Page 74 of Flare
“What if running isn’t enough?” she asked quietly.
Ward’s hands tightened on her shoulders.“That’s why you have a gun now. And why you’ll never be alone.” He hesitated, then added,“I won’t let him hurt you, Emily.”
∞∞∞
Tuesday dawned with the promise of another beautiful spring day.
The shooting and self-defense lessons yesterday had left Emily’s arms and shoulders sore, but the boost in her confidence was well worth it.
And the hot shower they’d shared after they returned home had turned into a slippery session of playfully exploring each other’s bodies.
“Ready for something fun?” Ward asked her over breakfast, his warm smile making her heart flutter.“Do you have hiking boots?”
She nodded.“I remembered to pack them when I left Andrew’s place. Why? Where are we going?”
“I want to show you my favorite place, if you’re up for a hike.” His smile broadened into a full grin.“It’s a great place to picnic.”
“I’d love that,” Emily said.
Ward destroyed her fun an instant later by saying,“But first, let’s go over to Tony’s range and practice shooting some more.”
∞∞∞
The trailhead was about twenty minutes outside of town, a narrow path cutting through a dense forest. Ward shoulderedthe large, heavy backpack containing their picnic lunch and water, refusing Emily’s offers to carry something.
The trail climbed steadily upward, zigzagging through stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir.
Emily paused frequently, not just to catch her breath but to admire the wildflowers dotting the forest floor—vibrant purple lupines and delicate white trilliums.
“Look there,” Ward said quietly, pointing to a fallen log where a chipmunk sat upright, tiny paws working at something edible. The creature froze at their approach, then darted away in a blur of striped fur.
An hour into the hike, the trees thinned, and Ward reached back to take Emily’s hand.“Almost there,” he promised, leading her around a large boulder.
Emily gasped as they emerged onto a rocky bluff. Below them, the Salmon River cut through the valley like a silver ribbon, sparkling in the midday sun. Mountains rose on all sides, their slopes carpeted in evergreens, with patches of snow still clinging to the highest peaks.
“Oh, Ward,” she breathed.“It’s absolutely beautiful.”
He squeezed her hand, looking pleased at her reaction.“Best view in Idaho, if you ask me.”
Ward spread a blanket on a flat area of the bluff, then unpacked their lunch—thick roast beef sandwiches on homemade bread, a container of pasta salad, fresh strawberries, and a small loaf of what looked like Maggie’s lemon pound cake, dusted with a generous topping of powdered sugar.
“Did you make these?” Emily asked, unwrapping a sandwich.
“The sandwiches, yes. The cake is from Maggie’s bakery. She told me you love lemon cake.”
They ate in comfortable silence, occasionally commenting on the view or pointing out a hawk circling lazily on thermal currents above the river.
When they finished, Ward stretched out on his back, one arm behind his head, the other invitingly extended toward Emily.
She didn’t hesitate, stretching out beside him, her head resting in the crook of his shoulder. His arm curled around her, drawing her closer until she could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her cheek.
“This was a great idea,” she murmured.“Thank you for bringing me here.”
Ward’s response was to roll her on top of him. His hazel eyes searched hers briefly before he pulled her down to him and gave her a gentle, lingering kiss.
Emily returned the kiss with enthusiasm, her hands coming to rest on either side of his head. Beneath her, she felt the steady thump of his heart speed up. Heat spread through her body as the kiss deepened.
They spent long minutes teasing each other with increasingly bold touches and caresses. Ward’s hand skimmed her side, thumb brushing the underside of her breast through her thin hiking shirt, then teasing her nipple through her bra and making her shiver.
