Page 46 of A Secret Chance
“Actually, for early season, they’re the best I’ve seen in years. You should go.”
He finished his beer in one sip and set down the empty cup on the table. She raised her eyebrows at him. “What? These are small,” he said. Charlotte refilled his cup and then topped up her own. “They should really be using something reusable,” he stated.
“You’re not the first person to say that.” Charlotte narrowed her eyes at him momentarily and then shook her head slightly. “You’re the heli-skiing type, aren’t you?”
It sounded like an insult. “I’ve been.” He kept his answer short. “How about you?”
“Oh, I love heli-skiing,” Charlotte said. “I try to go a few times a year.”
“So, you’re the heli-skiing type,” he volleyed back.
“I suppose I am.” She shrugged. “Been to any good lodges lately?”
He had been to plenty, but none could match the experience he’d had at FKT Heli-skiing. “They all start to feel the same after a while. You?” he asked. The small talk was perfunctory and wasn’t getting any easier. He really wanted to ask where her friend Lauren had gone. They clearly knew each other, and Baxter had spent the afternoon wondering how close they were and if they talked about the development.
“I like FKT,” Charlotte replied. “Have you been to that one?”
The interrogation continued. “Not for a long time,” he said. The small talk was painful. He wished that they could just talk about business. Could it be that she was having a hard time finding common ground outside of real estate as well?
Charlotte looked past Baxter’s shoulder then stood up and waved. Baxter craned his head around to see who was on the receiving end. Logan Brush was easy to spot, but that wasn’t where his eyes were drawn, it was to the woman on his arm – Lauren.
***
CHARLOTTE STOOD UPas they approached the table. Lauren widened her eyes and gave her sister her best silent ‘what the fuck’ look.
“Hi, baby,” Charlotte said. She gave Logan a hug and then stepped back. She gestured to Baxter, “Logan, this is Baxter Caldwell.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Baxter stood up to shake Logan’s hand.
Charlotte continued, “And I believe you’ve met Lauren Bunkman,”
“Hello, Miss Bunkman.” Baxter reached out his hand. Lauren was thankful for the protection of her gloves and didn’t remove them to shake his hand. She hoped the leather of his would dampen the tremble in her hands but could feel it as they shook. Or, was it his hands that were shaking?
“Hello,” Lauren said.
Charlotte introduced Logan to the rest of the Caldwell executives at the table. After the introductions, each group went back to their own conversations, leaving Lauren, Charlotte, Logan, and Baxter at the end of the table closest to the fire pit.
Lauren pressed her palms together and held her hands underneath the table to try to quell the trembling. While they were there, she balled one up into a fist and banged it against her sister’s leg. Charlotte winced and gave Lauren an almost imperceptible shrug.
“Great throwing today.” Logan looked at Baxter. You almost had all three.”
“There should’ve been a warmup,” Baxter laughed. “I’m just glad there wasn’t anything breakable behind the target.”
Logan was about to reply when a voice interrupted their conversation. “Are you Caldwell?” Lauren recognized the rough-looking man as the mechanic from the gas station. Gary was known to be hot-headed. His nose looked like it had been broken five times because it had been – in bar fights.
Lauren watched as Baxter turned and stood up to meet Gary. “I am,” he said. Baxter stood taller than Gary by at least five inches, but the wobbling local had at least one hundred pounds on him.
Everyone at the table stopped mid-conversation and stared at the showdown.
“Thanks for the beer man,” Gary broke into a huge gap-toothed grin and wrapped one arm around Baxter, squeezing him tightly. “That was a sholid move,” he slurred.
“What’s going on?” Lauren whispered to Charlotte.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “And,” she dropped her voice even lower. “I didn’t invite him to sit here. Serena knows his assistant.”
The band finished off a perfect version ofKarma Chameleonand a silence fell over the crowd. Gary still had his arm wrapped around Baxter. “Everyone,” he shouted, taking advantage of the break in the music. “This is Baxter Caldwell. THE Baxter Caldwell who paid for all the beer we’re drinking.” The crowd murmured and then broke into a roaring cheer.
“What?” Lauren hissed. “When did this happen?”
