A Cowboy for the CEO

Chapter 31: Enough is Enough

In stark contrast to just five minutes earlier, the lobby was now completely deserted. In the great room, Ali quickly found Pete stretched out on a sofa.

She plopped down in an adjacent armchair and touched his hand. "Hi."

He pulled a set of red headphones off his ears, resting them around his neck. "Hey. You're alive," he said half-heartedly.

"Was there any doubt?" she asked as a furry white head poked out from under the sofa. After Marv bolted out from his hiding spot and jumped into her lap, Ali turned to Pete again. "How are you doing?"

"I've been better," he said, sitting up and patting the cushion next to him.

Taking the small dog with her, Ali slid over next to Pete and put her arm around him. "I hope she pulls through."

"Me too, sweet pea," he said with a sniffle. "Me too."

As if in solidarity, Marv licked Ali's face while Pete recalled the events of the last few hours. Liz had been right; he was taking Harriet's ill health hard.

"I'm done, dude," he said after he was finished, leaning his head back against the couch.

Ali rubbed her face with her hands, feeling the lack of proper rest catching up with her, as well. "Yeah, it's been a crazy night."

"No, I mean I'm done here. I'm going home in a day—two max."

She cautiously glanced at him. "Is that a good idea?" Pete probably needed the professional support at the lodge now more than ever—but pointing that out would just make him more skittish.

He shook his head. "I need my mama, baby girl."

The urge to cry welled up inside Ali. She didn't miss Grace's presence often, but she knew exactly what Pete meant. "Promise to keep in touch, okay?"

"No doubt. I need to know if you manage to have any luck with Mr. Teflon before you head back home." He finally cracked a smile.

Ali scrunched her nose mischievously. She had been trying to keep her relationship with Hank a secret even from her closest confidantes at Pebble Creek, but there was no use in hiding it now. Even if they hadn't figured it out already, it had been fairly obvious to anyone who'd seen them return together earlier. At least filling Pete in could help take his mind off more serious things. "Um, about that . . ."

He gasped as his mouth dropped open. "You didn't!"

She nodded and grinned. "Where do you think I was all day?"

"Oh, girl. Tell me everything." Pete tucked one foot under his leg as he got comfortable.

"There isn't too much to tell," she said, trying to play it cool. "We've only been out twice, unless you count that first time at the fair with his niece and nephew. Does it count? I don't know."

"Who cares? Tell me about today," he urged, sensing the real meat of the story.

Ali's face flushed. "You know . . . we just hung out."

"At his place?" Pete teased, dropping his pitch.

She cleared her throat. "Yes."

His eyes widened. "And?"

"And we ordered takeout, drank some wine, slept . . ." She rattled off the innocuous activities like she was reading a grocery list.

"What?" he asked with increased interest. "Who slept?"

"Well, first just Hank did," Ali said, relishing her friend's vicarious enjoyment and continuing to tease him by intentionally drawing out the sordid details. "He had a long night with the storm and all. That's why we were at his apartment. I drove him home."