Page 30 of The Fast Lane
And maybe a blindfold.
The large wooden sign to the Longhorn Natural Retreat and Spa finally came into view twenty long, hot, sweaty minutes later. Hands on my hips, I paused and read the sentence under the name: Bare Yourself to Nature.
Instead of finding a cheery group of cabins or a sprawling lodge, we found a stone fence at least ten feet tall with an equally tall iron gate. The gate stood open and revealed a long gravel driveway.
I groaned. “More walking?”
“Come on. It can’t be that far.”
“What are the chances we get the car fixed today?” I asked hopefully as we started down the winding road lined with oak trees. The cicadas provided an irritating and insistent playlist for the walk. The endless, endless walking.
“We’ll figure it out. The worst thing that could happen is we’re stuck here for a day or two.”
“Oh, good. In the middle of nowhere.” I pulled my phone to check again for a signal. “Nothing. Do you think my mom has filed a missing persons report yet?”
“Probably already contacted the local news.”
“And organized a search party.”
“Candlelight prayer vigil scheduled for tonight.”
“I hope she uses that picture of me at Christmas last year when she’s making the missing flyers,” I said. “That was a good picture.”
“In the red dress?”
I stumbled and caught myself before I faceplanted. “You remember that?”
He shrugged. “I pay attention. I remember things.”
“No…it just seems like a weird detail for you to remember.” But, boy, did I like the idea he did. I had looked smoking in that dress—a form-fitting knee-length skirt, off-the-shoulders cap sleeves that showed the perfect amount of cleavage, and both worked to make my waist tiny. I’d even worn heels and taken extra time with my make-up and hair. I might look like a mess nine days out of ten, but that tenth day, I liked to put in the effort.
“You were kind of hard to forget that night,” he said so quietly, I almost asked him to repeat himself.
Stop it, Ramos, before you get actual heart eyes.
Before I could say something, Theo wrapped a hand around my forearm and pulled me to a stop. I jerked around to face him. With a finger, he tapped his mouth and pointed toward the trees behind where they’d thickened and formed a small cluster. He squinted, watchful. After a full minute of silence, he took a breath and released me.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“I thought I saw someone.”
I peered into the trees. “It is on the resort property. Maybe it’s a guest.”
“Maybe. But…ah…you’re gonna think I’m nuts.”
“What?”
He put his hands on his hips. “I thought he was, well, naked.”
I laughed. “Okay, the heat is starting to get to you. Let’s go find this place.”
The building appeared out of nowhere, a small wooden structure with a sign stuck in the front that read OFFICE/CHECK-IN. A crooked OPEN sign peeked out of a small window.
Theo opened the door and waved me through first. A blast of icy cold AC hit me, and I almost crumbled in joy. A dog of undeterminable pedigree raised a large brown head from his spot in the corner and stared at me with bored dark eyes.
“Howdy.” The guy behind the counter looked to be about my dad’s age with hair more gray than brown and dark-rimmed glasses perched on the end of his nose. His blue Hawaiian shirt hung loose on his frame, as not a single button was fastened. A thick pelt of graying hair covered his chest. There were crumbs caught in it. It was hot out, don’t get me wrong, but this seemed a little on the unprofessional side.
“H-hi,” I said, not knowing exactly where to plant my eyes.