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“So what you’re saying is that you might just be a closet explorer.”
I laugh. “Well, I’m pretty sure that when I say explorer, I’m still talking about hotels and cabins, not tents and sleeping under the stars.”
He shakes his head. “It’s the best. You’ll see.”
“What? Backpacking?”
“Sleeping under the stars.”
“I think you’re extremely lucky you haven’t been eaten by a bear yet.”
He chuckles. “Probably. But what is life without a few risks?” He glances in my direction for a second before returning his attention to the road.
“I’m not a risk-taker. Never have been.”
His hand extends over the console between us, and he grips my knee. “I’m not sure that’s true.”
I scoff. “You go all over the world, stay in the most remote parts all on your own to capture a photo. You’ve probably been face to face with death more times than you care to tell me. I live in a small town where my entire family is within a stone’s throw.”
“Mandi, you took over a failing inn. Talk about a risk. You employ people who rely on your business sense for their livelihoods. Those are all risks.”
I shrug. “It’s not the same. I knew what I was doing when I bought the inn.”
“Did you really?” He cocks an eyebrow.
“I suppose not entirely. I learned on the fly.”
“And that’s taking a risk. Otherwise, you’d be working for someone else right now. But you’re your own boss and that’s admirable and always a risk. And all that isn’t even mentioning you agreeing to my crazy offer of a fake marriage.”
I lay my head back on the headrest and think about what he said. Maybe he’s right. Sure, I don’t take risks physically or with my safety, but maybe I take risks in a different way.
After a few minutes, I turn my head in his direction. “Truth?”
“Yeah.”
“You make me feel like a different person.” There’s a warm sensation in my chest.
“Is that good or bad?” The way he asks the question makes it sound like my answer matters immensely to him.
“Good. You make me feel like I’m some amazing woman capable of anything.”
He stops at a traffic light as we drive through another small town and looks at me. I know for a fact this place only has one light. “You are, Mandi. To me, you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
I shake my head. “You only say that because I’m helping you.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I’ve always thought it. It’s how you are with people. The way you treat everyone like they’re your best friend and you really care about them. I see the people at the restaurant. Each table is eager to have a few minutes with you. And I know how that feels because it’s what I want every day too. To steal a few moments alone with you. I love hearing what’s in your head.”
I suck in a shallow breath. “Careful, Noah, you might get lucky if you keep talking like that.”
He pulls to the side of the road and puts the truck in park. “I meant every word that just came out of my mouth.” His eyes hold mine and my heart does this funny thing where it skips a few beats. “Truth?”
“Yeah,” I just about whisper.
“I have no idea how I’ll ever walk away from you. It will be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask why he has to walk away from me. Maybe we should give this thing a shot for real.
“But I’d only end up breaking your heart. While you’re not meant to travel the world, I’m not meant to stay in one town for the rest of my life. I couldn’t get out of Greywall fast enough when I was eighteen. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”
I plaster on a fake smile and nod. “You don’t have to clear things up for me.”
He puts the truck in drive. “I think we could have a great friendship though.”
I huff and stare out the window. “Yeah, definitely,” I say, not meaning a word of it.
