But somehow, that woman saw right through it all, and now she wanted to take me hiking.
I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
If anyone else had asked, I would’ve declined without blinking. But with her?
I was already thinking about what boots to wear.
I headed inside and climbed the stairs to my room, the familiar creak of the lodge settling around me like an old quilt. My shoes hit the rug with a soft thud, and I peeled off my flannel, tossing it over the back of the chair as I crossed to the window.
The path outside was empty.
Her car was gone.
But I could still hear her voice in my head—light, teasing, warm. Like something you didn’t realize you needed until it was handed to you with a grin and a chocolate-covered marshmallow.
My mouth curved without permission.
I stood there for a long time, one hand braced against the cool glass.
It had been so long since anything feltgoodwithout strings. Without guilt. Without the looming weight of what came after.
And yet here I was.
Smiling.
Already looking forward to tomorrow.
Already wondering what other surprises she had up her sleeve.
Already sinking into something I wasn’t sure I could name.
But I wasn’t fighting it.
Not tonight.
Chapter Twenty-One
Fifi
The sky was still navy blue when I tiptoed through the lodge’s quiet hallway, clutching a travel mug of coffee in one hand and a paper bag with a warm blueberry muffin in the other. I could’ve waited until the sun rose like a normal person.
Shoot! I could have waited until eight, like I’d told him.
But where was the fun inthat?
Besides, I couldn’t sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I was kissing him again. That firelit moment looped in my head like a movie I never wanted to end. The way his hand had slid to my waist. The way he’d looked at me right before, like I was the only thing in the world worth focusing on.
So no, I hadn’t slept.
And maybe I was a little giddy.
Just abit.
I stopped outside his door, took a calming breath, and knocked.
The door creaked open a few seconds later.
