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I tried to smile, but it felt as forced as I was sure it looked, brittle and stiff, seconds away from cracking. I shook my head to dislodge his hold and moved away, stepping to the edge of the pool and looking at my reflection on the surface of the water. It was big enough that the ripples created from the streaming water didn’t reach the banks, making the water look as smooth as glass. “I’m just being ridiculous. Seriously, don’t worry about it. I don’t want anything to ruin this day.”
His hands landed on my hips, turning me away from the water to see that his brows had dipped into a furrow, the skin around those smoky eyes creased deep with concern. “You aren’t going to ruin anything. It’s obvious there’s something on your mind that took that smile away, and I can’t fix it if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”
I wasn’t sure hecouldfix it. I wasn’t sure anyone could. But there was no point in trying to keep it to myself. He wouldn’t stop digging until he got to the root of the problem. Letting out a sigh, I stepped closer and laid my forehead against the solid wall of his chest, hearing the steady, calming beat of his heart over the rush of the water.
“I was just thinking that you’re going to leave one day, probably soon, and how badly that’s going to suck.” Tipping my head back, I gave him a serious look. “Newsflash: It’s going to suckreallybad. And not just for me, but Renee too.”
That concern didn’t fall away, if anything it became even worse, and I could have sworn I saw something else behind it, but I couldn’t quite identify what it was. “Baby, that’s not something you need to think about. Especially not today.”
Well that certainly didn’t help me feel any better.
“I know. It just kind of popped in my head. Like I said, it’s ridiculous.”
“Hey.” God, it really did me in when he used that velvety-soft voice. It was like a soothing caress that made me want to burst into tears almost every single time I heard it. Before him, I’d never had a man speak so gently to me, like he wanted to protect me with everything he had, even his voice. “I’m not leaving any time soon, Sawyer. I swear. Not anytime soon. And you have my word, if that day ever comes, you’ll know long before it happens.”
Hope banged in my chest, bouncing around like a pinball. “If?”
His dimples pressed deep, his bright white smile and green-brown eyes all I could see. “Yeah, Sawyer,if.”
A knot unfurled inside of me I hadn’t realized was squeezing so tightly it cut my breaths short until he gave me that one word and my lungs filled completely on the next inhale.
“So, why do they call this place Whisper Falls?”
My smile was much more genuine this time as I grabbed his hand and pulled him after me. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
“Can you swim in here?” he asked as I led him around the pool toward the curtain of water.
“Yeah, but it’s usually too cold this time of year. But the hot springs aren’t far from here. I can show you those later, if you want.”
He waggled his brows, his smirk playfully lecherous as he answered, “Oh, I absolutely want.”
I giggled as I guided him to a small path that led behind the falling water. The grass was lush and thick, a damp, dense cushion beneath out feet. The sun blinked as we stepped behind the blanket of water into the small cavern it covered. It was already chilly back there with the seasons quickly changing, and it was only going to get colder, making it impossible to tuck into this tiny alcove without the threat of freezing to death, but it was tolerable just then.
His face lined with shadows from the pale light playing across the slick stones that formed walls around us.
“Hi,” I whispered, watching his eyes widen in surprise at hearing my voice so clearly. I continued speaking in a quiet voice as I explained, “The water and the cavern create this kind of tunnel that takes noise and bounces it across the rocks, making it easy to hear a whisper.”
“Hence, Whisper Falls.”
“Exactly.”
“I have to say, Sawyer, this is really fucking cool.”
Itwasreally fuckingcool.
“I’m glad I got to show you this.” I kept my voice quiet.
His hand came up, his long fingers tangling with my hair as he braced his palm on the back of my neck. “I’m glad I got to see it with you.”
He yanked me forward, bringing me up to my tiptoes, so he could crash his lips down on mine. The kiss set my blood on fire. My whole body burned, blasting away any of the cold left in the small cave.
I could kiss him forever and never grow tired of it, not even for a second. But all it did was make me want more.
Pulling back and sucking in a much-needed breath, I tipped my head up with heavy eyelids and asked, “Feel like seeing the hot springs now?”
The craggy rumble that barreled up his throat reverberated off the stone walls. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
