Chapter 122

Jennifer and I were enjoying the drive. It was a beautiful afternoon with lots of sunshine and a few fluffy clouds dotting the deep blue sky.

With William giving Victor directions, I saw signs for Lake Pocono after we were on the road for almost two hours.

Victor turned off the highway onto a road that led to a small town. We passed a grocery store, a post office, a hardware store, a police station, and several homes.

The road became narrower and tree-lined as we continued out of the town. A moment later, I was thrilled when we saw blue water between the trees. It was the lake!

“Watch for a blue mailbox on this side of the road,” William said. “The driveway to our lake house is directly across from it.”

We were almost there!

All four of us watched the side of the road, looking for the blue mailbox.

Jennifer saw it first. “There it is!”

We all chuckled at her enthusiasm, but I felt the same way. I couldn’t wait to get there.

Victor turned back the narrow dirt lane that wound closer and closer to the lake.

I could see a large expanse of blue water through the trees, growing closer until we came upon a large clearing with a huge log cabin in the center.

The cabin had two stories with a large wraparound porch. Closer to the water was another cleared area that was home to a fire pit and several deck chairs.

At the edge of the lake was a small dock. A boat was tied to the dock, and several kayaks lay on the shore nearby.

The place looked like something from a dream. I loved it.

Victor parked next to the stairs that led to the cabin’s porch. He turned off the engine, and we all looked at each other for a moment.

Then smiles lit up our faces, and we pushed open the truck’s doors and got out.

“The caretaker left a key under the mat by the front door,” William said. “Why don’t you girls open the door for us? Victor and I will bring the luggage.”

Jennifer and I exchanged a glance and ran up the stairs to the porch. She retrieved the key from under the mat and opened the door.

The interior of the cabin was gorgeous. I was expecting something much more simple than what was in front of me.

I entered the vast living room with comfortable-looking furniture arranged around a fireplace. To the right was a polished pine staircase, and to the left was a full kitchen and a dining room.

Why had William lived exclusively on fish cooked on the fire pit when he had this lovely kitchen to cook his meals?

The guys came into the cabin with the luggage, and they carried it upstairs. Jennifer and I followed.

“There are four bedrooms,” William said. “The two bedrooms on each side of the hallway share a bathroom. Take your pick where you wanna sleep.”

“Jennifer and I will take the bedrooms on this side of the hallway,” I said, not wanting to share a bathroom with one of the guys.

They dumped our luggage in the bedrooms I claimed and took theirs across the hall.

I helped Jennifer put my things away and returned downstairs, where I found William and Victor winding a new fishing line onto a pole and reel.

“I didn’t know you guys were into fishing,” I said.

“If we want supper, we need to go fishing,” William said. “But I brought a bag of chips and beef jerky and snacks, so we won’t have to live totally on fish while we’re here.”

“With that wonderful kitchen, we could make anything we want,” I told them.

The guys gave me sideways glances.

“Victor, will you please take Jennifer back to the grocery store in town,” I said. “I’ll give her my debit card and a list of groceries to buy and bring back.”

Victor gave William a shrug and took his truck keys from his pocket while I called Jennifer downstairs. I told her the plan, and she agreed.

We found a pen and paper in a kitchen drawer, and I made a list of about fifty items. I gave Jennifer my debit card, and we found Victor waiting for her on the porch.

William and I watched them drive away.

“What do you want to do while they’re gone?” William asked.

I started for the dock. “I want to check out the lake. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

I rushed down to the dock and ran to the very edge. I spread my arms and took a deep breath of the fresh air as I drank in the beauty around me.

The green of the trees against the blue of the water was magical. I could sit in this spot and do nothing except look around for hours.

William sat on the dock and took off his sneakers and socks before rolling up his pant legs.

“Come on, Daisy,” he urged. “Soak your feet in the lake with me. The water is great this time of year.”

I sat down next to him and took off my sneakers, and laid them behind me. Tentatively, I lowered my feet into the water.

“There’s nothing in the water that bites, is there?” I asked.

“Nothing large enough that you have to worry about it,” he chuckled.

I splashed my feet around in the water. It felt wonderful, and I was beginning to relax.

I sighed with relief and smiled at William. “Thanks for suggesting this place. I love it here.”

“I’ll take you out on the boat tomorrow,” William said. “Or I can teach you how to kayak.”

I nodded eagerly. “Either sounds great.”

It felt fantastic to forget about my problems and live in the moment.

William and I silently watched fish jump out of the water near us, and a bird swooped down from the sky to catch a small fish for its dinner.

This was a magical place. It was nature like I’d never seen it. There was nothing but peace and quiet.

Diana and Mark whispered about the wonder of nature around us as William and I leaned against each other. My head fell against his muscular shoulder as we watched the water ripple across the lake.

More time passed than I had thought. Our quiet time was suddenly interrupted by a horn blast from Victor’s pickup.

He and Jennifer had returned.

I pulled my feet from the water and struggled to put on my sneakers.

“We should help them carry the groceries inside the cabin,” I said as I got to my feet.

William followed, carrying his shoes.

We got to the pickup and saw the load of groceries in the back. Victor jumped up into the truck bed and began handing us the bags. “Were you having a good time?” he asked.

“We were watching the lake,” I replied. Why was I getting angry vibes from Victor?

“Maybe I should be doing this by myself, Miss,” Jennifer said. “It doesn’t feel right making you do work.”

“We’re camping, Jennifer,” I told her. “We all work when we’re camping.”

I took several bags from Victor and carried them inside the cabin. Soon all the groceries were in the kitchen, and I began unpacking them and putting them away in the refrigerator and cupboards.

Jennifer handed me my debit card. “I got everything on the list. What did you want for dinner?”

“Let’s keep it simple tonight,” I responded. “Why don’t you cut up some potatoes for potato salad and get them boiling while I finish putting everything away? We can fry some burgers to go with it.”

Victor and William stood nearby, watching us. They were still staring when everything was put away, and I was forming raw hamburger into patties and laying them in a frying pan.

“How do you know how to do all that stuff?” William asked. “I starved, eating nothing but half-burned fish when I was here alone.

“I lived without servants most of my life,” I replied.“I know how to cook, clean, shop, and do all kinds of useful things for myself.”

“Do you enjoy it?” Victor asked.

“Sometimes,” I replied. “As my reward for making dinner for you, somebody should take me for a run around the lake after it gets dark.”

Instantly, the two Alpha males stiffened. “I’ll take you,” they said in unison.

“I know the area,” William said.

“I’m her fiancé,” Victor countered.

The air was charged with tension. I knew I had to do something to prevent an argument that could ruin the weekend and maybe even friendships.

“I know who should go with me,” I said with a smile. “I’ll tell you at dinner.”