22. Hunter

Greedy enters a code into the keypad, then pushes the oversized front door open. With a grin, he snags my hand and tugs me inside. "Come on. I want to give you a grand tour before everybody else arrives."

The drive through the mountains was breathtaking. Back home, we're surrounded by lakes and water, and yet we're just a few hours away from a magnificent snow-capped mountain range.

Hints of leather and evergreen tease my senses as I turn in a slow circle in the grand foyer, taking in the gorgeous details around me.

When I think cabin, I imagine a small, shabby structure. This place? It's massive, and although the exterior is charmingly rustic, the inside is a marvel of sleek, modern design.

Huge windows make up an entire wall along the back of the house, creating the illusion that we're actually suspended among the trees.

Despite the crisp lines of the entryway and kitchen, the living room is furnished with a number of comfy couches and oversized armchairs. The scene makes me want to cuddle up and watch a movie. Or better yet, hunker down and get lost in a book.

"I got most of the frozen stuff," Levi announces as he carries in the first load from the car. "If you want to get this put away, I'll go back for the rest of it." He moves through the cabin like he knows exactly where he's going.

The three of us drove up together, Greedy behind the wheel and me riding shotgun.

Levi sat in the back but insisted on controlling the radio.

He has a real affinity for country music, and he claimed it was a must for a drive through the mountains. Greedy begrudgingly agreed, but only after I chimed in and admitted that I like listening to country sometimes, too.

The roads were winding and nearly abandoned, only adding to the charm of the clear, sunny afternoon.

"This place is amazing. How often do you come here?" I ask, running my fingertips along the sleek brown and cream marble island in the kitchen.

Greedy looks up from where he's unloading the bags Levi brought in. "A couple times a year. Any time my dad is off for more than a day or two at a time, he wants to come up this way and go fishing. We also spend most holidays up here."

He quickly stashes the freezer items and circles the bar. When he's close, he moves low and nudges my nose with his.

"I'm so happy you're here this weekend."

Grinning, I wrap my arms around his neck and push up onto my toes. "There's nowhere else I want to be."

I press my lips against his, but the front door slams before we can take things further.

That's okay. We have all weekend together.

We have all summer ahead of us, too.

"Come on," Greedy coaxes, taking my hand. "Let me show you around."

He guides me through the main level and gives me a quick tour of the bedrooms and the game room in the basement, which features a massive pool table.

"The hot tub's off that deck," he tells me, pointing to the porch from the lower level.

We head up one set of stairs, where he points out more bedrooms, then down another. At the end of one hall, we're met with a staircase that's narrower than the last.

With a squeeze of my hand, he takes the first step, and I follow.

He looks back a few times, grinning. "Are you ready?" he asks.

"For what?" I can't help but match his smile. My heart has tripped over itself more than once on this tour. Every time he looks at me with that twinkle of excitement, it gets hard to breathe.

Still lit up like it's Christmas morning, he shows me into the primary bedroom. It's cozy and intimate, with low slanted ceilings that tell me we're probably on the very top floor.

I step into the room and release his hand while I scan each furnishing. I'm still taking it all in when Greedy comes to stand behind me.

He wraps his arms around my waist, then rests his chin on my shoulder. "King-size bed," he murmurs, tipping his chin to another door. "Plus a massive bathroom with a really great soaking tub."

That sounds like heaven.

"There's a private balcony off that door," he says, pointing to a little Juliet balcony. He unwinds his arms from around me and takes my hand again. "But this is what I really wanted to show you."

He leads me past the bathroom and the bed before coming to a stop in front of a door I didn't even realize was there.

It blends in, as if it's just another piece of the wood-paneled wall.

He turns and zeroes in on me, still wearing that grin, as he pushes against the panel, transforming it into something like a lever. He pulls it down, and suddenly the door-size panel swings in on itself.

Greedy holds my hand tight and watches me as he guides me into the hidden room. When I look around and take it all in, I gasp.

The space is almost the same size as the primary bedroom. But instead of featuring art or blank walls, almost every inch of space is covered in built-in bookshelves and filled with books.

My heart beats an erratic rhythm as I take it all in.

Forget the soaking tub and the massive bathroom. This is my personal version of heaven.

There's a chaise lounge in the middle of the room, and a little coffee table and a drink cart at one end. Near the window, two more upholstered seats are arranged.

I can only imagine how beautiful the light looks when it's shining through first thing in the morning.

"This is amazing," I whisper, heart lodged in my throat. "What is this place?"

"This is the library. My mom loved to read," he replies, scanning the space, as if re-familiarizing himself with it. "This room was her hideaway. It's filled with her favorites, along with plenty she bought and never had the chance to read." He gives me a soft smile then. "She died when I was seven."

I wander to the closest shelf and trace the ridges of the spines at shoulder height. The room is slightly stuffy in that old book library sort of way. I love it.

"Thank you for sharing it with me," I say to Greedy, who's standing in the middle of the space, watching me.

His answering smile makes the butterflies flutter deep in my belly. "You're still okay staying in here for the weekend? Just you and me?"

Anticipation swirling inside me, I bite down on my lower lip and nod. We talked about this. Going to the cabin, sharing a room.

I want to be here. I want to be with him.

Greedy pulls me into a hug and kisses the top of my head. "I'm so happy you were able to come with us this weekend." Taking half a step back, he tips my chin back to kiss me on the lips.

It's an unhurried, tender kiss. Even when I try to nip at his lip and take it further, he holds back.

"We have the next three days together, Tem. We don't have to rush. It's just you and me."

Him and me.

I can't wait to spend every minute we have here with him.