Page 27 of Falling Inn Love
I laugh. “Yep. Toad’s a good guy. I went to school with him. She’ll be fine. He’s in a local motorcycle club, but they’re great people. We actually host them at the inn every summer for a biker retreat. Best week of the year when they all stay. We have a great time, and their club does a lot for the community of Freedom Valley. There’s not many people as safe and good as Toad.”
Her face relaxes. I love that she cares about Mellie, too.
I lean down and kiss her softly and she leans in for more. I can taste bourbon and salt on her. “How many cocktails did you have?”
“Two. Okay, maybe three,” she says as she laughs. “Can you give me a ride?” Then she covers her mouth. “In your truck,” she adds as she looks at me nervously.
I stare down at her and my mouth twitches. Her nervousness is cute and sexy at the same time. I don’t break eye contact with her and neither does she. When she looks at me like this, I feel like I can take on anything, like nothing else matters. Only her. Right here, right now.
“Let’s get out of here,” I murmur, leaning in and kissing her behind her ear.
When she slides off her stool, she seems much taller. That’s when I notice she’s not wearing her usual Converse—and that her boots have heels.
Her legs look amazing. I sling my guitar case over my shoulder and rest my other hand on the small of her back as we head out into the brisk night.
A longing fills me. I want this. A woman to love and who loves me back. A partner to share my life with.
I place my guitar in the back of the truck and we climb in. I start the engine and crank up the heat. She slides over next to me for warmth.
Beth’s phone dings with a notification, and she pulls it out of her purse. “Mellie made it home safe.”
“You look after people you care about, don’t you?” I say as I lean in and kiss her again, deeply.
“It feels good to have someone to take care of,” she says breathlessly as she pulls back from our kiss.
“Can I show you one of my favorite places?” I ask. “Or do you want to head back now?”
“I’m game. Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” I stare at her, feeling an undeniable magnetism between us.
She stares back. “You feel that, too, right?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
She doesn’t look away as she says, “We’re so screwed.”
“Yeah, we are.” I laugh as I put the truck in drive.
It only takes a few minutes to get to the lookout park. I pull out the thick blankets I keep in the truck for emergencies and lay them across the hood. We climb on top, looking out over the night sky, the hood still warm from the engine.
She leans into me as we stare up at the stars. “It’s so peaceful here,” she tells me.
“I used to come here a lot after my dad died, when I first got back from deployment. I came here in high school, too, but that was mostly to make out with girls.” My heart feels full having her here with me. It feels right to be here with her.
“When is the last time you were in a serious relationship?” she asks. She shivers and I pull her closer, wrapping a blanket around her.
“Honestly, I’ve never really had a serious relationship. I mean, when I was in San Diego, I dated on occasion. But I never found anyone I wanted to be serious with. How about you?” I ask.
She inhales sharply, avoiding my question which I don’t miss. “Evan… I can’t stay here. I said only sixty days, and I meant it. I’m scared. I can feel this going somewhere, but… it can’t.”
I trace her jaw with my finger and run it down the side of her neck and back up, memorizing her face. “Why not?”
“Six years ago, I was married. He passed away,” she says quietly.
I’m caught off-guard; her words still me. I knew something happened to her, knew she carried a pain with her, but I never expected to hear she was a widow at such a young age. “I’m so sorry, Beth. What happened?” I ask softly.
“Car accident. Drunk driver.”
