Freeing Reese (Tremont Lodge Series Book 3) by Marcy Blesy Read Free Book Online Page A

into his ear.
    “Who? I don’t care. I can’t wait.”
    “You have to, baby,” I whisper, reaching around my back and retying the strings. I splash water in his face, and while he’s distracted, step out of the hot tub and let him watch me walk slowly to my towel, but it’s so ridiculously cold that as soon as I have my shoes on, I wrap the towel around my body and run into the warm hallway of the lodge. Finn isn’t far behind me. We don’t make it very far, though. Thankfully the supply closet on the tenth floor doesn’t have a security camera. It’s still a little chilly, but it is the hottest night of my life.

Chapter 9:
    Thanks for a great night. I’ll call you later.
    I smile as I tuck Finn’s note under my pillow so I can read it again later. I can’t believe he has to work on Christmas Eve, but I guess Mother Nature doesn’t wait for anyone, not even Santa Claus or Baby Jesus. Plus, it will give me a chance to try to see Ted again. He needs to know how much I miss working at Tremont Lodge and how much I’m going to miss it when I leave in the spring because although I told him once that I was going with Finn to his cruise ship gig in March, we hadn’t discussed the details of my leaving and whether anything would be waiting for me upon my return, if I returned. And, honestly, the thought of not returning makes me kind of sad.
    When I walk onto the landing of the third floor of the lodge, it is Helen I see down the hall sitting at Georgia’s desk which is a bit of a surprise. “Helen?” I ask.
    “Oh, Reese, hello, dear! So good to see you. What can I do for you today, honey?”
    “Well, first you can tell me why you’re here. I know that came out a little bitchy. Sorry.”
    ‘No, no. It’s quite all right. It’s my day off. You see, Mr. Ted always gives me Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to spend with my family.”
    “That’s great and all—but you’re not with your family. You’re here. ”
    “Can’t get anything past you, can I?” She laughs.
    “My family is here, too, so technically we’re together. Ha! The kids are in the pool with their dad. I’ll be joining them soon, another Christmas tradition…swimming in the hands-off pool. Oh, how I love the feeling of being immersed in hot water with your face exposed to the freezing air. The dichotomy is quite an interesting effect, no?”
    “Yeah, it’s pretty awesome. Finn and I took a dip last night after skiing.”
    “How romantic!” She practically gushes joy from her pores.
    “It was. I think I need to have more conversations with you, Helen. You’re a great reminder to see the positives in my life.”
    “Glad I could be of service. Now, what is it that you need today?”
    “I…I need to see Ted.”
    “He’s not here.”
    “Then why are you here?”
    “I’m just monitoring the phone and things for him since Georgia left.”
    “She didn’t leave, Helen. Ted fired her. She’s been screwing Lawson.”
    “Keep me out of the gossip. The less I know the better. All I know is that he asked me to monitor things for a few hours.”
    “Hmm…well, you have a great Christmas, Helen. Enjoy your family.”
    “I will, sweetie. Family’s everything after all.”
    I ponder Helen’s words as I take the elevator up to the penthouse suite. Family is everything, and more than anyone, I should understand what that means. Ted is family whether or not I knew that when I came to Tremont Lodge. I wish I had a Christmas present for Ted, my father , and I rack my brain trying to think what a man who has everything at his fingertips would want. I enter the access code and let myself into the suite. It is eerily quiet, as it has been on each of my few visits.
    “Ted?”
    Nothing.
    “Ted?”
    I walk toward the large windows. Skiers float down the slopes in every direction I look. Hills of varying size send skiers of different skill levels drifting back to the bottom—or as in my case, some clunk down with stops and starts along the