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“And,” she emphasized, “it’s the place where my mother would always take me when we went for rides, just the two of us.”
Elijah sobered. “I didn’t realize that.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed.” She still smiled, though the one she wore seemed sadder than usual. “I have several wonderful memories here with my mother. I wish I had more.”
He hopped down from his horse and moved to her side before she had a chance to dismount on her own. Hands at her waist, he lifted her gently from the saddle and placed her on her feet. Her hands rested on his shoulders as she stared up at him. “I’m glad we were able to share our first kiss here, though I have to admit I don’t think it will be my favorite.”
“What?Why?”
She arched a single brow, making him laugh some more. “I don’t think I have to answer that.”
“Well, it will be my favorite.”
Her confused expression pushed him to elaborate. “It’s the kiss that made me realize there was more to you than self-preservation.”
This time she was the one who let loose a string of laughter that caused several nocturnal animals to scurry away. “That kiss was the definition of self-preservation, you realize that, right? I only kissed you because—”
Elijah placed a finger to her lips. “That exact moment might not have been a demonstration of your selflessness, but it was what woke me up to the realization that you were capable of more.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Thank you? I guess?”
He rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “Yes, it’s supposed to be a compliment because it means you were capable of growth.”
Scarlett’s expression returned to a neutral position, though there was a hint of a smile that graced her lips. “Okay, then thank you.”
Elijah pressed a kiss to her forehead, then slipped his hand into hers and they started walking. “You want to know what I find so interesting about Copper Creek?”
“That so many people choose to live here even though there’s nothing great to show for it?”
He shot her a sharp look, only to realize she was teasing him. “Very funny.”
“I thought so.”
“No, it’s that you can live here your whole life and you can still find places like this. New landscapes to explore, new sights and smells to experience. I would bet we’d discover a lot if we just explored for thirty minutes a day.” When he glanced down at her again, he found her staring at him curiously. “What?”
“You would make a really good dad,” she murmured.
Hot and then cold sliced through him, melting and freezing him, making him feel numb and electrified all at once. All the back and forth was just giving him a big headache.
Scarlett reached for his hand. “Is that something you want?”
His brows furrowed. “Of course it is. You?”
She nodded. “Like I said, I came back to be with my family and to start one of my own.”
He watched her for a few moments, then felt prompted to ask her something he wasn’t sure he should have. “Why?”
“Why what?”
Elijah ran his free hand through his hair and glanced away before he steeled himself to ask the question that burned into his soul. “What made you change your mind? I think I heard you mention that losing your mom was a big trigger, but this is a life-altering change.” He hurried on to add, “If you don’t feel comfortable telling me—”
“It’s fine. You’re allowed to be curious. And I’ve had a lot of time to think about it. I realized something the other day that probably contributed to all of this.”
He hung onto her every word. Change wasn’t easy, and what he longed to hear was a guarantee. He wanted to know if he gave her his heart she would take care of it and not let him down. Logically, he knew that wasn’t going to be an option. There were no absolutes in life. Love fell under such an umbrella.
Scarlett shrugged. “I think it happened small at first.” She shot a quick look toward him. “About a year ago, I started volunteering with at-risk children.”
The text message.
