I had a bad feeling, but I wasn’t exactly sure why I felt that way, or what could be the cause of it. I mulled over possible ideas as to why I suddenly felt like this as Ryder and I approached the absolutely beautiful cabin that we would be staying in for thirteen days. For a moment, the scenery distracted me from the nagging worry in my gut. All around were trees that looked as tall as the sky, every shade of green imaginable, and not a single person in sight. To me, and I’m sure to Ryder, this place was Heaven, and we hadn’t even stepped out of our car to really experience it yet.
“I know that look,” Ryder said from my right.
I switched my gaze to him. “What look?”
“That look,” he said, grinning. “You’ve fallen in love.”
My lips twitched as I turned and stared out the window as we came to a complete stop.
“Maybe,” I murmured softly.
God, it’s so beautiful.
“We’ve got to do this more often,” I then said to Ryder as we unbuckled our seatbelts.
He laughed. “We haven’t even left the car yet. There’s still a big chance that you might hate it.”
I snorted. “I highly doubt it.”
“I didn’t realise you’d like it out here so much,” he said merrily. “You’ve never mentioned camping or hiking trips in your childhood, so I just assumed nature wasn’t your thing.”
I shrugged. “We never did anythin’ like that with me parents, so I never got the urge to come into a forest, but it’s gorgeous. It’s so peaceful. I can’t remember the last time I was somewhere this quiet but still surrounded by life.”
“I know.” Ryder nodded in agreement. “It’s paradise.”
I always thought paradise for me would be a beach—a clear blue ocean and piping hot weather—but an open forest, endless shades of green, drizzling rain, a cool breeze, and the promise of a river and lake nearby had me giddy with excitement.
“I’ll grab me case and you—”
“Let me stop you right there, gorgeous,” Ryder said as we got out of the car. “I’ll get the bags while you carefully walk onto the porch of the cabin while we wait for the park ranger to come by and give us our key to get in.”
I stared at my husband over the bonnet of our car.
“You do realise you’re bein’ crazy protective of me, right?”
“I’m aware of it.”
I laughed. “Okay, as long as you know.”
He winked and went to the back of the car to get our stuff, while I walked carefully to the front porch. I felt Ryder’s eyes watching me as I walked, so I shouted, “Stop lookin’ at me arse.”
“How the hell did you know I was looking at your ass?”
“I can feel your eyes on it.”
“You’ll feel something else in it if you shake your hips one more time.”
I shook them twice.
“You’re gonna get it, Sweetness.”
I climbed the steps off the porch and laughed when I turned and saw Ryder grab my suitcase, his duffle bag, and my side bag, and then struggled with them as he strode towards the cabin. I held my breath when he missed a step as he climbed the stairs but released it when he regained his footing.
“You do know there’s a much easier way of doin’ that, right?”
“Yes,” my husband huffed, dropping the bags next to the cabin door, “but that involved two trips.”
“So?”
“So the quicker I get you inside this cabin, the quicker your thighs spread like butter.”
I slapped his shoulder. “Naughty.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
I chuckled then turned my head to the right and watched a roughed-up Ford Kuga with mud splashed all over it drive up the roadway.
“Who is that?” I asked and pointed at the car.
“That’d be the park ranger, I assume.”
Ryder moved away from me, jogged down the steps of the porch, and headed over to greet the ranger. I leaned against the door for a few minutes and only stood up straight when Ryder shook hands with the ranger in farewell. I waved at him as he got into his car and drove off down the road, getting lost in the bush only seconds later.
“We’re all set,” Ryder said as he wiggled the key to the cabin in my direction.
I smiled and moved aside as he claimed the steps once more. I gestured to the door and waited patiently for him to open it. When he did, he allowed me to walk in first, and I did so with a spring in my step. I felt like the wind was knocked out of me only seconds later.
“Ryder,” I gasped. “This is beautiful.”
“Only the best for you, darling.”