His smoldering eyes don’t leave my face as he leans in close. “You’re such a smart ass, Dacen. It really is gonna get you into trouble one of these days.”
I grin. That’s what I’m counting on.
About fifteen minutes later we’re almost at our destination, according to Ryne. We take a break on a giant rock that’s conveniently placed exactly where I need to sit my ass down. I dig my phone out and snap a few photos of the scenery. When Ryne’s not looking, I also take a few pictures of him. He catches me on the last one, turning his head while I’ve still got the phone up. He sticks his tongue out and I snap the photo, then laugh when I pull it up.
“Oh, that one’s a keeper for sure.” I hand my phone to Ryne. “Would you mind taking one of me so I have proof that I can not only peacefully coexist with nature, but also enjoy it?”
He takes the phone and snaps a few pictures. “There. Documented. It’s official, you do not hate nature. Which is a good thing, because there’s a snake on that rock.”
I freeze for a second and then laugh. “Yeah, right, sure there is. And Bigfoot is standing behind you.”
Ryne raises his eyebrows and inclines his head to my right. I peer over and freeze again. Sure enough, there’s a snake. A snake on the rock. With me. I think I might pass out. I can’t move or even breathe now that I’ve seen it.
“It’s not like a t-rex, Dacen. If you don’t move it’s just gonna bite your ass that much faster.”
I blink a few times and then haul ass off the rock and stand behind him, gripping one of his forearms. “I don’t like snakes.”
Ryne looks over his shoulder. “You really are a total city boy, aren’t you? It’s a corn snake, Dacen. It can’t hurt you even if it does bite you. They have tiny teeth. It’s no worse than being scratched by a cat.”
He turns around, grinning, and I glare at him. “I don’t like anything with the wordsnakein it.”
Without missing a beat, he throws back, “Not even one-eyed snakes?”
I smother my laugh with a cough. “Okay yes, I do make an exception for those.”
Ryne’s intense gaze makes my stomach flip, then he inclines his head in the direction we need to go. It hits me after a moment that it’s no longer so quiet around us. At the sound of rushing water, I turn to Ryne with my eyebrows raised.
“Knoxton Falls is named Knoxton Falls for a reason.”
My stomach flutters and my voice betrays my excitement, rising in pitch. “Y’all have a waterfall?” I don’t know where the y’all came from but I just roll with it.
Ryne nods and points ahead to the end of the path. “Once we get around those tall rocks there you’ll see it.”
We make our way around the rock wall and—
“Oh. My. God.”
It’s beautiful. There are two falls pouring over the side of a tall, rocky ledge. The water shoots down the sides and pools at the base of the rocks, and from there it twists and turns down a stream that leads away from the area, presumably into the lake.
“This is amazing, Ryne. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
I could stand here and stare and listen for hours. The sound of the rushing water is the best kind of white noise, very soothing and relaxing, but it also fills me with a renewed energy. I wish I could bottle it up and keep it with me forever.
Ryne nudges me with his elbow. “I’m glad to see it meets your expectations.”
“Um, no, it completely blew my expectations away. This far surpasses them. Thank you.”
He smiles and I grab his wrist and turn us so the falls are at our backs. I pull my phone out again and switch to the front camera, then hold it up. “Is this okay?”
He licks his lip and then nods. “Yeah.”
His voice is raw and gritty and stirs up all sorts of thoughts, but three things come front and center for me.
Number one: this is the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten, ever. Hands down.
Number two: another piece of my heart just worked its way out of my chest and plopped into Ryne’s hands, without my permission.
Number three: if he doesn’t kiss me again soon I’m going to shrivel up and die. Or, you know, take matters into my own hands.
