Page 31 of Worth the Rush
Thatsweet dreamsis where our conversation and my racing thoughts end. I’m asleep in minutes. Haunted by tempting dimples and sapphire eyes that go along with his sarcasm I'm beginning to crave.
Looking out the window from my kitchen, I see that the snow has stopped again. It’s six forty-five in the morning, and I’m drinking coffee in my purple ski suit. The suit seemed appropriate for today. I want to make sure I stay warm, and I also want plenty of layers between me and Alder. The more, the better actually. I don’t know why, but every time he touches me, it feels like I’ve stuck a fork in an electrical outlet. It’s not the worst feeling I’ve ever experienced, in fact, I’m beginning to look forward to it, but I do recognize it’s probably bad for my health.
I take a sip from my mug and sink back into the cozy couch. I haven’t had much time to think about our little arrangement. Now that I am, I think I must have looked like an absolute lunatic. Asking someone, a grown man, a grown man like Alder, to be my fake boyfriend. And he said yes. What does that say about him? Maybe that we shouldn’t be doing this, and especially with each other.
Knocking at the door startles me, and I almost spill the drink I’m clinging to tighter than I realized. Am I nervous? I don’t get nervous over men. I stand and walk my cup to the sink, taking one last long drink before dumping it and answering the door. When I open it, I’m treated to a sight not safe for a friendly snowboarding lesson. Alder Holloway is wearing a slutty crop top with a flannel over it and ski pants. Holy shit. That’s a visual I’ll be revisiting.
“Good morning,” his deep voice rumbles out.
“Good morning,” I greet him, and mine is still thick with sleep.
“Ready to go?”
I nod. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I say on a sigh. Grabbing my bag and phone I step out into the dark morning—then immediately slip on the porch. Alder grabs my elbow, steadying me but also sending sparks skittering up my arm.
“Careful, there’s some ice out here this morning,” he tells me gently, still holding my arm in his large hand. I stand up a little straighter and pull my arm back as politely as I can, willing away the heat that a touch from him evokes in me.
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out,” I tell him, looking down to watch where I’m stepping. When I get to his truck, he opens the door for me and makes sure I’m seated before shutting it. He rounds the front of the Bronco and gets in, rubbing his hands together to warm them.
“So, where are we going this morning?” I ask him.
“We’re heading to a favorite spot of mine this morning. It’s great for beginners and has one of the best views in Silverthorne. It’s called Lovers Leap,” he answers with a grin.
“Lovers Leap, huh? Fitting for you, Lover Boy.”
He smirks and lets out a snort. “It has a great lore. Would you like to hear it?” I can tell he wants to tell me this story.
“How long is the drive?” I ask.
“About thirty-five minutes.”
“Sure, why not? What else have I got to do?”
“Well, don’t sound so excited about it,” he teases.
I clear my throat and then slip into my best Southern-belle accent. “Oh, Alder! Please tell me the story of Lovers Leap! I simply can’t stand to wait another minute!” I exclaim, and he laughs loudly. I want to be inside that sound.
“I reckon I better get on with it then. I wouldn’t want to make a lady wait,” he says back in a lazy cowboy’s drawl. I giggle.Again, with the giggling?I cover my mouth and then wait for the story. He starts to speak, and within the first sentence, I’m completely enraptured.
“This is the legend of Sampson and Nira. There was once a man and a woman who were so deeply in love that it’s said the gods and all their angels were jealous of it. The fates conspired against them, doing everything they could to keep them apart. Nira’s family forbade her from seeing Sampson, telling her that he wasn’t to be trusted. His family was not to be trusted. They snuck out night after night to be with each other. Their love affair was documented only through the carvings they left in a nearby cave. Sampson was ready to leave his family and run away with Nira, so they set a plan into motion. Nira would go to their meeting place early in the day and wait for Sampson. He was supposed to meet her in the afternoon, and they were going to leave their town and find a new place where they could be together. Only the gods refused to let this slide. They sent a snowstorm after the lovers met that evening. The storm was strong, but they were able to wait it out in the cave. Thenext day, both families came for them, and they were going to force the young couple apart, so they decided they would take their fate into their own hands rather than be forced to live apart. They jumped. Hand in hand off the ridge. When they found their bodies at the bottom of the cliff, they were still holding onto one another, and that’s where the name of the ridge comes from.”
“Lovers Leap,” I whisper.
“Lovers Leap,” he confirms.
“How tragically romantic. It makes me wonder why anyone decided they wanted to fall in love when most of the greatest love stories also end in the greatest tragedies.”
“Do you think falling in love is a choice?” he muses. “It would seem to me that even if it was a choice, anyone who’s ever felt so deeply for someone else would still make the choice to be in love.” He’s staring out the front windshield.
“Yes, well. Most people are idiots,” I tell him, and he tosses his head back with a laugh.
“Jaded,” he accuses, his laugh still coloring his voice. He’s not wrong. “If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly happened back in California that brought you to Silverthorne?”
“I do mind, but honestly, it’s more than I want to get into at…” I check my phone. “Seven thirty-five a.m., and I’ve only had one cup of coffee.” I smirk and he reaches behind us into the backseat to pull out a thermos.
“Here. You can have some of mine. Your life story is not required,” he teases me. The thing is, I never want to share my past, what happened in that marriage, but with Alder, I find myself wanting to share more with him than I should. There’s something about him that puts me at ease. I feel safe, and that thought alone makes me nervous.
We come to a stop, and I look around. The sun is starting to lighten the snow around us. “Alright, we’re here. Are you ready for your first lesson, princess?” he asks, and I nod.
