Page 44 of High Country Escape
“I probably should be more frightened, but I’m not,” she said. “Mostly, I’m numb. It’s so surreal, having to deal with him again after all these years.”
“Let’s not think about that this evening,” he said as he turned onto the road leading to the small reservoir that served as storage of the town’s water, as well as a popular fishing and picnic spot. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves.”
He parked by the restrooms, then they walked the path around the lake. When he took her hand, she moved closer. “I’m glad you suggested this,” she said. “It’s good to get out.”
For a long time, they didn’t say anything. They didn’t have to. In the week she had been with his parents they had spent more time together, mostly talking. He had learned about the other places she had lived and the jobs she had held. He knew her favorite food, her favorite color, her favorite movie and about her allergy to seafood. She knew the same things abouthim. These were the boxes people checked off when getting to know one another, but observations counted for more than words. He heard how her voice softened when she spoke about volunteering at an animal shelter at her last home, and her enthusiasm for learning to cook from his mom. She laughed at all his dad’s corny jokes and could discuss the intricacies of rehearsal dinner decorations with his sister for a mind-numbing amount of time. She was smart and funny, yet quick to stand up for herself. He was one of the few people here to know how strong she really was.
They picnicked at a table in the shade, sharing fried chicken and deli salads and a bottle of white wine.
When the meal was done, she pushed the leftovers away and turned around to lean against the table and stare out at the lake. “Thanks for suggesting this,” she said. “It’s so beautiful here.”
He slid closer and put his arm around her back. Was he being too daring—asking too much? He didn’t think he was the only one feeling this pull of attraction.
She turned her head to smile up at him. He wanted to trace his finger down the curve of her cheek and feel the satiny texture of her skin. He wanted to kiss the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose and press his lips to hers, to feel her body relax against him and to taste the sweetness of her mouth.
“Dalton?” She whispered his name like a question.
“Roxanne.” He leaned closer. “I’d really like to kiss you.”
In answer she leaned forward, closing the gap between them, sealing her lips to his. He slipped his arms around her, holding her, but not too tightly, reveling in the feel of her, warm and yielding. Her lips parted beneath his and he accepted the invitation, sweeping his tongue into her mouth. She tasted of the wine they had been drinking and smelled like vanilla and flowers. He wanted to bury his nose in the soft place where her neck joined her shoulder and breathe in the aroma of her.
She pressed her palm to his chest and he slid one hand up her side to cup her breast. They were both breathing hard, wanting more. Or at least, he wanted more.
She broke the kiss, though she kept her hand on his chest. Her expression was troubled. “Is something wrong?” he asked.
“No. Everything is right. Except . . .”
“Except what?” He unwrapped his arms from around her and allowed a little more space between them. Her face was flushed, her lips lightly swollen, hair mussed. She was an erotic vision but he forced himself to focus on the pain in her voice.
“Sarah is missing. And Ledger might have taken her. That means he’s somewhere close. He could be a danger to you and to your family. I should be telling you to stay as far away from me as you can.”
“I’m not going to do that.”
“And I’m not strong enough to ask you.” She curled her fingers, gripping his shirt, and rested her forehead against his chin.
He stroked her hair, trying to find words for what he needed to say. “After Sarah disappeared, I went online and read more about Ledger,” he said.
“So you know more about what happened to me.” Her voice was flat. Resigned.
He pulled back enough to look her in the eye. “I know, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
“It doesn’t?” She sounded doubtful. “I guess that saves me the trouble of having to tell you everything that happened.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything,” he said. “Or not anything you don’t want to tell me. I guess—I’m just trying to say I understand why you’re so afraid of him. I’m afraid for you.”
“Then you understand why I don’t think we should get involved. Not now. What if he does come for me again? What if he tries to hurt you?”
“What if he tries to hurtyou? Don’t you think I want to protect you?”
“Why would you want to protect me?”
Because I’ve fallen in love with you. Because you’re important to me.The words were so freighted with emotion he shied away from them. “Because you deserve protecting.”
She leaned into him again and rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder. “I’m afraid if I start something with you, Ledger will ruin it,” she said.
He tried to figure out exactly what she meant. “Because of what he did to you before?” he asked. “Did it change the way you feel about sex?”
She pushed herself away from him and looked him in the eye. “You don’t have to worry about that,” she said. “I know the difference between what he did and real passion between people who care about each other.”