Wherever you are. And preferably not much actual sleeping. He swallowed, wishing she would lean her forehead back against his. “I don’t know. My Pappa and brothers have two rooms. So there’s space for me with them.”
She nodded, looking down. “My mom and the Kelleys are staying in the cottage. I could stay with them, I guess. On the couch or something. I didn’t make a reservation for my own room.”
“Me neither.”
“I could just go home. My apartment’s only twenty minutes away.”
“Oh.”
Her eyes snapped up to slam into his, and her tongue darted out to lick her lips. He watched it, fascinated, feeling his hot breath slow and deliberate on his own lips.
“So…”
“So, you’ll need a ride to your apartment later.”
“Mm-hm.” Her lips curved up.
“Kinda getting into this girlfriend thing.”
She chuckled lightly, moving to open her door. “C’mon Picket Fences, let’s go take a look at a lake.”
***
The sun was still high in the sky as they neared the Triple Peak Lodge, pulling into the parking lot a little after seven-thirty.
Erik looked at the lodge and whistled in appreciation. Never having visited, he was surprised by the sheer grandness of it. The lodge itself was a formidable building, made of thick logs and large boulders, but bearing a gentrified, elegant, imposing air. Settled in a valley, with acres of landscaped land surrounding the main building and three mountain peaks in the distance. He noticed small pointed-arrow signs indicating the direction of the pool, fitness center, trout pond, and helipad to the right of the lodge, and another sign reading simply “Cabins” to the left, indicating a brick pathway flanked with blooming flowers. Another arrow pointed straight ahead reading “Lodge,” and then below, the words Corral, Barn and—oddly—Paradise.
Erik wasn’t sure what he expected, but one thing was abundantly clear: the Triple Peak was a full-fledged, exclusive, five-star, triple diamond resort. This had been Katrin’s family’s bed & breakfast? Whew.
He turned to her and found her smiling at him expectantly. “You like it?”
“It’s…grand,” said Erik. “Not what I expected.”
“They did a lot to it. The developers. I mean, my grandparents owned the lodge and ran it as a B&B, but it was much smaller. Just a big porch with plenty of sunshine, shared bathrooms, and a great room with a fireplace for guests. And there was always the barn where they kept the horses for visitors, and a few other outbuildings. But, the rest? The pool and tennis courts and helipad, for heaven’s sake, well, that was all added later after it’d been purchased.”
“So you remember coming here as a kid?”
“Oh, yeah. Sure. My mom and Sam’s mom didn’t want to run it as a B&B after my grandparents passed on, so it became a private family lodge while I was growing up. I have great memories of Christmas and New Year’s here with the Kelleys. But, the upkeep was real expensive. They sold it later.”
“What’s Paradise?”
“Ahhhh.” She nodded, her voice warming. “Paradise is the only part of the ranch still partially owned by my family. It’s a three-bedroom cottage way up near the barn, half a mile from the lodge. It was actually the site of the original house on the property where my mom grew up until they added a family wing onto the main lodge. My mormor used to say ‘Triple Peak’s as close to paradise as we’ll ever get in this life.’ So, when my mom and her sister sold the land, they stipulated two things: one, that the little cottage be renovated, renamed ‘Paradise’ and be available for use by the Kelleys or the Svensons as long as we give a week’s notice and the cottage is unoccupied, and two, that the Triple Peak offers a full-blown Scandinavian Midsummer celebration every June. It was a no-brainer for the hospitality group. They basically got the land and location for a song, plus they sell out for Midsummer every year. But, they did right by it. It’s beautiful, don’t you think?”
“It’s sure impressive. Reminds me of the ski resort down in Big Sky.”
“I know it well! We skied there often growing up. It’s a couple of hours from Great Falls.”
Erik nodded at her, and it occurred to him that he’d have a girlfriend this year when ski season started. He could imagine her in a pretty parka, blonde hair flying behind as the wind rushed through it. They’d kiss on the lift heading up the mountain and have spiked cider in the lodge later, her blue eyes sparkling by the fire, and he’d—
“Erik. You ready?” She had her hand on the passenger’s door handle.
He shook his head, took a deep breath and sighed. “Want to just go to your apartment instead? Come back tomorrow?”
“They’re going to start the bonfire soon. Come on. It’ll warm up your cold feet.”
“I don’t have cold feet. Not where you’re concerned anyway. Just wish I could have you to myself.”
She smiled shyly then looked down. The expression on her face hinted that something wasn’t sitting right with her.
“What’s up? Kat?”
She didn’t look up, but he saw the color spreading through her cheeks. “Erik…I, um…you know I haven’t…”
He put his fingertips under her chin and tilted it up so she faced him. He searched her eyes, worried. “What is it? Tell me, sweetheart.”
“I was only with, um, with Wade. In my whole life. And it’s been a while since...” Her voice was a whisper and the last part came out in a rush. Even though he had tilted her face up, she kept her eyes down.
His eyes widened. She’s talking about sex. Careful here, Erik.
“Oh! Oh. Okay. That’s, that’s fine.”
She still looked down, biting her bottom lip. It made him want to kiss her.
“Kat. Look at me. Please.”
