'Tis the Season

Chapter 6: Spiked Nog

Chapter Six: Spiked Nog

After about twenty minutes, we pulled onto a paved road again. I didn't see anything I recognized around us, and I was about to ask Carson what town we were in when he switched on his turn signal and pulled into the parking lot of a fancy looking hotel.

I waited for him to park and turn the car off before he finally turned his focus back on me, our eyes locking.

"I like you a lot Carson, but don't you think a hotel on the first date is a bit presumptuous?" I raise my eyebrows at him, trying to read his intentions. His eyes glimmer with amusement and he gives me a small smirk.

"I hadn't planned on christening any of these beds, at least not today, but I like where your mind is at, Naomi," he tells me before gesturing for me to get out of the car.

I stand in awe of the castle-like hotel before me. It's a pristine, white color and has revolving glass doors with shiny gold trim. There are hundreds and hundreds of rooms, each with big glass windows that have wreaths hung upon them. The tall columns in the front are wrapped in dark green garland with little gold ornaments, and instead of a plain cement walkway up to the front doorway, there's a modern cobblestoned path.

I have no clue where we are or how I didn't know this was over here, but I'm happy to take it in for a second while Carson locks the car.

"This place is beautiful. Where are we?"

"Mountain Ridge Resort. I used to work here when I was in high school, my mom used to date the owner's grandson," he informs me as he starts to lead me inside.

Pushing through the door, I pause for another second, feeling like I'm in a movie. The inside is even more elegant than the exterior was. Everything is shiny and gold. It's modern, but still has a timeless appeal to it. Spiral staircases line either side of the foyer and the front desk is a marbled counter with a mahogany base.

Carson surprises me yet again when he leads me straight through an employee- only entry, walking towards a back office.

He gives me a smug smile before entering and I follow uneasily behind him.

"Hey, Mr. Sanders," he greets an older man with graying hair who immediately stands from behind a desk and gives the two of us warm smiles.

"Carson! I was wondering when you'd get here. And you must be Naomi, it's a pleasure to meet you," the man rounds his desk and hugs Carson before shaking my hand. I return his smile, relaxing into the situation a bit more.

"Sorry, I left a little later than I thought I would. We're still on though, right?" Mr. Sanders nods and fishes in his pocket for a second before pulling out a small silver key.

"Here you are, take as long as you want. You have an open reservation in the dining hall for whenever you get hungry," he winks and waves us off as the phone on his desk starts ringing. "Have fun!" He calls out and Carson thanks him over his shoulder one last time before leading me towards an elevator.

"Okay, mystery man. Are you going to tell me what we're doing here now?" I poke his arm a little as we step into the elevator and Carson hits the bottom button, taking us down to the basement of the hotel.

"I'll explain when we get there, trust me for a few more seconds."

The elevator dings and we step out. I'm not sure why I expected a dark, unfinished dungeon-esque scene to be the basement of such a clearly prestigious hotel, but I am pleasantly surprised when we get off and it's just as beautiful as the upstairs, albeit a bit emptier.