the brake as I pulled to the side of my cabin just before taking a sharp turn to head down a private trail that ran behind my house. “My dad used to, but now that he takes blood thinners, he’s very sensitive to the sun. Even if he bathes in sunblock, he still tends to burn. Plus, it’s always worse on the water with the reflection and heat.” I came to a slow stop and turned to face her. “But I don’t do every tour; they’re rotated between me and another guy who works here—another Jack of all trades.”
Kenny met me around the front of the cart, childlike giddiness dripping from the corners of her infectious grin. It nearly took my breath away, as well as made me yearn to see her eyes. I itched to swim in the color and dance in the gleam. Except, it didn’t seem like I’d get the chance anytime soon. Even though the trees were denser in this one spot and offered plenty of shade from the midday sun, she didn’t remove her sunglasses.
Instead, she threw her head back, staring up at the tree-covered sky, and hummed.
And it instantly became my favorite sound.
I wished the sight would’ve lasted for hours, but it did not. She righted herself after only a few seconds and then met my stare through her tinted shades. With my heart showing signs of arrhythmia, I led her down the packed-earth trail to the back of the house. As soon as we made it through the trees and into the clearing, her gasp rang out, and it took everything in me not to turn around and bask in the sight of her once again.
The back of the house opened up into a panoramic view of the reservoir. It was high enough on the side of the mountain that I could see more than at water level, but not so high I couldn’t have my own access to the lake. It was also far enough away from the resort’s cabins to have a bit of privacy. It was the perfect location.
I continued to lead Kenny down the steep pathway toward the floating dock. With it being a reservoir, the water level fluctuated on a daily basis, hence the need for something that could adjust automatically. It also meant that with the water at its lowest, as it was right now, the hike to the boat was steep.
My palms itched, as if they had this undying need to hold her hand while we walked to the dock. My feet slowed any time she fell a step behind, as if they could sense her distance and lingered so she could catch up. I had to shake my head to rid the thoughts of not being in control of my own body, the feeling of something greater pulling the strings, forcing us together.
Something I couldn’t explain.
Something I refused to think about.
“This is your house?” Her words floated behind us as we walked.
I knew without seeing her that she had her attention over her shoulder in the direction of my cabin, which meant I had to verbalize my nod. “Yeah, it’s nothing fancy, but then again, I don’t need anything extravagant. It’s just me.”
“It’s nice,” she said just as I stopped next to the boat. “Although, with all those windows lining the back, I bet it gets really—” Her sentence ended abruptly when she ran right into me, her fingers gripping my T-shirt to steady herself. And even though she wore dark shades, I knew she had her eyes on mine as her breath wafted across my chin. “Hot,” she finished on a whisper.
I didn’t move, just remained slightly bent over with our faces closer than usual, frozen with my hands on her hips. It took a moment to remember what she had said as she bumped into me. Thinking was a tedious task when her mouth was so close I could smell the strawberry lip balm, which tinted her tempting lips the lightest shade of pink.
If I could, I would’ve stayed like this all day, but somewhere in the back of my mind, a sensible voice reminded me of our tightening time restraints. So, in order to rein in my desires, I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath. It was enough to free myself—even if only for a moment—from the invisible binds that connected us whenever we were near. “It does get hot, but the views at night make it worth it.”
Thankfully,