Page 7 of Bailey Bangs Her Brother's Best Friend
It’s easier here.Hunter’s friends don’t count my bites or make comments about “watching it.”
Plus it’s cozy and loud and Silas’s arm keeps brushing mine.
Next to me, Silas leans forward on the table, his arms crossed.“Does Bailey know about the secret menu?”
I perk up.“What secret menu?”
Hunter leans in too.“The Schaefers haven’t let us change the menu in ages, so we just do our own thing.We don’t tell the tourists, but all the Herevians know about it.”
The Schaefers are the owners of Sirens Valley Lodge.They used to live in Here, but now they mostly live in Albany.I had known that they’ve turned more and more of the running of the business over to my brother—who’s worked here since he was a teenager giving ski lessons and running the lift—but I’ve also heard Hunter complain enough about how they are set in their ways and don’t care to make any official changes.
Hunter stands.“Let me go see what Chef Paul is up to tonight.”
Quinn excuses herself to go say hi to some other friends and that leaves me and Silas at the table.
“Ready for ski season?”I ask Silas.Even though he doesn’t work at the lodge—he probably would if he didn’t have three jobs—everyone knows how business is going.When the survival of the town relies on one company to bring people in, it’s hard not to pay attention.
Silas runs a hand over his dark hair.“We’ve got a lot of cleaning jobs booked.Thankfully that leaves me free to ski the weekdays.Hopefully we’ll get more snow than last year and the lift will be down less.”
Hunter frequently complained about the situation last year.While the chairlift isn’t the oldest in the Catskills the liftisoriginal.And since the resort is twice my age, it’s no wonder that the lift is down frequently.It’s needed an upgrade for a while—but so have a lot of things.
Hunter gets back and ticks some menu items off his fingers.“Paul’s made kimchi and bacon focaccia, a smash burger with candied jalapeños and goat cheese, and his homemade smoked mushroom vegan patty.”
My eyes get wider with each one.“Holy shit.”
Silas chuckles and Hunter grins.“Not so Podunk anymore, are we?Should I just order one of everything?”
I almost open my mouth to say something snarky about overeating, but I bite my tongue.I need to be kinder to myself and not put myself down.
“One of everything,” I say firmly.Then, because I can’t help myself: “We’ll share, right?”
Silas bumps my shoulder.“Obviously.I’m not letting you have all the candied jalapeños to yourself.”
Something in my chest loosens.
“So,” Silas says while Hunter’s distracted ordering.His voice drops low enough that only I can hear.“Valentine’s Day.”
My stomach flips.“Valentine’s Day.”
“I’ve been thinking about lighting setups.”His voice is low enough that only I can hear over the bar noise.
Of course he has.“Already?”
“Can’t help it.Photographer brain.”He taps his temple, then meets my eyes.“This is going to be good, Bailey.I promise.”
The intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch.I believe him.That’s the terrifying part.
“What are you two whispering about?”Hunter asks, sliding back into the booth with a triumphant grin.
Silas and I spring apart—when did we lean that close together?
“Nothing,” we say in unison.
Hunter’s eyes narrow, his gaze ping-ponging between us.“Uh-huh.”
This afternoon, when I was nervous about asking Silas to do the boudoir session, I was worried he would say no and everything would change.
Now that he’s said yes, though, things are still going to change for us.
