Dane scuffed his feet along the gravel as they walked. “That and…other things.”
The lightheartedness left his tone. Hilary glanced at him but he concentrated on the path in front of them.
They rounded the lighthouse, following the walkway past pruned boxwoods and clumps of zinnias and artemisia. A chilly breeze caught Hilary off guard when they were no longer shielded by the building. She hunched into her coat.
“You’ll be warm in a minute. Promise,” Dane said.
Clearwater Lighthouse sat on a high rocky bluff overlooking the lake. It was a sheer drop from the top of the bluff to the water below. Guardrails stopped visitors from venturing too far near the edge. Dane led Hilary down a few stone steps to a sunken patio. More boxwood bushes surrounded the patio, offering protection from the wind. There were cedar benches arranged in a half circle and a telescope stood near the rail. They had the patio to themselves. The view was stunning.
“Let’s sit here,” Dane said, unfolding the down blanket.
Hilary settled onto the bench. Dane sat beside her, floating the blanket behind them. Cocooned inside, Hilary instantly warmed, though she suspected it had more to do with Dane beside her than the blanket.
“How’s that?” His voice was an intoxicating whisper. Dane clutched the blanket together near their chins and encircled her back with his other arm.
“Perfect.” Hilary breathed in his cologne, delighting in the fresh, woodsy scent. To their left, the sky was awash in pinks, golds and lavenders of an early summer dawn. “This is beautiful. I’m surprised more people don’t come here to watch.”
“I like having the spot to ourselves.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, listening to the waves lap the rocks below. It was easy to get lost in the melodies of nature here. Hilary thought about what might be an equivalent sound back home, something meditative. The fall leaves crunching underfoot perhaps. She never ventured down by the Roan River that ran adjacent to their land, but the rushing water from spring rains might give her the same sense of peace, though the river wasn’t more than a trickle as summer wore on.
“What are you thinking about?” Dane asked.
“Back home.”
“Home is the furthest thing from my mind right now.” He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“I was just making comparisons between the two places.”
“And?”
“I don’t feel the same sense of peace in Redville that I do here.” Hilary leaned closer to him and felt the rough stubble of his beard against her forehead.
Dane turned into her so his lips brushed her hair. “Maybe you need a change.”
Hilary lifted her gaze to him. His lips were so close, his breath caressed her face. Stars erupted in her peripheral vision and she realized she was holding her breath.
“Are you okay?” he asked when she took a deep breath.
“More than okay.”
His finger found the underside of her chin. Hilary tilted her head.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
She didn’t bother to answer. Some things are better shown than spoken.
Dane closed the small space between them as he leaned toward her.
The kiss was soft at first. Their lips meshed so perfectly together that all sensation flowed to this small spot where their bodies joined. It was a featherlight touch, soft, searching, unyielding. It seemed to suck the breath from her little by little.When had a natural function like breathing become such a chore?
Dane wove his fingers through the hair at the back of her neck as the kiss turned more urgent. Hilary’s world spun away like a planet let loose from orbit. She wrapped her arm around his back, anchoring herself to his chest.Oh, his lips were amazing.This can’t stop.But as soon as that thought crept into her mind, she felt him pulling away—no!—and his hand untangled itself from her hair, caressing her neck, her arm, until his fingers folded around her hand resting on the bench. His eyes were still closed, but he brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. When he opened his eyes finally, a lazy smile spread across his face.
“That’s exactly the kind of change I was thinking about,” she whispered.
“Me too.”
A soft laugh escaped her. “I don’t want to go back yet.”
