Page 12 of Breakfast Included

“Come on, let’s get you fed,” Tate said weakly as he ran a hand through his hair. He needed a few seconds to catch his breath. They’d stood there less than a minute, but the moment had been so intense Tate may as well have just come back from a hard five-mile run.

* * *

After dinner,Reno wanted to stop in the lobby and see what other activities and amenities there were to take in while waiting for the roads to be cleared. Tate was game for just about anything, but honestly, he’d rather spend the time alone with Reno back at the cabin.

“They have board games in the Cambridge Room,” Reno said, but he didn’t sound overly excited about it. “I’m terrible at poker.”

“Ooh, what about hot springs?” Tate pointed to The Retreat’s amenities signboard, his brain skipping from a night in with Reno to seeing Reno’s bare skin all wet and flushed. “Have you ever been?”

Reno shook his head and chewed at his lower lip, and Tate wished he knew what Reno was thinking. He was in a better mood, now that he’d eaten, and more like the Reno Tate knew again.

“Are you for real?” Tate grabbed Reno’s arm and guided him toward the doors. “We’re so going.”

“But I don’t have swim trunks,” Reno argued but let himself be dragged along with a snicker under his breath.

Tate shrugged and released Reno so he could open the doors and usher them outside. It was snowing harder now, but that wouldn’t matter once they were in the water. “You’re wearing underwear, aren’t you?”

“Uh, yeah.” Reno grimaced, but there was a glint in his eyes. “I’ll have to hang them by the fire later.”

Tate’s brain stuttered to a halt, and images of Reno, naked and begging for his touch, flooded his mind. He felt like he should say something in response, something witty or cool or sexy, but for the life of him, he couldn’t form a single word beyondwant.

A fat snowflake landed on his nose. Reno stepped forward, reached up, and gently brushed it away.

“Did you drag me out here to stand in the snow?” Reno whispered. His voice sounded reedy, and his breath formed a delicate mist in the cold air as it ghosted over Tate’s cheeks.

Oh . . . My . . .Tate shook himself.

“This way,” he croaked.

Reno fell into step beside him, and they walked through the snowy grounds and past a small aerial adventure park. The high ropes were draped in snow and looked like a monster spiderweb. They turned toward a squat stone cabin half built into the side of a rock wall. Long icicles reflected a sparkling kaleidoscope of color cast by the rainbow Christmas lights that were strung along the roofline. Warm light glowed from within and welcomed them. Steam rose into the air behind the building.

Inside, a blue-haired woman sitting behind a counter looked up as they stomped snow from their feet in the entry.

“Welcome to the Rainbow Hot Springs,” she greeted with a smile. “I’m Linda.”

“Hi, Linda.” Tate flashed a bright smile. “I’m Tate, and this is Reno. Is there a pool open for a dip before closing?”

“Sure is. No loud music, no running or dangerous behavior, no drugs or alcohol, and keep the PDA G-rated. Got it?”

Tate nodded along with Reno, but his mind began playing scenarios of how far he could push G-rated.

“And no nudity,” Linda added. It was like she could read his mind. “Sign in here—” She pointed to an old-fashioned leather register sitting on the counter with a pen beside it. “—and then after you get changed, I’ll take you outside.”

Reno glanced at Tate with his eyebrows raised. “Uh . . .”

Linda eyed them and sighed. Apparently, unprepared people weren’t a new thing here.

“There are fresh robes in the change rooms for public use,” she said. “Keep them tied up tight until we get to your pool, and keep your underwear on.”

“Of course,” Reno said earnestly as he signed his name in the ledger with a flourish. “Thank you.”

Tate grinned at her and winked when it was his turn to sign. She glared and pointed a blue-tipped finger at him. “No nudity.”

Tate held his hands up, his grin morphed into a smile, and then he laughed.

“I would never,” he said and gave her his most innocent face.

“I’ll make sure he keeps his pants on,” Reno said as he slid the register back to Linda.

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