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“What are you thinking of, sweetheart?” Cross asked her.
“What’s going to happen next, Cross?” Dana hated ruining the vibe but the words just came out.
“That’s an easy one.”
“Is it?” Dana asked, unable to hide her surprise. She turned around and he loosened his hold on her so she could look him in the eyes.
“We’ll figure the answer out tomorrow and if we can’t, there’s the day after that,” he told her.
“Just like that?” Dana asked with a laugh.
“Life has no guarantees but tomorrow, I know I’ll wake up to the sight of your gorgeous face and that’s good enough for me,” he said. His words went right to her head and made her heart flutter.
“That’s good enough for me, too,” she whispered.
Chapter Eight
Dana was elbow-deep in the task of swapping out an old car battery when she picked up on the familiar roar of Cross’s motorcycle rolling up outside the garage.
Her lips curled upward to a smile. It had been about a week since she and her dad sought refuge in Hanging Grove, and life was finally starting to settle into a routine. In that short span, they’d managed to snag an apartment in town, and Dana had landed herself a gig at a local auto repair shop. Her boss was a decent guy and the work solid. It was also kind of nice not to worry about making all the tough decisions on her own.
Still, despite slowly adapting to her new life, a part of Dana couldn’t help but miss the old garage. It had felt like a second home to her for as long as she could remember. While other kids her age joined clubs, played sports, or had other hobbies, Dana had grown up watching her father and his team of mechanics at work. Jeremy had gifted her a wrench for her birthday when she was ten and had patiently taught her the ins and outs of changing a tire. Those were the good old days, before her mother died and her dad became a different person.
Unlike her, Jeremy didn’t seem to be thriving in Hanging Grove. He claimed he missed his old hangouts and his drinking buddies. Dana suspected that, for her sake, he kept his complaints to a minimum. This move wasn’t permanent yet, but she suspected it would take a while before she and her dad could return to Elmwood and their old life. Did Dana even want to go back to her old life?
Dana wiped her grease-stained hands n a nearby cloth. She was looking forward to her date with Cross.
Cross pushed open the door to the garage, and his eyes quickly found Dana among the tools and rows of cars. His presence alone sent a familiar heat coursing through her, the kind that never seemed to fade no matter how often they met. Dana couldn’t help but return his grin as he approached. Without missing a beat, Cross leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. That searing kiss eliminated any other logical thought in her head, even now.
The sound of a low, appreciative whistle from Gil, Dana’s coworker, briefly interrupted the moment, but Cross and Dana paid it no mind. Her heart raced a little faster as she pulled back from the kiss.
“Give me five minutes to change,” she told him.
With that, she headed to the small office in the corner of the garage, trading her dirty coveralls for a dress and sneakers.
Cross told her to dress comfortably, although when she asked him what he had planned for the evening, he only told her it was a surprise.
After putting her hair in a braid, Dana bid Gil and Greg, the owner, a good evening. Then she joined Cross outside. He was leaning next to his Harley.
Spotting her, he grabbed their helmets and handed her one. “Let me,” he said, helping Dana buckle the strap under her chin.
“We’ve got to hurry. I hope we make it in time,” Cross said.
“In time for what?” she asked him but Cross declined to answer. Excitement hummed in her veins. Dana supposed she would just have to find out.
She straddled the bike behind him, clutching him a little too tightly as they left the town behind. The wind rushed against her face, and she couldn’t help but cling to Cross as the motorcycle thundered down the winding road.
At first, Dana’s surprise turned into curiosity as they left the familiar streets and buildings behind. She wondered where he could possibly be taking her. Her grip on Cross loosened, though, as he slowed down, allowing her to relax and take in the scenery around them.
The countryside opened up, and they passed rolling hills, vast fields, and old oak trees. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. Dana thought she could hear the river nearby.
Cross eventually veered off the main road. The path was narrow and overgrown, almost invisible to anyone who didn’t know it was there. They followed this secret route, the motorcycle’s tires crunching on gravel and leaves, until they emerged onto a small, secluded hillside.
Dana’s eyes widened with surprise as she took in the breathtaking view. The hillside offered an amazing view of the valley below, dotted with wildflowers and bordered by a river. The town of Hanging Grove lay beyond that.
Cross pulled the motorcycle to a gentle stop, and they both dismounted. He extended a hand to Dana, and she accepted it, stepping away from the bike. As they walked closer to the edge of the hill, Dana gasped, her breath catching as she realized the sun was about to set. Cross had brought her here for this.
The two of them stood there in silence, hand in hand, as the sun slowly descended behind the distant hills. The sky transformed into a sea of colors. Dana’s heartbeats quickened and she stole a glance at Cross, who was watching the sunset with a smile on his face.
