“Well ... no, but we’re a long way from Chicago.” Anna gestured to the farmland passing by outside the window.
She had a point there. This part of Vermont was a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and that was exactly why Eden had bought a house here. She loved the old-fashioned farmhouses and roadside produce stands and endless wooded hills.
Eden could drive here. She could sit on her porch with her morning coffee and listen to the birds. She didn’t have to adhere to anyone’s schedule or expectations. No one was going to take her picture. She could just ... be.
The radio played a cheerful pop playlist that Anna had carefully curated not to include either of their music. When she was in Vermont, Eden didn’t want to hear her own voice. She wanted to sing along to other people’s songs.
She and Anna were belting out a Sasha Sol tune when Eden pulled the car into her driveway an hour later. She paused at the gate to input the code. On the other side, the driveway curved, disappearing into the trees. Eden’s house was completely hidden from the road, just the way she liked it.
“Prepare me,” Anna said. “Do you live in a mansion out here?”
“You’ll see,” Eden told her, deciding to let Anna wait in suspense a bit longer. In truth, she hoped Anna would like her vacation home. She’d had it custom built and loved every inch. This house was her sanctuary.
She pulled through the gate, and it swung shut behind them. Now she could truly relax. There were only two people inside this fence: she and Anna. Eden’s body fizzed with anticipation to spend the week here alone with her. Even if they slept in separate bedrooms, Eden was glad she was here.
Gravel crunched under the tires as she rounded the corner on the driveway and the house came into view. It was a two-story log cabin–style home with plenty of modern accents and amenities inside.
“Oh,” Anna said quietly. “It’s not what I expected.”
“Two thousand square feet,” Eden told her. “Not a mansion.”
“A cabin.” Anna clapped her hands together. “A real log cabin! I’m so excited.”
“I’m glad.” Eden pulled the car under the carport beside the house. She didn’t have a garage, nor did she need one. She didn’t often visit in the wintertime, but when she did, she’d hire a car service to drop her at the house, and then she’d stay here the entire time, enjoying the views while she sat in front of a crackling fire.
“Come on,” Eden said as she shut off the car. “Let me show you around.”
“Yes, please.”
They grabbed their bags and lugged them to the side door. Eden unlocked it, and they stepped into the mudroom, where she kept boots, coats, and all the other gear she used to hike on her property throughout the year.
“It’s beautiful,” Anna said as she rolled her suitcase into the living room. The walls were wood paneled, with exposed beams overhead. A woodstove was the centerpiece of the far wall, facing the sofa. Eden had decorated the walls with paintings from local artists. She’d always been a fan of landscape paintings and loved to bring a bit of the local area into her home.
The main floor was open concept, with the living room, dining area, and kitchen all sharing the space. “There are three bedrooms upstairs,” Eden told her. “And that’s it. The real star of the house is the view.”
“Yeah?” Anna looked at her, smiling happily.
“Mm. We’ll go out on the patio later, but first, you can leave your bags in one of the guest rooms ... at least for now.”
“I like the ‘at least for now.’” Anna leaned in to give Eden a quick kiss.
Eden’s body flushed hot in an instant, and she was grabbing at Anna’s hips, pulling her closer. She’d never felt this uncontrollable urge to kiss someone before, the need to touch her and be near her every minute of every day. And that was why she’d brought Anna with herto Vermont ... to tell her these things, and hopefully more. Hopefully a lot more.
She was thrilled and terrified and dying of anticipation. A confusing cocktail of emotions that left her feeling jumpy as hell. Hopefully, by the end of the week, she’d be settled, because she couldn’t take much more of this emotional roller coaster.
Reluctantly, Eden broke the kiss. Already, she felt the ache of arousal burning inside her. Now she understood why people became so obsessed with the person they were dating. She got it now. Oh boy, did she. “Come on,” she said, giving Anna’s hand a tug. “Let me show you the rooms upstairs.”
Anna sat on the sofa in Eden’s living room, feet curled beneath herself and a glass of wine in hand. She didn’t often drink wine, but it seemed to suit the aesthetic of this romantic Vermont cabin. They’d placed a large grocery order earlier, and Anna was thrilled for the opportunity to cook for Eden this week.
But first, they needed a rest ... and a conversation. They’d flown in from Toronto that morning, and after two months on the road, they were both exhausted. Anna took another sip of her wine. Eden sat beside her with her head against the cushion, eyes closed and a peaceful look on her face.
Anna couldn’t resist the opportunity to lean in and kiss her cheek. “I love being here with you.”
Eden’s cheek lifted under Anna’s lips as she smiled. Then she reached out and tugged Anna closer. Anna snuggled against her with her head on Eden’s shoulder. She was contemplating whether to put her wine down and take a nap using Eden as her pillow when she realized Eden was watching her, looking rather serious.
“Okay?” Anna asked.
Eden nodded. “I just ... can’t quite believe you’re here, or really ...whyyou’re here.”
