“What are you doing to me?” I grumble, but internally I’m intrigued.
“I couldn’t find a blindfold. It’s to ensure there’s no peeking.”
I hold my hands up, proclaiming innocence. “I would never.”
“Well, maybe it’s mostly for my benefit then. You look adorable,” she says. She weaves her arm through mine again and slowly leads me.
I shake my head, knowing I probably look like a goon, but I don’t mind looking ridiculous for Maya.
“We’re almost there,” I hear her say. “Two more steps…Okay, stop.”
Then she turns my shoulders slightly. I feel her push the hat up before saying, “And, open your eyes.”
I blink to let my vision adjust, and my jaw drops in wonder. Before me is a raised, wooden deck with a clear dome tent. Inside, warm yellow lights glow. I squint my eyes and can see what looks like a couch and coffee table inside.
“That’s the Winterbrook River.” I follow her finger and realize the dome is on the shore of the water, surrounded by the wooded forest. There’s just enough light remaining to be able to take it all in. It’s honestly one of the most breathtaking landscapes I’ve ever seen in real life.
“C’mon, let’s go inside the igloo.”
That’s when it hits me, that the dome does in fact look like an igloo. She grabs my hand and pulls me along.
After we crunch up the snow-covered steps to the top of the platform, she unzips the door. Once inside, we both slip off our boots. I’m surprised by the warmth, but then notice a small space heater to our left.
Maya walks over to what I had thought was a couch but now realize is actually two wooden lounge chairs squished together. They remind me of the ones by my condo’s pool in Florida. They have bright-blue, thick cushions on them.
Maya lies down on one and then looks over at me. “You have got to try this.”
I follow and lie next to her. Two small round tables with lanterns are on each side of the loungers. Inside the lanterns, fake tea light candles flicker.
I settle into the cozy lounge chair. All I can say is, “Wow.”
“Right?” Maya smiles over at me.
I let my head fall back and take it all in. The view is stunning, but being out in what feels like the middle of nowhere, away from the chaos of the world, away from all the painful remindersof the past…that’s the real gift. I feel like I can breathe. Like I don’t have to perform.
I take a deep inhale and slowly let it out. My one and only goal in this moment is to soak in the fact that I’m in an igloo, surrounded by natural beauty…and most magnificent of all, Maya Torres.
Chapter 16
Maya
Welayinsilence,staring through the clear igloo ceiling for a while. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced a more cozy space in my life. To me, the igloo is even better than the spa. I’ll take nature over manmade beauty anyday. However, it’s hard not to be distracted by the fact that Eddie is so close to me. I didn’t realize how romantic the igloo is set up to be. That was a major oversight on my part. But, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like being next to him. I revel in hearing the steady sound of his breathing.
After a moment, Eddie’s voice breaks the quiet. “Do you come here a lot?”
I turn my head and see him lying with his arms behind his head and his legs crossed. “I’ve walked guests out here a few times, but I’ve never been inside the igloo.”
“This is your first time in the igloo?”
“Yep.” I grin. “Thanks to you, I finally get to enjoy it.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have even known about it without you. This is really incredible.”
“It’s one of the many reasons I love working at Mynt Peak. The resort allows you to enjoy the beauty of Winterbrook like nowhere else.”
“You really like your job, don’t you?” Eddie asks.
The answer is easy. “I do. It’s been a great place to work while I’m finishing up college.”
