Taylor’s heart beat much too fast as she parked her car in the lodge parking lot. Would they even have a room for her? It hadn’t occurred to her to make a reservation. Perhaps she hadn’t thought this through. She had considered driving straight to Brayden’s cabin, but she wanted to change clothes and freshen up first. Besides, staying at the lodge seemed a little less presumptuous than showing up at his cabin.

She sighed and laid her head against the steering wheel. Her head told her she was being foolhardy, but her heart strings were being pulled toward Brayden. The closer she got to him, the tighter the strings pulled.

And the more nervous she became.

It was possible that he didn’t want her in his life. It wasn’t like they’d exactly had a long-term relationship.

She looked up as two guys walked past her car and when they saw her sitting there, one of them stopped. She heard the muted sounds of their voices but couldn’t make out their words. The second guy gestured for the other one to follow him away from the car.

Taylor shoved her hair out of her face. She must look a fright, sitting here in her car.

After taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stood up. She stretched, slipping into a momentary yoga pose with her arms above her head. Almost on cue, her brain followed her body into relaxation mode. All those years of yoga had finally paid off.

She pulled the smaller of her two suitcases from the trunk and dragged it behind her into the lodge and stopped at the front desk.

“Do you have a room?” She didn’t recognize the man behind the desk.

“Yes ma’am. Just one night?”

Good question. “Yes.” Again, I should have thought this through a little more.

A few minutes later, key in hand, she dragged her suitcase up to her room on the fourth floor.

Now that she was here, she was eager to get to Brayden’s cabin.

She jumped in the shower, taking an extra minute to let the hot water run over her head. I have nothing to lose. The worst thing that can happen is he can tell me to go.

Forty-five minutes later, she was dressed and ready to go. She had on a pair of blue jeans and a sweater over a jersey tank that skimmed her thighs and hugged her bottom. She’d straightened her hair and put on some basic make-up.

No one seemed to recognize her as she made her way back through the lobby. She stepped outside beneath what she’d known was going to be clear skies and just a hint of chill to the air. It was just enough to heighten her senses.

She drove the short distance to Brayden’s cabin, and the minute she pulled up, she knew he wasn’t home. His cabin looked asleep. Nonetheless, she went to the door and knocked.

Unable to help herself, she walked the length of the porch and peeked into the window. The lights were off, and everything looked to be as it should be.

A young man driving a silver pickup truck pulled up next to her car and got out. “Are you looking for Brayden?” He asked.

Taylor took a step toward him. He was young. But she could see something of Brayden’s features in his face. “Yes.”

“He’s not here.”

“Do you know when he’s coming back?” Maybe she could sit in his rocker and wait for him.

“He moved.”