Page 30 of Losing Hope

She watched as he moved his camera back to his face and took some shots of the carvings before looking back at her again. “Did you ever carve your name here? Or your and some lucky boy’sname?”

She shook her head, laughing lightly. “Nope. Do you believe it? I think my mom told me that her and Dad’s are carved somewhere on this bridge, though.”

“Let’s put ours then.” He said it before he even realized what he was saying and couldn’t help the surprised expression that followed. “I mean, only if you wantto.”

She cocked her head, just analyzing him for a moment. “Really? You want to carve our names?”

He nodded his head, absorbing the fact that he really did want to leave his mark with her on this bridge. “Yes. Why the hell not? This has been a weekend to remember.”

Her eyes lit up as a delighted smile broke across her face. “Okay! Let’s do it!” She scrunched her mouth up and looked at him. “We need something to carve with, though. Any ideas?”

He dug into his pocket and pulled out a small Swiss army knife, holding it up, beaming proudly. “Yep. I think I’ve got just what weneed.”

“Oh my God.” She shook her head in humorous disbelief. “You seriously have a knife onyou.”

He shrugged. “I’m a Marine. Always prepared.” He started walking slowly down the inside of the bridge looking for an empty space to leave their mark. When he found a place he liked, he stopped and looked over at her, raising an eyebrow in silent question.

“Yeah.” She nodded and smiled. “This is thespot.”

He handed her his camera and turned back, pulled open the knife, and began carving. His body was in the way, so she couldn’t get a good look at exactly what he was carving, but she could see little chips falling to the bridge floor. She tried to be creative and sneak some shots of him carving, but she wasn’t certain if she actually got anything good ofhim.

Every now and then, a car would drive slowly through the bridge, and Gage would stop and pretend to be reading instead. It was silly, actually, because obviously, everyone did this, but it still seemed like they had to do it on thesly.

Finally, he stepped away, and with a wave of his hand and a broad grin on his face, he let her see. “Ta-da!”

Her eyes found his carving, and immediately, her hand came up to cover her mouth as she gave a little gasp of surprised pleasure. Inside a small hollow heart, he had carved Gage + Hope. It was perfect.

She turned back to him slowly and raised her eyes to find him staring at her curiously. “Gage, it’s so…” She threw her hands up in the air, and for a moment, Gage wondered if what he’d carved was too much. But then she shook her head, saying, “It’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me!” There! She’d saidit!

He chuckled at her reaction to such a small gesture but couldn’t deny the pleasure it gave him to know how happy he had made her. When was the last time he wanted to make someone happy? He honestly couldn’t remember. But he knew he wouldn’t forget this moment—the moment that made her eyes sparkle like diamonds and her face light up like the sun. Seeing her like this filled him with a sudden, unexpected warmth, causing him to pause for a second. Was he starting to fall in love with this woman? His heart rate ratcheted up to break-neck speed as he swung his gaze back over to her again.

She was attempting to take some pictures of the carving with his camera, when she looked up and saw that his face was flushed and he seemed to be breathing heavily. “Are you okay?” Her face filled with concern as she moved to come up next tohim.

He nodded gruffly and gave her a weak smile. “Yeah, yeah. I’m okay. I got warm suddenly. Could use some water, I think.”

She reached out and placed her palm on his forehead to check his temperature. He took her hand in his and moved it away but didn’t let go. “I’m okay. Really.”

“Okay,” she replied worriedly. “Let’s go get you a water out of the cooler.”

He continued to hold her hand, using it as an anchor to keep him from floating away as realization about his feelings for her sunk in. Could someone fall in love in only two days? He glanced over at her, and instead of feeling any trepidation, he felt tranquility. Fuck. He was definitely in love withher.

They had reached the truck,and Hope was trying to climb up onto the side so she could grab a water out of the cooler for him. Strong hands gripped around her waist, pulling her back off the truck, and she let out a yelp. She was spun around, and Gage’s lips were on hers before she could even scoldhim.

His strong arms enveloped her small body until she was flush with him, her arms slipping up and around to clutch onto the back of his neck. One large hand fisted her hair at the nape of her neck as he deepened their kiss, pushing her back until she bumped into the truck.

He ground his body into hers, his hardened length rubbing into her hip bone. One hand left her body and clutched onto the bed of the truck as he continued to press into her, their lips never leaving each other, their bodies so close they were almostone.

She finally tore her lips from his, panting, and looked up at him. “Where did that comefrom?”

He shook his head and grinned wickedly. “I told you I was feeling warm.” He leaned in and dropped several kisses along her neck, soft hums of approval coming from her. “This is what you do tome.”

She pulled back, smiling. “Not that I’m complaining about this sudden ravishing, but we are on the side of the road, and anyone could come by at any moment.”

He raised one brow suggestively while grinning. “Not into the thrill of being caught?”

“I think we’ve had more than enough of that between Walter and my father’s phone call yesterday.” She cocked her head at him, this time raising her eyebrows.

“Touché.” He kissed her on the nose and finally released the hold he had on her by stepping back. “I can’t seem to get enough of you. Sorry for the sneak attack.”

She looked at him coyly and closed the distance between them by pulling him close to her again. “Don’t ever apologize for wanting more of me. That’s the best thing I’ve been told in a very long time.” She kissed him then, soft and torturously slow, causing him to groan.

This time, he pulled away. “Woman, unless you want me to throw you in the bed of that truck and have my way with you, you better walk away rightnow.”

She laughed heartily but stepped away and held her hands up in surrender. “Okay, but we’re definitely picking up where we left off as soon as we are somewhere private!”

“Deal.”

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