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Holy smokes, now I get why Grizz is so obsessed with preserving the local fauna and flora.This view is like nothing I’ve seen before.
Grizz watches my reaction with a smug smile.“It’s something, huh?Untouched and unspoiled.Nothing short of magnificent if you ask me.”
I nod.“You’re right.”
I don’t know what happens, but I feel strangely connected to the beauty surrounding me.I guess it’s true that being in nature has a magical quality.
“Enjoy that view, Hannah.When I say, you can turn around, but not a second earlier, okay?”Grizz tells me in a gruff voice.
“Okay.”
I don’t know what he’s got planned, but I’m sure it’s something special.That’s another thing I’m starting to realize.Despite the hurt he’s been carrying around, Grizz cares.He’s kind and loving and passionate, and I want more of him.I want to get to know every single part of this hot mountain man.
I bite my lip.How, though?I’m sure he doesn’t feel anything for me after I almost tried to destroy the ecological balance of his town.I say almost because after visiting The Ridge Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center and witnessing the beauty of this small town, I can’t in good conscience let Mr.Dickison buy the plot of land.In fact, I don’t even know if I can keep working for him, but I don’t have another option, do I?I need the money.Having ideals is all fine and dandy, but I don’t want to end up starving, homeless, or both.
Behind me, I hear Grizz softly rustling, and it sounds like he’s setting up something.I don’t dare peek.I promised I wouldn’t, so I focus on the breathtaking panorama before me, drinking in the details.
A few moments later, Grizz finally calls out to me.“All right, Hannah, turn around.”
When I do, I see Grizz standing next to a picnic blanket with a selection of bread, fruit, cheese, cake, and more.An uncorked bottle of champagne is safely tucked inside a champagne bucket, and there’s even a candle, though I think it’s one of those battery-powered ones.I can’t believe it.Grizz, the grumpy and burly mountain man, has prepared a picnic for me.
“Come, sit.I hope you like it,” he mumbles, looking as awkward as hell.
It’s clear he’s not used to romantic gestures like this.
“Wow, this looks amazing, Grizz,” I say as I settle on the blanket.
“I told you I’d take you on a date, didn’t I?I’m a man of my word, Hannah.”
He gives me a look that makes my heart skip a few beats.I watch as he fills two glasses with champagne and hands me one.
“Here’s to a great day together.”
We both take a sip of champagne before filling our plates.
“No one has ever taken me on a picnic.Especially not in such a beautiful setting,” I confess.
“Really?”Grizz asks with a surprised look.
I nod.“Really.I haven’t been very lucky in the romantic gestures department.And we never went hiking when we were younger, so I don’t have a lot of experience with that either.My parents hated that sort of thing.They claimed there were better ways to spend your time than fighting off mosquitoes and getting blisters only to be rewarded by what they called a nice view.But when I look at the view here, I wouldn’t call it nice.I’d call it magnificent.”
“It truly is.”
“Did you go hiking a lot as a kid?”I ask before popping a strawberry in my mouth.
“All the time.My parents used to go camping with us a few times a month.We always had a blast.They taught us how to survive in the wild, how to fish, how to start a campfire… My brother and I loved those trips.”
“Loved?”
He shrugs.“You know how it goes.You get older, and the family holidays aren’t front and center anymore.My parents live in Alaska now, so I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like.But when we do, we make time for a hike, even if it’s only a couple of miles.And we still go on one camping trip a year.Me, my brother and his wife and kids, and our parents.”
“That sounds great,” I say wistfully.Sadness tugs at me as I think about how distant my family is.“My parents aren’t into the whole close-knit family thing.They’re workaholics who place a lot of importance on a successful career.They keep pushing me to level up, but the more I think about it, the more I realize I’m doing this job because they convinced me it was the right path.Now, I’m not so sure.”
“You can always change your mind and do what you want.”
I let out a laugh.“If only I knew what that was.I’ve been trying to live up to my parent’s expectations for so long that I don’t even know which dreams are theirs and which are mine.It’s crazy how we’ve had such different upbringings.”
Grizz tells me more about how he spent his days when he was a kid, and I do the same.It’s great to share childhood memories with him.Before I realize it, the sun is setting, painting the sky in a beautiful orange and red glow.
