Page 79 of Trail to Trouble

“Have you ever gone back to Lover’s Leap Falls?”

“I have, and it was hard. Even of late, it is difficult to stand up there. But, that’s part of the guided hike, so I still do it when my uncle needs me to.”

Hunter’s gaze hit the floor for a couple of beats before returning it to hers.

“Honestly, I go up there every summer...on the anniversary date. I’d hoped to see you there. Silly, I know, but I held hope.”

Her heart slammed in her chest.

He stepped toward her. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. I missed you then.”

His brows knit. “What?”

“I’ve been up there twice. Once on the first anniversary and once a couple of years ago. I snuck in from the back way...retraced the steps I’d taken when I went for help.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, even though I was in hiding, a large part of me hoped to see you there.”

He pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly, then released her.

“Life is strange sometimes.”

“Don’t I know it?” she replied.

They filled their plates with venison and rice and sat at the table across from one another. Gazing like love-crazed teenagers. It was nice.

“Thank you for the flowers. Daisies are my favorites.”

Hunter cocked his head to the side. “Flowers?”

“The bouquet you sent to my work.”

He studied her.

“I should have thought to do that, but I didn’t.”

“But the card said, ‘can’t wait to see you again’,” she said as she yanked her cell phone off the table and scrolled to the picture of the bouquet and the card.

She handed him the phone.

He looked at the photos and handed it back to her.

“I didn’t send those.”

“Well, who did then?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have you been seeing someone? I mean, that’s okay if you were, but...”

“No!”

Her pulse pounded.

“Oh, no!” she exclaimed and threw her hand over her mouth.