Page 24 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

“Here,” Maria says, handing me the bag filled with the food and toiletries she picked up earlier. “Let’s get settled in.”

As we enter the small cabin, I notice shelves adorned with old photos showcasing Maria, her parents, and her sister. The nostalgia in her eyes doesn’t go unnoticed, compelling me to ask about her family.

“You guys look really close in these pictures. Are they still around?” I inquire, genuinely curious.

Her smile falters for a moment before she answers. “My sister Kelsey and I are close, but she lives several hours away so I don’t get to see her as much as I’d like. My parents are divorced, and we’re all just kind of… scattered.”

“Sorry to hear that,” I say gently, offering a sympathetic glance. It’s obvious that this topic is a sore spot for her, so I decide not to pry any further.

“Thanks. Now, let’s get comfortable, huh?” She turns on a light.

“Come here much?”

“Kelsey and I came for a weekend earlier this year, but no. I’m sorry. I know it’s not what you’re used to.”

My jaw drops. “What? Oh— no! I wasn’t trying to imply anything. It’s perfect. It’s wonderful. Thank you for bringing me here.”

She shrugs. “I’m going to check on the fridge and the generator. Plus the firewood. There should still be some out back.”

“What can I do?”

She taps a finger against her chin. “Heat up some of the soup I got?”

That’s it? Heat up the soup? Hell, I can do so much more than that!

As she busies herself with unpacking and organizing our supplies, I can’t help but feel like she thinks I’m a spoiled rich guy who doesn’t know how to do anything practical. Sure, I grew up with money, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely useless. Eager to surprise her, I scan the room for something to prove my worth.

Spotting a wood-burning stove in the corner, I decide to put my scouting skills to good use. Grabbing some logs and kindling, I arrange them expertly inside the stove, striking a match and igniting the fire. In no time, the flames begin to crackle and dance, casting a warm glow throughout the cabin.

“Wow, I didn’t know you could do that.” Maria laughs, clearly impressed as she eyes the roaring fire.

“Scouting wasn’t just for show,” I tell her with a grin. “It’s always good to know how to start a fire.”

Her brown eyes sparkle with admiration, and I find my chest swelling with pride. Winning her approval feels like a victory, and I can’t help but want to impress her even more. But for now, our focus needs to be on staying safe and figuring out our next steps.

“Thanks, Nathan,” she says sincerely. “I appreciate it.”

“Anytime,” I reply, feeling an unexpected warmth in my heart that has nothing to do with the fire.

“So.” I stand up. “You grew up here?”

“In a house in town.” She nods. “This was just a place we came down to when we wanted to spend the weekend at the beach. My grandparents bought it when they got married.”

“How big is it?”

“Here.” She leads me to the closed doors. One bathroom and two bedrooms. Not big at all.

The thought of having her in another room with everything going on is more than a little nerve-racking. I’m not usually the protective type, but given the circumstances, I don’t want to let her out of my sight.

“Soup?” She turns on the stove and pours what looks like chicken noodle into a pan.

I would have thought I’d be too nervous right now to eat, but at the mention of food, my stomach growls. “Yes, please.”

While she heats up the soup, I check out the perimeter of the house. It’s surrounded by trees, but I can see the lights from the neighbors, who aren’t more than twenty yards away each. And there’s the ocean, too. When I stop walking I can hear its waves down the street, calling to me.

For extra precaution, I drive Maria’s car off the driveway and into the side yard. Here it’s invisible from the street, but if we need to, we could drive through a hole in the tree line, onto the neighbor’s driveway, and then onto the road.

Back inside, we settle down and eat. There’s a terrible tension in the air, and even though I was hungry, I feel in danger of vomiting the meal up.

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