Chapter 29 Sutton #2
“Because you sold me on a dream and are not delivering…” I murmur as she steps toward me, her hair pinned back but strands coming loose, looking like my answer to everything.
Wanting to touch her, wanting to have her close, in my arms, I reach out for her immediately.
If I thought one night with this woman was going to put her out of my mind, I was wrong.
Very wrong. I want to spend every night with her.
“Your dream was to have electricity?” With lifted eyebrows, a grin pulls at her pretty lips.
“My dream is already turning into reality.… here in Whispers, hanging out with my dream girl… watching her make something from nothing.”
She blushes, and I peck her forehead, reveling in her presence, loving spending time with her.
“Come on. Let’s go for a walk. I need to step out my frustrations,” I tell her, and she laughs. When I hear her little snort, I grin wide. Taking her hand, I lead her away from the cottage, this area so quiet and secure, like our own slice of hideaway heaven.
“It’s so pretty out here.” She gazes around, taking in the tranquil chirping of the birds and the rustle of the leaves on the large trees.
“I haven’t worked out if it’s beautiful or somewhere to hide a body.”
Giving me an amused look, she asks, “A body?”
“These dense trees look like a serial killer forest. Even Tanner thinks so.” I squeeze her hand.
“I can see that. I choose to go with something beautiful, though.”
I’ve noticed that about her. No matter what gets thrown her way, she always has a silver lining.
With dusk now approaching, we aren’t too far from the cottage when I spot a familiar-looking tree fallen up ahead.
“Let’s take a seat.” Pulling her down with me, the two of us take in the peaceful surroundings.
I see some familiarity and look where I think my place is, the rough path that I took the other day.
My new place is closer to her cottage than I first realized, and a smile comes to my face at the thought.
“You know, forests like this one store massive amounts of carbon, but seventy percent of it is hidden underground in the soil rather than in the trees themselves.”
My grin widens. “I didn’t know that. Is that because of all the bodies buried there? They break down and distribute all that carbon.”
She snorts a laugh. “Well, I don’t know how many bodies are buried out here…”
“Hopefully none.”
“I like it out here.” She sighs, looking up at the trees, leaning her head against my shoulder, and I hold her tight.
There’re no cameras, no phones, no people shouting, no timeline, no requirements other than just being.
I get to have her with me, touch her how I want to, not worried about paparazzi or what articles are going to show up tomorrow.
“Me too. Is it private land?”
“Not sure. I pay an older guy rent in cash every week. He comes into the diner, knows Rochelle, a longtime resident. I think he owns it all.”
I wonder what his plans are for all this space, ideas of my own forming.
“My new place is just through there.” I point up the small hill, and she takes it in.
“I think this fallen log is about the halfway point between our two places. Maybe we could put something here. Mark it as ours?” The breeze rustles through the trees, moving her hair with it, and something in my chest tightens. It’s like I have an angel in my arms.
Biting her bottom lip, she looks around, unaware of my state of awe. “What can we use?”
“Why not your turbine? The wind comes through the break in the trees over there. When I fell, I broke my phone, so maybe we can have our own little security box, too?”
“Security box?” She’s smiling, intrigued. I feel like a kid coming up with a random idea like this, but it’s exciting. I want to have something that's just ours. Something we make together.
“Have your turbine charge a satellite phone, so if I ever get lost again, I’ll just call you to come save me.”
Her whole face lights up. “That is both a great idea and totally insane, but I love it.”
I bet in her previous life she was an inventor. She seems to love putting things together and creating new weird and wonderful contraptions.
“It can be our own call box, but instead of being found along a highway, it’s found here, in serial killer forest.”
She giggles, then tells me, “Call boxes on highways are charged using solar panels.”
“We’ll just use your turbine. Charge it with the wind.”
I know as soon as I leave her, I'm going home to order a satellite phone and the inverter she needs. Then I’ll build a box. I frown, thinking about it. I have no idea how to do that or what to use, but Griffin can help me.
She nods, giddiness radiating from her. “Sounds practical.”
“That way, no matter what, you can call me, and I can call you.”
Her smile falters, the heat in her gaze igniting me.
Our eyes don’t waver, a myriad of feelings filtering through our minds.
I know if she ever lost her phone, it would be a big issue to get another one.
This way, she would have access to one. She would also have access to electricity, be merely a hundred yards from my place, where she’s welcome anytime and, hopefully, that means she’ll never feel alone again.
“Thank you, Sutton.” Her voice is a mere whisper, and her words float over to me and embed into my heart.
I swallow. “For what, Tinker Bell?”
“For just being you.”
I pull her tighter against me, sealing her lips to mine, and I swear, I never want to let her go.