Page 78 of Off the Beaten Path

“Morning,” I echo, surprise rushing through me when he leans forward, his lips brushing against mine softly. When he pulls back, I ask, “What was that for?”

His smile lines deepen. “I’m not allowed to kiss you?”

I glance down at June, still sleeping soundly in my arms. “June could have seen.”

He leans down until his mouth is at my ear. “I wouldn’t want her seeing me kiss just anyone, but I plan on keeping you, Red.”

A warm feeling spreads through me at his words, making everything inside me turn to liquid.

Holden lifts a single eyebrow. “That is, as long as you want to stick around.” He says it in a playful tone, but I can see the vulnerability shining in his eyes, the hurt from Mia that’s healing but not gone.

It makes me soften, turning slowly onto my back to see him better, careful not to disturb June. I let myself catalog the lines of his face, the dark shadow of his beard, the strong curve of his nose, the ever-shifting colors in his eyes. I want to memorize him just like this, so that one day when I’m old and gray and my memory is failing, I never forget how he looked leaning over me in this twin-size bed.

“Holden Blankenship,” I say slowly. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Some of the light returns to his eyes, the tension leaving his shoulders, and I sigh when his lips settle on mine again, just a brush of his mouth that makes me want more. When he pulls back, he regards me for a long moment, looking like he’s debating something.

Finally, he says, “I love you, Wren.”

That’s it, nothing more, nothing less. It feels exactly right for him to tell mejustlike that, with his daughter in my arms and his hand tangling in my hair.

“I love you too.” It’s so easy to say it back. It feels like I’ve said it a thousand times before, like this is years and years in the future and we’ve woken up just like this more times than we’ve woken up alone.

That little smile hitches up one side of his lips again, and when he leans in close to my ear, this time he uses a whisper. “I really wish we weren’t in bed with my daughter right now.”

A quiet laugh escapes me, and I let my eyes trail down to June nestled in the crook of my arm, her body wrapped around me. As much as I’d like to be alone with Holden, I can’t say I’d rather be anywhere but here.

I think he sees my thoughts reflected in my eyes, because his face softens as he regards us. “Here is good too.”

I look up at him, a smile playing on my lips. “Yeah, it’s perfect.”

He watches me for a long moment, something unreadable in his eyes. “You didn’t wait up for me last night.”

“I tried my best,” I tell him, but the truth is that when June asked me to stay in bed with her, I knew my exhausted body was going to be out in seconds.

“I had something to tell you.”

My eyebrows lift. “What?”

That smile returns to his face, this time a little mischievous and playful. I have to say, it’s a good look on him. “You’ll have to wait and see.” He sits up, making a face as he does. I guarantee he’s in as much pain from sleeping in this tiny bed as I am. “Go back to your house and get ready. June and I will be over to get you in thirty minutes.”

I stare at him, unmoving. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Thirty minutes later, I’m showered and changed, my hair wet and curling around my head. I dressed in light layers since I’m unsure of where Holden is taking me, and I’m pulling on my jacket when he knocks on the door before letting himself in.

“We’re waiting, Red,” he calls out from my living room.

I roll my eyes, coming out of my bedroom. “It’s been thirty-two minutes.”

“Exactly,” he says, leaning against my doorframe. I can’t help but take in the way the hem of his shirt hikes up over his hipbone, exposing a sliver of tanned, toned skin. I know how that skin feels against my palms, and suddenly, I don’t want to go on whatever adventure he’s taking me on. I want to stay right here with him.

“I gave you two extra minutes.” When I look back up at his eyes, I know he caught me ogling by the way he’s smirking at me. Pink climbs up my cheeks. “Now let’s get out of here. June’s waiting in the truck.”

We move across the yard that’s finally turning green again and climb into the truck before backing out of his driveway. He heads through town, and my heart softens at the fundraiser signs still up in the windows. It only takes a moment for him to take the turn to head into the mountains, following the familiar drive to the cabin. I don’t know if I want to go there today. Not with the happy bubble we’ve been in all morning. I know I’m going to have to face it soon, that I’m going to have to talk to my insurance company and call guests to cancel their reservations and refund the money that I’ve already spent on things for the cabin, but I was hoping for a little more time. Just a few hours.

“Holden, I don’t know if—”

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