“Oh my God! This is perfect!”
The next day, they arrived at the glamping resort, and Maisie was loving every single thing about it. From the golf cart ride to their tent, to the decor inside of it, the hot tub, and all the potential activities—like bike trails, kayaking, and miniature golf. Although after all the walking they’d done the last several days plus all the hard work Axel’s been doing at the resort, it might be nice to just relax for a few days and not do a whole lot of anything.
It was exactly as she envisioned it, only nicer. Their tent looked like a small house. It had a wood frame that the canvas was fitted over it. You could open it in the front and back for a good cross-breeze, and inside was exactly as the website described. It was cozy and rustic, and really rather nice.
Out back was a hot tub with a privacy wall around it. The nearest tent was easily ten yards away, but she was still slightly concerned about their privacy.
“I’m so glad we booked this for two nights! There is no way I would want to leave tomorrow,” she told him as she put her purse down on the bed and followed him around the room, checking everything out. Flavored coffee pods, super plush robes, tons of pillows on the bed…
“Now I can understand why Walker wanted to do this at the resort,” Axel murmured.
“Really? Then why didn’t he?”
He groaned. “It’s a long story. I’ll let him tell it to you someday.”
“Oh. Okay.” But the more she looked everything over, the more she wished maybe they had done something like this at the resort. “I would have loved to work with a space like this. I mean, this is all gorgeous, but I can already envision what I would do differently.”
“Seriously? I think this is all great.”
“It is, but I can totally see adding more pops of color and a little more privacy options.”
That made him grin as he walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Just know that everything is very private. Walker assured me of it.”
Her head fell forward, resting on his chest. “Ugh…please tell me you didn’t ask him about it.”
“Nope. He volunteered it. I told him we were looking to check the place out, and he gave me all the contact info and shared some of the stuff they did, and then threw in the part about total privacy.”
Pulling back slightly, she looked at him. “How can he know that for sure?”
“Because he didn’t hear anyone either, and all the surrounding tents were occupied, so…”
“Oh.” Still, she had a feeling she was going to be at least a little self-conscious.
“How about we go and soak in the hot tub and relax a bit?” It was a little after three, so they had time to kill before dinner. “I think my body could use it after hiking all over the city.”
“I agree.”
They moved around the room, and she watched as Axel stripped down until he was completely naked, and she was fairly certain her eyes were bugging out of her head.
“What’s the matter?”
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you wearing anything?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she knew she sounded like an outraged virgin. “I mean…”
He grabbed one of the robes and slid it on before walking over to her. “First of all, I didn’t pack a bathing suit. Second, it’s just the two of us. And lastly, why wouldn’t we go in naked?”
There was being naked and intimate with each other when they were in bed, but out in broad daylight? When she wasn’t sure about the privacy aspect? And with her body-image issues? Putting on a bathing suit already gave her anxiety, and he wanted her to go outside naked?
Axel must have noticed the pure panic on her face because he once again took her in his arms. “Just because I’m not wearing anything doesn’t mean you have to do the same. I want you to do whatever makes you feel comfortable.” He kissed her cheek. “And I’ll give you some privacy so you can work that out. I’ll be outside getting the hot tub ready.”
On his way out of their tent, he grabbed a couple of bottles of water and winked at her before he stepped out of sight.
“I’m being ridiculous. The man has seen me naked dozens of times.”
Yeah, it was easy to say the words, but not so easy to believe them.
Still, she got undressed, pulled on her own robe and joined him outside.
He was standing next to the hot tub with his head tilted back in the sunlight. He just looked so at peace and in that moment, she envied him. Maybe someday she’d be able to simply relax and feel at ease, but it wasn’t happening yet.
