Page 39 of Wedding Bells in Silverwood

She couldn’t leave the building fast enough.What was I thinking? Inviting him out for coffee? And he probably has a girlfriend.She swiftly got into her car and shut the door, burying her head in her arms over the steering wheel until her blush faded.

Chapter Thirteen

Holly awoke with a start. She hadn’t had a nightmare in a long time. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she reflected on the dream.

Grayson.

Ever since Kim had told Holly about Grayson’s outburst, she’d been uneasy. And last night, her brain had conjured up the image of Grayson chasing her through her old apartment building, screaming for her to stop. She’d woken from the nightmare just as he had been about to grab her.

She groaned as she stood from her bed. Shaking her head, she slipped on her slippers and staggered to the kitchen for some coffee.

Coffee’s not going to be enough.

Once she checked the weather, Holly decided to go for a hike. A nice walk in the woods with Cupid should do the trick. Fresh mountain air always helped.

She dressed in layers and grabbed her backpack, complete with water and a first aid kit. Then, she whistled for Cupid. Nick’s dog had been accustomed to spending the night at Holly’s place from time to time, and she was glad he was there to accompany her.

After leaving a note for her mom informing her of where she would be, Holly left the cabin with Cupid at her side. The sunrise cast a faint glow over the trees, and the cool breeze smelled like pine and snow. Holly tightened her scarf and followed Cupid to the familiar path through the forest near her house.

Everything was quiet except for the crunching of her boots in the snow. As the sun climbed higher, the contrast between the dark green trees and the powdery white snow became stronger. Cupid picked up his pace and headed toward a small, babbling brook. Holly breathed in the fresh air, letting the peacefulness of the woods clear her mind.

She used to take these walks with her parents. For a moment, she wondered if she should have invited her mother to accompany her.

Up ahead, Cupid came to a halt, stretching his neck to sniff the air. He released a bark, which caused Holly to jump. A few thoughts ran through her head: a bird, a deer, a bear …

Grayson.

No. It couldn’t be. That was paranoia and her latest nightmare taking over again. Still, she waited for a beat before she moved. Ears perked, Holly controlled her breaths. There was nothing to be afraid of. If it had been an animal, Cupid would have growled or chased it. He did have a penchant for running after squirrels.

Other than sniffing the air a bit more, Cupid didn’t seem bothered. As he continued, panting as he traipsed, Holly sighed in relief.

Enough of the paranoia. You’ve got a bridal shower today.

She checked her watch. There was still plenty of time to enjoy her hike.

Three hours later, Holly and Cupid emerged from the woods. Her legs were achy, and the heels of her feet were sore. She anticipated stripping off her boots and soaking in a hot bubble bath. Cupid, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, trotting along happily as if he were just getting started.

When Cupid took off at a run, Holly barely had the energy to call after him. Luckily, she noticed Nick’s truck parked in front of her place. He must have just arrived, and he seemed surprised to see her as he climbed out the driver’s side.

“Hey.” Holly waved as she came closer.

“Hi. Where have you been?” He kissed her on the forehead.

“I needed some air.”

“I tried to call you. It’s been three hours.”

She grimaced. “I needed alotof air.”

He tilted his head. “Everything okay?”

She wrapped her arms around him. “Everything is perfect now.”

On her tiptoes, she leaned in for a kiss. His lips were soft against hers, and a fluttering sensation spread in her stomach.

She didn’t want the kiss to end, but there were still things to do before her bridal shower.

“What are you doing today?” she asked, continuing to hold on to him.

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