He glanced outside then down at his iced tea and lifted the cup, swirling the ice inside. Drops of condensation fell onto his napkin, still on the table.
“I just meant…I meant the cold made me sick. Not you.” The day held fond memories for her, too. “Maybe you’re just confused. You broke up with Victoria and you have a lot to think about right now,” she said.
“We had something. It’s been awhile I know. But it was something,” he said. His voice rose higher. He set his drink down and strummed his fingers against the table.
He does know me after all . All her idiosyncrasies, her ambitions, her insecurities—and he still wanted her. That says something, right? Or was he confused and trying to convince himself that he loved Kate, in an effort to avoid committing to Victoria?
“You’re here for the summer. We could give it a try. See how things go.” His eyebrows rose as he posed the question.
Kate remained quiet. What is wrong with me? Say yes. Say yes . She swallowed. “I need to sort some things out.”
His fingers stopped moving.
She wanted to reach across the table, hold Trevor’s hand—this time to comfort, not share a romantic moment with him.
“I need to know soon Kate.” Trevor stood up. “C’mon. Let me walk you to your car.”
She lifted her purse off the chair and followed him outside.
Trevor lifted the handle on her car door and opened it. He rubbed his hand along her arm. “I just care so much about you Kate.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
As she turned around to get in her car, she stopped before sitting down, in time to see Will driving past. He peered out of the window at the two of them from his truck.
Trevor lifted his hand in a wave.
Will turned his face forward. No wave. He saw the kiss, no doubt .
***
“If you’re afraid of heights or can’t climb down a ladder, this tour is not for you,” Will said to a small group of tourists, waiting to explore Balcony House cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park.
As much as he wanted to sit by Emma’s side, it was refreshing to be back at work in the open, fresh air.
“Those of you who want to succumb to the adventure of a lifetime, hand me your tickets.” He smiled wide and the group lined up.
“We have room for one more.” He’d told Kate to be at the bus stop over thirty minutes ago but there was no sign of her. She must’ve changed her mind . His heart sank a bit at the notion she wouldn’t be a part of today’s tour. After seeing her embrace his friend in town the day before, Will figured she loved Trevor.
Kate suddenly walked through the crowd. “I have a ticket.” His pulse quickened and Will took a deep breath as she walked up and handed it to him.
He adjusted his hat and couldn’t force his facial muscles to bring his smile to a close. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Kate placed her hand on Will’s forearm and said, “Me too. Although the twists and turns on the highway up here just about did me in. That’s why I’m late.”
She had to be on to Will. His smile always gave him away.
“Ready to crawl through a twelve-foot tunnel and climb up and down ladders? It’s pretty strenuous.”
“Are you saying you have reservations about my abilities?” Kate crossed her arms and lifted one eyebrow.
“Not you. I just wondered if your shoes could handle it?” His line of vision took a nosedive to her shoes. She needed a good pair of boots.
“I’ll be fine. I assure you. I’ll take extra care.”
“I’ve got others to look after, so I won’t be able to keep an eye on you at all times. We know how you’re a magnet for trouble.” He wanted to focus on her all the time, but duty called, not a beautiful woman.
“I can handle my own.” Kate kept her arms crossed and a smile on her face.
***
Not wanting to slow down the group, Kate decided to bring up the rear. She climbed the stairs and wheezed before entering the child-sized tunnel. The altitude took a toll on her
“I just meant…I meant the cold made me sick. Not you.” The day held fond memories for her, too. “Maybe you’re just confused. You broke up with Victoria and you have a lot to think about right now,” she said.
“We had something. It’s been awhile I know. But it was something,” he said. His voice rose higher. He set his drink down and strummed his fingers against the table.
He does know me after all . All her idiosyncrasies, her ambitions, her insecurities—and he still wanted her. That says something, right? Or was he confused and trying to convince himself that he loved Kate, in an effort to avoid committing to Victoria?
“You’re here for the summer. We could give it a try. See how things go.” His eyebrows rose as he posed the question.
Kate remained quiet. What is wrong with me? Say yes. Say yes . She swallowed. “I need to sort some things out.”
His fingers stopped moving.
She wanted to reach across the table, hold Trevor’s hand—this time to comfort, not share a romantic moment with him.
“I need to know soon Kate.” Trevor stood up. “C’mon. Let me walk you to your car.”
She lifted her purse off the chair and followed him outside.
Trevor lifted the handle on her car door and opened it. He rubbed his hand along her arm. “I just care so much about you Kate.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
As she turned around to get in her car, she stopped before sitting down, in time to see Will driving past. He peered out of the window at the two of them from his truck.
Trevor lifted his hand in a wave.
Will turned his face forward. No wave. He saw the kiss, no doubt .
***
“If you’re afraid of heights or can’t climb down a ladder, this tour is not for you,” Will said to a small group of tourists, waiting to explore Balcony House cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park.
As much as he wanted to sit by Emma’s side, it was refreshing to be back at work in the open, fresh air.
“Those of you who want to succumb to the adventure of a lifetime, hand me your tickets.” He smiled wide and the group lined up.
“We have room for one more.” He’d told Kate to be at the bus stop over thirty minutes ago but there was no sign of her. She must’ve changed her mind . His heart sank a bit at the notion she wouldn’t be a part of today’s tour. After seeing her embrace his friend in town the day before, Will figured she loved Trevor.
Kate suddenly walked through the crowd. “I have a ticket.” His pulse quickened and Will took a deep breath as she walked up and handed it to him.
He adjusted his hat and couldn’t force his facial muscles to bring his smile to a close. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Kate placed her hand on Will’s forearm and said, “Me too. Although the twists and turns on the highway up here just about did me in. That’s why I’m late.”
She had to be on to Will. His smile always gave him away.
“Ready to crawl through a twelve-foot tunnel and climb up and down ladders? It’s pretty strenuous.”
“Are you saying you have reservations about my abilities?” Kate crossed her arms and lifted one eyebrow.
“Not you. I just wondered if your shoes could handle it?” His line of vision took a nosedive to her shoes. She needed a good pair of boots.
“I’ll be fine. I assure you. I’ll take extra care.”
“I’ve got others to look after, so I won’t be able to keep an eye on you at all times. We know how you’re a magnet for trouble.” He wanted to focus on her all the time, but duty called, not a beautiful woman.
“I can handle my own.” Kate kept her arms crossed and a smile on her face.
***
Not wanting to slow down the group, Kate decided to bring up the rear. She climbed the stairs and wheezed before entering the child-sized tunnel. The altitude took a toll on her
Similar Books
