"Choose whichever ones appeal to you. I'll try some too."
"Good."
I start to walk away, but he captures my wrist in his hand to stop me.
"Could we get those cupcakes in a takeaway box?" he asks. "I'd like to show you a place I found nearby."
"A secret place, I hope. That would be hot."
"Not sure if anyone else knows about it." He skims his thumb over the sensitive skin on my palm. "I'd much rather try those cupcakes when we're completely alone."
I love the sound of that. The good girl in me, who I call Dr. Solberg, is about to faint. But Maddie, the me who's sick of behaving, is clamoring to get out.
Maddie wins.
"Sure," I say. "I'd love that."
"Brilliant." He stands, and his body is so close to mine that I can smell his aftershave and feel his clothes brushing against my skin. "I need to get something from my room. Meet me in the lobby in ten minutes, and wear walking shoes."
He leans in like he's about to smack one on me, then seems to realize where we are—in the dining room with tons of people around—so he kisses my cheek instead.
I watch him leave the dining room, and I wonder.
Who is Richard Hunter?
Chapter Six
Richard
Maddie and I reconvene in the lobby and head outside, aiming for the dirt trail labeled "nature preserve" with a large green arrow pointing down the path. I'm carrying a satchel over my shoulder with the takeaway box full of cupcakes inside it, along with water bottles, paper napkins, and a blanket. I move my hand toward hers, wanting to clasp it, but pull it away. Maybe she won't want me holding her hand. Or will she be offended if I don't? It's hard to know these days. I've been soundly slapped a couple of times when I tried to take a woman's hand. But others get testy if I don't do it.
Sometimes I wish I lived in medieval times. Sure, men sometimes acted like arseholes and forced women to marry them, but at least they never needed to worry about sexual misconduct charges.
Maddie notices it when I stop short of holding her hand—and she clasps mine.
We walk down the trail hand in hand, discussing the scenery and the amenities at the resort. We stay away from personal topics and work-related subjects, though I'm not sure why. Maybe because I told her I don't know if we're dating, and she's not sure if that means I don't want to talk about my life, personal or professional. I don'twantto talk about that, but I'll have to eventually. I feel a strong need to know everything about her, and satisfying my curiosity will mean I also have to explain parts of my life that aren't terribly pleasant to discuss.
This leaves me with one option. I don't ask her any questions. At least, none more intrusive than when I say, "How do you like the resort so far?"
"It's beautiful." She smiles and shrugs. "But I've only been here since yesterday afternoon, so I can't offer a definitive assessment."
Her smile is so lovely that I want to kiss her, but she starts talking about the flowers and the trees, and I don't get the chance to taste her lips again. Not yet.
As we wander farther down the dirt path, the forest gradually thickens around us, and the branches form a canopy above our heads with the sunlight trickling through the gaps. It dapples Maddie's face with shadow and light, lending her a mysterious air and making her eyes seem darker, though no less beautiful. When I guide her off the prepared trail, traveling down a narrow and grassy but well-worn path, she raises her brows.
"Where are we going?" she asks. Pointing behind us toward the dirt trail, she adds, "It looks like the nature preserve is that way."
"The official trail is back there, but we are inside the preserve now. I'm taking you to a secret place I found a few days ago."
"Are you taking me to your clandestine sex cave so you can do wicked things to me?"
"I've already done that several times over, without the cave."
Yes, I want to ravish her again. And again. And again. But mostly, I want to show her the spot I found, one that's not on any map of the resort or the preserve. I want to share it with her because being with Maddie makes me feel completely relaxed for the first time in years.
We emerge from the shelter of the trees and walk into a small clearing where the sun shines down on us from a clear blue sky, the color so intense that it reminds me of Maddie's eyes. Not a single cloud mars the sky. In front of us, a gentle waterfall spills over a cliff into a small pool, stirring up foam. A grassy ledge surrounds the pool and ducks behind the cascade, while the mist rising from it creates a ghost of a rainbow.
"This is it," I tell Maddie, setting down my satchel.