Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 27182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
I smile at her, wishing so much that it wasn’t too early in the date to put my hand on her knee. This is so perfect. It’s so natural. I could see us doing this forever.
This is how it would be if we were a couple. Just hanging out, enjoying each other, enjoying every moment, everything around me—every sensation and feeling—heightened because of her. I want it so badly. More than I’ve ever wanted anything.
I bring them to a hiking trail that only the locals know about. We share almost everything with the tourists that come to our town, but there’s an unspoken secret pact amongst the locals to keep this one trail to ourselves. It has some breathtaking views along the way and a perfect spot by a river to eat lunch. It’s always quiet, which I love.
Cutter bounds out of the truck, tail wagging like crazy as I grab our lunch and stuff it into a backpack.
I’ve done this hike hundreds of times, but it feels like I’m seeing it for the first time through Lucy’s eyes as we get started. She’s in awe as we walk under the tall Douglas firs and Ponderosa pines. She takes pictures of the colorful little finches darting between the branches and smiles when she looks at the photos. Cutter runs up ahead and then comes tearing back to us when he gets too far.
I already got this dog eating out of my hand. He’s looking up at me like I’m his long lost best friend. He brings me a stick, so I grab it out of his hand and launch it. Lucy smiles as she watches him take after it like a rocket.
“I was worried he wasn’t going to like you,” she says, grinning up at me.
“Is that a boyfriend test?” I ask her. “If your dog doesn’t approve, it’s over?”
“Over before it’s even begun?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.
I tilt my head, grinning at her. “Oh, it’s begun alright.”
She looks away, those adorable cheeks blushing.
“It started when I kissed those scrumptious lips.”
“Hmmm,” she says, playing with me. “I don’t think I remember that. Was that yesterday?”
I grab her arm and spin her around. She gasps as I pull her up against my body where she belongs.
“Maybe this will refresh your memory.”
She melts against me as I kiss her deeply, claiming her mouth like I’m going to keep it forever.
I’m ready to stop the hike and spend the rest of the day making out with this beauty, but Cutter has other ideas. He jumps on me with that damn stick in his mouth.
I toss it even further this time, but when I turn back to continue, Lucy is already walking, her cheeks a bright shade of red.
“So, what made you want to be a cop?” she asks as I catch up.
I’d rather talk more about us, but I’ll wait for that if I have to. This is going to be a long date after all. The subject of us is bound to come up again. I’ll make sure of it.
“I like to protect people,” I tell her.
“Tell me why.”
I sigh as I think about it. “It’s because of my dad,” I finally say. “My father wasn’t a large guy.”
“Really?” she asks with a chuckle. “That’s surprising.”
“I got my size from my mother’s side. He only came up to here on me,” I say, touching under my shoulder. “But he was wise and powerful in his own way. His personality was big enough to make up for his small stature. As I was getting older and growing larger, I didn’t realize my own strength. I would unintentionally hurt people. Just by bumping into them or accidentally grabbing them too hard. He told me that wielding my size and strength was a responsibility I couldn’t ignore. He said my power was a gift given to me and that I had to use it to protect people, not to harm them. He told me that the morning he died.”
“Oh no,” Lucy says, her hand flying to her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I say, taking a heavy breath. “I was nineteen when it happened. He got hit by a car while he was walking down Main Street. It was a new driver. He had just gotten his license that week. I went over to his house to beat the shit out of him, but he was so devastated about it. He was sobbing when he saw me and he collapsed into my arms. All I could hear was my father’s words… I should be protecting people, not hurting them. So, I gave the kid a hug and decided to join the force. Use my strength for good.”
I’ve never told anyone that story. It’s unnerving how she can make me open up so easily, how I want to tell her everything.