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“Shady Oaks Inn,” I read out in a hushed whisper. It felt like I was intruding on something unseen and I found myself taking soft steps and trying not to make noise as if I’d disturb anything that had claimed this place.
Maybe it was haunted. That could be a good gimmick.
“There’s an old in-ground pool out back and a small gardener’s cottage. It even has a tree house area for kids,” Lake said. “Come this way.”
It was easy to forget about my angry shadow as I lost myself in the magic of their discovery.
“Oh my god, stables,” I gasped as I ignored Lake’s tour and veered off to the right. The bushes outside had almost hidden it from view but the fencing of the large corral was easy to see.
My footsteps squished on the soft moss as I stepped into the cover of the trees and searched for an entrance. It was so quiet here it was easy to forget we were only about twenty minutes outside of Lockwood.
The door was left open and I started to pull it open but it wouldn’t budge. My hands ached as I clutched at the rough wood and put all my weight into it but I wasn’t giving up.
Finally, it gave way just enough to slip inside.
The guys wouldn’t fit, but honestly that was a bonus. Easton could get lost for all I cared.
“Get your ass out here, princess, you don’t know what’s in there,” Easton yelled out, disturbing a flock of birds nearby that rushed off in a flurry of wings and squawks.
“I’m good where I am,” I said evenly as I stepped over some fallen equipment to the stalls. My fingers ran gingerly over the bronze name plates outside of each one. River, Valley, Sunny, and Morning Dew. They’d gone for nature names.
Past the stalls I found myself in an equipment room. There was a scattered desk with equipment logs and a few faded pictures of the inn in its prime. I took a few more photos before making my way back outside.
I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to this place. It felt like one day it was all abandoned. How had no one come for anything other than the animals? What happened here?
When I stepped back outside I ignored the glares coming my way and went toward the smiles Lake and Shaye were giving me. She knew what this place would mean to me and was letting me soak it all in at my pace. She was a true friend.
“Just wait, it keeps getting better,” Shaye said. “I can already see you turning this into something amazing.”
“Maybe,” I mused, not quite able to let myself cling to that hope just yet.
“Don’t get too close to the edge, there’s some nasty water in there,” Lake warned me as I stepped up, his arm stretched out to stop me and his mate from tumbling in. My tripping on the walk wasn’t helping his obvious anxiety.
Again it was like time froze the grounds. The grass was tall, the pool still held some water and was now an entire ecosystem of frogs and a few other things I didn’t want to think too hard about.
Statues were covered in grass, vines, and dirt, making it seem as if they sprouted from the earth itself. The fountain was long dried but still intact.
“I think all of the windows survived,” Theo said softly beside me. I nearly jumped but stopped myself and nodded in agreement as I stared up at the tall building. It was two floors and possibly an attic.
“That’s good, maybe it won’t be overrun inside,” I said with a grin. His eyes were locked onto me, holding me in place as he moved closer to my side, his warmth seeping into my skin like a caress. Out here in the sun his brown skin glowed even more and I had to bite back the urge to reach for him. Easton would likely throw a fit again.
“Are you still feeling brave?” This time his smile was mischievous and I couldn’t stop myself from returning it.
“Always.”
He held his hand out, keeping it low so the others couldn’t see. It felt like an offering, a step forward. We’d already made so many but this was him diving into my future with me and I wanted him there.
Theo rewarded me with a soft smile that was full of hope and my stomach flipped in response.
He pulled me across the yard and up the porch, heading for the door. The knob didn’t budge but he moved to the window next to it and managed to shimmy it open.
“Don’t you dare,” Easton warned him but Theo just held it up and cocked his head toward the inn.
“You going?”
“Hell, yes,” I said before scrambling to get inside. My leg scraped on something but it was barely a scratch. I dropped to the dusty floor and coughed as a cloud of dust rose around me.
“Get the door, muse,” he said before dropping the window shut. I considered not letting him in but the look on his face when I took his hand had me shifting around the dusty rug and side table to unlock the door.
