Page 79 of Crow's Haven
We head down the narrow path cut through the brush, the one the prospects cleared out last summer when we rebuilt the dock.
She follows without question, slipping her hand in mine. Fireflies blink to life around us, looking like slow, lazy sparks drifting through the darkness.
The dock creaks as we step onto it. One large floodlight illuminates the area. Water laps gentle at the posts as the little aluminum rowboat rocks back and forth in the water. It’s tethered to the end of the small dock. I’ve stocked that cooler with her favorite wine, folded a blanket on the seat, and got a small lantern sitting beside it already lit up so we can see when we’re out on the water.
She comes to a stop, freezing in place. “Crow… what is all this?”
I glance at her. “Ain’t nothing fancy. Just figured you might wanna drift on the water with me for a while. You know, just the two of us.”
Her expression lights up with a beautiful smile that makes my chest ache. “This is really special. Of course, I want to take a romantic moonlit rowboat ride with you.”
Pride fills my chest at her pleased expression. “Figured it was high time I kept my promise about taking you out at night.”
She laughs, soft and low. “I remember now. It was that night we came to see the boys, right before I turned myself in.”
“Yeah, now three months later, you’re free as a bird and all the assholes who tried to frame you are either in jail or wearing an ankle bracelet while they wait for the court case to come up.”
Turns out that the IV fluids had been mislabeled, instead of glucose, the bags contained potassium chloride which led to Joshua having a heart attack. As well as Joshua’s death they were also looking into three other suspicious deaths at the hospital.
She grins, “Strange how that works out. Let’s not talk about assholes from the past when we could be talking about how amazing this opportunity is. It’s really scenic here.”
“Damn near mythical,” I mutter, helping her into the boat. “Let’s enjoy it while we can.”
She settles onto the bench, skirt fluttering over her thighs, her feet tucked up under her, all prim and proper. When I’m sure she’s safely seated, I untie the rope, grab the oars, and push off. Water swirls around us, as the fireflies seem to follow us out onto the water. I glance over my shoulder to see the cabin shrinking in the distance behind us.
And for the first time all day, my heart slows to a steady thump. The woman I love, the only one I couldn’t live without, is here by my side.
And if I get the words to come out right, this will be the night that changes everything.
I’m surprised at how easily the boat glides over the water. The oars slice neatly through the river. There ain’t no wind, just that perfect stillness as the sun sets. I row with a rhythm that ain’t perfect but gets us moving towards the center of the river.
She watches me, her chin propped on her hand. I like how her eyes are soft and admiring when she gazes at me. This must be what true love is, and I don’t want to let it get away from me.
“The river is real pretty,” she murmurs, voice just above a whisper. “Didn’t know you had a romantic side, Crow.”
I grunt, trying to keep my strokes even. “Don’t go spreading rumors. I got a reputation to protect.”
She laughs, her voice light and filled with mirth. I can almost swear her laughter bounces off the water. “If you get tired of rowing, I can take over.”
I shoot her a look. “Woman, those are fighting words where I come from.”
“You think that you always have to be in the driver’s seat, don’t you?”
“Hell yeah,” I say with a warm smirk. “I’m the one who’s supposed to do the heavy lifting in this relationship. Having my woman row me around would be emasculating.”
She just grins wider. “You take yourself pretty seriously, hot stuff. There might come a time when you need me to row for you. I just want you to know that I’m ready and willing.”
“I’ll keep that in mind in case I’m ever in the hospital having a near-death experience.”
She just cackles at my antics. And I’ll be damned if I don’t love that sound too. It’s pretty fucking clear that I’m a goner for this woman. She can do no wrong in my eyes.
For a minute, we don’t talk. Just the sounds of the oars, the creak of the boat, a fish jumping in the distance.
“You know,” I say finally, “I wanted you to feel calm tonight because there’s something important that I want to talk to you about.”
Her gaze jumps to mine, tender and fierce all at once. “This boat ride is amazing. It’s the kind of peaceful that I didn’t know I needed until I got here.”
I flash her my best smile. “I thought you might feel that, darlin’.”
