Page 44 of Deal Breaker
“Are you ready to go?” I asked.
She smiled at me, the sun shining off her blonde hair almost giving her a halo. “Yes please.”
We both hopped into my truck and made the short journey towards the main reception.
Inwardly, I groaned as I noted Becky was at the desk. She had been the one I’d spoken to earlier. Apparently, my request confused the hell out of her. In truth, it was fairly simple. I’d been staying in one of the cabins, but I wanted to stay another night, preferably in one of the suites, as it was a special occasion. But for whatever reason, whether she really was that stupid or just obstructive, she didn’t seem to get it. I hoped she remembered what we’d agreed upon.
Plastering on a fake smile, I walked up to the desk, Sophie by my side.
“Hi again. I was here earlier. You reserved one of the Hill Suites for me for tonight?” I dangled the cabin key in front of her. “And we’re checking out of Lakeside 35.”
Becky’s brows knotted together. “You’ve already got the key,” she said, her tone haughty.
“No.” I slid the key across the desk to her. “This is the key for the cabin. You’ll give me the key for the suite.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Sophie biting her lip and trying not to laugh. If I met her gaze, I wouldn’t be able to hold it together either.
“What’s your name?” Becky demanded.
“Max Coady. C-O-A-D-Y.” I spelled my last name just to be sure she’d caught it.
Her nails tapped across the keyboard as if I hadn’t spoken to her less than an hour ago. Seriously, she wasn’t cut out to be in Guest Services.
“Ah, yes. Here we are. Hill Suite 9.” She made a big show of getting the key and taking the cabin one from me. “Enjoy your stay.” Her smile didn’t meet her eyes.
There seemed little point in trying to explain we’d already been there a couple of nights. I was desperate for a shower and something to eat. The sooner we could get out of there, the better.
“She seemed nice,” commented Sophie. Her irony wasn’t lost on me. “Can we get some food? I’m starving.”
“Do you mind if I get a shower first? I haven’t had one since yesterday morning.” I let the thought sink in for a moment. Sophie knew exactly what I’d done since then.
“Um, yeah. I think that’s definitely a plan. I can check in on Autumn and Jodie’s progress.”
Hill Suite 9 was on the opposite side of the lake to the cabin we’d stayed in, with a private porch. When we went inside, there was a huge king-sized bed and two sofas facing each other next to the windows which looked directly out onto the gardens. The entire suite felt light and airy, so different to the claustrophobic wood-paneled cabin we’d left. The bathroom had a massive walk in shower, big enough for two—I wondered whether Sophie would want to join me…
This would be a much better setting for our first proper night together.
“Wow, this place is gorgeous!” Sophie spun around the room opening cupboards and checking in drawers. “I wonder why these weren’t an option for the wedding guests.”
Three hundred dollars a night was the likely reason, but I didn’t tell Sophie. She was worth it.
Quickly, I showered and dressed in jeans and a sweater. Sophie was curled up on the sofa, legs tucked underneath her. Her head was bent over her phone, blonde hair falling across her face. I went over to her and brushed the strands away.
“Are you sure you want food? We could stay here and order something up.”
Sophie laughed. “We could, but I’ve been looking at their brunch menu, and if I don’t get pancakes and syrup with a side of bacon within the next hour, there’s going to be hell to pay.”
I kissed her forehead. “You got it.”
Several of the guests who had attended the wedding were in the main restaurant in the Lodge. We waited to be seated, and I waved to a couple of people I’d spoken to the previous day.
“What’s this? Max Coady and Sophie Hale holding hands in public?”
I turned to see Joshua and Brianna, similarly holding hands, beaming at us. “Morning, buddy. How are you two doing?”
“More to the point, what’s going on here? And does Autumn know?”
The server came over and asked us whether we wanted two tables. I shrugged, and Brianna said we’d share. The four of us followed him over to a table overlooking the lake.
