“We’re here… I think.”
Still no cabin in view, I turned off the engine, grabbed Sunny’s bag from the back and got out while Sunny did the same. It had been easier than expected to convince Sunny to leave her dogs with Ryder, making me realize exactly how much she feared her former boyfriend. And also how much she was beginning to trust me.
The moldy smell of lakeshore was pungent in the humid night air, the roar of the cicadas deafening as I flipped the latch and pushed open the black gate. Sunny swatted a mosquito from her face as I pushed aside an aggressive swath of blooming forsythia branches that was blocking our way—revealing our room for the night.
I froze. Sunny did too.
Tucked deep within the trees, the small log cabin emerged like it had grown straight from the earth—organic, hidden, breathtaking. You wouldn’t see it unless you were looking for it, and even then, the woods guarded it like a secret. Dark-stained logs gave the walls a rich, moody tone, while a clay-tiled roof added a surprising touch of the tropics, like a Balinese bungalow. A narrow wraparound porch hugged the front, half-swallowed by lush bushes and flowering vines.
Then we went inside.
The cabin’s small size made it feel intimate—like stepping into a honeymoon suite. Moonlight spilled across the hardwood floor from sweeping glass windows that overlooked a narrow bridge, arching delicately toward a stilted dock floating above the lake. The water shimmered beneath the almost-full moon, its reflection stretching across the surface like a silver ribbon. A gentle breeze pushed lazy ripples to shore, the only sound aside from the soft rustling of leaves.
Above it all, in an endless black sky, the stars glittered so clearly, so closely, it felt like you could touch them.
A secret oasis on the lake.
The strong scent of freshly chopped lumber told me Ryder was actively renovating the space.
“My God,” Sunny whispered behind me, gaping at the view. “It’s beautiful.”
I went to flick the light switch then remembered we had no electricity. A step ahead of me, Sunny pulled a candle and lighter from the bag and seconds later, the dancing flame bounced off the log walls. A half-wall separated the space from the kitchen, which consisted of a counter, sink, gas stovetop, a duo of coolers in place of a fridge, and a battery-powered coffee pot. On the far side of the room was a small door which I assumed was the bathroom—that I prayed included a shower.
Two folding chairs sat in front of the window.
That was it. The bungalow was spotless, though, thank God for that. Ryder always was a clean freak.
Both our gazes landed on the bare, single bed against the wall. Not a king-size. Not a queen. A double.
Adouble.
Her gaze flickered to mine, then quickly to anywhere else but the bed, as mine did the same.
“I’ll sleep on the deck,” I said quickly.
“No. You’re here because of me. You’re doing this for me.Iwill sleep on the deck.”
“Listen. I might not be mister charming—” I stopped when she snorted a laugh. “But I’ve got better manners than that. You’ll take the bed. This conversation is over.”
“I’ll be fine.” She lit another candle and set it on the fireplace mantel.
“No you won’t. No amount of bug spray is going to keep those mosquitos from swarming you all night, so unless you want to become some science experiment for whatever undiscovered deadly virus they’re currently carrying, you’ll stay inside. I’m not going to say it again.”
She released a small huff reminding me of a little girl throwing a temper tantrum, but said nothing else about it asshe kneeled down and began unpacking more candles. I won that battle.
Slowly, candles were lit and a warm glow blanketed the room. Thankfully, a steady breeze from the lake blew in through the windows, making the temperature bearable. Almost comfortable, even. It wouldn’t keep up though. The moment the air stilled, the small space would feel like a sauna, not to mention when the sun came up.
I watched her for a moment, moving around the room, strategically placing the candles. Making herself useful. She had an elegance, a grace to her that I never noticed before.
“Sorry there’s no electricity and water.”
“It’s no big deal.” She smiled, the candle in her hand dancing in her eyes. “It’s like a little adventure. As long as you’ve got bug spray I’m good. And coffee…” Horror froze her expression. “DearGodin Heaven, tell me you got instant coffee?”
Note to self: Sunnyneededher morning coffee. We were definitely alike there. I pulled a can from the bag that was looped around my shoulder.
She blew out an exhale. “I love you.”
“That didn’t take long.”
