Of course, it also meant I had to ignore the little voice in my head whispering things like,This is temporary, and don’t fall for someone who’s checking out in a week.
I was great at ignoring voices.
Most of the time.
“So,” I said, breaking the silence, “I know it probablylookslike I masterminded a charming hostage situation, but I swear to you, my starter has been fine since April.”
He gave me a sidelong glance. “You’re really worried that I think this is all part of some elaborate plot, huh?”
“Yes! Because that’s how itlooks.”
He didn’t respond right away. Just lifted his hot dog from the fire, inspected the blackened side, and took a slow bite.
My stomach flipped watching him chew.
“You’re not that subtle,” he said finally, around a mouthful. “If this were a plan, it would’ve involved checklists and you accidentally calling me target acquired at least once.”
“I’d never!
He raised a brow.
“Okay,” I amended, “Imight.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Nope. The truth is… we’re stuck out here. And the last thing I need is you giving the lodge a one-star review because the innkeeper lured you into the woods and left you for d-e-a-d.”
Ben swallowed and laughed. “I don’t think you get a star rating if the guest never makes it back.”
I groaned, leaning back onto my elbows in the grass. “Please don’t haunt the lodge. My mom would never stop talking about it.”
“She already doesn’t stop talking about me.”
“That’s because you look like the poster child for a lumberjack dating calendar.”
Ben’s expression shifted like he was trying not to smile and losing.
“Florida lumberjack,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I work in a law firm.”
“A very lucky law firm, and I can’t help where you’re from,” I said innocently, grinning at the fire. “I only see what’s in front of me.”
His eyes flicked to mine.
For one second, it felt like everything stopped…the wind, the trees, and my pulse. It was just us, the glow between us, and the unbearable softness of the look on his face.
But then he looked away again, poking the fire with his stick, and the moment passed.
Still, something lingered.
“I’m not mad about being stuck here,” he said quietly, surprising me.
“No?”
He shook his head. “Not when it’s like this.”
I smiled, trying not to let my heart gocompletelyoff the rails. “We’ll hike out in the morning. Try to find a little cell service orwave down a ranger. Or a really friendly moose with a satellite phone.”
He laughed again, really laughed, and it sent a thrill through me.
