Worth The Risk: A Silverthorne Is For Lovers Novel

Rhett

I’m smiling 20 minutes later as I walk next door to pick Winnie up for our date. She may not know that’s what this is, but she will. She was a little hesitant in saying yes to a hike, but I’m just taking her on an easy three mile loop that goes by the lake. It’s supposed to get pretty hot today, so I told her to bring a swimsuit in case we decide to swim. I’ve got my backpack loaded with sunscreen, bug spray, towels, water, and a small picnic. I wish I could have gotten a better selection but salami, cheese, crackers and some fruit will have to do. I shake my head, still floored that she accepted my invitation to go on a hike. Willingly.

She said that she’s been trying to hike more but it’s hard to believe when I’ve seen her on a trail. I wince at the memory. She managed to get poison ivy the last time Colt convinced her to come with us. That’s not the easiest thing to do in Colorado, but she fell into a patch, wiped the hair out of her face and by the time we got home…her face…oh man, it was so swollen she could barely see. Mom and dad took her to Dr. Jones’ office and she had to get a shot and slather her face in cream. She vowed that night that she would never go on a hike with us ever again. So, imagine my surprise when she agreed to go with me.

I walk up her steps and knock on her door. I hear a thump and then she opens the door for me. She’s rubbing her elbow.

“You okay?”

“Hello to you, too.” She smiles.

“Hi,” I say grinning as I lean on the doorframe. “Are you okay?” I point at her elbow.

“Oh…yeah. I’m fine, just clipped my elbow coming around the corner to get the door.”

“Eager to see me then?” She blushes.

“Oh, get over yourself will you?” I give myself a minute then to take in her appearance. Her hair is tied back on the back of her neck with little pieces escaping and curling at her face, freckles are on full display. She’s got on an orange tank top and tight little black shorts There’s a small sliver of skin showing across her waist and my eyes bug out of my head when I see the hint of black ink on the right side of her stomach.

“What do we have here?” I motion to her stomach and she follows the gesture.

“Oh, well that would be a tattoo.” She informs me.

“What is it? When did you get it? Can I see it?” She dissolves into a fit a giggles.

“Now who’s eager?”

“I’m not ashamed to admit it. I really want to see your tattoo right this minute. I have no chill.” She’s still giggling as she inches the tank top up and pulls the band of her shorts down just enough for me to see.

“It’s a rosemary sprig.” I run my eyes over the design, from the outside of her ribcage, curving across her belly and back down towards her hip.

“When did you get this?”

“Um, I got it on my 24th birthday. It symbolizes remembrance.” She swallows. “I wanted to have something physical to remember my parents.” She puts on such a tough exterior, but I know she struggles with losing them at such a young age.

“That’s really special, Winnie. It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. I don’t always remember them that clearly but I thought this would be a way to keep them with me.” She reaches next to the door and grabs a book and a little bag that she slings over her chest. It’s just big enough to slip the book in. She grabs a chapstick and puts a worn green plaid flannel on. She’s not even trying and she looks so adorable I can hardly stand it.

“Have you read it?” I look at her confused.

“What?” She taps her little bag.

“The book.”

“Oh um, no. I haven’t read it. What’s it about?”

“Well, if you haven’t read it. It’s kind of hard to explain.”

“I better read it then.” Her mouth pops open a little. “As good at distracting me as you have proven to be—I do have a date planned.”

“A date? I think you mean a hike.” She pulls on her boots over her tall socks and laces them up. “Well let’s go be one with nature then.” I grin at her fake enthusiasm.

“Let’s go, honeybee.”

The ride to the trailhead is only 30 minutes. I’ve looked over at Winnie as much as possible in that time. Having missed so much time with her over the years I don’t want to waste anymore. I have the windows rolled down and the sunroof open in the truck. I’m distracted by Winnie’s hair blowing around in the wind, despite having tried to contain it in a bun. I let out a laugh and she looks over at the sound. I can see myself reflected in her sunglasses and I look happy. Really damn happy. I feel that way, too. For the first time in a really long time. I loved hockey and I loved playing professionally but as great as it was it never made me this happy. She laughs with me as we pull into the parking lot.

It’s around 2 by the time we get started and the sun is as brutal as always. Once we get to the tree line we’ll have a little shade for a while. I notice Winnie’s shoulders already getting pink.

“Did you put on sunscreen?” I take my pack off and search for the SPF 50 I picked up just for her while she sits on a rock.

“I did actually but I probably missed some spots.”

“I came prepared.”

“You were a boy scout.” I chuckle at that.

“I was but how would you know? I was done with that before you moved.”

“Ohhh Rhett… I have seen pictures. Many pictures. So many badges. It’s honestly a wonder you had time for hockey with all the badge collecting you were doing.” I sit behind her on the rock and rub some of the sunscreen onto her shoulders and down her arms. My tone turns serious.

“Are you making fun of baby Rhett?” A surprise laugh sputters out of her. That’s my favorite laugh of hers, but only second to the one she does when she’s laughing at something she said herself. I feel like I could move the mountain we’re sitting on when I’m the reason she’s laughing like that.

“Oh, no. Never. I’m just telling you how impressive all those badges were.” She snickers.

“I hope that’s the truth.” I warn as I put my pack back on.

“Well…I may have been teasing a little bit.” She admits and I swat her behind.

“You did not just do that.” Her tone sounds threatening but she’s

“I did. Get a move on, Parker. We’re burning daylight and as a former boy scout I can tell you we don’t want to be out here after dark tonight.” She starts giggling but continues on the trail.

“So how is it being Coach Holloway?” Winnie breaks our comfortable silence as we reach the trees.

“Honestly? It’s great. I wasn’t sure how I would feel not being out in the action anymore, but watching those boys work hard and succeed, it’s pretty awesome.”

“I can’t wait for your first game. You’re going to be the best coach. You’ve always been a leader.”

“You never listened to me.”

“I wouldn’t say I never listened to you. You and Colt were just always so bossy because you were older than me and I didn’t think that was a good enough reason to listen to you.” I laugh loudly at that.

“You have always done exactly what you wanted to do. That’s something I’ve always admired about you.”

“Thanks. It’s funny though because I’ve always thought the same of you.”

“I’m not too unaware to say that I haven’t done what I’ve wanted to do in my life, but I would have done whatever you wanted, pretty much at any time over the course of knowing you.” I can see her blush from here.

“That’s not true, Rhett,” she says quietly.

“It is. All you had to do was ask.” She turns her torso to look at me behind her.

“Can I ask you something now?” Her tone is low.

“Anything,” I say as earnestly as I can. She leans closer and slides her sunglasses up on her head to look me in the eyes. Heat licks up my spine.

“How much farther to the lake?” she whispers softly and then throws her head back laughing at herself. Yes, that is my favorite laugh.

“You are such a brat!” I shoulder her stomach and lift her up onto mine as I stand and smack her behind once more. She’s giggling and swatting at me.

“What? It’s hot and I just wanted to know!” I carry her the last few feet till we come to the end of the shade and into the clearing with the lake nestled into the base of the mountains.

“Here.” I state, setting her down. She looks around us, taking in the view.

“It’s really beautiful here.”

“I love this spot. It’s not as well known to the tourists but fairly easy to get to.”

“That’s my favorite part.” I smirk.

“Are you hungry?”

“I could go for a snack. What did you bring us?”

“Don’t get too excited, this is just what I could find at the grocery store today in five minutes.” She smiles and leans down to where I’m pulling out a blanket.

“This is great, Rhett—and very sweet.” She tacks the last thing on like she’s suspicious of it.

“You sound surprised.”

“You have definitely surprised me. This is really sweet and I’m glad I came, even though I am starting to sweat and may have to get in the water to cool off before I can enjoy all this.” She motions to the small snack pile and I smile.

“I’m so glad you said something. I’m burning up.” I stand and slip my shirt off. She leans back onto her elbows and openly stares.

“You’ve got a little drool right there…” I use my thumb to wipe the corner of my mouth and laugh.

“I’m just enjoying the view, Holloway.”

“I am…okay with that, but I don’t want to swim alone so, up you go.” I grab her hands and pull her up. She unzips her small backpack and pulls out a green bikini top. It’s my turn to tease her. I cross my arms over my chest, looking at her and smile.

“Turn around…” She twirls her pointer finger in the air and I chuckle but do as she says. I look out over the lake and the mountains that I love so much. I have missed home. I didn’t hate Washington, but I hated being in the city so often. It’s always loud and noisy. It’s peaceful here. It’s peaceful being with Winnie. I didn’t realize how calming being with her can be. She would argue that her anxious energy isn’t calming but having her depend on me helps me feel grounded. I feel her light touch on my back, tracing one of my tattoos.

“Do all of these have significant meaning or did you just like them?”

“I’d say it’s a 50/50 mix. Some of them were more thought out than others.”

“And this one…?” She glides her finger over my forearm where I have a water scene.

“That one was thought out, done in three sessions. It’s clear creek.”

“I can see that now.”

“It’s one of my favorite places to be.”

“I remember this one. The hockey sticks are pretty self explanatory.” I can hear the smirk in her voice and turn to look at her and maybe it was better to not be looking at her while she’s touching me if I want to keep the slow pace that I’m trying to go at. Winnie Parker is a dream. She’s taken her hair out of its bun and it’s hanging over her shoulders in wild curls. There’s a spark in her eyes, knowing that she’s driving me crazy. I feel like I’m getting hit with wave after wave, again and again, with how impossibly beautiful she is. I swallow.

“I got that one the day I turned 18.”

“The same day Colt got his raft.” She chuckles. “Cute.”

“Yeah, you think that’s cute? You should see the best friend necklaces we got.” She laughs and I pick her up again and run towards the lake as she squeals and giggles. I run us into the cold water and then dive under, pulling her along with me. When I break the surface I hear her before I see her.

“Oh my gahh…it’s freezing!” I see she’s treading water a few feet from me and swim closer. I touch my feet to the bottom of the lake and stand next to her.

“Can you stand?” I nod and she grabs onto my arm. “Good, I need a break.” I snort.

“You’ve been treading water for less than 15 seconds.”

“That long?” I pull her around me and hook my arm under her legs to hold her bridal style. She leans back and closes her eyes, using my arms as a chair. She likes this, we spent a lot of time like this that summer. I just look at her. The sun hitting every perfect inch of her. I swing her back and forth in the water and watch as her hair floats around her.

“This is nice.” Her voice is soft.

“Yeah, it is.” I survey her face. The dark brows, upturned nose and the freckles that dot her skin like tiny constellations that I want to take a pen to and connect. That may sound like a serial killer move, but I don’t care. She has her head laid back so I look down the column of her neck to her collar bones and shoulders where more freckles appear. The tattoo on the right side of her stomach and…do I see another tattoo…?

“What do we have here?”

“Hmm…?” She sounds so relaxed. I see a fern frond on her left hip tapering off onto her thigh.

“When did you get that?”

“Get what?” She opens her eyes and her eyes in the sun look like pools of honey that I want to swim in.

“The fern tattoo.”

“Oh, I got that one a couple years ago. It was a cover up job.” I laugh and she slips out of my arms to swim to more shallow water.

“A cover up? What did you get? I have to know.” She smiles.

“Wouldn’t you like to know? It was just a dumb spur of the moment decision.” She keeps walking and when her back is finally exposed to me I see more ink.

“More tattoos?” There’s a jaguar on the lower part of her left shoulder blade and a plant leaf on the opposite rib cage. “Winslow Parker, you rebel.” She laughs at that.

“Look who’s talking? You’re covered.”

“Yeah but I’m not masquerading as the innocent town baker.” Her laughter grows.

“I am the innocent town baker.” She deadpans.

“So she says…now back to the mystery tattoo that was so bad you had to cover it.”

“I thought you were acceptably distracted.”

“As distracting as you are, I’ve got to know.”

“Hmm…” She taps her chin. “If you can guess it, I’ll tell you.”

“You’re on.” I follow her out of the lake, entranced.

We spend the rest of the afternoon laying on our blanket, snacking, talking and laughing. She reads her book and I’m happy to just be beside her, catching glimpses of her face, knowing when she likes a page. When it’s time to make the hike back to the car I take every opportunity to help her down the mountain. Not only because I can’t stop touching her but also because I’m worried she may trip and a visit to the emergency room would kind of put a damper on the amazing day we’ve had. And it has been an amazing day. I don’t know what’s going on in Winnie’s head, sometimes it’s a mystery but I know I can’t stop smiling even after I drop her off at her house and am getting into bed, wishing I could be laying down next to her.