real warmth in them when he looked at us. “I’ll put something together for you. Hiking in this heat without any provisions is a big no-no.”
“Much obliged.” I inclined my head, but the big guy enveloped me in another hug.
“You’re welcome, friends. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, any couple like you who comes through our doors deserves only the best. Plus, you’re always friendly to the staff. Most people here ignore us.”
“Then they’re assholes,” Lindsay said, surprising me but I nodded my agreement.
Big Mac beamed at her. “Right you are, but we always keep smiling. It’s the job, and we love it.”
He left us alone shortly after that, promising us a freshly cooked meal even though there was a buffet table overflowing with food. Fresh coffees were delivered, and we both sipped them gratefully, seeing as how we hadn’t finished the mugs we’d left in the room before heading out.
“Do you think they know we slept in separate beds?” Lindsay asked quietly after taking her first few sips. “The staff here seem to be a lot more observant than we thought before.”
I shrugged. “Probably. Since the rooms are serviced, someone had to have noticed but maybe the cleaners don’t talk. Or maybe it’s not as uncommon as we think. Besides, it hardly matters anymore.”
She held my gaze for a long second before dipping her head in a nod. “I suppose they probably see way weirder things than newlyweds in different beds for a night or two. What’s this hike we’re going on?”
“It’s a nature trail about an hour or so away. I read about it on the flight over here, and it’s one of the things I really wanted to do. Do you mind hiking?”
“I love it.” Leaning forward, she propped her elbows on the table and fixed me with a serious look. “Is it one of those with the caves and waterfalls?”
“That really wasn’t where I thought you were going when you looked at me like that.” I nodded my thanks to the waiter who delivered our food and I popped a piece of fruit into my mouth to let her stew for a minute as payback for looking at me the way she had.
She smiled sweetly. “You know how seriously I take the sights I wanted to see, and it just so happens that those hikes were on my list.”
“Well, now I don’t think we should do them anymore,” I teased, but she didn’t buy it.
Shaking her head, she picked up her silverware and calmly started eating. She polished off one of her eggs before calling my bluff. “You and I both know we’re still going for a hike. We also both know that the trail you had planned is one of those, so you’d really only be spiteful if you refuse to do it now.”
I snapped my fingers, pretending to be disappointed. “Darn. You caught me.”
She rolled her eyes, but I saw the slight crinkling at the corners of her eyes as she tried to hide a smile. “I’m your wife, honey. Of course, I know you better than that.”
Big Mac came by to hand us paper bags with our lunch in them once we’d finished breakfast, telling us he’d included a bottle of water each but to make sure we stayed hydrated. After a quick stop back at our hotel room to pick up a backpack with our supplies, we got into the taxi I’d ordered for us earlier.
The trail was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. The dense forest it was cut into made it impossible to see much beyond the path, but the towering trees, the birdsong, and the views as we ascended made it a truly unique experience.
Unlike some other hikes, there wasn’t only one way up this mountain. Several different paths branched off from the main one, and Lindsay and I chose one of the quieter ones. It was well enough signposted that we wouldn’t have to worry about getting lost.
Signs of civilization had made it up here too, but the small information huts also carried medical kits and were built entirely of natural materials. It made them unobtrusive, and since we could also refill our water bottles there, they came in real handy real soon.
Sweat glistened on Lindsay’s brow, but whenever she looked at me, her eyes were alive and she very much had a bounce in her step. About halfway up, we came across a little girl standing in the middle of the path, tears gushing