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“No lie, that.”
“You know what I’d like to do?”
He brushed a curl off her shoulder. “Tell me.”
“It’s a lovely day. I haven’t been up to Inspiration Point since last summer. I’d like to go up there and hike to the waterfall. And you’ve never taken me for a ride on that motorcycle you have in the garage.”
“Well, Willow Eldridge. I didn’t know you’re a biker chick.”
“Stick around, Noah Tannehill,” she teased. “You might be surprised by what you learn.” Had she not happened to be watching him closely, she would have missed the shadow that flashed across his eyes.
She started to call him on it then and there, but like she’dsaid, it had been quite a day. She wanted the motorcycle ride and the hike. She wanted to exercise and commune with nature and forget about her worries and concerns. She needed to do some self-care that her mother had advised her about earlier. Whatever Noah had on his mind could keep.
His bike was a Honda cruiser. It had been his primary mode of transportation in Denver until he’d seen one too many accidents as a first responder. At that point, he’d brought it to the cabin. He gave her a thorough safety lecture and carefully fitted her with an extra helmet he had in his garage before they headed out.
The drive up to Inspiration Point was one switchback after another, filled with magnificent views. While the helmet prevented her from experiencing the wind in her hair, she counted the opportunity to snuggle close against the driver’s back as a fair trade-off. Shortly before they were to reach the official entrance to Inspiration Point, he veered off of the road and entered a gate marked with the Triple T Ranch logo. This was a route Willow had never traveled.
They rode on a dirt-packed trail for another five minutes before he parked at the edge of an aspen grove. He grabbed a pack from the bike’s storage compartment saying, “Gage showed me this route to the falls. It’s an easy hike and the views are spectacular.”
Noah wasn’t kidding. By the time they settled down for their picnic lunch near where the waterfall roared and sunlight painted rainbows in the mist, she was relaxed and filled with peace.
However, Noah looked like he was sitting on an anthill. Willow thought she might have figured out why.
Might as well get this over with, too. Can’t deal with a problem until you know what you’re facing.
Waiting until he’d finished his sandwich, she asked, “So, when are you going back to work?”
Noah coughed and choked. He grabbed his water bottle and took a long sip. “Okay. Wow. Well, I only decided that this morning.”
Her stomach sank. But at least now she knew for sure.
“I don’t want you to think I’ve been keeping it from you. Hasn’t been much of an opportunity to discuss it. I wanted to explain, especially after last night. Last night meant something to me.”
“It meant something to me, too, Noah.” And she wouldn’t cry because he was leaving. She simply would not cry.
Noah continued. “I don’t want you to think I’m a love-’em-and-leave-’em type of guy, because that’s the last thing I want to do. I don’t want to leave you.”
Her eyes widened in a combination of surprise and uncertainty.What does he mean by that?
He held up his hand. “No, I’m not asking you to move with me. That wouldn’t be fair to you or the kids.” His mouth twisted ruefully, and he added, “Or your mom.”
“She would kill us both.”
“No. Your aunt would get me first.” He rose to his feet and held his hand out to her. “Walk with me?”
Willow let him pull her up. As they walked hand in hand, he guided her to a spot away from the waterfall where the sound rushed rather than roared. He lifted her onto a boulder, so they were at eye level. She could smell the fragrance of spruce trees in the air.
Noah stared solemnly into her eyes. “Willow, here’s the deal. I’m in this. I have serious feelings for you. I have neverbeen in love before, and we haven’t known each other for that long, so I hesitate to leap out and throw down a declaration of love. I’ve never said those words to a woman.”
Her heart had warmed and begun to pound. He looked so serious, so sincere, almost scared.That’s okay. Let this scare him. He should be afraid. Love is too important to treat lightly.
So, she clarified. “Not even to your high school girlfriends?”
“Nope. Look, I know for a fact that I’ve never felt anything like this for another woman. I know I would love for you and Drew and Emma to be my family. But I can’t ask that of you. Not now. Not yet. Because I have this other thing I need to deal with before I can commit myself to you. I have to know who I am before I can offer myself.”
“Okay.”
“I have to go back to work.” He shoved his fingers through his hair. “I have to face the fire first.”
