Page 13 of Wild Rush Of Love
Reena placed her own bowl down then tipped her head back to look up at the twinkling sky.
Reaching over she grabbed Rush’s hand and weaved their fingers together as best she could with them both wearing gloves.
He didn’t protest and she took that to mean he was happy for her to stay. If he asked her to leave him alone, she would. But she remembered the dark, the ache that filled the chest, and she knew he’d find comfort in just having her close.
They didn’t have to talk. She didn’t need entertaining and he didn’t need idle chatter.
With the stars brightening above them and the night growing darker around them, she listened to the sounds of the forest, of ice cracking on the lake, of life, and remembered what it was like to need the peace.
Chapter Six
“You ready?”
“No.”
Rush laughed. “Yes, you are. Come on. There’s a reward when we get up there.”
“What kind of reward?” Reena asked as she settled her backpack on her shoulders.
“Might be chocolate.” He grinned.
“Hank’s?” She followed him as he walked backward away from his truck.
“You’ll have to get to the top to find out.” He reached out a hand. “Let’s do this.”
“You sure I’m ready for this?”
“Reena.” He squeezed her hand when it slid into his. “You can do this.”
She blew out a breath. “You’ll carry me if I can’t?”
Laughing, he turned around and tugged her onto the trail. “I won’t need to.”
He wouldn’t. They had spent every free moment in the last two weeks hiking in and around Winter Lake. He’d even convinced her to take a boat out on the lake early one morning. That had taken some fast talking but he’d finally convinced her the sheets of ice still covering the lake in places weren’t going to sink them like the Titanic.
“Have I steered you wrong so far?” he asked as he picked up the pace. He wanted to get there before the sun hit its peak. Plus if need be, they could take their time coming down after their picnic.
“No. In fact you seem to know what I’m capable of better than me,” she grumbled.
Swinging their joined hands between them he asked, “You ready to head home?”
She glanced at him, the look in her eyes unidentifiable. “No.”
“You could extend your stay.”
Reena sighed. “I wish I could.”
They hadn’t talked about what would happen when she left but with her time almost up, Rush couldn’t think about anything else. Except he didn’t want to end her holiday on a bad note; there had already been enough sadness during her stay, so he’d take their conversation—and minds—in a different direction.
“I know you said taking the boat out on the lake at dawn was your favorite thing so far but I think you’re about to discover something that trumps that.”
“It’s that good up here?”
“Better.” He moved in front of her as the trail thinned, his arm twisted behind him so he didn’t have to let go of her hand. “Remember how you lost your breath at Lake View Lookout? Well, be prepared for your heart to stop this time.”
“I hope you know CPR,” she joked.
Rush smiled. “Oh, yeah, I’ve got you covered.” He couldn’t wait to kiss her at the top of the ridge.
