Page 85 of Searching Blind

Just when her anxiety was about to overtake her, Donovan stopped abruptly and stepped aside, holding out his arm. “We’re here.”

She walked past him and gasped. Below was a cove carved out of the cliffs, a private sanctuary with crashing waves, and a pristine beach. A small fire was burning, casting a warm orange glow against the coming twilight, and a familiar silhouette was seated next to it.

Sawyer.

The relief that flooded through her was so intense she nearly collapsed. Then she scowled at Donovan and gave his solid shoulder a hard shove. He didn’t move. “You made me think he was hurt.”

He grinned and held up his big hands. “All I did was take you on a nice motorcycle ride up the coast, as instructed.”

She opened her mouth to retort, but the words caught in her throat as all the fear and worry of the last hour drained away, replaced by a rush of warmth and affection. “He… told you to take me on your motorcycle?”

“Bribed me,” Donovan corrected, then grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her toward the path leading down to the beach.

Sawyer was seated on a picnic blanket near the shoreline. His head was tipped back, face directed towards the sky as though he were taking in the stars. Of course, she knew he couldn’t see them—the fact never failed to make her heart ache.

Tears rushed into her eyes. She understood what was happening now. It was their date—the one Sawyer had promised her.

“Now go put that man out of his misery already,” Donovan said, giving her a little push. “He’s been moping for days.”

Lucy swallowed hard, her throat tight with a mix of relief and anticipation. She glanced back at Donovan. “Bribe or not, thank you.”

His grin softened, and she realized under his gruff exterior was a big romantic. “He’s one of the best men I know and deserves some happiness.”

Sawyer did deserve happiness. And, she realized, she would give anything to be the one who gave it to him.

“So do you, Lucy,” Donovan added softly. “There are so many things to be afraid of in life, but love isn’t one of them. Don’t waste this opportunity.”

With that, he turned away and strode back through the forest, leaving her alone on the cliff’s edge overlooking the secluded cove. Taking a deep breath, she began her descent down the narrow, winding path toward the beach below, a flurry of emotions coursing through her. The relief of seeing Sawyer okay and the anger for the near heart attack she’d just suffered battled fiercely inside her chest. But underneath it all, there was a spark of joy. And an incredible surge of love.

As soon as her boots hit the sand, Sawyer seemed to sense her presence. He turned toward the sound of her approach. “Lucy?”

“Sawyer,” she breathed, bursting with feelings she couldn’t contain any longer. She covered the distance between them in just a few strides.

He rose to meet her as she did him and opened his arms wide. She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. He stumbled back a step, but caught his balance and held her close, his arms pressing her to him.

“Sawyer,” she repeated his name like a prayer, the words slipping past choked sobs. “You... you jerk. You scared the hell out of me!” But there was no real heat in her voice.

Sawyer cupped the back of her head with one hand while his other slipped down to run the length of her spine in a soothing rhythm. “I’m sorry, Luce. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just… needed you to come,” he admitted in a low voice.

“You could have just asked me like a normal person.”

Sawyer’s face softened, a hint of a smile playing around his lips. “I thought Donovan would have made it clear that nothing was wrong.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Donovan is about as clear as mud.”

He winced. “Yeah, sorry. He can be…”

“Scary?”

He chuckled. “I was going to say gruff, but scary works, too. But at his heart, he’s a good guy, and I needed him. I promised you a motorcycle ride and I obviously couldn’t drive it myself.”

Despite herself, she felt her lips twitch into a smile. “So… are you going to serenade me badly now with your non-existent guitar skills?”

He winced and released her long enough to pull her toward the picnic blanket. “I thought we’d skip that part, but we do have wine and cheese, as promised.”

She stared at the spread. If her heart weren’t already a puddle for him, it would’ve melted right then. “Sawyer?”

He half-turned, wine bottle in hand. “Yes?”

---