Page 20 of No More Love Songs

CHAPTER SIX

SKYLAR

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“You know, you’ve totallymastered this parenting gig,” I tell Kit over dishes while he dries. Just seemed fair. “One meal in and I can already tell Aria is pretty amazing.”

“Thanks.” He shakes out the towel he’s been using before he reaches for the next plate to dry. “But I’m pretty sure she came that way.” He grins in the endearing way I’m starting to see he’s prone to.

“Funny.” I rinse the last pan before I’m done on my end.

“What’s that?”

I turn off the water before I answer. “You’re so great at giving compliments and yet you kind of suck at receiving them.”

He chuckles quietly, putting away the plate before he comes back for the last pan. “You may have a point.” He nods repeatedly as if he’s trying to convince himself he’s capable of accepting a compliment after all before he manages to verbalize it. “Fine. Thank you. She makes it easy.”

“Ha!” I point, laughing at him. “You really can’t do it!”

He starts to crack up too. “I’ll work on it, okay?”

“You better,” I warn him. “Because I’m going to keep testing you.”

“With compliments?”

“Absolutely.” I take the towel from him and hang it on the hook on my side of the sink.

“You might run out of material faster than you think.”

“Oh good.” I make a face. “Not only can’t you accept positive recognition, you have to take it a step further with self-deprecation.”

“Was I doing that?” he feigns ignorance. Poorly.

“I’m not even going to answer that.” I cross my arms and shake my head at him. A moment later, the silence settles, and I realize something I wasn’t prepared for. Lunch is over. I’ve run out of reasons to hang around his kitchen. After all, I’m not here as his friend, even if it has felt that way. I’m just a guest at the lodge. “I guess we’re done here.” I look around the kitchen as if it’s possible we missed something.

“Guess so.” Try as I might, I can’t get a read on him. If he’s as disappointed as I am, I can’t tell.

“Well, thank you.”

“You said that already.” His mouth quirks at the corner like he’s trying not to laugh at me. “A few times.”

“That’s because I’m very appreciative,” I stand by my multiple thank yous. I meant them all. Even if that last one was for lack of anything else to say. “For the cooking lesson. And the meal. And definitely dessert.”

“I should be thanking you for cooking,” he counters. Apparently, he can’t accept a thanks either. “And the meals are included in your stay here. Even dessert.”

“Good to know.” I start for the door. “The thing about desserts,” I clarify. “I already knew regular meals were included. Obviously.”

Then I escape the kitchen before I can say anything else that might sway him to never let me share a meal with him ever again.

With the lodge nearly all to myself, I decide to poke around the common rooms downstairs before I head back up to my own suite. In addition to a large family type room, there’s a library with a fully stocked bar, a game room complete with pool table, a shuffleboard, air hockey and a dart board.

Right outside the game room, there’s a huge terrace with lounge chairs and just a few steps down, a large firepit is surrounded by benches. I imagine many a night the place is filled with people roasting marshmallows while Kit plays the guitar, which I haven’t heard him play yet, but which Ari mentioned he does over lunch, so it’s a legit possibility.

As I make my way around the lodge outside, I find a huge, covered terrace off the side of the structure without a scrap of furniture on it. I start to make a mental note to ask Kit about it next chance I get, when I spot the large trunk clearly marked ‘yoga mats’ in the back corner. I have to hand it to the man, he really put thought into the experience his guests will have here far and beyond the lovely rooms and stunning scenery.

“I’ve got an instructor that comes out three times a week during the busy season. She only comes on Wednesday’s this time of year, but you’re welcome to grab a mat and do your own thing anytime you want,” Kit interrupts my thoughts.

When I turn around, the sight is even more delightful than I could have hoped for.

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