Page 3 of All You Need Is Macchiato

"So what do you think of our little slice of heaven?" Aunt Evie asks her, passing the rosemary potatoes.

"It's incredible." Kathryn's eyes light up. "I had no idea places like this still existed. Everything feels so real and authentic."

"As opposed to what?" I can't help asking.

She turns that bright gaze on me. "As opposed to places that try too hard to manufacture an ‘old-fashioned mountain experience.' This is..."

"What?"

"Genuine." She takes a sip of wine, and I find myself watching the way her throat moves. "Like the lodge grew right out of the mountainside."

"That's exactly what Pop used to say." Aunt Evie beams. "He always insisted we work with the land, not against it."

"Smart man." Kathryn's looking around the room now, taking in the old photographs on the walls. "How long has the lodge been here?"

"Since before electricity," Connor says. "Though we've added a few amenities since then."

"Thankfully," Jameson adds. "Can you imagine trying to run the activity center by candlelight?"

"Speaking of the activity center..." Aunt Evie gives me a meaningful look. "Nolan, why don't you show Kathryn around the property after dinner? The sunset from Eagle Point is particularly beautiful this time of year."

Subtle, Aunt Evie. Real subtle.

Kathryn's already turning those hazel eyes on me again. "I'd love a tour, if you don't mind?"

Like I could say no to that smile.

An hour later, we're walking the property's main trail, our shoulders occasionally brushing. She's changed into more sensible shoes, but that blazer's still making me smile.

"What?" she asks, catching my look.

"Nothing. Just thinking your usual vacation spots probably don't include quite so much dirt."

"And what makes you think this isn’t like my usual spots?"

"Lucky guess." I help her over a fallen log, trying not to notice how well her hand fits in mine. "Most of our guests don't show up looking like they stepped out of a business magazine."

"Maybe I'm branching out." There's something guarded in her tone, but before I can puzzle it out, we reach Eagle Point.

The sun's setting behind the mountains, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. Kathryn moves to the railing, and I find myself watching her instead of the view. The wind's playing with her hair, and there's wonder in her expression as she takes in the valley below.

"This is..." She shakes her head.

"Genuine?"

She laughs. "I was going to say extraordinary, but genuine works too."

We stand in comfortable silence for a while, watching the colors deepen. I should be pointing out local landmarks or sharing the history of the lookout. Instead, I'm noticing how the sunset brings out gold flecks in her eyes.

"Tell me about the lodge," she says finally. "What's it like, working with family?"

"Loud." That gets another laugh. "But good. Everyone has their role. Connor knows these mountains better than anyone. Declan's a genius in the kitchen. Jameson keeps guests entertained. And Aunt Evie holds it all together."

"What about you? What's your role?"

"Besides giving sunset tours to city girls?"

She bumps my shoulder. "Besides that."

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