Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Carissa entered her cabin and collapsed into a rocking chair near the fireplace. Traffic had been horrible on the Baltimore beltway, making her second-guess her decision to take such a long drive on short notice.
But the peace of the cabin settled over her, and she breathed in the rich, rugged scent of wood, lingering chimney smoke, and pine. The air was still and cool, as autumn’s hand had snuffed out the last remnants of summer warmth there in the mountains of Maryland.
Soon, she would need to start a fire, but for the moment, she allowed the coolness to seep into her bones. It was strangely refreshing.
The cabin was a simple one-room design. To the right of the front door was a full kitchen, complete with an oven, fridge, and plenty of counter space. To the left of the door sat a small wooden table and two chairs. Behind that was a massive stone fireplace. A king-sized bed took up the majority of the center of the room, and Carissa gazed at it longingly. The rocking chair by the fire had been nice, but she was ready for a good night’s sleep.
Her lone suitcase was filled with warm sweaters and jeans in anticipation of the cooler mountain air. She threw on a cozy sweater and headed out to the cabin’s back deck. A large hot tub sat against the back wall.
Bed or bath? A small smile tugged at her lips. What a privilege to have such simple choices for once. After the last few hectic weeks of planning weddings and a corporate event, coupled with the delicate balance she’d tried to strike between her growing feelings for Max and her business relationship with Lanie, she ached for that simplicity.
Definitely a bath, but first… Her attention strayed to the natural wonder behind her cabin. Well, not exactly a natural wonder . It was a well-known fact that Maryland didn’t have natural lakes. They were all man-made. Still, she could easily forget that knowledge when taking in the pristine view. The fall foliage had peaked there, with the rippling waters reflecting the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows.
She headed down to the lakefront, listening to the water lapping gently along the shoreline. She tried to remember the last time she’d been up that way.
Chuck was still alive. The thought came to her, unbidden, and in an instant, the peace she’d enjoyed disappeared. He’d always loved to be in nature, and he’d requested they spend one last summer camping. Unfortunately, his illness hadn’t allowed for such rugged adventures, so they’d settled for a cabin. It was rustic enough to give the feel of being in the great outdoors but with the modern conveniences his deteriorating body needed.
In that moment, she realized the memory of that trip had inspired her to pitch Deep Creek for the corporate retreat. Her eyes grew misty, and she raised her face to the darkening sky. She could almost feel Chuck with her then, and her heart ached for him.
A small pier jutted out into the lake, and she walked carefully onto its weathered surface. The wood wasn’t in the best condition, but it appeared sturdy enough. She stared out across the water for a while, simply watching the few boats that braved the biting autumn wind.
Glancing down, she caught sight of a carving in the railing. Two sets of initials were crudely cut into the wood, surrounded by a heart. T.S. + T.K . Though it lacked his level of skill, Carissa’s mind immediately went to Max.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to remember their kiss. Though she’d chosen to avoid him for the past few days, she couldn’t help missing him. Part of her had wanted to invite him with her, but it was much too soon. She hoped to use the trip to clear her head and determine what she wanted to do about their relationship. The distance might do them both some good and give them perspective. But she’d promised to tell him when she arrived, so she sent a quick text.
A million other notifications stared back at her, most of them from Jacob. She glared at the screen, fighting the irritation rising in her chest. Was it not enough that she’d come up there on barely a moment’s notice? Why couldn’t Jacob trust her to do the job she’d been sent there to do?
She pushed off the railing and headed to her cabin. The beauty around her wasn’t enough to quell her growing aggravation, but perhaps a warm bath with a glass or two of pinot grigio would do the trick.
The next morning, Carissa woke with a dull headache. Her first instinct was to roll over and go back to sleep, then she remembered the reason for her impromptu trip. Groaning, she rolled out of bed and slipped into the bathroom. After splashing some water on her face, she made herself a cup of coffee and opened the front door. A blast of chilly air would wake her up more than the caffeine could ever hope to.
Once she was fully awake, she showered and set off to start her day. She had a list of possible venues to visit. While most of the retreat would take place either on the lake itself or near the cabins, she’d wanted to infuse some variety into the agenda.
Her first stop was a ropes course with zip-lining. The tour promised tests of agility and required teams to work together with a guide to get everyone through the challenges. As she drove around the north side of the lake, she was surprised by the number of cars she passed. Deep Creek was a perfect summer vacation spot, but the place she was heading to doubled as a ski resort in the winter. She supposed she shouldn’t be shocked that other people were drawn to the area for the beautiful fall foliage.
When she reached the resort, she parked and surveyed the building. It was nondescript aside from a sign advertising the zip-lining course. She walked up to the glass door and peered inside.
“Do you have a reservation?” a deep voice asked behind her.
Spinning on her heel, she found a young man with a backward baseball cap on his head. Tufts of blond hair stuck out of the hole in the hat. His gaze traveled over her outfit. “You’re not really dressed for climbing.”
Straightening her suit jacket, she forced a smile. “I’m not here to climb. I was hoping to talk to someone about bringing a corporate retreat here. Are you the owner?”
“No, but I can take you to him.” He moved past her and opened the glass door. “After you.”
Once they were inside, the man indicated she should wait in the lobby then left to fetch the owner. While she waited, Carissa wandered around the small area. Instructions were posted in large signs over the check-in desks, and to the right were several small computers where people could view photos of themselves on the course.
Before arriving, she’d checked out their group rates. She was disappointed to learn that they limited the size of each group to eight people. Jacob wouldn’t appreciate that. It would take hours to get all of his employees through the course.
“How may I help you, Miss…?” An older man with a receding gray hairline and a scruffy beard walked into the room.
“Owens.” Carissa held out her hand. “Carissa Owens. I wanted to speak to you about your group rates.”
He clasped her hand briefly and gave it the slightest of shakes. “Ah, do you have a large family on vacation with you?”
“I’m actually planning a corporate retreat for next autumn, and I’m scoping out potential activities to include on our itinerary.”
His brow furrowed. “How many people are you expecting?”
She’d anticipated his reaction and took it in stride. “Likely around fifty people.”
When his frown deepened, she hurried on. “But that’s an estimate, and not everyone will want to participate in every activity. My goal is to provide attendees with a variety of options to explore.”
“Well, it would depend on which course you hoped to do.” He handed her a brochure. “Because of the size of the group and the time it would take for each person to go through the course, I would suggest one of our shorter courses. The challenges are not complicated, and participants are brought to the zip line portion much quicker, which is usually the appeal.”
She cocked her head. “What if we offered all the courses? Could we split the group based on level of preference?”
Scratching his beard, he seemed to deliberate. “I might be able to do that, but I’d need enough notice to ensure we were well staffed.”
“I should be able to provide options for dates and times by the end of this year and then numbers of participants by late spring of next year.”
“Then we can accommodate you.”
Relief washed over her. One activity secured. She handed him a card. “Here’s my information. I’ll be in touch.”
By the end of the day, Carissa didn’t feel like she’d been on a weekend getaway at all. She’d driven all over the area while checking out restaurants, local hiking trails, and even a white-water rafting company. The latter, she’d visited only on Jacob’s insistence. She couldn’t imagine anyone would want to risk falling headfirst into the freezing waters of a raging river in the middle of October.
All she wanted to do was soak her aching muscles in her hot tub and open another bottle of wine. Her stomach growled. But first, she needed to grab dinner.
The fast-food restaurants she’d passed on her way back to the cabin didn’t appeal to her. However, a small hole-in-the-wall diner caught her eye. Its simple design and homey vibes reminded her of Bea’s. A wave of homesickness came over her as she turned in to the parking lot.
The similarities to Bea’s ended at the front door. Inside, the diner was decorated in a much more rustic fashion in contrast to Bea’s 1950s nostalgia. There was no swaying-Elvis décor and no jukeboxes. Instead, various animal heads were mounted on the walls, and the floor was riddled with peanut shells.
“Sit anywhere you’d like,” a woman said as she passed by Carissa on her way to the kitchen.
Carissa surveyed her options. Several booths sat to one side near a huge fireplace, while a breakfast bar was set up on the other side of the room nearest the kitchen. The appeal of the fire was too strong, and Carissa chose a booth closest to it. A sigh escaped her lips as she welcomed the warmth from the hearth into her old bones.
The woman she’d seen earlier stopped by and handed her a menu. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Water’s fine for now,” Carissa said with a smile.
After the woman left, Carissa flipped open the menu. The options were fairly standard—burgers, chicken-fried steak, and shepherd’s pie—but one item stuck out to her.
“Bison burgers?” she asked as a water glass was set in front of her.
“Don’t let the name scare ya. They’re just like your typical beef burger, but they got a bit of a wilder edge to ’em.”
Carissa shrugged. When in Rome. Besides, she’d already been to half a dozen fancy restaurants in the area. It would be good to include something local and original for the corporate retreat.
“I’ll have that.” She glanced at the menu. “And I’ll take a beer from one of your local breweries. Whatever goes best with bison.”
The waitress grinned as she took her menu. “I love an adventurous soul.”
After she left, her words lingered with Carissa. An adventurous soul. Is that what I am now? Her wedding business had sometimes taken her to exotic locations when brides requested destination weddings, but the corporate world was opening many more opportunities.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, expecting to hear from Jacob. Instead, Max’s name stared back at her.
We need to talk. Dinner when you get back?
Carissa sighed and turned off the phone, in no mood to deal with Max and the repercussions of their kiss. While she knew she couldn’t avoid it forever, at that moment, all she wanted to do was enjoy a nice, quiet meal and celebrate how much she’d accomplished. After her excursions that day, she deserved time to relax. Her real life could wait until she was home.
A few moments later, the waitress returned with her food and beer. Carissa took a sip from the cool glass, savoring the mellow and smooth flavor with just the slightest hint of sweetness. The burger was ginormous, which seemed fitting because of the animal it came from. Carissa opted to cut it in half but still required two hands to lift it. Her first bite oozed with delicious juiciness.
Closing her eyes, she chewed quickly before devouring the first half of the sandwich. It was the best burger she’d ever had, and she was ravenous after rushing around all day.
A soft chuckle caught her attention, and she opened her eyes to find the waitress hovering nearby. Carissa set down the burger and wiped her face.
“I take it you’re enjoying your first bison burger?” the waitress asked.
“That’s an understatement,” Carissa said, eyeing the second half. The restaurant would be a perfect addition to the retreat, but she wasn’t sure if the small place could accommodate everyone. “Do you ever serve large parties?”
“Like catering?”
Hmm… I hadn’t considered that. Which was surprising, since she worked with caterers all the time. “That wasn’t exactly what I meant, but that might work too.” At the waitress’s perplexed expression, Carissa continued, “I’m planning a corporate retreat, and I’ve been scoping out restaurants and activities all day. The food would be a big hit, but I’m not sure we can fit everyone in here.”
“I’d have to ask my boss, but we’ve catered events before. Maybe she’d be willing to bring the food to you.” The waitress opened a notepad. “Where will you be hosting it?”
Carissa provided the details of the cabin rental location. They chatted for a few more minutes, and the waitress promised to give her boss the information.
Once she was alone again, Carissa greedily ate the rest of her burger and licked the grease from her fingers. As she sipped her beer, she promised herself she would stop back by there again for one more burger before she headed home.
Home. She sighed. The weekend was almost over, and she still had no idea what to say to Max. If she were honest, the distance from him had made the possibility of secretly dating more appealing than when he’d first mentioned it. But she couldn’t quite stomach the idea of going behind Lanie’s back. Besides being unprofessional, it risked ruining any chance Max had of improving his relationship with his daughter.
And yet, keeping Max at arm’s length until after the wedding was no longer feasible. After their kiss, she wanted more.
Once she’d paid the bill, Carissa headed to her cabin. When she arrived, she sat in her car and stared at Max’s text. With a secret smile, she typed her response.