shortly after relaxing on my property.” She pointed. “Right there.”
“Nice. Stained mahogany and honey golden wood. Did you have it built?”
“A few friends helped me and my dad build the cabin three years ago.”
I glanced through the side mirror. “Looks brand new. You take good care of your home.”
“I have to. It’s my forever home.” She smiled brightly.
“Here we are.” She threw the truck in park.
“Looks just like the pic.” I glanced at the picture on my cell.
She hopped out of the truck. “It’s one of the best cabins to rent in Talkeetna.”
I grabbed my luggage off the back seat, then followed her toward the front door.
“Especially, if you want a spectacular view of the lake, mountains, or just want seclusion.”
She opened her gloved hand. “Key?”
I placed the key in her palm.
“Is that what you were looking for?”
Her eyebrow arched. “No, I told you I wanted the beauty.”
“You sure about that?”
She froze, staring at the door. Puffs of cold air escaped her lips. Despite the cold whipping through the layers of clothes I wore, smacking my bones, I only thought about kissing those beautiful lips. It was a lost cause. She wouldn’t let me into her space.
I placed my hand on her back and her body shuddered.
“Are you all right?” I asked in a low voice.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s warm up this cabin.”
She avoided my question. I couldn’t help but wonder: what was she hiding?
Kara pushed the door open and I held the door as she stepped inside.
“I’ll grab the groceries.”
I placed my luggage in the living room, then retrieved the groceries out of the truck.
Upon entering a second time, my eyes scanned the contemporary cabin finishes. “That bar will be my best friend.”
She smirked and popped open the thick gray curtains. “I bet it will.”
“Hey, I’m on vacation,” I teased, as I placed the shopping bags on the kitchen counter.
She shrugged. “True. I’ll run the hot water through the pipes.” Kara slipped past me, stepping over to the sink.
“Ok, and I’ll get a fire going.”
Kneeling fireside, I stared at the ambers.
I’d like to hold a conversation with Kara without her biting my head off. I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend. Yet, she was definitely the only woman I was interested in spending time with on my vacation.
Kara’s heavy boots pounded the wooden steps as she descended, tearing me from my deep thoughts about her.
“Feels toasty already.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Kara sat on the sofa to my right.
“Oh, I make a mean bonfire on the beach.”
She threw her head back in laughter. “I can see that. Bare feet and board shorts.”
“Damn right. Who needs a shirt in the evening in L.A.? Well, if it’s summer and it’s eighty degrees.”
I pushed the iron poker between the logs to keep the orange and blue flames high.
“Well, after a week of roughing it in this below zero weather, you’ll begin to appreciate L.A.”
I placed the poker back in the holder and sat beside Kara.
“I’ve lived there all my life. I needed a change of scenery. Who knows I might extend my stay?”
“Are you running from something?”
My head softly thudded the brown leather sofa. “No, I was burned out. I worked nonstop trying to live up to my father’s expectations.”
“You have to be your own person.”
“True. I am. My father and his best friend were successful running the company for years. My best friend and I now run their business. Our fathers built a solid business.”
“You’re afraid you won’t keep the company as successful.”
“Right or I will for now. But what if one day I can’t?”
She placed her soft hand on top of mine. “Believe in yourself. You’ve got this.”
I clutched her fingers as our eyes locked. “Thank you, Kara.”
She cleared her throat. “We should get going. You won’t ruin my night out.”
My thumb rubbed the back of her hand. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She snatched her hand away and stood. “The master bedroom is upstairs to your left. I’ll give you time to place your luggage upstairs.”
I stood, towering over her. She visibly swallowed.
“I’ll be right back. Enjoy the fire.”
Kara sat on the sofa and turned her attention to the flames.
CHAPTER TWO
KARA
Staring at the flames, I thought back to the emails I combed through, entering our appointments for the coming weeks. During the winter months we were slammed. That didn’t stop me from keeping a mental note of the three activities the client most wanted to do on their tour. I also scoured the internet for photos of our clients before they arrived.