Page 66 of Trust

“Thanks, babe.”

“Not that we’ll need it since you seem dead set on behaving.”

He cut across the yard and followed Bella toward the lake. “Did you always want to be a medical illustrator?”

Olivia stopped abruptly. “You are serious. About this talking thing.”

He tugged on her hand. “The day we met, you made a lot of noise about wanting to know me and digging into my long-held dreams. Was that just a show?”

“Absolutely not.” She walked beside him. “I’ve just gotten a little distracted by your,” she waved her hand over his body, “other fine attributes.”

“Well, you can think of this as a way to get refocused.”

“Fine, but I expect you to give up some juicy info. I already know the most pertinent facts and am ready to hear your more hidden truths.”

“What about you, woman? You’ve revealed very little, and it makes me think you have a secret life.”

Snorting, she squeezed his hand. “Hardly. I went to college and graduate school in Virginia and then came home. I’ve barely made it out of town and have a small quiet life.”

“No desire to see the world?” he asked.

“It took me a bit longer than I expected to move on from the accident, and my need to stay close to the wall has lasted for quite some time.” She looked up. “Your arrival is the most exciting thing to happen in ages.”

“I don’t know how that’s possible.”

“What about you, Zane? Has your taste for adventure been satisfied?”

“Present company excluded?”

“I can hardly be considered an adventure.”

“Babe, you’re nothing short of a diamond run.”

“Huh, a skiing analogy. Not sure how I feel about that.”

“Considering I’m a Green Beret, it should make you just about ecstatic since I’ve got a taste for near-death experiences.” He took the trail to the lake and allowed himself to appreciate the sun bouncing off the water. “Does this place still take your breath away, or are you immune to it?”

“When I take the time to notice, it sure the heck does.”

“Any place you want to see in this big old world?”

“Of course,” Liv replied, taking his hand. “But I don’t want you to laugh at my top choice.”

“Why would I laugh?”

“Because it’s mundane and a bit boring.”

Zane stopped near the water's edge and listened to it lap against the shore. “I’m not a man that needs impressing. Though you do, for the record. In the most unexpected ways.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Liv. Absolutely.”

“Well, that’s surprising.”

He slung his arm over her shoulders and pulled her to his side. “So, where do you want to go?”

“Hawaii.”

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