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CHAPTER3
ELIJAH
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Three hours later, I hear a soft knock on my door. My heart races. Sheriff and the guys are all downstairs at the lodge’s bar having drinks and a bite to eat. They gave me a hard time for not joining them, but all I could do was laugh. I love those guys, but there isn’t anything that can keep me from reconnecting with the girl of my dreams.
My heart lurches to a stop as I open the door. My eyes wander down her body and my jaw falls open. “You are stunning.”
And she is. Every one of her curves is tightly hugged by the dark jeans she has on. Her emerald green eyes glow under a curtain of pitch-black bangs. There’s a smile on her cheeks that sends a warm tingle shooting through my core. Penelope was always pretty. But somehow, she’s only grown more beautiful in the years we’ve been apart. I won’t let her slip away this time.
“Thanks. It’s strange to have you here looking at me like that.” A brilliant pink crawls from her neckline and down the front of her shirt. I can’t help but wonder where the color ends. “But I kind of like it.” Her nose scrunches adorably in the center.
“Get used to it because I’m not planning on looking away from you any time soon. I like the view too much. Do you always have clothes stashed for after-work dates?”
She giggles. “No, I actually went home for a few minutes after my shift. My cabin isn’t too far from here. Just a short walk through the forest. I thought it was creepy when I first moved in. But now I think it’s kind of nice. It’s peaceful and green. I’ve come to look forward to the walk, even at night.”
The thought of the Penelope I used to know walking through the woods for any reason is laughable, let alone the thought of herlivingout there. “Cabin? You said you had your own place, but I never took you for a cabin-life kind of girl.”
“Yeah.” She smiles. “I guess people change. Bunker Lodge lets all of us managers have the option of living here out in the back forty of the property. There are a few cottages with acreage around them. It isn’t anything fancy, just a humble one bedroom, but it’s perfect for me.”
“Wow. Just when I thought I couldn’t fall any harder for you.” I run my hand along the taught muscles on the back of my neck and lean against the doorframe. “Are you gonna come in or what?”
“Oh, I want to. Actually, there’s nothing I want more. But I’m trying to be more cautious these days and I probably shouldn’t be seen sneaking into the guest rooms.”
I can hardly believe what I’m hearing.What happened to my fearless friend? What the hell did she go through in the years since I’ve seen her?
A chuckle slips from my lips. “But it’s okay to go on a date with guests? You have weird rules in this place. I think we should break them.” I tug her in toward me, wrap my arms around her, and pull her into my room. Then I close the door behind us.
When I have her in my arms, Penelope looks up at me. She shakes her head biting back a giggle. Penelope leans in close, craning her neck up until our faces are mere inches apart.
I feel the warm breath of her exhale on my lips. I steady my own breathing and revel in the way her skin feels pressed against mine. I run a hand across the top of her hair smoothing it back. I notice the way my hand fits perfectly on the round curve of her thick hip. I notice the way her hair smells like flowers. She’s perfection. She always has been.
I lean in toward her, cupping her chin with my hand and turning her face up to mine. I close my eyes, more than ready to know the feel of her lips on mine after all these years.
But before we connect, everything goes dark.
