Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Drew took out his wallet and pulled out a few large bills—more than enough to cover the tab and tip—and set the cash on the table. “What makes you think there’s something going on?”
His expression gave nothing away, but she’d seen and felt the underlying strain during the banquet. “There just seems to be an odd tension between you two.”
Drew hesitated for a moment before replying in an even tone, “I have nothing against Elliott, and do you really want to talk about him this weekend?”
It was a fair question, and made her realize that a conversation about Elliott had the potential to lead to her own issues with the man, along with her parent’s hopes and expectations, and that was the last thing she wanted to discuss.
“No, I don’t,” she said.
Relief chased across Drew’s features, and he seemed to relax. “Good, because he’s the last person I want interfering with my weekend with you.”
Okay, put that way, Georgia completely understood and agreed, because the only thing she wanted to concentrate and focus on the next few days was this man.
Drew stood up and held his hand out to her. “Ready to get out of here?”
She nodded, and without thinking, she placed her hand in his, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do. “Let’s do this.”
* * *
By the time they reached the Catskill Mountain region half an hour later, it was completely dark out. Drew turned off onto a familiar private drive, catching a glimpse of the small frown on Georgia’s face as she tried to see something in the pitch-blackness around them beyond the beams of his car’s headlights and the large trees on either side of the road.
The road was secluded and remote, as was the place they were headed, and for a moment, Drew experienced a stab of uncertainty about the plans he’d made. What if he’d judged wrong, and she expected something more extravagant and lavish? He supposed if she really hated this idea, he could always take her to one of the luxury, all-inclusive resorts located nearby.
“Where are we?” she asked, still straining to see what was ahead. “You’re either taking me camping out in the wild, or you’re a serial killer and this is the perfect deserted place to hide my body.”
He chuckled. “Neither, and you’re clearly watching too many murder mysteries.”
She gave him an adorably impish look. “You’re probably right. Those shows are my guilty pleasure.”
“Mine, too,” he admitted, surprised to discover his sweet Georgia had a devious side. “It’s always the spouse, am I right?”
She grinned. “Nine times out of ten, and there’s usually a hefty insurance policy involved.”
He drove around a curve in the road, and a single structure in the distance came into view. The porch light was on, as were a few of them inside the place, so they weren’t walking into pitch darkness.
Georgia sat up in her seat as he finally parked the car in front of the small house. “What is this place?” she asked curiously.
He glanced at her, trying to gauge her reaction. “It’s my family’s cabin…and if you aren’t comfortable staying here, we can get a room at a nearby resort.”
“Are you kidding me?” she said, her voice infused with excitement. “I love this idea. The highlight of my summers growing up was sleepaway camp. Just tell me there’s a working toilet and I don’t have to worry about using an outhouse.”
He chuckled in relief. “Water, plumbing, heating, and electricity are all in working order. It might look a little rustic on the outside, but all the important amenities are included, I promise.”
Even in the dim interior of his vehicle, he could see the happy sparkle in her eyes. “Okay, then I’m good.”
They got out of the car and met up at the trunk, and while he retrieved both of their suitcases, she stared up at the structure, taking it all in. The exterior had been built to look like a classic log cabin, with a wide front porch. During the day, there was a spectacular view of the forest and mountain range, and at night, like now, the sky was clear and filled with an abundance of bright stars.
The property was three acres of privacy and nature, yet civilization and the nearest town was only a fifteen minute drive away.
“Why are the lights on inside?” she asked as they headed up the porch stairs. “Is someone already here?”
“No. We’re alone for the weekend.” He set one of the bags down to open the door with the key his mother had given him this past week. “It’s been a while since me or any family members have been here, so I had property management come and clean the place and stock the kitchen with the food and items I requested for the weekend.”