The Last Resort

They’re friends…

…nothing more.

Mallory Jenkins hates her job. Working for the prominent Ashford family winery isn’t exactly what she once envisioned for her life. She’d rather be in a kitchen than a conference room.

The only bright spot… her best friend, Hunter, works there too.

After a blow up with their boss, Hunter is fired, and Mallory realizes there’s nothing more keeping her there. Except maybe earning a living. She didn’t really think that part through.

Now, both unemployed, and with Hunter’s little sister to worry about, Mallory’s ready to chase their dream. Well, her dream, but she needs Hunter’s help.

They’ve been together through all the bad. Now she wants to find a little good too. But what if it isn’t enough?

Mallory might learn the problem with shooting for the stars is that everything she wants is right back here on earth.

Come to Superiore Bay for an escape into this heartwarming, small town romance with beautiful sunrises, lovable town-gossips, a complicated friends to lovers relationship, and a kid who will steal your heart.

The Last Resort is the prequel to the Maine Mornings series. It’s a standalone story with a guaranteed happy ending.

My boss was a jerk. It wasn’t a secret around the offices of the Superiore Winery owned and operated by The Ashford and his oldest son. That was what we called him, The Ashford, as if he was some kind of king, or a dictator maybe. 

But I knew the truth. He was an unhappy man whose own children barely tolerated him. Revered in our little town of Superiore Bay, Maine, sure, but more for the money he’d given to the town and the status his family name had brought for generations than any true love for the man himself. 

“Hunter.” My best friend, Mallory, snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Are you even listening to me?”

“What?” I shook myself and tore my eyes away from the door to the big man’s corner office. He wasn’t here often, traveling to various distributors and spending extra time overseeing production of his precious wine. Conner Ashford, the oldest son, usually ran the offices, but even he wasn’t here on a daily basis. 

So, why was daddy Ashford here today? 

Mallory sighed, an expression I knew well. I knew all her expressions, what each eye twitch, each curve of her lips meant. I’d had plenty of time to study them in the decades we’d been friends. 

I also knew when I looked at her again, she wouldn’t be mad at me. There’d be a smile playing on her lips, one she indulged me with when something amused her. I got the feeling I amused her a lot. 

“And this is why I was promoted before you.” There was a teasing note in her tone. 

Finally, I peered down at her, smiling when I caught the look I’d been expecting. I shifted where I sat on the corner of her desk. “Sorry, I’m a bit distracted today.” 

“Ya think?” Standing, she rounded her desk to shut the door to her office. I didn’t even have an office. My desk was out in what we called the pit, as in mosh pit. It was where the majority of us plebes had our desks crammed together and tried to tune each other out to get our work done. 

It wasn’t always so easy. 

“Okay.” Mallory stood in front of me now, and I met her deep brown gaze. Blonde hair was pulled back into a braid, but loose strands framed her face. Many people would have done that deliberately and created a sexy, messy look. But not Mallory. She tried to look more put together. She just never really succeeded. Instead of looking intentional, it made her seem a bit wild, like she’d just woken up and come in to work. 

As vice president of marketing for Superiore Wine, it was a strange look. 

One I sort of loved. 

Mallory crossed her arms over her pale pink blouse. “What is wrong with you today?” she asked. 

“Many things.”

“Well, I won’t argue with that.” Her lips twitched. “But you’ve been staring at the big man’s office for the last few minutes.”

“What do you think he’s doing here?”

She shrugged. “It’s his business.”

“Yes, but last time he came in, it was to fire three of the junior sales associates.” Three of my coworkers. 

Before she could answer me, there was a knock at the door. Mallory turned to open it, and her assistant peeked into the office behind her, lifting a brow at my presence. “Mr. Ashford is looking for Hunter.” Emma smoothed down her dress, not taking her eyes from me. 

I offered her a small smile. We’d dated last year and had a good time, but I hadn’t been in the right frame of mind for anything serious. Mallory had warned me not to lead the younger woman on, and I’d hated myself for it. 

Mallory tapped her foot, something she did when she was agitated. “Do you know why?” 

Emma seemed to awaken and finally ripped her gaze from me to focus on her boss. “No, sorry. I heard it from Hank who said Jessica in accounting told him. Jessica overhead Mr. Ashford asking the young Mr. Ashford where Hunter was.” 

“Thanks, Emma. If anyone asks, you didn’t see him.”

A secret smile played on her lips, and she nodded before shutting the door. 

Mallory turned on her heel to face me. “Okay, we have a few options here. You could sneak out my window. We’re on the fifth floor, but there’s a ledge out there that might even fit your big feet. You could scoot along it until you get to the window in the stairwell. It probably won’t be open, but you can try to break it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Mal, these windows are hurricane proof. You really think I’d be able to break one?” 

She pursed her lips. “I thought the bigger impediment to that solution was going to be you falling off the ledge. You’re not exactly agile or athletic.”

“Thanks for that.” I looked down at my lean body, knowing she was right. I didn’t have abs for days. I probably had a single ab. And no one would ever call me coordinated. 

She tapped her chin. “How about this … you could walk into the hall behind me. We’d have to pass Conner’s office on the way to the elevator. His door is always open, but I could flash him for distraction and—”

“You’re not flashing Conner Ashford.”

“You ruin all my fun.” 

I rolled my eyes. Conner wasn’t nearly as bad as his dad, but it didn’t mean I liked the guy. Mallory had developed a ridiculous crush on him soon after taking this job, saying he was basically every girl’s fantasy. Rich, attractive, not unkind. Though, I’d never call him especially kind. 

Then, there was me, barely getting by with my low salary in a job I hated, responsible for my eight-year-old sister, Christina, and with little in my life beyond tea parties and Saturday night TV binges. 

When my eyes focused on Mallory again, she was giving me a strange look, one filled with something I never wanted from her. Pity. 

I’d never been great at this job, at selling wine. Not like Mallory. She was the best in the marketing department. I’d even heard Conner say it before. 

Sure, she was a mess and a lot bit ridiculous, but she also worked hard and had more talent in her pinky finger than most people would ever touch. 

“You could just go talk to him.” The way her voice softened hit me. Because she was right. 

I couldn’t be scared of my boss, the man who kept Chris fed. “Maybe the whole flashing thing isn’t such a bad idea.”

Mallory slapped my shoulder. “Chicken sh—”

“Hey now. There are children listening.” I covered my ears.

Mallory peeled my hands away. “Hunter, just because you have less maturity than your sister doesn’t mean you’re a child.” 

“Less maturity, huh?” I jumped off her desk and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, bringing my other hand up to mess up her hair. 

“Stop.” She was laughing as she pushed me away. “You never grow up, do you?” 

“Growing up is overrated.” 

“Whatever, get out of here. I’m heading home.” She grabbed her purse from under the desk. “I’ll see you later. Emma is probably going to be here finishing up some work for a while yet, so whatever happens with Mr. Ashford, make sure it’s loud enough that she can hear every word to relay to me.”

“Why wouldn’t you just ask me to tell you?”

She scoffed at that. “Because Hunter Ellison, you have a tendency to forget the important stuff.” She patted my cheek before pushing me into the hall and locking the office door. 

I watched her walk between rows of desks, stopping to chat with Conner outside his office. Something tightened within me as she touched his arm and laughed at something he said. Conner Ashford was not funny. Ever. 

Turning away from them, I started toward Mr. Ashford’s massive office, feeling like I was walking the plank. When I glanced behind me for one more look at Mallory to give me strength, she was gone. 

With a sigh, I stopped at Mr. Ashford’s assistant’s desk. But Tim was nowhere to be found. Well, better get this over with, I thought as I walked to the ominous door and lifted a hesitant hand. 

After a moment of indecision, I forced myself to issue three short raps. 

Nothing happened for a tense moment before a gruff voice called, “What is it?” 

“Um, sir, it’s Hunter Ellison. I was told you wanted to see me.” 

“Come in.” 

The office was dim with only a low light flooding the space. He had blinds drawn over his massive windows, and he sat at his desk with a tumbler of brown liquid in his hand. Whiskey, I assumed. 

He drained it and settled hard eyes on me. “Close the door, Mr. Ellison.”

I did as he asked and then sat down when he gestured to a chair. “Is something wrong, sir?” 

“I fired Amanda and Clint.” He said the words emotionlessly, as if that wouldn’t rock my entire department. Amanda was my direct boss and Clint had been next in line for a promotion. 

My jaw tensed. They were good, hardworking people who’d given a lot to this company. “Is that why I’m here, sir? Should I pack up my desk?” Suddenly, he didn’t scare me anymore. What I saw before me was just a man like any other, one who wielded his power like a bludgeon instead of with responsibility. 

Mr. Ashford stared down into his empty glass. “Your work is exemplary, Mr. Ellison. Theirs was not.” 

It was a lie. Amanda had been the best salesperson they had. It was why she’d earned the job as head of sales. But last year, she’d had a baby, and since then, she’d refused to work long hours, refused to work weekends. The rest of us had cheered her on. 

“I would like to offer you her position.”

I leaned back, utterly stunned. This hadn’t been what I was expecting. I had to admit, it was tempting. The job came with a pay increase but also a lot more expectations. Those who held it typically didn’t do so for very long. 

Without waiting for me to accept or reject his offer, Mr. Ashford continued speaking, “I will, of course, need you to extend your schedule. This job requires a commitment and a dedication to the work. It does not allow life to interfere. You’re not married, are you, Mr. Ellison?” 

I stared at him, unable to believe what I was hearing. He’d obviously done his research on me. Was he only offering me this position because I was a man? And a single one at that? “Yes.” My jaw tensed. 

He didn’t seem to notice my reaction. “Good, good. Then, we will have no problems. Tomorrow, I’ll need you to go to HR and get everything sorted there, but I’m glad we’re on the same page. I expect a lot out of you.”

I could feel my anger rising, wanting to break free. I thought of Christina, waiting for me to pick her up from the sitter’s, the way she’d needed me ever since our parents died. It was unfathomable to even consider anything that would take me away from her. 

Mr. Ashford spoke again. “This job requires some travel as we—”

“I decline.”

“What?”

“The job. I can’t take it. I’m sorry, but I’m raising my little sister, and she comes first. I’m not the right person for such a demanding position. But thank you for thinking of me, sir.” I stood and was out the door in three quick strides. 

I didn’t realize Mr. Ashford had followed me until I heard his voice again. 

“Who do you think you are, young man?” 

Everything stopped. The few people remaining in the offices ceased talking. No one made a sound. 

It was all I could do not to tell Mr. Ashford what I really thought of him, his offer, and his sexist business practices. No, scratch that, I didn’t need to hold that in. It barely registered in my mind that I was about to blow up my entire life as I turned to face him. “Was Amanda’s child too much of an inconvenience to you?” 

“Excuse me?” His voice was dangerous. “This job requires full commitment.”

I nodded. “Right, so women with children are out, and I’m the lucky man who gets to fill the role by default.” I knew now where my anger came from. I may not have been a mother, but with my sister to care for, I saw the unfairness in the entire system. 

“You’re dangerously close to not holding a position at this winery at all, Mr. Ellison.”

“Dad,” Conner walked toward us, “maybe we should take this somewhere more private.” 

His father ignored him. “It is not my fault the woman didn’t want to work.”

I almost laughed at that. Amanda had been the hardest worker I knew. She just didn’t work outside of the office’s set hours, as was her right. 

I had the sudden urge to run from this corporate life, from working a job I’d always hated in these sterile and lifeless offices. 

“I don’t want the promotion.” I wasn’t sure why I’d felt the need to repeat that. If it was up to me, I’d quit right here on the spot. But the sad truth was, I couldn’t afford to. 

Mr. Ashford’s face reddened. “Your generation … you don’t want to work.”

“No.” I shook my head. “We just want more in our lives than work.” I turned away from him to head back to my desk and calm down before driving home. 

But his voice called me back. “You’re fired, Mr. Ellison.”

Fired. 

Fired. 

A word I’d never before heard directed at me. I stiffened, not wanting to show how much the word cut me. I’d hated the job, but I hadn’t wanted to fail at it. 

My eyes flicked to the closed door of Mallory’s office. We’d worked side by side for so long I couldn’t imagine not seeing her here every day. 

And that was when I realized the biggest problem of all. I cared more about that than about losing the job. 

“Dad,” Conner was saying, “we can’t lose anyone else from the sales department.” 

But Mr. Ashford wouldn’t budge. I knew that. He was an immovable force. 

And it turned out, so was I. 

I felt eyes on me as I walked to my desk, grabbing the only thing I wanted to take with me—a coffee mug Mallory had bought me as a joke. It had her face on it. 

Mug in hand, I walked past the people I’d worked with for the last four years, keeping my head high. 

When I got out of the building and breathed in the cold air, I wasn’t sure if the feeling churning inside me was relief or fear.