Page 92 of Extreme Romancing in Idaho

Smoot was going to propose.

And maybe get her hurt in the process. I jumped into action. Without properly saying goodbye, I hung up. I pulled out my phone and opened the locator app, hoping Angie hadn’t uninstalled it.

A small dot pinged on my digital map. I looked heavenward. Thank the heavenly angels.

“Myles,” I called into the next room. “I need the keys to your car.”

Chapter 35

Angie

Ifiddledwithmyshirt and double-checked that my shoes were tied with the laces safely tucked in. The last thing I wanted to happen would be to trip and fall off a cliff. I kicked at the dirt and desert plants at my feet. Most of the June wildflowers had faded, and now only sunflowers and white milkweed had popped through the brush.

Dan and I stood on a large overhang, taller than the boulders around us. The harness he’d handed me dangled in my grip while he looped the rope in the anchor bolted into the rock. Thankfully, we’d been able to drive to the edge of this cliff; if I’d had to climb the face of it, I may have given up already. The sun had begun its descent and beat down on me, warming my skin under the layer of sunscreen I’d applied. Other rocks jutted out of the ground, creating an alien city landscape.

City of the Rocks. I couldn’t think of a place more aptly named.

The farm demanded a lot of our family, but when we got a spare weekend, Papa would take me here. Yes, I didn’t like sleeping on the ground; however, sitting next to a campfire with Papa, the noise of the world eased, and I found peace. This was one of the only other locations on Earth I’d been able to feel … quiet.

In lieu of dirt biking, we both agreed to rappel, skipping the effort of scaling the boulders.

But how did Dan know about my favorite place?

I kept my arms rigid by my side to disguise my nerves. I was about to drop off the edge of a cliff, and despite the confidence I’d spat at Remi, I’d lied. I was still afraid of heights. Dan’s hands shook as he handled the rope and peeked over the cliff’s edge. He looked as scared as I felt, which struck me as odd. You’d think a sky-diving instructor wouldn’t have a fear of heights.

Maybe he was nervous for a different reason. My mind latched on to our recent conversations. About future plans. Dreams. My ideal wedding …

Son of a sock monkey!

Smoot—Dan was going to propose. What the hell was I supposed to do? Did I want to say yes?

Of course, I would. No. Maybe. This was for Papa and his dream. Dan and I could be happy if we worked at it. But I’d been working my patootie off my whole life—did I want to spend the rest of it fighting upstream in a lukewarm marriage?

The thought made my stomach sour.

“I’m sure you’ve done this before.” Dan weaved the rope between his fingers.

I nodded and swallowed. No sense giving up yet.

Dan shoved his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. “I got you a helmet and gloves since you came from a baby shower.” He dug through the tote and handed me the mentioned items.

“Thanks.” I took the helmet with gloves shoved inside.

In slow, methodical movements, I looped one foot into the harness, followed by the other.

How had I gotten here?

Sure, at the beginning of this relationship, I’d thought this was the best course of action. Could a long-term relationship be built on lies?

Yet in all our conversations not involving extreme sports, I could see a stable guy in Dan. He almost hedged on boring. I’d put all my eggs into this basket. The only hope I had of Papa being at my wedding stood before me with pit stains and shaking hands.

I snapped into my harness and slid my helmet into place, putting on my gloves after I’d clicked the chin strap. “You ready?”

“Yes. Just—ah—give me a moment.” Dan sat on a smooth rock and adjusted his harness for the tenth time. “It’s hot out here today.”

He slid from the rock and knelt on one knee in front of me. He tilted his head up. Oh! Ready or not, here it came. My heartbeat as fast as a Jackrabbit’s foot. He couldn’t propose yet. I hadn’t figured out my answer!

But then he dropped his focus to his hiking boot and tied his shoe. Placing a hand over my heart, I took a deep breath. Bullet dodged.

---