“Thanks, I think?” Ivy laughed, flexing playfully. “What about you? Do you work out?”

  “I have…” Kendall let the word drag out. It wasn’t that she didn’t like working out. She just never seemed to find time to do it.

  “I haven’t made it there recently because I’ve been studying for my exam, but you’re welcome to join me the next time I go,” Ivy said as she scooped up another bite of eggs with her fork.

  “Or I can just sleep in.” She grinned.

  A man appeared at the side of the table. “Well, good morning.” The man gripped the back of the vacant chair as he spoke. “Do you have a minute this morning to let me pick your brain about the area?”

  “Absolutely. Feel free to grab a cup of coffee and have a seat. We’re just finishing up some breakfast before heading out.” Ivy gestured to the empty chair at the table.

  “Does that happen often? People interrupting your breakfast?” Kendall asked as she watched the man walk to the coffee station at the end of the buffet.

  “All the time. Can’t be shy in this job.” Ivy took a bite of toast and washed it down with a sip of coffee. “I enjoy chatting with visitors and answering any questions they might have about the park.”

  The man returned with his coffee, took a seat, and held out his hand. “Dale Arthur.”

  “Ivy Patterson.” Ivy shook his hand and then motioned to Kendall. “This is Kendall Jackson.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Like the wine?” A common revelation when being introduced to new acquaintances.

  “No relation, but yes.”

  Ivy smiled softly at Kendall. “Hmm. I hadn’t put that together.” She returned her attention to Dale. “Where are you visiting from, Dale?”

  “Rolla, Missouri,” he said, his deep voice strong.

  “Oh, I’ve been there before. Nice place to visit.” Ivy pushed a forkful of eggs toward the toast she was holding in her other hand. “Don’t they have a big carnival over the Fourth of July holiday?”

  He smiled widely. “We do. The Lions Club puts it on. I help out with that a lot.” He relaxed in his chair and crossed his legs. “You should come next year. We have the usual rides, games, and fireworks, but we added a drone show this past summer since it was our 90th annual carnival.”

  “Ooh, that sounds like fun. We should go,” Kendall said, bouncing in her chair a bit.

  “Putting it on the list.” Ivy circled her finger in the air. She was getting good at playing along. “So, Dale. Planning to take in the sights or go for a hike today?” she asked.

  “Yes. I’m looking for some beginner trails to take my grandkids walking.”

  “We’ve got maps in the discovery station in the lobby. I can mark some recommendations based on your interests. The waterfalls are really flowing strongly this time of year if you want some beautiful scenery. And bird and wildlife sightings have been excellent recently too.”

  “Perfect. That would be super.” Dale tapped the table with his finger. “Let me ask you this. When we arrived, I saw that some of the landscape had been dug up. What’s going on there?”

  “We’re having it redesigned. In fact,” Ivy pointed her fork at Kendall, “Kendall is one of the people bidding the job.”

  “Oh, really?” His eyebrows flew up. “I’ve been wanting to plant some additional shrubs and flowers around my place back home. Can you give me some ideas of low-maintenance plants that grow well around here?”

  “Missouri has similar temperatures but is a bit more humid during the summer. Do you get heavy snow there?” Kendall asked.

  “Occasionally, but we don’t really get harsh winters like they do up North.”

  “I think you can get by with some boxwood and holly bushes, along with some hosta plants. They handle mild winters well. If it gets too cold you can add some mulch or hay to insulate them.”

  “Great idea.” Dale took a swig of coffee before he stood. “Well, I’ll let you finish your breakfast. Will you be around the lobby later to show me those spots on the map?”

  “I will. Give me about thirty minutes to finish my breakfast, and I’ll meet you in the common room at the front of the lodge.”

  “Thanks.” Dale dipped his chin. “Nice meeting you, Kendall.”

  “Nice to meet you as well,” Kendall said with a smile. “I’m so impressed that you invite all these people into your life,” she whispered as Dale walked away.

  Ivy pushed the last of her eggs around on her plate. “Actually, everyone who visits the lodge invites me into their lives in one way or another. Some more than others.” Ivy relaxed into her chair and scanned the room again.

  Kendall noted as she watched her that they both had laughed, and the conversation flowed easily as the morning sun climbed higher outside the window. Their coffee cups were refilled, and the remains of their breakfast had grown cold on their plates as they’d enjoyed each other’s company. This situation was becoming easier than she’d anticipated. Maybe too easy.

  Ivy’s family didn’t seem much different from her own, except for the financial aspect. It was, however, much different than Cassie’s family. She recalled that the similarities between them had been sparse, which had been an issue from the start. Kendall came from a family of four, whom she’d helped support since as far back as she could remember. Cassie had come from an upper-middle-class family, and although Kendall wouldn’t describe them as wealthy, she hadn’t had to work during high school, and her parents had paid for her college education. Kendall hadn’t benefited from that luxury.

  “How was it growing up with a park warden for a father?” Kendall honestly wanted to know about that experience, especially how it had shaped Ivy into the rigid rule follower she seemed to be.

  Ivy pushed her chair back. “Let’s get Dale his maps, and then we can talk as we walk some of the trails.”

  Kendall still hadn’t found out as much about Ivy as she’d wanted to, but she supposed that would come with time…and she wanted more time with her.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  They got Dale situated with his trail maps and destinations for the day and headed out the front entrance of the lodge.

  “Give me a sec. I need to get my backpack.” Kendall sprinted to her car.

  “We probably won’t go that far from the lodge.” Ivy had no idea what Kendall was bringing, but provisions wouldn’t be necessary on the nearby area she planned to show her.

  “These are for my assessment. I’ll need to create some additional detailed design plans.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Ivy had almost forgotten Kendall’s initial reason for being here. “What do you have in there?”

  Kendall unzipped the backpack and reached inside. “A tape measure, soil-sample containers, my phone for pictures, and a notebook and pencil,” she said as she pulled out each item and then dropped them all back inside except for the notebook and pencil.

  “Hm. I didn’t realize it was so complicated.” Each time she spoke to Kendall, she gained more respect for her knowledge.

  “It really isn’t. I just have to consider a lot of factors,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “Well, don’t stop there. I’m intrigued.” She knew a lot about nature but not how to manipulate it.

  “Things like light patterns, along with existing features like drainage and utilities, can affect whatever tools and resources we decide to use.” Kendall walked to the retaining wall lining the trail and strummed her fingers across it. “Like this. Have you ever seen any sign of water seeping out?”

  Ivy thought for a minute but couldn’t recall ever seeing any issues like that. “No. It seems to hold pretty well during all kinds of weather.”

  “Good.” She jotted something down. “Then we don’t need to do anything with it.”

  “That’s good news. It’s been here for a while.”

  “I can see that. It has character that we can build on.” Kendall seemed to see the beauty in the structure.

  “So, how do you actually do what you do?” Ivy was curious about Kendall’s process.

  “You mean, like how do I figure out what needs to be done here?”

  Ivy nodded. “Yeah. I know a lot about nature, but I wouldn’t have a clue where to start changing it.”

  “Well, first I do this.” Kendall motioned between them with her hands. “Walk around with someone knowledgeable, take notes, and let my imagination work. You know, develop mental ideas of what improvements would make the lodge more attractive.”

  “You must have some wild imagination.”

  Kendall smiled. “Actually, I do. I can close my eyes and move structures around and change the landscaping by removing or adding trees and plants.”

  “Sounds like you have quite a gift.”

  Kendall nodded. “I’ve been able to do it since I was a kid.”

  “So, what do you do next?” Ivy moved farther down the pathway.

  “Then I develop scaled drawings that show proposed layouts for plants, hardscaping, and other elements.” Kendall followed her closely. “Next comes plant selection and placement, which require deep knowledge of local climate, plant characteristics, growth patterns, and maintenance needs.”

  “That’s why you need me?”

  “Partly.” Kendall grinned. “You’re also very good company.”

  Ivy’s cheeks heated. “I enjoy your company too.” Ivy glanced at the lodge and saw they had an audience. June, the woman who’d been chasing her, was watching them through the windows. She must have come in early to prepare for the lunch shift. “Do you mind if I hold your hand?” She tipped her head toward the lodge.

  Warmth rushed through Ivy as Kendall slipped her hand into hers and laced their fingers together.

  “Not at all.” Kendall glanced that way. “Who’s that?”

  “Just someone who wants something I don’t.” Ivy needed to use this situation to her advantage. “So, what’s next?”

  “I don’t know.” Kendall raised her eyebrows as she turned to face her. “Should we kiss?”

  “I meant what’s next in your process.” Ivy could see the disappointment in Kendall’s eyes. “But maybe a short kiss would send a good message.” She leaned forward, closed her eyes, and waited for Kendall’s lips to meet hers. The anticipation was sending wild sensations to her belly, which she hadn’t felt in a very long time. Her expectations were met with soft, slightly wet lips crushing lightly with hers. She snaked her arms around Kendall and drew her closer. When their bodies met the heat was unreal. Every single one of her nerve endings fired. She could feel every part of Kendall in the deepest, most sensual, way as they came together in the embrace. This light kiss was much more than she’d expected. This woman was much more than she’d expected. She broke away. “That should do it.”

  Kendall touched her lips with her fingertips. “Yeah. That was…uh…something.” She cleared her throat. “That should do it.” She turned and pulled Ivy farther down the pathway.

  They walked for a few minutes in silence, Ivy a bit stunned and unsure what to say next. Should she comment on the kiss or just move forward with landscape questions?

  Kendall made the choice for her. “So, next, I consider factors like blooming seasons, maturity sizes, water requirements, and how different species work together aesthetically and ecologically.” Not making eye contact, she jotted down a couple more notes.

  “What about the structure and concrete?” Their comfort level had changed, which was a relief. It was time to stick to business.

  “Hardscape design, including paths, patios, and retaining walls.” Kendall pointed her pen toward the concrete pathway below them and then at the lodge area. “In addition to water features, outdoor living spaces require understanding of construction materials and techniques, local building codes, and how to integrate built elements naturally into the landscape.”

  Ivy’s respect for Kendall was rising rapidly. She truly hadn’t realized all the education and creativity that went into what she did. Though skeptical when Kendall arrived, now she felt completely comfortable with her getting the bid award to make the lodge area more beautiful. That wasn’t just about the amazing kiss they’d just shared.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  As they walked farther down the trail, Ivy seemed to become quieter than usual. Was Ivy overthinking the kiss they shared? It was just for show, wasn’t it? That mind-blowing, toe-curling kiss? Kendall’s belly tingled. It wasn’t a kiss she was going to forget anytime soon. “Whatcha thinkin’ about?”

  “What went wrong between you and Cassie?”

  Not the subject Kendall was expecting. The tingle in her stomach quickly turned into a knot. “I’m not really sure. I keep trying to figure out where I messed up. I know that sounds clichéd, but I did everything I could to please her, and it was never the right thing.” At least she thought she had. It was clear now that she’d been in some sort of delusional state during the whole relationship.

  “Are you still trying to figure it out?” Ivy asked quietly.

  Kendall shook her head. “No. I realize now that it wasn’t me. It was all about her not caring about anyone but herself. Sometimes I think maybe her confidence attracted me in the first place, but she was a complete narcissist. I have no idea how I ever stayed involved with her. I’ll never go back.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Cassie was cheating on me. She’d moved on from the relationship long before I had any idea of what was going on. She broke up with me through text while I was on a weekend trip with my mom. By the time I got home she’d moved out of the apartment. And she ended our professional partnership just as abruptly. I caught her moving out of the office without my knowledge.”

  “I’m so sorry that happened to you,” Ivy said sincerely.

  “Thanks, but don’t be. The delivery sucked, but it needed to happen. The spark between us had died long ago, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t figure out how to rekindle it.”

  “Still.” Ivy shook her head. “She doesn’t sound like a very nice person.”

  “She was blunt, to the point, and very callous. Still is.” Cassie had perfected the art of the blindside in work and play. “She didn’t always seem that way. She put up a very good front. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with her.” Kendall sighed. “She’s just so beautiful and can be very charming when she wants to be.” Kendall had always been awed by Cassie’s beauty. That illusion had never faded for her.

  “Pretty wrapping doesn’t always make the best gift,” Ivy said matter-of-factly.

  “Yeah. I found that out. When I hear her talk now, I have to remind myself how horrible she can be.”

  “She can be very charming. I saw that when she tried to sweet-talk me after the parking incident. Didn’t work, though.”

  Kendall nodded. “She can turn disingenuous quickly.” Kendall hadn’t admitted it to herself at the time, but she’d gradually been falling out of love with Cassie as well. When she’d first been attracted to her, it had been instant, surreal even, but Kendall held back. She’d been hurt before and couldn’t fathom why someone so attractive would be interested in her. Cassie had romanced and pursued her without bounds, and Kendall was eventually swept up in the passion swirling between them. It was overwhelming, so much so that Kendall thought it would never fade, and she would be with Cassie forever.

  The last time she’d made love with Cassie, it had just seemed so right. Kendall had cooked a wonderful dinner—vegetable pasta, one of Cassie’s favorites. They’d eaten, drunk wine, laughed, and then tumbled into bed, making passionate love. She shook the vision from her head. Everything had been perfect. Then, a few days later, during that next weekend, she’d received a text from Cassie letting her know that she’d left, totally moved out, and that she didn’t want to be with her anymore. She’d had it planned all along and had made love to her anyway. Who did something like that?

  “Maybe we should get back to the lodge,” Kendall said. “I need to look over my notes and start making adjustments to my plans.”

  “All right,” Ivy said. “I’d love to see what you come up with over dinner.”

  “I’d love to have your input. You know much more about the lodge than I can gather in only a few hours.” She needed Ivy’s insights in order to gain any type of edge over her competitors.

  “I’m happy to help.” Ivy swept her arm in front of her. “After you.”

  Conversation was sparse as they walked, but Kendall didn’t find the silence awkward any longer. It was just a lull between two friends enjoying each other’s company.

  Ivy left Kendall back in the lobby. They’d enjoyed a nice morning walk on several of the most common trails, and she could have honestly spent all day with her, but she had work to do. She smiled to herself. And dinner was going to be a regular thing with Ivy when Kendall was there. Not a bad way to end her day at all.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Ivy’s dad cleared his throat awkwardly. “So, who was that I saw you with earlier?”

  Ivy looked up from her phone. “At breakfast? That was Kendall. She’s bidding the lodge-renovation contract.”

  “Not at breakfast.” He dug his hands into his pockets. “Outside in front of the lodge after that.”

  Ivy’s cheeks warmed. “Oh. You saw that?” She hadn’t expected him to be at the lodge this morning.

  He nodded. “It was hard to miss through the plate-glass windows in the common area of the lodge. Everyone in the room was watching, including Susan and that little waitress who’s been after you to take her out.”

  Ivy sighed. “That was Kendall as well.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “We met a while back and have been kind of dating long distance. I was going to tell you and Mom about her soon. I just haven’t had the chance.”