up in the air.

  Standing behind the cabin, I set my eyes on the lake. This place has so much for us to do, I don’t know where to start. I want nothing more than this week to be fulfilling and relaxing for the two of us. It’s a chance to rekindle what I know we’ve always had. She’s slowly allowing herself to let go, but I know that internally she’s over analyzing her actions. Regardless, together we’ll take the baby steps I know she needs to keep things on her terms.

  “Hey,” her voice calls from the front of the cabin.

  Turning on my heels, I walk
along the side of the house to find her standing on the porch.

  “You ready to go?” I ask meeting her by the steps walking her toward the Rover.

  “Yes, let’s eat,” she replies as she gets into her seat.

  “The drive isn’t far and from what they told me in the office, it’s the best place in town to grab a great burger and beer,” I inform her as I pull away from the cabin and out of the resort.

  The distance to the bar is left in silence, and I can’t help but feel uneasy the less she talks.

  Damn it to hell, now I’m the one over analyzing shit.

  I can’t help it though, I’m lost not knowing what she’s thinking and it’s knocking the confidence I always have off a bit.

  Chelby

  As soon as we step out of the Rover, I’m hit with the delicious scents of greasy food. My stomach starts to grumble as my mouth begins to water.

  I’m famished.

  Following Tristan’s lead, I glance up to the sign reading The High Bar before we walk inside. The place already has quite a few patrons lined up along the bar, where others are seated amongst the tables and booths.

  Rather than waiting for a table, we grab two stools along the bar. My curiosity piques as I begin to scan the area. There’s a small stage set off to one side with equipment already in place for the band.

  I’ve never sat and listened to a live band before, so this could be quite entertaining.

  “What can I get ya?” A female voice asks.

  I turn back toward the sound to see a woman standing with an interesting smirk across her face.

  “I’ll just have water, please,” I respond still unsure what to make of this lady.

  “I’ll have the same,” Tristan requests.

  I look to him and then back to her while she stands in place.

  “You two aren’t from around here?” She challenges us, placing her hand on her left hip.