Page 48 of Mystery in the Mountains

She couldn’t lose him.

But as his arms tightened around her and he pressed a kiss to her forehead, she hoped she was misunderstanding him.

“You can’t do what anymore?”

“I can’t keep you at a distance. You said you were back, and while I wanted to stay away, maybe the brave thing to do is believe you.”

A warm, contended feeling overtook her as she melted into his side.

“You scared me. I thought maybe you couldn’t do this anymore,” she said as she took note of the tattoo on his chest.

A cougar’s paw covered his chest, with small white flowers weaving through it.

“We both know I can’t fight this.”

While that wasn’t a declaration of love, more a resignation to the biology between them, she would take it. The love was there, and this was a giant step in getting back to how things should have been.

“Is this for your parents?” she asked, tracing her fingers along the tattoo.

“Yeah,” he said as he ran his hands through her hair.

“I miss them.”

“Me too.”

Sunny’s parents had always been in love and good parents, but they were volatile. Her mom never knew anyone who had magic. She grew up dealing with her visions alone. It wasn’t until she met Asher’s mom that she began to understand that life.

By then, her parents had already been married, and while they loved each other intensely, they also fought intensely. The Blacks’ family cabin had always been a safe retreat.

“I’m glad you’re back,” he muttered.

She slid her arm around his waist and held him close.

They lay there in silence, enjoying the warmth of the sun, the songs of the birds, and the babble of the brook. This is what she had been missing.

Well, maybe one more thing is missing, she thought as she reached over and pulled off one of the marshmallow treats. She broke it in half, put it in her mouth, and fed the other half to Asher.

“I sure have missed you,” he said as he reached for another piece.

The sun was setting. Sunny sat up and turned to Asher as she was licking his fingers clean.

Desire, once again, bolted through her.

Maybe soon, I will have that talented tongue on my body.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Oh, yeah. I was just wondering if we should get back. I’m not quite as good in the woods as you are once the sun goes down.”

“I would never let anything happen to you,” he said as he sat up and caressed her face.

“I know.” She started packing up the food.

Once she stood, he picked up the blanket and flipped it out, shaking loose the grass before folding it up and returning it to the basket.

They walked home hand in hand, and it was everything.

As they strolled off, Sunny couldn’t help but remember the first time he’d brought her to their spot. While things were different, it was still the same spot from the field of flowers to the gnarled up oak tree. And while things were different between her and Asher, that core was still the same. She reveled in their connections as they journeyed through the woods.

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