Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
It looked like a Monet painting out there. Verdant greens, crystal blue sky, and so, so many beautiful flowers. Dapples of yellow and pink and purple and every color you could imagine.
“Wow,” I said, barely even realizing I was speaking out loud as I gazed through the tall windows.
“We’re very proud of our grounds, here,” Sadie said, a content smile on her face.
There were little ponds with small fountains coming out of them. A few gazebos. Curving stone walkways that snaked around the landscaping. And more bright green trees than I’d ever seen in my life.
It was a garden paradise.
After showing us around the big dining area, she led us out a pair of double doors into the yard itself, which was sprawling and lush and even better than it had looked through the windows. We winded down a path for a good fifteen minutes, looping around the courtyard and gardens before coming back around to the inn.
Sadie brought us to a set of stairs once we were back inside. I reached out to grab Rock’s hand and help him get up more easily with the ankle boot.
He stared down at my hand for a second, his face falling into a grim expression before he reached out and took it.
He was okay with squeezing my leg in the car, but didn’t even want to take my hand as help now? I had worried that Rock might regret his decision pretending to be my boyfriend, but I didn’t know it would set in so soon.
“Thanks,” he said quietly once we got to the top of the stairs, and he let go of my hand as fast as he could, taking off down the corridor behind Sadie.
Whatever. If Rock didn’t want to be touchy-feely, it was fine with me. Hell, it made it easier for me. The last thing I needed was to get random hard-ons all weekend just from a hot firefighter holding my hand.
We walked down the hallway with doorways leading to all of the bedrooms.
“This place is incredible,” Rock said as Sadie led us down the hall. The walls were decorated with a beautiful purple and gold damask wallpaper, and were covered in old black and white photos. “How long has this place been around?”
“Opened in 1913,” Sadie said proudly. “Golden Goose was around before practically anything else in this town. Was opened by my great-grandfather’s best friend, and then my grandfather took over when he got back from the Second World War.”
“Wow. That’s a lot of history,” Rock said.
“Sure is,” Sadie said, leading us down to the end of the hallway, which had a big window with a fern plant in front of it. “This here is number 6, for Cameron and your wife and kids. It’s the biggest room we’ve got, and plenty of rooms for the kiddos to play around in. Make sure they check out the bookshelf.”
“Thank you, Sadie,” Cam said.
“And just down here, number 8, is Perry and Rock’s room,” Sadie said, taking a few quick steps over and opening the door. She cocked her head, glancing up at Rock. “Is that your real name, by the way? What an interesting one.”
“It’s not my actual name,” Rock said. “Because my name is embarrassing as all hell, and nobody calls me it.”
Sadie narrowed her eyes at Rock and he caved within a few seconds.
“My name is Robert Redford,” he said in a hushed tone, glancing down the hallway as if to make sure Cameron wasn’t still in earshot. “My mom was a huge fan, and she actually named me after him. But I’ve been Rock for my whole life.”
I couldn’t stop a gigantic smile from spreading across my face. “Robert Redford. No kidding.”
“You hush, right now,” Rock said, pointing a finger at me.
Sadie laughed. “You hadn’t even told your boyfriend your real name? Wow,” she said, heading into the room.
“Shit,” Rock muttered. “Right. Yeah. I’m… very secretive about my name. Now you know though, right, babe?”
“Right,” I said, internally grimacing at the oversight.
“So, here is your room,” Sadie said, gesturing. “It’s on the smaller side, but I’m sure you two won’t mind the coziness. I left the larger rooms for the families and for your mother.”
“Cozy” was one word for it.
The room was tiny. There was just enough room to walk around the bed, and not much else. Two tiny antique-looking nightstands framed the bed, and the headboard was tall, beautiful carved wood. A door led into a small closet, then another door inside led to the bathroom.
Sadie walked over to the windows and threw open the curtains, flooding the room with light.
It was gorgeous, sure, but already I was panicking at the thought of being in here with Rock.
We were going to be… on top of each other.
“Everything all right?” Sadie asked, looking from me to Rock and back again.