Page 5 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

IfItake control of the situation, no one can play me.

But no, he couldn’t act rashly because his feelings were hurt. He needed more time at a gold-plated firm before he could go out on his own. Probably best to take the open offer from the LA firm.

Once outside, the brittle, icy air slapped him in the face. With the towering buildings blocking the sunlight, New York City in the winter could be bitterly cold. After hailing a cab, he slid inside, gave the address to the driver, and brought out his phone again. He needed advice.

He watched the stream of pedestrian traffic. A woman pushed a double stroller, a thick scarf wound around her neck. A power couple dressed in suits and expensive shoes bent their heads down against the wind. A cluster of school-age kids wearing uniforms talked animatedly.

The world marched on, and he couldn’t have felt more alone.I have no one to talk to.

It was in moments like this that he missed his high school friends the most. How many times did they solve the world’s problems by hanging out and shooting the shit?

They probably thought their best times together were snowboarding glaciers or BASE jumping. He smiled when he thought of the not-so-great time they’d tried to skate on the frozen Snake River. He’d tried to warn them about moving water, but they were having too much fun to listen. He’d gone along with it anyhow because he’d lived for the adrenaline rush.

Until it all came crashing down around him.

But really, his best memories were of them hanging out. Sitting around a bonfire, talking about everything and nothing at all.

Since then, he’d gone to college and law school, worked at Elite Sports Management, but he’d never had a group of friends like that.

By the time he got back to his apartment, he was pretty set on taking the LA job. He’d put too much time and money into the Detroit golfer to lose him to Marcus. And he would. Why would anyone trust their career to a guy at a start-up boutique agency when they could have Elite?

He’d be damned if he’d let Marcus nab him.

He didn’t want to leave New York, but it would take months of interviews to find a new place, and he needed to be settled right away.

“Morning, Mr. Hayes.” The building’s concierge did a decent job of hiding his surprise at seeing him home this early. “Hope you’re going somewhere warm for the holidays.”

The last thing on Booker’s mind was Christmas. With his mom out of town, he’d figured he’d work straight through. But now, Marcus might stop by or call him into the office. He’d probably invite Booker over for Christmas dinner—just to keep the pressure on.

He had to think, and he couldn’t do that here. He needed to get the hell out of the city.

And he knew just where he wanted to go.

Decision made, he said, “Just the opposite.”

“You going skiing?” the concierge asked.

No one knew about his cabin in Wyoming. Not even his mom.

He cracked a grin. “I’m going to smoke cigars in front of a fire.”

Completely and totally alone.

ChapterTwo

When his wiperscouldn’t keep up with the onslaught of snow, and the tires spun with no traction, Booker knew it was time to give up. He’d been lucky enough to grab the last flight before the airports shut down. He’d even convinced the employee who was closing the rental car office to fill out the paperwork and get him on the road.

But here’s where my luck ends.

East Coasters thought winters were rough, but they’d never seen one in the Tetons. Snow dropped in a steady sheet, making the roads impassable. He had a trunk full of groceries, and he’d have to abandon most of them.

After he cut the engine, he shoved his hands into gloves and plonked a wool hat on his head, tugging it down over his ears. Then, he grabbed his duffel and as many grocery bags as he could carry and got out of the car.

Wind whipped his cheeks, the sting making it hard to keep his eyes open.

A man could die out here.

He was exhausted, and all he wanted was to crash on his pillowtop mattress with his down comforter. He wouldn’t even bother making a fire. He’d drop into a deep sleep.

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