Page 49 of Meeting Me, Loving You (Hearts of Maple Lake #1)

CAMERON

“ T hese are our seats,” I say, guiding Jules into a row toward the back of the train car.

It’s October, the perfect month to experience the leaves changing colors in Pennsylvania, so I talked Jules into accompanying me on another train ride up the mountain. We’re in the same car with the domed glass ceiling.

Stepping to the side, I guide Jules to the window seat.

She might think I’m giving her the best view, but I’m the lucky one.

From here, I can see Juliet in the perfect light, her smile radiating in the reflection on the window as she peers out at the brightly colored trees.

The train hasn’t even departed from the depot yet, and she’s already looking around like a kid in a candy shop.

She’s a lot more interested in the fall foliage than the snow that covered everything during the last time we took the train.

As we take our seats, her long brown waves drape down her back and over her shoulder. I always have the urge to run my hands through her hair, to feel its silky softness on my rough hands.

We’ve spent the past three months in relationship bliss.

Jules worked hard all summer on her nursing courses while continuing to be the best nurse in the entire hospital.

I might be biased, but I think I’ve got the most proficient, tenderhearted, and sexiest one there.

When she’s not at the hospital, she’s with me.

This summer was the best summer of my life.

We hiked almost every weekend with Dax, went on several camping and fishing trips—Jules actually caught a bass larger than anything I’ve caught all year—and I’ve spent every waking moment with her on my mind.

And Jules was right. Or, rather, Tyler was right.

There’s freedom in forgiveness. Although I haven’t been able to forgive my parents completely for their lack of nurturing in my life, I’ve forgiven myself for allowing the past to trickle into my present in so many harmful ways.

Welcoming Juliet into my life has been the best decision I’ve ever made, even though it made me question everything I had known before she came along.

My therapist said I’m making amazing progress on separating what I believe to be true about myself and what’s actually true, and I’m happy I was able to find someone who could set up video chats with me since we don’t have a counseling center nearby.

The voice of the train conductor comes over the loudspeaker, urging passengers to board, and five minutes later, the train lurches into motion.

Sunshine floods the train car with warmth as the blue sky above casts the perfect backdrop to the burning oranges and stark yellows of the autumn leaves.

We pass maples and paper birch trees, varying pines, and oaks.

The scene before us is breathtaking as the train follows the tracks up the mountain.

The steady pace is relaxing, and I drape my arm around Jules’ shoulders.

She looks up at me with one of her gorgeous smiles.

Trees full of red leaves pass over the glass dome, and I’m extremely happy we’re experiencing the train excursion together during the fall season .

Jules holds my hand and leans her head back against my arm. “It’s better in the fall, isn’t it?”

“It’s a hundred times better.” I lean down and kiss her soft lips. She smells like freshly brewed coffee beans and lavender from our stop at Le Fou this morning. “You didn’t bring anything to study today?” I throw her a teasing smirk.

“No,” she says with indignation. “I thought I’d have enough on my hands with you sitting here looking all yummy.” She laughs quietly and playfully grazes her tongue over her bottom lip.

I straighten my spine and inhale deeply. “Jules, you have no idea what you do to me.”

“Or maybe I know exactly what I’m doing.”

I side-eye her, and I’m caught in her beautiful chocolate stare. She’s a siren and I’m the slaphappy sailor begging her to take me to the depths of the sea so I can be with her.

Removing my arm from behind her neck, I place my hand on her knee. It’s covered in the fabric of her jeans, and I’m relieved that the temptation of her skin isn’t directly in contact with mine.

“Behave,” I whisper. A grin pulls at the corner of my lips, and she laughs, clearly proud of herself for having this effect on me.

“Cam,” she says after a few minutes of silence.

“Yeah?”

“Remember that time I told you I was resentful of Maple Lake? That I was starting to hate it here?”

My stomach drops. I remember it clearly. It was the day on the boat when she first admitted to having feelings for me and I shut her down. After I kissed her.

Reluctantly, I reply, “I remember.”

“Well, I want you to know I don’t hate Maple Lake. I never have.” The bubble stuck in my chest begins to ebb as she continues. “I thought maybe I did because I was becoming so unhappy here, but I never truly hated this place. I hated the reasons I stayed.”

Her brown eyes are no longer the sad eyes I met last winter. Her laugh lines are more prominent now as she smiles regularly, and her hair is even longer than it was then, if that’s even possible.

“And now?” I ask. “How do you feel about the reasons you stayed?”

“I’m happy about my current reasons for staying.”

“Which are?”

“To be with you. And Dax. And my patients and Ali.”

Bending over, I press my lips to her hair, and she raises her chin, inviting me to kiss her lips. I happily comply, smiling against her mouth. “Those are all great reasons,” I say. “Will you always stay with me?”

“I will,” she says with warmth in her voice.

We watch as the colorful trees pass by the window, pointing at the river below as the train crosses over the metal bridge.

After the train has been in motion for forty minutes, the conductor’s voice announces that we’re arriving at the ski lodge.

While there’s no snow for skiing or snow tubing, the lodge is used by tourists as a place to hang out.

The lodge offers space for groups to host get-togethers, and occasionally, the town holds events open to everyone.

Once we’re at Eagle Ridge Lodge, we step off the train and walk across the platform.

I slide my fingers between Juliet’s, a motion I’ve done hundreds of times in the previous months.

The feel of her never gets old. Her hand is warm and smooth, her fingernails painted a plain white that contrasts wonderfully against her tanned skin from all the time we’ve spent outdoors this summer.

Her tank top is also white, crossing behind her shoulder blades and emphasizing her toned arms and shoulders.

The temperatures are mild enough to enjoy without a sweater, but she has a flannel shirt tied around her waist for later.

She begins to steer us toward the large doors leading into the lodge, but I tug her back with a firm grasp on her hand.

“What are you doing?” she asks, turning to look at me.

“I want to show you something.”

“Oh, okay.” She looks at our surroundings, her brows sinking in confusion. People move all around us, leaving the train and walking into the lodge, while others walk the paths through the trees surrounding the building.

“It’s this way.” Still claiming her hand in mine, I guide her down a set of stairs that leads to one of the worn dirt paths along the edge of the building. The path is well used by tourists, but today it’s roped off with yellow caution tape and a sign stating the path is closed to hikers today.

I lift a leg over the tape and step onto the closed path, turning to help Jules when she comes to an abrupt halt.

“This says it’s closed. We can’t go down there.” Her look of confusion makes me want to pat myself on the back for how well I kept this secret from her.

“It’s okay,” I assure her, adding a conspiratorial tone. “I have friends on the inside. I made a few calls.”

Jules lets out a breathy laugh. “Okay, James Bond.” She bites her upper lip and peaks behind her. “Are you sure?”

I hold both hands out toward her. “I wouldn’t ever get you in trouble.”

“Yes, you would!”

“Okay. I wouldn’t get you in trouble today . Your parents expect us to be back by two.”

Her face relaxes, and her energy matches mine, both of us anticipating what will come next.

While it’s a win that I’ve piqued her interest, I have to will my hands not to shake as I hold them out to her.

She places her hands gently in mine, and I balance her as she steps over the caution tape and onto the path alongside me.

The path is narrow and surrounded by trees, the branches and leaves overhead forming a natural arch, guiding explorers into a wonderful hidden space of autumnal beauty.

We walk under the boughs, stepping through the rays of sun as they burst through the gaps in the yellowing leaves, casting us in golden light.

Jules looks especially glorious. Her dark brown hair is illuminated to show the natural sun-infused highlights rolling down her back, and it swishes with her movements.

My hand wraps gently around her lower back, and I guide her to a small clearing free of trees and underbrush.

There’s a wooden bench at a circular dead end as we step out of the arching trees.

Jules spots the view from the lookout to our right, and her jaw drops before her hands come up to cover her wide smile.

“This is amazing.” Her words are soft as she looks at me, wonder filling her eyes. “I had no idea this lookout was here.”

We walk past the bench and are instantly greeted by a view of the Appalachian Mountains spreading out before us.

As far as the eye can see, splashes of orange mingle with streaks of gold and brown, while red is interwoven throughout the rolling peaks, only to be met with the blue sky on the horizon.

The sun burns down over the landscape, making every color as vivid as possible.

“Do you like it?” I ask, standing close behind her so I can feel the heat from her body.

She doesn’t look at me, she doesn’t take her eyes off the scene, and I don’t think she’s even breathing.

Her voice catches in her throat as she says, “I love it. It’s the most beautiful place.

” She huffs out a laugh, her back shifting against my chest. “It’s as if I haven’t seen views like this my entire life.

I don’t know… it just amazes me every time. ”

Without a word, I take a step back and rummage through my jean pocket.

I find what I’m looking for and, just as Juliet lets out a contented sigh, I drop a knee to the ground and hold out the ring that’s been burning through my pocket for the past hour.

Jules turns from the mountain view, searching for me for half a second before she realizes what’s happening.

Her eyes widen as she takes in the sight of me on my knee, the ring held out before her, and she covers her face with her hands, tears already springing to her eyes as she lets out a shuddering laugh.

“Juliet Adelaide Berns, you’ve been everything I need and more since I came back to Maple Lake.

You’re resilient in the face of change, and I’ve been honored to learn from you as you’ve shown me how to trust and love, with a patience I’ve never known before.

” Juliet’s eyes gleam as tears slip down both her cheeks, her gaze never leaving mine.

Her hands tremble as she holds them to her chest, and she’s smiling at me like I’m placing the entire world at her feet.

Heat prickles my own eyes as I continue.

“You’ve been the only constant thing I’ve ever had in my life, and I can only promise that I will do everything I can to always be the rock you need to stand on when the storms come. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

She nods, the tears running into her smile as she leans down to hold my face in her hands.

“Yes. A hundred times, yes, I will marry you, Cameron Dunne.” She pulls my face toward her, guiding my lips to her mouth.

I’m elated, feeling lighter than air. I stand to my feet, and in one quick motion, wrap my arms around her waist and lift her feet off the ground, never breaking our kiss.

She smiles against my lips, and I match her movements, the give and take of our bodies expressing what our souls can’t adequately express.

After what feels like hours, but simultaneously doesn’t feel long enough at all, I lower her feet to the ground and break my mouth from hers, already thinking of the next time my lips will brush against her soft skin.

Through ragged breaths, I pull the ring between us, holding it for her to see. “Would you like to put it on?”

Jules’ breathing is unsteady as well, and she studies the ring in front of her. It’s a princess cut on a silver band, encrusted with mini diamonds all the way around.

“Definitely yes,” she breathes, lifting her eyes to mine.

I lift her left hand and slip the ring over her finger, marveling at how perfectly it fits. She holds her hand out and watches as the jewels shimmer in the afternoon sun.

“Do you like it?” I ask.

“I love it! But there’s only one thing I love more.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

She wraps her arms around my neck, lifting onto her tiptoes to reach. “You.” She plants a quick peck on my lips before pulling back to look at me again. “I think this was the best field trip yet, Mr. Dunne.”

She squeals as I lift her again and spin her around, holding her close to my chest, close to my heart. I don’t ever want to let her go, and I’m the happiest man alive because I’ll never have to.

The End