Page 214 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

He lifted his brow. “Right now?”

The notion of having to think about it and anticipate the way her heart would race when she stared at the horrid, isolated place… “I want to get this over with.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“Let’s just go, Nate.” She hurried to the Tahoe, getting in as he did.

“Callie—”

She focused on her seat belt, securing it in place. “Please, let’s just go.”

Sighing, he turned over the engine and headed back down Route 1 toward the old logging trail he’d taken her to weeks ago. Within minutes, he pulled off the road and parked mostly in the woods. “We won’t stay long.”

Nodding, she got out and started through the trees before she had time to really think and changed her mind.

“Hey,” Nate said, snagging her wrist.

She turned, looking at him, wishing they were anywhere but here.

“We don’t have to do this today.”

She blinked several times, realizing she was perilously close to tears. “Why would we wait and wonder?”

Regret filled his eyes as he stroked his fingers along her cheek. “If I didn’t think this was important…”

She nodded.

“I’m right here with you.”

“I know.”

He kissed her once, then again—slowly, tenderly, soothingly.

She melted against him, finding comfort in the simple moment when she could taste Nate and breath him in.

“I love you,” he murmured against her mouth.

She smiled, still getting used to hearing him say so. “I love you too.”

“Come on.” He took her hand, and they started through the forest.

For stretches of time, she let herself get lost in the beauty of their walk as they veered from path to path. The colorful leaves of early September had long given way to November’s various shades of brown and bold greens of tall pines. “It’s pretty.”

“It’s not half-bad.”

“We don’t have to worry about hungry bears or anything?”

He chuckled. “We don’t have bears on the island, plus they would be hibernating if we did.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Good point.”

“The most dangerous animal you might see today is Bambi or his buddy Thumper.”

She smiled at the idea. “I haven’t seen a deer since I lived in Oregon.” And in an instant the serenity of their hike vanished as she stopped, catching sight of the roofline in the distance—the one she’d drawn on paper and created with glass. For several moments she stared, fighting the urge to flee as the need to escape overcame her.

“Are you okay?”

She hesitated before she nodded. “Yes.”