Page 48 of Finding Home

Elle exhaled with admiration, as she reached the center of the bridge, stepping close to the iron rails and looking out at the lush trees sprinkled along both sides of the gorge.“This is amazing.”

“I’ll never get tired of this view,” Clayton said, his arms wrapped around her waist, resting his chin on the top of her head.

Eyes closed, she melted into his embrace. “When’s the last time you were here?”

“I come up here every June tenth… Evan’s birthday. We used to come to the park a lot as kids and when we got older, we’d hike the trails. He died two months shy of his twenty-fifth birthday. That first year, we didn’t know whether to celebrate him or not. It was tough for us all. Mom stayed in bed all day, crying. Dad just stayed in his office. Nat bought a cake and took it to Evan’s grave. I came here. Being in this spot I felt like I was with him.”

“Do you have a favorite memory of him?”

“So many memories. Evan could walk into a room of strangers and within five minutes be their new best friend. I’m typically the guy hanging in the corner, waiting for a stranger to approach me or for someone I know to walk into the room,” he said self-deprecatingly.

Elle twisted to face him, wrapping her arms around his nape, their gazes mingling. “Not everyone is an Evan, but more importantly, not everyone is a Clayton.”She lifted on her toes, nuzzling her nose against his.

A goofy grin tugged at the corners of his lips. “You’re a little cheesy,” he teased, pulling her up into his arms.

Elle squeaked, her long legs wrapping around his hips. “Like Muenster,” she declared, as Clayton clutched her behind, holding her tight. “Are you grabbing my butt?”

“Just want to make sure you’re secure.”

“Clearly, butt grabbing is only a safety measure.”

“Clearly,” he murmured, his mouth inches from hers.

Those damn butterflies somersaulted as he captured her mouth in his. It was sweet and slow. As they broke their kiss, Elle’s fingers traced where her lips had been. This kiss wasplayful yet grateful. Each kiss with him felt like the first time, because each one was different.

“Thank you for listening and sharing Evan with me.”

He placed her back on her feet, keeping her pressed to his warm chest.

“Thank you for everything.” she sighed with gratitude.

“Even the butt grabbing?” He grinned.

“Especially that.” Elle said, her tone saucy.

With a hip check, she sauntered off the bridge, her hips swaying a little more than usual. Reaching the end of the bridge, she peeked over her shoulder and shot him a flirty wink. Clayton stood with both laughter and heat in those gray eyes that followed each movement of her body.

The rest of the day was standard workfare, minus all the moments she spent thinking of Clayton. Logic cautioned her that this was not a sound course of action. They lived on opposite sides of the country. His life was here, and hers there.

But no man had ever unsettled her in such a delicious way, causing her to feel both upside-down and right where she should be. She wasn’t acting like her normal businesslike self, but she never felt more like herself than when she was with Clayton.

Blowing out a hot breath, Elle pushed her laptop away, she picked up her phone and sent a message to the group text, asking her friends if they were up for a lunch time video chat.

“Elle’s Bells!” Willa cheered, her caramel-colored hair bouncing as her outstretched arms mimicked a clenching hug.

“Elle. I just told my assistant to push my next meeting, so you’ve got me for a full…” Viet looked down at his watch. “…twenty-five minutes.”

“Oh Viet, you didn’t need to do that.” Elle sighed.

“First, I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. Well, except visit my husband’s racist grandmother.” Viet wrinkled his nose.

Elle snickered.

“Anyways, Elle’s Bells you seldom…wait, youneverwant to process things, so I’m shocked we’re here, in the best way of course!” Willa’s warm smile filled Elle’s screen.

“So, how are you?” Viet asked, his dark eyes warm and comforting like a perfect cup of tea.

Elle sat in quiet hesitation, wondering if she should really answer that question and if so, what she would say.“I am a smoothie of feelings.”

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