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“Our honeymoon has been amazing,” Janie continued, “so thank you for your beautiful accommodations. We’re thinking of making this an annual tradition.”
“We’d love to have you,” I said, meaning it. “Let us know when you have dates for next year. We’ll save your room for you anytime.”
We finished up our business, they went on their way, and I sat down hard on Aunt Phyl’s stool. I was exhausted and restless at once. The hot male mistake in my cottage was more on my mind than the encouraging messages from my agent.
Thatwas messed up.
I had three more parties due to check out this morning, but I couldn’t stand to sit still and definitely didn’t want to be here if Cash came looking for me. I needed time to sort out my brain before I faced him again. I hopped off the stool and left the lobby.
I touched base with Gretchen, who said they were on schedule with their cleaning duties, then took a tape measure from Halstead’s maintenance HQ and headed out to the loungers to see what size cushions we’d need. I could handle cushions. They sounded easy and fast, something that could be checked off a list yet today with an online order. Maybe checking something off my list would level out my head.
With the lounger dimensions noted on my phone, I straightened and breathed for a moment. It felt like I hadn’t done that yet today. The sun was beaming down, making it a steamy morning. The lake sparkled, and there were several boats out in the center, far from this shore, and lots of activity down toward the marina and the private beach to the west. I’d never needed to soak in my surroundings more than I did right now. I walked toward the inn’s docks a short distance from the lounge area.
I went to a section of dock shaded by a towering tree along the shore, knowing the surface in other places would scorch my butt if I sat down. I lowered myself to the shaded worn wood, noting the rough edges, yet I couldn’t resist hanging my legs over the side and dipping my feet into the water.
The docks had long needed to be replaced, and it would be a costly but necessary project too. Years ago, we allowed guests to bring their boat and dock it here, but my aunt had been forced to stop that a few years back because of the deteriorating docks.
That would have to be a project for phase two. I didn’t know what phase two meant, other thannot right now, because the roof and the painting and the countless other maintenance projects had to come first. Maybe we could replace the docks in time for the spring season next year. It was something to discuss with the manager I needed to find, once I found them, trained them, and gave them a chance to get acclimated.
I closed my eyes, attempting to close out worries about the inn and about Cash, willing myself to relax. Just for five minutes.
Opening my eyes, I breathed in the humid air, appreciating the lake smell of it like I’d barely had a chance to since I’d arrived on Monday.
Our area of the lake was peaceful. It always had been. To my left was a stretch of undeveloped shoreline, some of which the inn owned—Iowned, come to think of it. It had been a part of my aunt’s original purchase, and she’d kept it wild and untouched. Beyond that, to the east, the shore was lined by modest homes built in the 1960s. To my right, or west, was town, including Henry’s Restaurant and McNamara Marina, then a residential area. At night, beyond that, you could see the lights of the new Marks Resort, but I hadn’t even had a chance to drive by it yet.
I was working hard to avoid thinking about Cash and this morning and the implications of all of it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t two minutes later that heavy footsteps sounded on the dock behind me, then veered in my direction at the T intersection. The steps were confident and intentional, and I knew without looking they belonged to Cash.
Chapter16
Ava
“Is this spot taken?” Cash asked when his steps halted a foot away from me.
Damn that man. The horrible line said in his sexy voice made me smile in spite of myself.
“Hi.” When I looked up at him, I saw he was dressed in his running clothes again, but they were clean and he looked put together, giving no hint of what had happened earlier.
He sat next to me and held out a small bakery bag from Sugar. I took it, opened it, and saw two donuts, one with chocolate chips and white frosting on top, my favorite, and a plain glazed, which had been his usual order when we were together. I’d always teased him for having dull donut taste.
“Even now, with all your chef credentials, you choose glazed?” I asked.
“The beauty is in the simplicity and the textures. The glaze is just thick enough, the center of the donut just soft enough…”
I took out my sugary sphere of perfection. “Frosting and chocolate chips add even more textural dimension,” I said, handing him the bag with his glazed.
“On this, we’ll never agree.”
“Agree.” I took my first bite, and lord, could they still do donuts right at Sugar. I moaned my appreciation, and when I finished savoring the bite, I said, “Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”
“You’re welcome. You’ve burned a few hundred calories already this morning.” He rubbed his hand over my thigh and squeezed ever so lightly, just a quick touch, but it took me back to my bedroom, when my body had been bared to him and his hands had been all over it.
“True that.” I stuffed another heavenly bite in my mouth.
“I put a dozen in the lobby on the counter with a sign that says,Help yourself. In case you still have a few people here.”
“I still have a few people here.” I glanced at my phone to make sure I hadn’t missed a message, fighting the way his thoughtfulness tugged at me. “Thank you, Cash.”
“It killed me a little to admit defeat, but by the time I would’ve cleaned up the mess, remixed a new batch, and baked them, it would’ve been more of a check-in treat for this afternoon. Which isn’t a bad idea, come to think of it.”
