We made our way toward it, trying to look like we belonged there. As we neared the building, I spotted a door marked "PRIVATE" at the side.
"Let's try it," I said, heading for the door.
Garner caught my arm. "Whoa. We can't just walk in."
"Why not? We're paying guests." It was a weak argument. Even I knew it.
"Not in an area clearly marked staff only." Garner leveled a gaze at me that told me he wasn’t on board.
I rolled my eyes. "Where's your sense of adventure?"
"Right next to my sense of not wanting to get arrested," he fired back.
I was about to argue when the sound of voices coming our way made us both freeze. Two staff members in resort uniforms were heading right toward us, deep in conversation.
"Come here." Garner grabbed my hand and pulled me around the corner into a narrow space between the building and the cabin next door. We were hidden from view, but the voices were getting closer. If they turned the corner, they'd see us for sure.
His eyes met mine. A silent question flashed between us. I nodded slightly, understanding his plan without words.
In one smooth motion, he pressed me against the wall, his body shielding mine from view. Then his mouth was on mine. Everything else faded away.
His lips were warm and firm, his stubble rough against my skin. For a heartbeat, I was too shocked to respond. Then instinct took over, and I kissed him back, my hands sliding up his chest to hold onto his shoulders for dear life.
It was supposed to be a cover, a distraction in case we got caught. But there was nothing fake about the way his palm cupped my cheek, or how my body arched into his. His tongue traced the seam of my lips, and I opened for him with a small sound that I barely recognized as coming from me.
The voices passed, continuing on their way. We could have stopped then, but we didn’t.
Garner deepened the kiss, his hand slipping into my hair, dislodging my bun. My hair tumbled around my shoulders. I clutched at his shirt, pulling him closer, every single one of my nerve endings lighting up with an unfamiliar and desperate need.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard. He rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.
"I think they're gone," I whispered, my voice shaky.
He pulled back, his eyes opening to meet mine. They were darker than I'd ever seen them, his pupils dilated.
"Yeah." His voice was rough, and he didn’t step away.
For a moment, we stared at each other, the air between us charged with something I was afraid to name. Then one of the voices floated back to us.
"...private residence on the other side of the property. That's where all the plans are kept."
Garner and I both snapped to attention, the spell broken.
"Did you hear that?" I whispered.
He nodded, finally moving back and creating space between us. The distance felt like the width of a canyon even though I could have reached out and touched him.
I ran my hands through my hair and twisted it back into submission, securing it with my hair tie. "Let's go check it out.”
We followed the voices at a safe distance, trailing them to another, more secluded, much larger cabin set apart from the others. This one looked lived in. The blinds were open, matching planters full of flowers flanked the front door, and an expensive SUV sat in the drive.
"Look," I said, pointing to a mailbox near the driveway. "Can you see the name?"
Garner squinted. "Mountain Peak Investments, LLC."
I frowned. "That doesn't tell us much."
"No, but it's something to go on. We can look it up later."
