It was also very romantic. Each felt this irresistible tug toward the other, and both silently agreed not to resist. Ricardo found excuses to touch Carol—straighten the cap that was perfectly fine, tug the scarf around her neck, feed her some pastry he particularly enjoyed, only to wipe flecks from the corner of her mouth or chin. Carol enjoyed laying her head on his shoulder, touching her lips to his, holding his hand when they walked. Anyone who happened to see them together pegged them as a couple in love rather than two strangers who’d met by accident.
Because they’d started their hike late, and because Ricardo had never gone past the clearing, they returned to the resort after they ate. They dropped off the mostly empty basket with kitchen staff and, by an unspoken agreement and mutu
