Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Looking up, he grins when he notices our position. “Must be,” he says, and presses his mouth to mine.
“You’re amazing,” I tell him, smiling into the kiss. “An actual miracle.” My miracle.
The forest is quiet enough for us to hear birds in the branches overhead, the crunch of our shoes over pine needles and damp earth as we continue. I have the benefit of my memories, but as we near the bottom, even I’m taken by surprise. The gentle murmur of water is replaced by a sound that gets louder with every step until it’s a roar, impossible to ignore. The trees part, mist spinning in circles and cooling the air. Luca stares wide-eyed at the crashing water in front of us.
People buy postcards with this view, paintings and photo prints to hang in their homes, T-shirts, and even commemorative coins to capture this place and keep it with them. But when Luca grins at me and takes me in his arms, his whispered love you swallowed by the sound of the roaring falls, I know I’ll only remember this.
Later that night, exhausted and giddy and slightly sunburned, we make our way back to the hotel. Finally in our room, Honey nose-dives into her bed, but we aren’t quite ready to settle in. Deciding a glass of wine is in order, we head to the lobby bar. A cover band is playing on a small stage in the corner, and when they strum the opening notes of “First Day of My Life,” Luca takes my hand and leads me out to the empty dance floor. There in his arms, I realize I’m still someone who dances. But only with him.
* * *
If it wasn’t for Honey, who has been a saint this entire trip but has clearly had enough, we would never leave the enormous, feather-filled perfection that is our hotel bed. After a lot of dramatic sighing, we disentangle ourselves from the sheets on Monday morning, dress in the softest clothes we have, pick up coffee in the lobby, and take our girl outside. There may be some who don’t find it romantic to kiss as the sky brightens over the forest while your dog does her business a short fifteen feet away, but I promise it is. Everything with Luca is romantic, and while part of me never wants to leave this place, I’m excited to explore this new life. Together.
It’s a long drive, but we leave early enough to make it home in record time. Luca carries our bags into the house while I let Honey outside to terrorize the squirrels. I find Luca in the bedroom and immediately groan at the mess of clothes already on the bed.
“I hate unpacking,” I tell him. “The only benefit of never going anywhere is that you never have to unpack.”
Not ready to return to real life, I push him down and climb over him.
“Hello there,” he says, smiling up at me.
“Hi.” Bending, I set my mouth on his, feeling victory in the way he pushes up to deepen the kiss, the low growl in his throat. From somewhere beneath him, a phone vibrates.
“Ignore it,” I say, already breathless at the feel of his fingers moving under my shirt.
“Fine by me.”
The vibration stops for a moment before starting up again. I sigh. “Okay, hold that thought.” I kiss him again before searching the bed. “That could be Annie, and I promised to keep her updated.” Finding it, I turn it over and stare down at the screen.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“I don’t know.” Climbing off the bed, I straighten and bring the phone to my ear. “This is Dr. Martín.”
“Emery, this is Shandra.” I glance over at Luca, who is watching me, surely trying to figure out why my entire body suddenly feels rigid.
“Oh. Hi, Shandra,” I say, and mouth the words my boss’s assistant his way. “How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you. I’m calling because Leonard has asked for you to come in as soon as possible,” she says. “He is aware that you are out of town but says it’s quite urgent.”
“I just got back in town,” I tell her, “so I could come in tomorrow morning—”
“Actually, if you’re back, he’d like you to come in now.”
“Now?” I look at Luca again, certain that all the color has drained from my face. He doesn’t look so hot, either.
“Now,” she confirms, her voice stony.
“Of course. I’ll be right there,” I say. “Thank you, Shandra.”
Ending the call, I reach up to rub my face.
“What’s happening?” he asks.
“I’m not sure.” My eyes move to our bags on the bed. “Can I unpack when I’m back? I don’t know why, but they need me to come in right now.”
Standing, Luca brushes back a strand of my hair. “Is this look of dread because of work, or worry about my reaction?”