Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Once her anxiety with the situation began to spike again, she realized it was time to go. It was all too much for her first night.
Like a quality wine, she needed to take small sips instead of guzzling down the whole bottle at once.
Not wanting to fight the crowd to escape, she searched for the closest exit.
Chapter Two
As soon as Cara spotted an exit, she worked her way toward it. Being at the rear of the event hall and near the ladies’ room, it wasn’t the same way she entered, but it was at least a way to get outside quickly to take a few breaths of fresh air.
Clear her head.
Maybe reevaluate the situation.
When she began to head back to the lodge, she noticed a group of people standing and chatting near the front corner of the hall. She changed course and decided to walk around the other side of the building, hoping not to run into anyone who would make her feel more out of place than she already did. Not on purpose, of course, but still…
At the very rear of the building, she was surprised to find an exterior stairway with a small lighted sign pointing up to the second floor that read, Stairway to Heaven.
With a frown, she glanced up and saw another sign over a second-level, windowless door that simply said Heaven.
Interesting.
She really should’ve sat down and read the guest binder in her room that included all of the resort’s details. In fact, she should’ve stayed in her room and read it from cover to cover instead of, again, jumping into this world feet first tonight. Normal people would’ve tested the water prior to diving head first.
She would start reading it as soon as she got back to her room and wouldn’t leave again until she read every damn word. But what she wasn’t doing tonight was climbing those stairs.
After quickly rounding the other back corner of the building to return to her room, she ran smack into a wall.
The impact caused all the oxygen to flee her lungs at the same time as long, strong fingers dug into her arms to keep her from falling backwards and onto her ass.
No, not an actual wall. A large, hard body that might as well be made of bricks.
“Whoa there! Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m…” She shook her head. “No.”
The brick wall released her and took a step back. “What’s the problem? Is someone bothering you?”
Just myself.
Her gaze skimmed over him. Something about him felt familiar but she couldn’t quite place him. Even so, the dark-blond man was sinfully handsome. She didn’t need the sun to see it. The exterior of the event hall was very well lit. Most likely as a safety precaution. “No, I…”
“You…” he prompted.
She blew out a breath. “I’m just a little overwhelmed.”
He smirked. “Some of the events can get a bit wild.”
It wasn’t that. “It’s not my scene,” she admitted.
One eyebrow shot up. “No? What is?”
She was a librarian. Her normal scene was a quiet library, surrounded by books. Her normal scene was getting lost in a good story and transported away to another world. Or helping others to do the same.
More recently, Cara’s fantasy worlds included kink, lots of spicy sex, and BDSM. Tonight might be proof she shouldn’t necessarily make it a reality. “I work in a library.”
“I’d say that’s quite the opposite of what’s going on in there.” He jerked his chin toward the building.
“Yes.”
“A librarian, huh? Where are your glasses and messy bun held together with a number two pencil?”
She let herself relax a smidge and smile. “That’s a stereotype.”
He shrugged. “It’s a sexy one.”
“You think glasses and buns are sexy?”
“Sure. Why not? I think a lot of looks are sexy. That’s why people role-play.”
“You’ve been with someone pretending to be a librarian?”
“Sure, as well as school girl, maid, nurse…cheerleader…” His deep chuckle enveloped her. “Anyway, intelligence is sexy as fuck.”
“You’re assuming most librarians are intelligent,” she countered.
“Aren’t they?”
“Well…I do have my master’s in library science.” Like that was impressive. It wasn’t like her career made her rich. Actually, it was the opposite. She’d wanted to be a librarian ever since she was able to read. Growing up, her family didn’t have much, so losing herself in a good book transported her to places she never thought she’d be able to go. She could also pretend to be one of the characters for a little while.
“See? Super smart equals super sexy in my view.”
Did he consider her sexy? Did she dare ask? If she did, would he answer truthfully? “We’re usually nerds, too.”
“Nerds can be fun.”
“Are you a nerd?”
“I could be considered one. You work with words. I work with numbers.”
“An accountant?”
“Not quite, but close enough. So…if what’s going on inside isn’t your scene, why did you come here?”
When he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, her heart fluttered. Normally she didn’t like any stranger touching her without permission. So, why didn’t his touch bother her? Was it because of where they were and what the resort was about?