I attempt to put that fact out of my brain, but it’s pointless. I’ll never forget that.
Aunt Jackie slows before a black gate around the rear and waves her security badge at a card reader before it slides open.
“I’ll show you to the spa, and then get to work. They always keep a few appointment slots open at all times for VIPs. If you finish before me, you can take the car home and come back to get me at six.”
VIPs?That’s what I used to be, but I’m definitely not anymore.
“Are you sure this is a good idea? I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Shush. Ms. Riscoff wants her employees to be happy, and this makes me happy. I’m not getting in trouble for anything unless I don’t get inside and get to my desk in the next sixteen minutes.”
As Jackie parks the car, I get a view of the back of the resort and the towering shrubs that surround the garden maze.
The garden maze I’ll never forget because of Lincoln.
17
Whitney
The past
“Where are we going?”
“Keep your eyes closed.”
It was a miracle that I’d agreed to the blindfold, and probably a sign I should have been questioning my sanity. But Lincoln had a surprise, and he talked me into going along with it while holding out on letting me come.He plays dirty in bed.
From beneath the cloth over my eyes, everything was dark, and I was terrified someone was going to see us together, even though he promised he wouldn’t let that happen. He didn’t seem to understand how big of a disaster it would be if we got caught. I couldn’t imagine dealing with the fallout. Maybe his attitude was different because he was used to having power, and I was used to having none. Either way, I couldn’t risk it.
“Okay. You can look now.”
I pulled the blindfold off and found we were surrounded by walls of green. “Where are we?”
“The maze.”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “What maze? Where?”
“The Gables. I used to play here as a kid. It was—”
“You brought me to The Gables?” I covered my mouth to cut off my screech. In a much quieter tone, I asked, “Why would you do that?”
The excitement faded from his features. “Because you won’t let me take you on a damned date, and as much as I would love to stay in bed and do nothing but fuck you, you deserve better.”
The simple words of his statement hit me hard in a place I’d been keeping armored against him.
“You can’t say things like that to me,” I whispered, looking away.
Lincoln’s fingers lifted my chin. “I can and I will. We’re both better than that.”
“I can’t—”
“I know. And that’s why we’re here. Unless it’s a garden party night, the maze is usually empty. It’s fine. We’re safe.”
I wanted to believe him, but my apprehension wouldn’t completely fade. Still, when he looked at me like that, like he thought I was worth so much more than I could ever conceive, it made me feel things I shouldn’t. It also made me let him have his way.
“Fine.” I conceded and leaned forward to press a kiss to his lips. “You win.”
Lincoln’s smile seemed to brighten the entire world. “If all it takes is a million-dollar garden to make you kiss me outside the walls of the cabin, then I’ll bring you here every day.”