Page 90 of Hope After Loss

He grins, and then he starts to lead us toward the raging water.

Before I know it, we are underneath the falls, and I shriek as we are pounded with water, which takes my breath until Weston tucks us into a cave and sets me on a rock ledge. The waterfall is a curtain, blocking us from the rest of the world.

“Oh, wow,” I gasp.

“Welcome to the secret cavern of Eagle’s View,” he says as he settles himself between my legs in the water.

“This is amazing, Weston.”

He looks around. “Nature is pretty incredible, isn’t it?”

“Unreal.”

A shiver runs through me as a cold breeze swirls around us.

Weston plants his hands at my sides as he pulls himself from the water.

“We need to get a fire going to warm you up. We can go out this way,” he says as he stands and extends his hand to me.

I look back to the water. The low sunlight is shining through and creates a kaleidoscope of twinkling colors as the stream falls.

“Not yet,” I say.

He bends to his knee.

“Your teeth are chattering,” he says.

“A few more minutes. Please.”

He takes a seat and pulls me back into him. His arms come over mine, tucking me into his warmth.

“Crazy woman,” he whispers into my ear.

Weston

Isit and hold her as she enjoys the moment. I’d love to spend all evening here with her in my arms in a bubble hidden from the world, but I know we need to get the tents up and the fire going before sunset.

I sweep her wet hair to the side.

“Anna,” I whisper in her ear.

“Uh-huh?” she mumbles.

“Baby, we have to set up camp,” I say.

She leans back against my chest and looks up at me and pouts.

I kiss her nose and then nip at her bottom lip, which is protruding.

“That won’t work this time. Come on.”

I nudge her forward, and she slips back into the water and takes off under the rush.

I catch up to her in minutes, and she twists and splashes me in the face as I reach out to clasp her waist. She attempts to slip past me, but I have a firm grip on her waist.

Finally, she gives in and wraps her arms around my shoulders. Her fingers thread into the hair at the nape of my neck.

She instinctively wraps her legs around my waist as I take a huge step, moving us forward toward the shore.