“Sure. Let me grab my shoes.” She disappears into the living room to grab her shoes, and we’re out the door. “Where are we going?” she asks.
“I don’t really have a destination. I just felt like driving some backroads with my girl.”
“Gotta love living in a small town.”
“Do you? Love your life in Mason Creek?”
She nods. “I do. Sure, I hate that Tate is all up in everyone’s business. I hate that Hattie and Hazel not only gossip but meddle, but I also love this town because of it. They might meddle or gossip, but I know that if I needed any of them, they would be the first in line and the first to rally the troops.”
“I agree with you. It’s nice raising the girls here. Not just because it’s where I grew up, but because we know everyone, and they know us. It’s safe, and you’re right. The meddling and the gossip are done out of love.”
“You’re taking me to your work?” she asks when we pull up behind the fire station.
“Not exactly. Stay there.” I point my finger at her telling her I’m serious. Grabbing my phone and keys, I rush around the truck and open her door. “I was thinking you could take a walk with me.” Reaching into the glove box, I grab a flashlight.
“Is this where we take a walk in the woods and are never to be seen or heard of again?” She chuckles.
“No. You’re stuck with me.” Leaning in, I press my lips to hers. Dropping the flashlight to the floorboard, I place my hands on her hips and lift her from the truck.
“Really, are we going to the woods? You know what’s in there, right?” She points to the thick forest behind the fire station. “And you do know it’s private property?”
“Yes, we’re going into the woods. Yes, I know it’s private property. That’s why we have to be sneaky.”
“Old man Davis will have us arrested. I’ll have to play innocent and tell him that you kidnapped me.” She bites the inside of her cheek to keep her smile from showing.
“That’s fine. I’ll just tell him that it’s his fault. He built that damn bridge, and it screams romance. So, the man can’t blame me for wanting to take my girl there.”
“Aww.” She places her hand over her heart.
“Come on, you.” Grabbing the flashlight, I lace her fingers through mine, and we sneak off into the woods. Fifteen minutes later, we’re standing on the bridge over the small lake.
“Wow. It really is beautiful out here.”
“So, you know how the story goes, right? Old man Davis built this bridge for his wife. She loved the woods and wanted to be able to explore them easily. He made that possible for her.”
“He loved her.”
My heart squeezes in my chest at the sight of the moon dancing across her face. I never knew that I could feel this way again. So connected to a woman. I thought when I lost Holly that I had lost my ability to feel these types of things. Laken coming into my life has proven me differently.
“I’ve never been here before,” I confess to her.
“What? How is that possible? You had to have brought Holly here a time or two.”
“No. We never did. I guess the bridge was always so hyped up, and everyone was doing it, so we just- didn’t.” I shrug. I’m not sure why my late wife and I never ventured to the bridge, but tonight as I stand here with Laken’s back pressed to my front and my arms wrapped tight around her, I’m glad. This is a moment that I only share with her that makes all the more special.
“This is just for us,” she murmurs, voicing my thoughts.
“Just for us.”
I don’t know how long we stand here, staring out at the moonlight dancing across the lake, but I do know that she is in my arms the entire time. When she finally turns to face me, I kiss her like my life depends on it. She is the air I need to breathe. I kiss her until we are both breathless before walking hand in hand back to my truck. When we make it back to my place, I kiss her until I can no longer keep my eyes open before holding her in my arms all night long. This is definitely a night I will never forget.
Chapter 15
Laken
I’m sitting in my office while Jasmine handles the register and is working on putting away today’s shipment. I’m supposed to be working on this month’s financial report. Instead, I can’t stop thinking about Grayson. I haven’t seen him since he dropped me off at my place Saturday night. It’s Thursday. That’s five long days without him. We’ve been dating for a month now, and it’s been the best month of my life.