Page 53 of Dreaming About Forever

They drove in silence for a few more minutes before Lillian called Alicia. From what he could tell, Lillian was sympathetic about the way Danny had treated her.

A sign caught Jordan’s attention, and he waited until Alicia ended the call to ask, “How do you feel about making a stop on the way back?”

18

ALICIA

Alicia read a road sign as it passed. Apparently, Freedom, Colorado was ten miles away.

“Can you at least give me a hint?” she asked.

“Well, it wouldn’t be a surprise then, would it?”

She didn’t push him again. Jordan’s attempt to cheer her up was working, and while surprises were non-existent in her planned-out life, the excitement bubbling in her middle said she needed more spontaneity.

Jordan slowed the truck as they entered the quaint Christmas town. This place definitely embraced the holiday the way Redemption Ridge had, going all out with lights, trees, and decorations.

“Have you been here before?” Alicia asked as they passed a Victorian-style house with a sign out front that advertised the best breakfast this side of the Rockies.

“Mom and Dad brought us here one Christmas after we visited Mom’s folks in Kansas. It’s a good place to stop on the long drive back from Denver.”

“How old were you?”

Jordan shrugged. “Ten?”

“So you haven’t been here in about twenty years? What exactly are we looking for? Do you know where you’re going?”

Jordan cleared his throat. “Well, no. But I’m hoping it hasn’t changed too much.”

Alicia leaned back to stare at him. “Who are you, and what have you done with Jordan Taylor?”

He chuckled, and the warmth in the sound flooded over her. “I’m not that rigid.”

“You most certainly are. You know everything about the place you’re going at least a week in advance. And you’re telling me you don’t know where we’re going?”

“Are you thinking this is a security issue? Because I’m definitely starting to rethink this impulse decision.”

She pointed a finger at him. “Don’t you dare take this away from me.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll just silently overanalyze everything.”

“You can be off duty for the rest of the day.”

Jordan glanced at her, then back at the road. “I am never off duty when you’re around.”

Oh, that stern protectiveness definitely lit a fire inside her. His determination was admirable, and she loved that about him.

Love. She didn’t merely like Jordan and the life he’d introduced her to. He was making her question her goals, realign her morals, and think twice about the future she’d been planning.

Jordan stopped in front of a little information booth and parked the truck. “I’ll be right back.”

He talked to a man at the booth who pointed down the road and made motions like he was drawing an elaborate picture in the air. A minute later, Jordan shook the man’s hand and got back in the truck.

“It’s just down the road. You want to get something to eat before this adventure?”

Alicia clasped her hands in front of her. “Can we stop at that cute place that said they have great breakfast?”

“But it’s lunchtime.”

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