Page 15 of While We Waited

Curse the kraken! I forgot about us being locked in. It’s the reason—

Nope. No. No. No. No thinking about last night.

I spin around and scan the chalet. There must be another way to get out. I should have searched last night but I was too busy trying to sell beer to one cranky resort owner.

Good job, Nova. Mission accomplished. Not.

I hurry to the sliding doors to the deck. I pull on one and it opens. Yes! Escape is mine.

I slip out the door and pause for a moment to gaze at the plunge pool. What I wouldn’t give to have a pool of my own. But not all of us have millions from being an NFL superstar.

I make my way around the chalet until I’m on the path toward the main resort building. I hurry as fast as I can considering I’m wearing flip-flops, have no panties on, and am carrying a large bag with beer and food.

“Good morning,” Roger, the front desk worker, greets as he approaches me.

“Good morning,” I infuse my voice with cheer I’m not feeling this morning.

“Have you seen Mr. Clark? No one’s seen him since late yesterday afternoon.”

Probably because he was locked in a chalet doing dirty things to me. I feel my cheeks heat but ignore them.

“Nope. I haven’t seen Hudson since yesterday.”

I scurry away but his voice stops me.

“Where did you see him yesterday? I can start there.”

“His office,” I lie.

Forget about walking. I sprint down the paths until I arrive at the parking lot. Never mind how my breasts bounce. I need to get out of here pronto.

When I arrive at my car, I throw the bag in the passenger seat and jump in. My tires squeal as I peel out of the parking lot. This is not me. I don’t speed. I don’t break laws of any kind. Assuming I’m alone. When I’m with my friends, all bets are off.

I turn toward the town of Smuggler’s Rest and force myself to slow down. I’m not an escapee from prison. There’s no reason to risk a speeding ticket. I don’t want to imagine what kind of rumors would spread if a police officer pulled me over as I sped away from Hudson’s resort early in the morning.

I notice the time. Uh oh. It’s not as early as I thought. I’m going to be late for work and my friends will ask questions. Questions I have no intention of answering. Ever.

I push my foot down on the pedal to speed up but when I round a corner, a gray lump is blocking the middle of the street. I hurry to brake before I hit it.

I skid to a halt but the lump doesn’t move. Typical.

I open my door and walk toward it. “Sammy.”

The seal raises his head.

“You’re not supposed to be lying in the middle of the street.”

I swear Sammy raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah, yeah, I shouldn’t be driving home at this hour either.”

I sit down next to him. Close but not touching considering a seal is still a wild animal. I cross my legs at my ankles since I’m well aware of the lack of panties situation.

“I couldn’t help myself. Have you seen Hudson?”

Sammy barks. I interpret his bark as a yes.

“Sexy, right?”

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