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“The music, the freedom in breaking the rules, the clothes, the excitement of innovation to start with.” Her voice is giddy.
“I think I’d look dang good in a fedora.”
“You’d be hot, especially with the button-up vest.” My pulse accelerates. For just this moment she lets down her guard. If I can figure out a way to keep her this relaxed, it might just be an incredible weekend. For now, the treasure hunt is totally forgotten about.
We pull up to the main lodge, a three-story manor that already has people wandering about. It's open twenty-four-seven. This place isn’t as busy as it is in the summer, but it nevercloses. The activities just change. People come from all over the world to take advantage of the many activities it has to offer. I really love it here.
“This is incredible, Blaze. I don’t know if I’ll want to leave,” Cori says as I stop my car and sit, not wanting to leave where we are. It feels like we’re locked in a cocoon, and if I say or do the slightest thing wrong, the spell will break.
Before I say another word, Cori opens her door and climbs out, leaving me no choice but to follow. I guess all good things have to end. That’s the way of the world I’ve lived in my entire life.
“I had a few adventures here. My parents brought us when we were young, then I came on my own a lot.” I’m struggling, though I’m not sure why. This is crazy. I don’t struggle. I take each new day as an adventure. I damn well better shake these feelings off. She gives me a look with far too much knowledge in her beautiful brown eyes.
She moves up next to me and places her hand on my arm just as she did in the plane, offering comfort. I want to tell her I don’t need it. But I also don’t want to pull away from her. I feel a hell of a lot in this moment, and I don’t like it.
“I’m sure you miss your parents,” she says. “I went many places with my family. I’m not sure I could go back to those places if I lost them. If you want to leave, we can.” Who is this woman and why do I feel so comforted by her words and touch? Dammit, I need to clear my head.
I give her my best smile. “Nope. No problems at all.” I’m about to say more when someone joins us.
“Am I interrupting something?” I look up to see my brother Callan standing on the huge wraparound porch in front of the lodge’s main doors.
“Yep, you can go away,” I tell him, making him laugh.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Callan says.
“I might not have had I known you were here,” I admit, making him laugh again. Cori’s very quiet. She met my brothers ten years ago, but I’m not sure she remember either of them. We do look enough alike to make it a pretty good guess though, even if she doesn’t.
“Cori, this is my idiot brother, Callan. Callan, Cori.” Callan gives her a long look.
“I remember you,” he says as his head tilts.
“I met you about ten years ago. It’s been a while,” she says, looking incredibly nervous. I’m not sure why.
“That’s right. You were the hot summer girl,” Callan says. I punch him in the arm.
“I thought you had a lot more class than that,” I say with a glare.
“It was a compliment,” Callan says, looking confused.
“Well, at least you didn’t say ditzy,” Cori says, trying to break the tension.
“I remember you being incredibly smart. That’s why I’m shocked you fell for my brother.” I growl again. Cori laughs.
“We all make stupid decisions in life,” Cori says, and my brother roars with laughter.
“I’m glad to be the butt of your jokes,” I grumble. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m making some changes. You know I like to be hands-on,” Callan says.
Cori straightens as she looks between us. “Do you own this?”
I shift on my feet. “We partnered up a few years ago and purchased it together, all three of us. It was in bad shape, and the owners were selling.”
“That’s incredible. I don’t know why you’d be embarrassed about it,” she says, then her eyes widen, and I realize what she’s thinking. “It’s none of my business.”
“I’m not trying to hide it at all. I just... I don’t know. I was gone a long time and I think of this place as Callan’s more than anyone’s. Sure, I come here whenever I can, but I don’t really do any of the work that Callan does. He’s actually helped build some of the cabins.”
She looks at Callan in delight. “That’s amazing. I can’t wait to see it all. You’ll have to show me which ones you built.”
