Page 65 of Vacation with the Ice Queen
"Well, well," he said, falling into step beside her. "Someone looks like they had an interesting night."
"Good morning to you too," Lila replied, neither confirming nor denying his implication.
"You missed staff dinner," he continued, his tone casual though his eyes were anything but. "I dropped by your cottage around nine. Nobody home."
"I was busy."
"I bet you were." He glanced sideways at her, his expression mixing concern with reluctant amusement. "Just tell me you're being careful."
The question held layers of meaning. Careful with her heart. Careful with her job. Careful with the inevitable goodbye looming just days away.
"As careful as it's possible to be," Lila said honestly. "But some things are worth the risk."
Marcus sighed, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. "At least you're going in with your eyes open."
"Wide open," she confirmed. "We've been completely honest with each other. No false promises, no pretending this is something it can't be."
"Is that enough for you?"
The question hit closer to home than she wanted to admit. Was it enough to have this intense connection that came with a preset ending? To experience something real knowing it would slip through her fingers like island sand?
"It has to be," she said finally. "It's what's possible right now."
They'd reached the junction where the path split toward the eastern pavilion. Marcus stopped, his expression softening. "Just remember that the job title isn't the only difference between you two."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning she lives in a world where everything has a strategic purpose. Where connections are leveraged and relationships are assets." His eyes held genuine concern. "Even if she doesn't mean to, she might see this differently than you do."
"You don't know her," Lila said, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice.
"True." He held up his hands in surrender. "And I hope I'm wrong. Just... keep that shell Tomasi gave you close, yeah? The one with the healed crack."
The reference to her own healing journey wasn't lost on Lila. She softened, recognizing the worry behind his meddling. "I appreciate you looking out for me. Really. But I need to follow this wherever it leads."
"I know you do." He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "That's who you are. Just know I've got ice cream and a shoulder ready when you need them."
"Let's hope for the best outcome," Lila said, managing a smile.
"Always." He glanced at his watch. "I've got a meditation group in five. Try not to break any hearts today—yours included."
As he walked away, Lila took a deep breath, centering herself in the moment rather than the anxieties Marcus had stirred up. Yes, there were risks. Yes, there were differences between her world and Serena's. But beneath job titles and life circumstances, they'd found a connection that felt genuine.
She continued toward the eastern pavilion where Serena would be waiting. Whatever came next—joy or heartbreak—she would face it fully present, fully herself.
Serena was already waiting at the eastern pavilion, wearing designer shorts and a simple white linen blouse. Her silver-streaked hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail—more relaxed than her usual perfect styling, yet still elegant. She looked up from her phone as Lila approached, her expression softening in a way that made Lila's heart skip.
"Good morning," Serena said, slipping her phone into her pocket with uncharacteristic quickness. Progress.
"Morning," Lila replied, trying not to stare at the woman who'd been naked in her arms just hours ago. "Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in years," Serena admitted, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Though admittedly not for very long."
The shared memory of why they'd gotten so little sleep hung between them, charged and sweet.
"Ready for today?" Lila gestured to the path ahead. "It's a bit of a hike, but worth it."
"I'm intrigued to see what you have to show me."
