8. Chapter Eight

Rose

"This is perfectly good coffee," he says as we drive back to the cottage. "I just don't see what all the fuss is about."

"Right. Coffee's coffee, but I wanted to give you a Sip Smile experience," I reply, enjoying the way his lips twitch in amusement. "It wouldn't do for you to miss out on the modern-day coffee shop experience. Now you're in with the in-crowd."

We park on the gravel drive and he takes my hand as we walk inside. He's gushing about all the changes he's seen, then stops, looks at me, and says, "I don't have one of those little rectangles or any money, but I'll find a way to pay you back."

When we walk inside, I gesture to the walls. "You said you painted these?"

"Yes."

"With talent like that, you'll be able to support yourself in no time."

He points at one of the walls decorated with murals of nature scenes depicting lush old-growth forests and wildlife.

"That," he breathes reverently, "is true beauty."

"And you captured it beautifully. This?" I point to a fairytale setting with lush foliage and a twenty-five-foot waterfall. "Is this nearby?"

"Yes, it's a magical place. I'd love to take you there. It's about an hour's hike. Since we had lunch in town, are you ready for a hike now?"

"I would love that," I say, my heart pounding in anticipation.

We stash his purchases in his room, then set out on our hike. The air is crisp and invigorating, and I can feel my senses awakening as we make our way through the forest.

He points out different trees and wildlife as we go, his enthusiasm contagious as he talks about this place he clearly loves so much. Although I"ve lived here a couple of months, I never even bothered to buy a wildflower guide. He's like a walking encyclopedia.

We reach a clearing filled with flowers of all colors, shapes, and sizes, their sweet scent wafting around us like perfume. In front of us stands a breathtaking waterfall, its mist sparkling in the sunlight like diamonds, cascading down from high above us into a crystalline pool below.

As we continue our hike, the energy sparks between us like flint on steel. We don't mention our growing attraction. Instead, we talk about everything and nothing. Despite my reluctance to ever let anyone inside my self-erected walls, I can"t deny the power with which I"m drawn to him.

"This is incredible," I say, turning to him. "How did you find this place?"

He grins, and it"s like the sun has come out. "It found me. I was wandering through the woods one day, and I heard the sound of water. I followed it and…" His hand sweeps out and we both stare at it in wonder.

We stand close together, our bodies nearly touching, as we take in the beauty of the cascading water. The sound is peaceful, calming, and I can"t help but feel a sense of awe at the natural world around us.

He turns to me, his piercing blue gaze locking onto mine. "I can"t believe how much I"ve missed. All those years…," he says softly, looking wistful. "But now that I"m here, with you. I feel as though I"ve finally found my place in the world."

My heart beats faster in my chest as he takes a step closer. "You don"t know how long I"ve waited for this moment," he whispers, his breath warm against my cheek. "To be with you, to feel your touch…"

Fear bubbles up in me. This isn"t how I scripted my life. Other than my siblings, who were raised in the same shitshow as me, I"ve never met another living soul I could trust—not even my parents. No one had my best interests at heart. I was just a commodity.

I gaze at him, letting all my anxieties and misgivings shine through. Somehow, he must read my mind, because he gently winds a tendril of my hair around his finger and husks so softly I can barely hear him over the crashing water.

"I literally traveled through time for you, Rose. And I"ll wait. As long as you want." He swallows, a pained look on his face. "And if you don"t want me, I"ll leave. But I"ll guarantee one thing: I will never hurt you."

Why do I want to believe him? But I do. How could I doubt the sincere look of affection in those alarmingly blue eyes?