Page 48 of Heart of Stone
“It’s really a blast,” Mark assured him. “The guests love it.”
“And if you think this is fun, just wait until Christmas preparations begin. It’s even better,” I told him.
Danielle laughed. “If she hasn’t already asked you, I suspect it’ll come soon. Natalia would very likely be willing to take on just one more role here at Sandstone Heart. If you’re ever looking to hire a full-time decorator, Natalia is your girl.”
Reid chuckled. “So, I’ve heard.”
My friend shifted her attention to me and offered a knowing look. “So, did you two come over here to check in on us?”
I shook my head. “Not exactly. I was so busy the past two days that I wanted to get out and check in on everyone. See how everything is going and if anyone needed any help. Reid found out and wanted to tag along. And since he’s not really had a tour of the grounds since he was a teenager, I figured I’d give him one today.”
“Aw, man, there’s a lot to see,” Curtis said. “You probably won’t be able to check it all out in a day.”
Reid glanced down at me. “We won’t?”
“Depends on the level of exploration you intend to do. I have a few ideas, though,” I said, a hint of temptation dripping from my words.
He raised his brows. “Sounds like I’m in for a surprise. Maybe we should get to it.”
“Sure.” I returned my attention to Danielle and her team. “Everything is looking great here. I’m so excited for this year’s celebration.”
“Us, too. See you later, Nat.”
“Later.”
Reid said goodbye, and I gave Danielle one last look. She winked at me before breaking out into a full-fledged grin. There were far too many thoughts swirling in her head, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before she was banging down my door, demanding answers.
We made our way across the lodge and spent a few minutes speaking with a couple of guests who were here for their first time. Once again, Reid engaged with them, and it warmed my heart. This hadn’t come easily, but I was thrilled he was making the effort.
Eventually, I decided to switch things up. “If you’re up for doing some exploration outside, I’d be happy to do that now.”
Reid’s eyes dropped to my feet. “You want to do that in those shoes?”
I looked down at them, realizing he had a point. Not that I didn’t think I could do it, but it wasn’t exactly practical. Shrugging, I said, “As long as you don’t mind traveling that way, I’ll commandeer one of the golf carts.”
His brows pulled together, and he squinted as he assessed me. “Are you a good driver?”
A rush of air left my lungs. “Honestly, no. I’m here so much, I don’t do much driving as it is. I can get to where I’m going if I have to, but in this case, I can’t promise we won’t end up off a trail and somewhere we’ll have to push the cart out from.”
He chuckled. “Alright. You secure the golf cart, and I’ll drive.”
Not quite ten minutes later, Reid drove us all over the property at my commands. We stopped often as I showed himthe different buildings—the living quarters for some staff and all guests, the indoor recreation facility, restaurants, and the event center—as well as some of the favorite outdoor spots, like the pool, lake, hiking trails, and open fields for sports and games.
We were moving along on a trail when I said, “Stop here.”
Reid came to a stop and asked, “What’s this?”
I smiled at him. “This is my favorite firepit.”
His brows shot up in surprise. “Really?”
“Why does that shock you?”
He looked around the area, which wasn’t terribly far from where I stayed in the Buckeye Lodge, but still far enough away that it was secluded. “I realize there’s a lot of land around here, but this feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere.”
“It is. Why would that be an issue?”
Shaking his head, Reid insisted, “It’s not. I just find it strange that you would want to be so secluded. I mean, when we were in the lodge or at the restaurant, there were so many people you talked with, and it made sense. But I didn’t expect we’d be stopping occasionally on this golf cart not only so you could tell me more about the area but so that you could also greet everyone we happen to see out here. For someone who loves people as much as you do, I would think a firepit all the way out here would be your last choice.”
