The Intern: Enemies To Lovers

HANNAH

“I

imagined this moment,” I whispered to Declan, squeezing his hand as he stood next to me, “when I was in the depths of studying and my eyes just wanted to close and I wanted to throw my books and give up.” I turned to him. “Whenever I got to that point, I would think of us, here, and all this beauty. That’s what drove me to keep going.”

“And now that you’re here?”

A breeze whipped past my face, bringing with it a scent that I absolutely loved-an indescribable freshness that I smelled every time I stepped into the mountains. “It’s even better the second time.”

He released my hand and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me against the side of his body. His lips pressed into the top of my head while we both took in this view.

A view we’d been discussing since the last time we had been here.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

A view we wanted to have more time to appreciate.

On my first day of studying, Declan had sent me an email. The itinerary it’d outlined was a surprise, as was the whole trip, his message saying I just needed to hang in there, that the reward would be worth the twelve weeks of hell I was about to go through. He had us leaving two days after I sat for the bar. We would start in Big Sky, Montana, and then we’d spend several days in Yellowstone before ending the adventure in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

His goal was for me to unplug once we got here.

My goal was a week of nonstop, uninterrupted time together-something I’d desperately needed.

We’d just arrived in Jackson Hole last night, and now, we were standing in front of the Grand Teton on a road somewhere inside the valley. We’d spent the morning rafting down Snake River, and on our way back to town, we had passed a sight that was so intensely beautiful that I asked Declan to pull over. Here, the mountains were a rich purple, the tips already white with snow, the sky so calm that not even a single cloud interrupted it. In front of us, at least a football field away, was a barn. It was old, weathered, with wonderful trees framing both sides.

There was something about this rickety structure, the fencing that surrounded the property, how it looked in front of the mountains that completely captured me. I couldn’t stop taking photos. I couldn’t stop fantasizing about what it would be like to live in a home that had a view like this.

“Don’t worry; we’re coming back again.”

I glanced up at Declan as a reassuring look passed over his face. “Why would you say that?”

“I can tell how much you love it here, so we’ll make another trip once Walter opens his hotel. And maybe another after I take you skiing in Europe.”

I rubbed my teeth over my bottom lip. “Sounds like you’re about to keep me very busy.”

“You’re going to need the time off when you’re working eighty hours a week. Trust me.”

Eighty hours seemed like nothing compared to the time I’d put into studying.

But in a few days, once we returned to LA, I would take a couple of weeks to get my life in order since the last twelve had been spent off the grid, and then I’d go to work as a clerk at The Dalton Group until the results of my exam came in.

I stood on my tiptoes to reach his lips. “Once a month or so, we’re just going to run away to travel the world? Because you think I’m going to need that time off?”

“When we’re both working that much, I’m going to need that time with you.” He reached under my fleece to grab my ass. “Do you find anything wrong with that?”

I laughed. “Nope.”

“Didn’t think so.”

He kissed me before he moved in behind me, holding my back to his chest, his arm crossing my neck. Warmth came off his body, and I soaked it in, my lungs burning as I inhaled the frigid air.

“Maybe next time, we’ll do Glacier National Park instead of Big Sky,” he said. “We can even go up to Banff and check out Lake Louise.”

I glanced up at him. “My God, Declan, that sounds absolutely fabulous. Those are locations I’ve dreamed about seeing.”

“I know.” He rubbed his thumb over my mouth. “They’ve been on my list too.” As I looked toward the mountains, he nuzzled into my neck. “We have no plans for the rest of the day, and dinner reservations aren’t until eight thirty tonight, so there are a few things we can do.”

Since we’d gotten off the private jet in Montana, every day had been an adventure. Some were spent hiking, some on wildlife tours, and today, we’d experienced the water. What we hadn’t done was spend any time in the big, beautiful suites that Declan had booked.

“What if we just went back to the hotel room and relaxed for a bit?” I suggested. “Maybe open that bottle of champagne that the hotel left for us? Put on some robes and hang by the fireplace?”

“Mmm,” he moaned, giving me a look that I recognized. “I was hoping you were going to say that.”

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

“I already texted the concierge and ordered us room service.” He tightened his grip on me. “It should be getting delivered right about now.”

“Declan, Declan …” After I turned toward him, my hands went to his face, and I was consumed by his handsomeness. “We should get going, then.”

“Not before I do this.”

My eyes closed as he pressed his lips to mine, my body relaxing against him, his hands taking all my weight.

There was something different about kissing in the mountains. About the air. About the way the scenery almost caged us in, hugging us like an extra set of arms. A beauty that matched my love for this man.

“Are you ready?” he whispered, his lips now hovering over mine.

I didn’t know exactly what he was asking-if I was ready to leave, if I was ready to eat the food he was having delivered, or if it was something else.

But it didn’t matter.

I’d follow Declan anywhere.

I clasped our hands together, and he helped me step into the Jeep.

Since our hotel was right in the middle of town, the drive there was short, and we pulled up to the front entrance, where the valet met us. Once we were inside the lobby, we took the elevator to our floor.

But when he opened our door, room service wasn’t the only thing that greeted us.

“Declan …” I said so softly as I took it all in.

Rose petals covered the floor, and candles flickered across every surface. There was a buffet of food, including desserts, on a table in the corner. And what created the most romantic ambiance were the flames that licked behind the glass of the fireplace and the balcony doors that had been left open, filling the room with my favorite scented air. There was so much to look at; it even took me a moment to notice the massage table that had more petals spread across the top of it.