“I’m Elaine,” the woman continued, heading behind the desk and opening drawers. “But call me Mrs. Taylor. Everyone does. Ah! Here it is. Your key.”

She brandished a card toward me. I was a little surprised. From everything I’d seen so far, I’d expected her to check my reservation in a big ledger and give me a metal key.

“We just moved everything onto the computer a few years ago,” she said, answering my question. “Everything works, most of the time. Let me know if you have problems with the key.”

“Thanks,” I said, putting it into my pocket. “A few years? How long have you been working here?” I asked.

“I started out cleaning the rooms and cabins nearly twenty years ago,” she began. “And I’ve been managing the property for Mr. Harrison for about the last ten. I was nervous when I heard Mr. Harrison was selling, I’ll admit. But now that I’ve met Mr. Hayes and his team, I knew there was nothing to be worried about.”

“You’ve met him?”

“Yes, he arrived today and introduced himself to the staff. Assured us he’s not interested in making any changes now that he owns the place. If anything, it sounds like he plans to expand.”

She must have seen me glance out toward the parking lot with just a few cars in it.

“The season is just picking up. We fill up once snow’s on the ground. None in the forecast for now, but maybe some rain.”

I had a feeling that Mrs. Taylor would keep making conversation as long as I stayed in the office.

I looked down at my key. 190. It was one of the rooms, not one of the cabins.

“I’m going to go get settled. Can you point me towards 190?”

“Yes, yes,” she said. “I want you to know where you’ll be meeting with Mr. Hayes. It’s through the dining room here. We have a small meeting room. This is where breakfast will be tomorrow morning, too.” I looked past her into a large, open room filled with tables. “And your room… 190? Just down this hall and outside, past the pool and spa area. The room’s just across from here.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“A pleasure,” she said. “I’m usually right here, if you need anything at all.”

I left to grab my overnight bag from the car and headed down the dirt path to the long, low building behind the main office. The pool and hot tub filled the gap between the two. Based on the appearances of the other buildings, I hadn’t been expecting much from the pool and hot tub situation, but it looked nice. I could imagine coming out after a fresh snow, lounging in the hot tub while surrounded by white frosted pines.

A guy swam lazy laps in the pool and a woman lay on a recliner scrolling through her phone.

Surprisingly, I noticed there was someone in the hot tub as well. Wasn’t the weather too warm for that?

I saw a pair of defined arms outstretched along the edge of the hot tub and the back of a head of short, dark curls.

Not thinking much of it, I strode past the pool area and made the turn toward the line of doors.

110… 120…

I was 190, so I had to be down at the end. I kept walking.

I heard the creak of the gate to the pool area open and, instinctively, I glanced over.

My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight before me.

The man in the hot tub strolled toward me, towel wrapped low around his waist. That wasn’t what had me frozen to the spot. First, it was that chiseled “V” barely cut off by the towel.

Then, it was the abs just visible under his tan skin. I ripped my gaze away and took in the broad chest, shoulders, and up to meet his eyes.

I took way too long taking in his dark eyes framed by thick lashes, high cheekbones, curls tucked behind his ears even though they were just too short to stay…

Look away, Lena.

With great effort, I fixed my gaze back toward the numbers on the doors and continued toward my room. I was already embarrassed, thinking he might have caught me looking. Might as well get into my room as soon as possible.

As I hurried, my room key slipped out of my hand and onto the concrete walkway.