5. Rena
5
RENA
I can't seem to stop talking as we set off on the trail, pointing out every flower and tree I recognize. "Oh, look at that beautiful, um, pine tree! And those wildflowers are so lovely. I think they're called... something with an 'M'? Or maybe a 'D'?"
Aaron nods, his eyes scanning the trail ahead. "They're columbines."
My cheeks burn. I'm pretty sure I just called a spruce a pine, and I knew what those blue flowers were. Why can't I just shut up? It's like my mouth has a mind of its own, spewing out random nature facts that are probably all wrong.
I glance over at Aaron, trying to gauge his reaction. His face is unreadable, his jaw set in that brooding way that makes my stomach flutter. Is he regretting agreeing to this hike? Maybe he's wishing he was out here alone, without some chatty girl who doesn't know a daisy from a daffodil.
"So, um, how long have you been a wilderness guide?" I ask, desperate to change the subject from my lack of botanical knowledge.
"About eight years."
"Wow, that's a long time. You must really love it out here." I smile at him, but he just shrugs.
"It's a job."
Okay, so much for that conversation starter. I thought he'd be more open after we got along so well on our coffee date.
We lapse into silence, the only sounds our footsteps on the dirt path and the occasional bird call. I can't help but sneak glances at Aaron as we walk, admiring how his muscular legs move in his hiking pants and how his broad shoulders fill out his green flannel shirt.
Even if he's not the most talkative hiking companion, I could stare at him all day. Is that creepy? Probably. I force my eyes back to the trail, trying to think of something else to say that won't make me sound like a total idiot.
While trying to will some kind of nature knowledge into my mind, we emerge from the trees into a clearing, and my breath catches in my throat. Before us, a waterfall cascades down a rocky cliff face, the spray creating a misty rainbow in the sunlight. I've lived in Heartwood for three years and have never seen a more beautiful sight.
"Wow," I breathe, turning to Aaron with a grin. "This is incredible."
To my surprise, he smiles back, a real smile that reaches his eyes. "I thought you might like it." He shrugs off his backpack and starts rummaging through it. "I, uh, brought some lunch. If you're hungry."
My heart skips as he pulls out sandwiches and fruit, spreading them out on a flat rock. He packed a picnic? For me? Maybe his silence on the hike wasn't because he regretted this after all.
We sit down to eat, the roar of the waterfall a soothing background noise. As I take a bite of my sandwich, I decide to take a chance and open up a little.
"You know, ever since I was a kid, I've dreamed of being a writer," I confess. "I used to scribble stories in my notebooks instead of paying attention in class."
Aaron raises an eyebrow, looking at me with new interest. "Yeah? What kind of stories do you like to read?"
I shrug, feeling a little self-conscious. "All kinds. But I always return to the classics: Jane Austen, the Bront? sisters, Dickens. There's just something about how they wrote that feels so..." I trail off, searching for the right word.
"Timeless," Aaron finishes, and I look at him in surprise. He gives me a sheepish grin. "I might have read a few of those myself."
"Really?" I can't hide my delight. "I never would have guessed you were a literature buff."
"I'm full of surprises," he says, his blue eyes twinkling.
And just like that, we're off, talking about our favorite books and characters like old friends. I learn that Aaron has a soft spot for Hemingway while I gush about my love for Virginia Woolf.
As we talk, I realize there's so much more to this rugged mountain man than meets the eye. Behind that gruff exterior is a thoughtful, intelligent person who challenges me in all the right ways.
I don't ever want this moment to end.
As we pack up the remains of our picnic, I can't stop smiling. Who knew that behind that taciturn exterior, Aaron was hiding a love for classic literature? We've spent the last few hours discussing everything from Dickens to Dostoevsky, and I'm amazed at how easy it is to talk to him.
"We should probably get a move on," Aaron says, shouldering his backpack. "It's a bit of a hike back to the truck, and we don't want to get caught out here after dark."
I nod, trying to hide my disappointment. I wish we could stay here by the waterfall forever, lost in conversation. But he's right. The afternoon has passed so quickly that the sun is starting to dip behind the trees.
We set off down the trail, and I find myself struggling to keep up with Aaron's long strides. He moves through the forest with the ease of someone who's spent countless hours among the trees, while I feel like a clumsy city girl in comparison despite growing up in Colorado.
I'm so focused on trying to match his pace that I don't notice the gnarled root jutting out across the path until it's too late. My foot catches, and I stumble forward with a yelp.
Strong hands grip my arms, stopping my fall. I look up to find myself inches from Aaron's chest, his face close to mine. My breath catches in my throat as I meet his gaze, those blue eyes intense and unreadable.
Before I can second-guess myself, I lean in and press my lips to his. It's a bold move, one that's completely out of character for me. But something about being here with him, in the wilderness, makes me feel brave.
For a heart-stopping moment, he's still, and I fear I've made a terrible mistake. But then his arms tighten around me, and he's kissing me back, his lips firm and insistent against mine.
I melt into him, my hands sliding up his chest to tangle in his hair. He tastes like the oranges we ate with our lunch, sweet and tangy. His beard rasps against my skin, sending electricity shooting to my core.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. Aaron rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.
"Rena," he murmurs, my name sounding like a prayer on his lips.
I smile, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. I don't know what this means for us, but right now, I don't care. All that matters is this moment and the way he makes me feel.
Aaron releases me, and I see a flicker of something in his eyes - uncertainty, maybe, or a hint of fear. For a moment, I think he's going to say something more, but instead, he clears his throat and steps back.
"We should, uh, we should get going," he says, his voice gruff. "It's getting late."
I nod, trying to hide my disappointment. I don't want to pressure him, not after that amazing kiss. So I force a smile and joke, "Yeah, we don't want to be out here after dark. Who knows what kind of creatures might be lurking in the shadows? Besides, I've already proven my clumsiness once today."
Aaron's lips twitch into a small smile, and he shakes his head. "Come on, let's get you back to civilization."
The hike back to his truck is quiet, but it's a comfortable silence. Every now and then, our hands brush against each other, sending sparks racing up my arm. By the time we reach the parking lot, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
As we stand by his truck, an awkward tension fills the air. I don't want this day to end, but I also don't want to overstep. Finally, I muster up the courage to ask, "So, um, would you maybe want to do this again sometime? I mean, not the tripping over roots part, but the hiking and talking and..." I trail off, feeling my face heat up.
Aaron's eyes meet mine, and for a second, I'm worried he's going to say no. But then he nods, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I'd like that. How about this weekend? I can plan something if you're free."
"I'm definitely free," I say, perhaps a bit too quickly. "I mean, I'll have to check my schedule, but I'm sure I can make it work."
We exchange numbers, and I can't help but grin as I type my name into his contacts. Aaron might be complicated, with his brooding silences and guarded expressions, but there's something special growing between us. I can feel it.
As Aaron drops me back at the resort, I give him a little wave. "Thanks for today, Aaron. It was really great."
He nods, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'll call you about this weekend."
"I'll be waiting," I say, and then I'm watching him drive away, my heart full of promise and possibility.