Page 4 of Wild Rush Of Love
She didn’t mind the cold, liked it even, but this, the snap and crack of air so frigid it burned was something else.
Like her clothing, it had layers, snapped frozen in each molecule.
Filling her lungs with another deep breath, she smelled those layers.
Water, snow, forest, damp earth, wood smoke…
It was glorious and she couldn’t stop the smile from stretching her mouth wide if her life depended on it.
With a little spring in her step, she headed to the trunk for her bag. She had tried to pack light but how light could you go when you needed all those layers to stay warm? Throw in a two week stay with no inclination to wash and she had ended up with something between light and heavy.
Grinning, she tugged the suitcase out of the car and dropped it on the gravel driveway. There weren’t many cars around the lot, maybe twelve or so, but what was here looked a bit more sturdy than her rental sedan.
Trucks and 4WDs were the order of the day it seemed. Not that it mattered. She had no intention of leaving the Winter Lake Lodge unless it was to hike into the surrounding forest or the twenty minute stroll along the lake edge into town the Lodge’s website advertised.
She took one more look at the mountains and lake before dragging her suitcase toward the covered entrance. Maybe she should have pulled up there and dropped her bag off then parked her car.
The drag marks she left in the gravel might have worried her if it wasn’t for the fact the coating seemed more gone than not and the dirt beneath, while not wet, was definitely damp and stuck to the wheels of her bag in clumps that flicked up behind her.
When she reached the covered drive she noticed several muddy tracks leading to the wide stairs that told her she wasn’t the only one trailing muck. Still, not wanting to ruin the lovely timber flooring she could see at the top of the steps, she used a napkin from her coat pocket to wipe the worst of the dirt off her suitcase wheels.
Satisfied she’d done the best she could given the circumstances, she headed up the stairs to the front doors.
The huge inlaid wood panels that made up the lodge entrance had her stopping a moment to take in their beauty. She wasn’t one for art but these were a work of art in her opinion. They had to be handmade. And old. Very, very old.
She raised a hand, wanted to run her fingers over the glossy golden surface and probably would have if one side hadn’t opened at that moment to reveal a woman with a welcoming smile.
“Hi, you must be Sabreena. Let me get that bag for you.” The woman relieved Reena of her bag before she could get her head around the fact she had called her by name. “Come on in out of the cold. I’ve got a cup of hot cocoa waiting for you at reception.”
“Um, it’s Reena. Everyone calls me Reena,” she offered as she followed the woman inside. Any attempt to retrieve her bag would be useless because the surprisingly fast woman, who had to be in her fifties, was already at the reception desk by the time she made it inside and closed the door behind her.
Reena took a step and stopped. “Oh.”
The foyer opened out to a large area with a two-story stone fireplace that should, from its size alone, overwhelm the room, but didn’t. A fire flickered and crackled, the flames low but blazing inside the deep and wide well-used firebox. Drawn to the warmth, she moved closer.
Groupings of comfy looking chairs and sofas in different fabrics and colors, chunky wood tables of various sizes and shapes, filled the space, and what looked like hand-woven rugs were scattered over the dark wood floors.
“It’s so beautiful.”
“Isn’t it? I think it’s one of the best features of Winter Lake Lodge. Here.” The woman held out a mug of steaming creamy brown liquid. “This will warm you right up. I’m Alice Dean, head of housekeeping. Why don’t you take a seat by the fire while I check you in and get your key and welcome pack for you.”
“Oh, no, I can—”
“You just relax.” Alice patted her arm and steered her toward the fire. “I’ll just be a moment then I’ll join you.”
Reena’s chest squeezed, the tone of Alice’s request reminding her of her aunt. Both women knew how to make you do as they asked while couching it as a suggestion.
And really, the armchair near the hearth did look comfy. The brown and cream knitted throw draped over the arm looked soft and snuggly too.
Sighing, she decided the offer of a seat beside a roaring fire and a hot cup of sweet smelling cocoa were too much to resist. Putting her mug on the side table, Reena slipped out of her jacket and placed it on the couch opposite. She picked up her cocoa and, cradling the mug in both hands, lowered herself to the plush armchair and almost passed out with pleasure.
It wasn’t just comfy, it was warm and spongy and held her butt and thighs in a perfect caress. Like floating on a cloud, or in a warm bath. Muscles, tight from the long drive, relaxed and Reena allowed herself to sink deeper into the luxuriant seat.
“Ah, yes,” Alice murmured as she sat in the chair next to her. “That’s so much better. I’ve been on my feet all morning. It’s lovely to take the load off for a few minutes. Need a top-up?” she asked, waving the flask in her hand.
“No. I’ve barely touched it yet. Too busy admiring my surroundings and sinking into this glorious chair.” Bringing the mug to her lips, Reena drew in a deep breath before taking a sip. Sweet and chocolaty with a hint of spice, the warm liquid coated her tongue and flowed down her throat in a warm slide that soothed the slightly raw edge the cold air had given it. “Oh, yeah, that hits the spot.”
“It does, doesn’t it? We’ll just sit here a moment and enjoy themomentbefore we dive into all the information about Winter Lake Lodge, your room, and Winter Lake itself.” Alice took a sip from her own mug. “Mmm… Nothing beats Hank’s cocoa. I don’t know what his secret ingredient is, and I’ve tried bribery and blackmail to get it out of him, but I swear, there’s nothing like it anywhere in the world. Of course he shared the secret with my niece down at Bake and Brew so I can always get my fix there if he decides to get stingy with it.”
