Page 1 of #Resort Romance
Chapter One
It was like stepping back in time.
But not necessarily in a good way.
Jayce Nash climbed from his SUV and stared in disbelief. The last time he had been to Lakeview Harbor Resort was thirteen years ago, and it looked exactly like this.
Exactly.
Almost weirdly so.
Shaking his head to clear it, he turned and walked around to the back of the vehicle to grab his luggage from the trunk. The rest of his family was either here already or arriving soon. Glancing around the parking lot, he didn’t recognize his parents’ car, but that didn’t mean they weren’t here. Taking his phone out of his pocket, he tapped out a quick text to gauge where everyone was.
Jayce: Hey! I’m here!
Three little dots immediately appeared on the screen.
Mom: You made good time! We’re already up at the cabin!
Mom: Cabin #14! Our usual!
Mom: Do you remember the way?
Did he?
Jayce: I’ll swing by the lobby and get a map. It’s been a while. Lol!
Mom: Should your father come and get you?
Groaning, he shook his head.
Jayce: I’m fine, Mom. See you soon!
And before she could answer, he slid the phone back into his pocket before making his way up to the main lodge. If everything truly was still the same as it was all those years ago, he’d find the front desk in the lobby and someone to draw his route to the cabin on a photocopied map.
Two minutes later, he stepped into the lodge and froze because now it just felt freaky. The walls, the furniture, the pictures on the wall…everything was exactly the same. The Lakeview Harbor Resort was a family resort located in upstate New York, and Jayce had come up here every summer with his family until the summer he turned seventeen. That was the year he had gotten the opportunity to travel to Japan on a school trip. The following year, he’d spent the summer getting ready for college, and every summer after that, he just didn’t feel the need to join his parents, grandparents, and whichever random relatives accompanied them on the annual trip.
“And clearly I didn’t miss anything because it feels like I’m stuck in a time warp.”
Walking over to the registration desk, he noted how most of the guests were closer to his parents' and grandparents’ ages. What used to be a fun family resort now felt like a place geared toward senior citizens. He smiled as people walked by and fought the feeling of impatience because it seemed like the line was barely moving. Pulling his phone out again, he was about to scroll and check his email when he noticed he barely had a signal. Worse, there were no Wi-Fi networks to connect to.
You have got to be kidding me…
When it was finally his turn to step up to the desk, Jayce did his best to smile politely. The gentleman standing there looked old enough to be his grandfather and there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that this guy had been working here for a long time.
“Welcome to Lakeview Harbor Resort! Are you checking in today?”
“Hey, I’m Jayce Nash and I’m here with my family. They’re already checked in and…”
“Of course! Your grandmother told us to be on the lookout for you! Cabin fourteen!” he said cheerily as he picked up a map. “What you’re going to do is go right out those doors around the corner there and take the marked path past the picnic area.” He drew on the map with a black marker for emphasis. “Once you pass the volleyball court and the pool, you’ll take the path to your left and then follow it until you hit cabin fourteen.” Smiling, he handed Jayce the paper. “Anything else I can do for you?”
“Yes, I was curious about the Wi-Fi. There’s nothing coming up on my phone for a network, so…”
“The Lakeview Harbor Resort doesn’t have Wi-Fi, Mr. Nash. We encourage our guests to enjoy all the activities we have to offer as well as the beautiful scenery and nature!”
And the thing was, the guy was serious.
“Is there anything else I can help you with?”
