Page 60 of Love By a Landslide

“You did so much for me today. I know this doesn’t begin to repay your efforts. It’s barely a blip on the radar—”

His ministrations were exactly what she needed to refill her bucket.

“—But I want you to know I appreciate you, Lucy,” he finished, voice heavy.

Eyes rolled back, Lucy sighed. “You’re welcome.”

Laughter rumbled through his chest under the weight of herfoot. He rubbed and squeezed, even working his way to her tired calf. After a few more minutes, he switched to her other foot and repeated the process.

Lucy slowly sunk into relaxed oblivion, unable to thank Jonathan because she was fast asleep before he’d finished. Her mother would have been appalled at her lack of manners.

Chapter thirty

Tuesday morning: Lucy

Adreamless sleep devoured Lucy. One minute, she was drooling over Jonathan’s strong hands massaging her feet, and the next, her eyes popped open, the sound of his noisy, groaning stretch filling their hammock.

“Morning, sunshine.” His chipper greeting was a good sign.

Lucy rubbed the sleep from her eyes and the dried saliva from her chin.Cute. She could only imagine her disheveled state.

“Morning.” She smiled sheepishly. “How does your back feel?”

“At the moment, good,” he replied tentatively then reached to unzip the rain fly. “But the true test will be standing up. Do you mind getting out first and helping me?”

“Of course not.” Lucy shimmied her legs over the edge and hopped from the hammock onto the ground. “Let me get into my boots.” After securing her laces and donning a bit more clothing, she turned to help him out.

For someone who was writhing in pain the night before, he seemed quite spry. Nevertheless, Lucy cautiously supported his dismount and only let go when he gave the all clear. He attempted a few cautious steps then stopped altogether. A relieved smile spread across his face as he took a few longer strides around their campsite.

“That’s a good sign.” Lucy sighed in relief.

“I’m not a hundred percent,” he admitted, wincing slightly, “but I’m mobile.”

“Well, don’t push it. As much as I want to get out of here, I think slow and steady sounds like the way to go.” She returned to the hammock to start the tear-down process.

“Hey, Lucy?” Jonathan paused.

“Hmm?” She turned and raised her eyebrows.

He gave her a cheeky grin. “We’re getting the hell out of here today,” he stated cheerfully then turned and strode away.

Lucy absorbed his optimism and let it warm her insides. She was ready to get back to town. Sleep in a real bed. Eat a meal that wasn’t rehydrated from a pouch. She’d had her fill of roughing it in the backcountry. It would be a while before she slept in the woods again. Her two-night backpacking excursion turned out to be a disaster—literally. And she was ready to say goodbye to Mount Stuart.

Yet an uneasy sinking feeling overshadowed the buoyant joy of their impending return to civilization. Her hands stilled, realizing it might be her last day with Jonathan. She was ready to return to her life—parts of it anyhow—and he was probably aching to do the same. Would he miss her? She’d miss him. But that didn’t mean there was something real between them. Some ineffable link was solidifying them together, at least that’s the picture being painted with the combination of scenario and proximity. But Lucy knew it was an illusion. Plus, the night before, they’d agreed to pump the brakes on whatever attraction was bubbling up between them.

Giving herself a shake, she blew out a noisy, cleansing breath and pushed away the disappointment. Her mind would recalibrate once she got some distance.

Once she got home.

The hammock fell to her feet as she freed the last knot. Hearing Jonathan’s steps behind her, she turned and gave him hermost convincing smile.

“We have two options,” he offered.

“And those are?”

“Either I get the campfire going, and we eat the last meal pouch before leaving,” he explained, squatting down in front of his pack to pull out the bag of remaining trail mix. “Or we snack on GORP and mangoes and leave as soon as we’ve packed up. Thoughts?”

Lucy answered quickly. “Snack and leave.” The sooner they got out of there—the sooner she got distance from this man—the better.

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