Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“Is that where all the mountain men take the tourists to make out?” I ask with a grin.
He turns and smiles at me. “Sometimes.”
My eyes are drawn to his mouth. I wonder what kissing Noah would be like. He’s probably the perfect mix of rough and gentle. I start to imagine what those big strong hands would feel like as they explored my body and my pulse begins to race.
Be bold. Be adventurous. For once in your life go after what you want.
“Will you take me there?” I ask him.
His eyes drop to my mouth for a second before he looks at me with a smile. “Absolutely.”
It’s stunning up here. We’re sitting on the hood of Noah’s truck at Jasper’s Lookout and I’m speechless as I gaze out at the beautiful sweeping vista before us. A sense of gratitude and awe wash over me like I’ve never experienced before. Maybe it’s from my near-death experience last night or because I have this wonderful man beside me, but it feels like I’m looking at everything in a new light.
The air is so crisp. So clean. The rain from last night has been all soaked up by the thirsty plants and trees, and everything just smells so good—like pine trees and wildflowers. I wish I could bottle this scent up and bring it home to smell whenever I’m walking through the thick exhaust fumes permeating the city.
The sun is beginning to set over the rugged peaks of the Montana mountains, casting a warm golden glow over the humbling view. Birds in the distance serenade us with their songs and the gentle rustling of leaves over our heads fills me with a sense of vitality and freshness.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Noah says as my eyes begin to water.
“Yeah,” I say as I look out at the lush green forests stretching out to the horizon. A large deep blue lake and several rivers cut through the forest far from the adorable little town nestled in the middle of it all. I spot the Greene Mountain Lodge and smile.
A deep sense of appreciation for nature and all its wonders begins to overtake me. The majesty of the mountains and the vastness of the wilderness reminds me of my small place in the world. Do I even have a place? I always thought it was in New Jersey, but now I’m not so sure.
“Are you crying?” Noah asks when he looks at me.
I quickly wipe the tears from my eyes but several more take their place.
“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling embarrassed. Leave it to me to cry on a first date.
“Don’t be sorry,” he whispers. “This place has a way of connecting you to what’s important.”
He slides his hand onto mine and my heart jumps at the warm feeling. I entwine my fingers with his and hold his hand as we admire the awe-inspiring view.
This man is amazing. He didn’t laugh at me or make me feel stupid. He gets it. He gets me.
I turn and look at him. Even his side profile is beautiful. I swear, my heart can’t take any more beauty. I’m overflowing with it.
He turns and looks at me and we gaze into each other’s eyes. Something is happening here. This is not a normal first date. There are no more awkward jitters or uncomfortable silences. I feel like I’ve known this man my entire life. I feel so at ease with him, he just has that safe comforting way about him.
“What if I… hung around here for a bit?” I say before I lose the nerve.
His eyebrows perk up. A slow smile builds on his face.
“You’re thinking of moving here?”
“Maybe… yeah. What do you think about that?”
He runs a hand through his hair as he turns back to the view, the smile still on his face.
“I think you should.”
“Really?”
He nods as he turns back to me with his green eyes shining. “It was fate that brought us together, Megan. Her job is over. It’s up to us to stay together.”
“You really believe that? I mean, we haven’t even known each other for twenty-four hours.”
“When you know, you know, you know?”
I laugh. “And you’re so certain you know?”
“I knew the second I saw you dancing at the wedding. You were filled with this radiant life and a contagious energy. I knew immediately that I wanted to be surrounded by that fire for the rest of my life. And then when I saw you in the forest, drenched and scared, but still fighting, still holding your head up high, I realized how strong you are.
“Being able to hold you on the way back, clutching you to my chest, it was the happiest I’ve ever been even with the cold rain stinging my face.”
His eyes are too much. I look at our connected hands as strong emotions flare inside me. I’m not leaving. How could I now?