Page 43 of Call It Home

“We’re going on a field trip.”

“A what? Look, Mac, whatever you have planned, I’m sure it’s nice, but I need to finish thinking through everything. I need to be able to see it.”

I pulled over near a sign the guy back at Crafty had told me about and reached for the bag. I jumped out and went over to her side. “Come on. You need to eat. You’re getting hangry.”

Right on cue, her stomach growled.

I reached out my hand. “Come on. I was told this is a great trail that leads away from the slopes but makes for a nice walk.”

“What about bears? I grew up in the mountains in the spring. I know this is when they’re hangry, too.” Her eyes stared into the heavily forested grounds as if she expected to see one lumbering up to us at any minute.

I winked at her. “Don’t worry, shortcake. Remember, they like full size, not bite size.” She scowled at me, causing me to chuckle. I leaned a little closer to her. “I’ll keep you safe. I told you, I’ve got your back, back there or out here in the wild.”

“Okay,” she said with a toss of her hair, “just be sure to run slower than me if we come upon one.”

I laughed even harder. I loved her quick wit. In fact, I was pretty sure I laughed more around Cameron than I ever had. She brought out a playful side of me that I didn’t know I had.

When she put her soft hand in mine, an odd sensation gripped around my heart again. She didn’t seem in a hurry to pull it back, so I held on to it, leading the way through a bit of brush before we came upon the trail I was promised was worth exploring.

We walked on the pine-covered path for a little way without talking. Instead of the noise of power tools, the air was filled only with the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds. It was chillier in the shade, but the sun created pretty patterns on the path as it filtered through the canopy of the trees.

I wasn’t sure what was going through her head, but I knew my mind couldn’t stop thinking about how right it felt to be here with her. I liked making her laugh. I liked the feel of her skin against mine. All things I’d done before with other women, but none of them had this odd power over me. A power that made me want to hold on and never let go. And that was a dangerous thought for so many reasons. But for now, I could enjoy her company with no harm done.

I’d just have to be careful. I could do that.

“Do you know where this leads?” she asked, interrupting my musings.

“According to my source, we shouldn’t have to go much farther.”

The path narrowed, so she let go of my hand, and instantly, I missed the sensation. What was that about?

“Oh! This is pretty!”

The path opened to a small clearing. A sudden burst of sunlight highlighted a small creek nestled between mossy banks. Glistening water splashed its way over moss-covered rocks, creating a tinkling melody that was soothing and inviting.

I climbed onto a boulder that was flat on top, perfect for sitting, and extended my hand once again to Cameron, who accepted it and pulled herself to stand beside me. I told myself I only put my arm around her because there wasn’t a lot of standing room, but as she leaned slightly into me, I knew I was lying to myself.

“This is so pretty! Reminds me a little of home.”

“I thought it would be good to get away from all the chaos. We need a moment to regroup and relax. And,”—I swung the bag off my shoulder—“I brought lunch.”

She beamed. “Smart man. Because if you hadn’t, bears wouldn’t be the only thing you’d have to worry about eating you.”

I opened my mouth to take a potshot at the idea of being “eaten” by her, but seeing her relaxed shoulders and the look of contentment on her face, I didn’t want to ruin the moment with my usual teasing.

Sitting carefully, I arranged the food between us. Choosing what we wanted, we ate quietly, enjoying the surrounding beauty.

“Thank you, Mac. I guess I needed to get away after all. Maybe I’m letting Vivien get into my head again.”

“You said you thought it was missing something. I think you’re too close to the design. Maybe being out here will inspire you.”

She took a bite of her sandwich as she gazed ahead at the creek. “Sometimes, I think I’ve lost sight of what I really love,” she confessed, almost to herself.

“And what’s that?”

“Designing. That was supposed to be my job at Sterling Construction. My grandfather was excited to grow that side of the business with me. But then…well, you know the rest.”

“Your grandfather sounds like he was a great man.”

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