It was on the tip of my tongue to volunteer to do most of the work myself, but something held me back. Maybe someday we’d get to that point, however.
“Thank you for your help, Lila.”
“You’re welcome. Do you want to look at more? Because I’d like to show you—”
“Hon, my head’s already spinning. I do appreciate the help, but I’m just a small-town boy. I don’t pivot that quickly.”
I didn’t believe that for a moment. There wasn’t much small town about Cole’s mind. But I did understand the need to think things through before proceeding. “Fair enough,” I said. That probably should’ve been my cue to head off to my room, but I’d enjoyed talking to him this past hour.
It had also been really nice sitting so close to him as we peered at the computer screen. At times, I’d been close enough to feel the heat from his skin and to smell his fresh, clean scent. His was different than Brady’s, more like aged and polished wood instead of a pine forest.
To my surprise, I wasn’t ready to leave his company. “Want to play a game? There’s a vast collection of them out in the lounge. Some of them were even made in this century.”
Cole chuckled. “I actually have a better idea.”
“What’s that?”
“Why don’t you put on a jacket and some warm shoes, and I’ll show you.”
“We’re going outside? At night? Won’t I get eaten by a bear?”
Cole grinned. “Not while I’m around, you won’t.”
After I changed, I found Cole in the kitchen gathering some glasses. “Here,” he said, handing me two bottles of wine.
That’s when I noticed something. “They didn’t do the dishes.”
Cole grinned. “They were otherwise engaged. Come on, I’ll show you.”
25
LILA
“Oh my god,” I said softly as I stood on the deck and looked out into the yard. Cole stood next to me, his tall, warm body close enough to touch.
The clearing behind the house had completely been transformed. Strings of lights stretched between the trees and a large, dome-shaped tent that was now set up in the middle of the space. More light came from inside it. Brady and Gideon sat on lawn chairs outside the entrance to the tent, as if they were on its front porch.
“When did they do all this?”
“While we were looking at websites,” Cole said. “But we’ve been planning this out for a while, it wasn’t just the spur of the moment.”
“You planned this?” I got the sense that he didn’t just mean for tonight.
“We’re going to offer it as an extra place to stay in the future. In another few months, people will be able to book a room in the inn, the honeymoon suite in the cottage, and this tent. We figure some families will want to try out the tent with their kids. Or maybe a group of friends.”
“I think they will,” I said as I slowly made my way down the stairs. I didn’t want to fall, but my attention was drawn back to the tent. It was nice and large. It looked like something someone would want to stay in rather than have to stay in. “Glamping is in right now.”
“Glamping?” Brady repeated as I drew near.
“Glamorous camping. It’s like camping but in a luxurious way. Isn’t that what you were going for? Because I’d say you really hit the mark.” The tent was clean and new and downright inviting. “Can I go inside?”
“Be our guest.” Gideon held open one side of the canvas door, and I stooped to step into it.
Once inside, I was able to straighten up. I bet even Cole would be able to stand upright in here, at least in the center of the tent.
Turning in a slow circle, I grinned. This was perfect. There were soft fake-fur blankets and mounds of pillows on the floor of the tent. More lights hung from the ceiling. There was a little low table and a small heater in the corner that seemed remarkably effective.
I beamed at the others when they joined me inside. “You guys, this is going to get booked out so fast once we get it up on the new website.”