Chapter Fifteen Jake
Chapter Fifteen
Jake
“Wow. I had no idea how beautiful it would be.” Ashley stands, taking in the view, sweaty and dirty, with a smudge on her forehead where she has wiped away the effort of the steep ascent.
But I can see a different view to the one she’s talking about.
The beauty I see is in the slightly disheveled woman standing in front of me.
In all my previous relationships, the women needed to look perfect all the time, even when there was no one around.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to see someone taking care of themselves, but after meeting Ash, I now know that can mean different things to different people.
And watching her find the beauty in something I enjoy means more to me than any pretty dress or perfectly styled hairdo.
I don’t care if the purse matches the shoes or whether diamonds from a certain designer are the only ones acceptable.
I fell into that materialistic trap with Danika, and it became a slippery slope of trying to keep her happy.
One that has me in the trenches of financial hell, trying to claw my way out, and it was all for nothing.
Looking back now, I know it was really just about me trying to hang on to her when she was already gone long before she left.
“I can’t believe I’ve lived in Abbey Falls all these years and my fear of snakes has made me miss out on this.”
The emotion in her voice pulls me to her. I walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her so we can just take a moment to soak in the spectacular view in front of us.
“This is not the Abbey Falls that the town is named after. I’ve been there, but I believe this waterfall is more special because not many people know it’s here, and it’s on the land that my family owns. So, to me that means something.”
“What’s this waterfall called?” Ash wonders.
“Welcome to Peace Falls. The name’s kind of fitting, don’t you think?
” Listening to the sound of the water hitting the rocks at the bottom of the falls, a peacefulness settles in my soul.
“I used to come here as a teenager on my own, when things got hard trying to live up to my brother’s high standards and my sister was being a moody teenager.
Gramps had brought us up here enough times we were allowed to hike on our own because he knew we were safe. ”
Memories of those years come flooding back from a place I had obviously buried them. I love my family, but sometimes growing up as the youngest was tough. So much expectation from so many angles. But never from my grandparents. They were always a safe place. We were all equal in their eyes.
“So perfect.” Ashley is in awe, like I was the first time I came here. “I can imagine sitting here for hours just taking it in. How deep is the water at the bottom of the waterfall? Can you really swim in it, is it safe?” Ash looks over her shoulder at me like an excited child.
“Deep enough to dive right in. The water is so clear most days that you can see the rocks on the bottom.” Leaning close to her ear, I ask, “Did you bring your swimsuit or are we skinny-dipping?” I feel her shiver all over at my suggestion.
“You wish. Of course I brought a swimsuit, and you know that because you were the one who sorted out your precious pack. I hope you at least brought better food this time, rather than cardboard snack bars,” Ash quips back, taking a few steps forward onto the rocks and glances into the rock pool.
“Oh, my wounded heart. Those so-called cardboard bars you speak of saved you from starvation when you were the stranded damsel in distress.” Placing my pack down on a high rock where it will stay dry, I start setting up our lunch.
“I think you’ll take back your harsh words when you see what I prepared for you today. ”
Knowing I was going to be at Ash’s in the morning, I sent a message to Gran and asked her to make me some of her famous ham sandwiches, as well as some raspberry and white chocolate chip cookies. They are to die for.
“Oh wow, you aren’t taking credit for Betty’s cooking, are you?” Ash stands beside me as I lay a towel on a large rock next to us.
“Technically I prepared them, when I took them out of the pack and laid them out here for you.” Passing her a sandwich, I help her to sit beside me. “But I’d be kidding if I tried to pass off my cooking skills to be as good as Gran’s.”
“You did okay with those steaks the other night.” She smiles as she takes her first bite and then moans as the food hits her taste buds.
“I can grill, make a basic roast, and cook some pasta successfully, but anything harder than that and it’s takeout for me.
” My first mouthful takes me straight back to summers up here with Gramps.
There is some special homemade chutney that Gran puts on the sandwiches that makes them extra delicious, but she won’t tell anyone the recipe.
“Well, we make a great couple then, because I can boil eggs, make an omelet, heat up frozen meals, and cook instant noodles. It’s how I got through college, and then life became too busy to learn to cook anything more than that.
Most nights I’m still at the clinic, so I just pick up something on the run on the way to a call.
Or heat up a meal that Tiff has put in my freezer because she claims I’m going to die from malnourishment if she doesn’t keep me well fed. Always overreacting.”
Ash rolls her eyes, but it reminds me that I need to thank Tiff one day for how good a friend she has been to Ash.
“All I can say then is we are doomed.” I nudge her with my shoulder, and we both giggle.
A comfortable silence settles over us as we enjoy the sounds of the woods blending with the splashing of the water hitting the rocks.
But there is one noise that has us both pricking up our ears in shock.
“Rosie!” Ashley pushes up in a panic as the dog comes ambling out of the woods behind us, her nose to the ground like she’s following our scent.
“Shit, is it Gran?” I reach into my pack for my phone, which I deliberately put on silent because I didn’t want to be disturbed while Ash and I were spending time together.
“What are you doing all the way up here, my beautiful girl?” Ashley is down on her knees patting Rosie and giving her all the love while checking her over to make sure she isn’t hurt in any way.
Chase: Rosie started carrying on after you left. Barking and howling, looking up into the woods where you walked. Couldn’t do anything to calm her down, so Gran said to let her go. Hope she finds you and I haven’t done the wrong thing.
“It’s okay, Chase said she dashed after us.” I pass Ash my phone for her to read the message.
“Oh no, were you worried about us, Rosie?”
Watching Ash with her, she’s completely settled now, sitting calmly and her tail wagging.
“Damn, I’ve got it. I think she was worried you might hurt yourself again.
She wanted to make sure you were safe. Nice to know you trust me, Rosie.
I can take care of Ash all by myself, you know.
” I lean over and pat her on the head because I will never forget her help in rescuing Ash that night, and look where it got me.
“Rosie, come.” I call her to where there is a little pool of fresh water between some rocks. “Grab a drink, girl.” I know she must be thirsty from her long trek.
“I think you have been hiding your inner animal lover from me.” Ash pulls her swimsuit out of the backpack.
“If you can become the man who has conquered his fear of animals, then I can be a little bit more adventurous for you.” She starts to undo the buttons on her shirt and says, “Turn around while I change.” She then flashes her sexy smile at me.
“Not a fucking chance. Get it all off, baby.” I pull my shirt over my head with full intention of snatching that swimsuit out of her hands the moment she’s naked, scooping her up, and jumping into the rock pool together.
If Ash is going to get the full experience of this amazing place, then the best way to do that is naked and in my arms. Not even Rosie can protect her from me this time.
Pushing my boots and socks off, I drop my shorts and underwear onto the rocks.
Then I’m standing naked, watching her while trying not to laugh at her turning her back on me as she strips.
Like it turns me on any less looking at her profile, with that perfect little ass on full display.
Stepping as quietly as I can, I move with stealth as close to her as possible as she steps out of her underwear and trousers.
She made the rookie mistake of taking her shirt and bra off first, so she’s now naked and getting ready to step into her one-piece swimsuit.
Taking the opportunity, I pounce on her from behind.
“Jakeeeeeee.” Her scream echoes all around us, bouncing off the rocks.
Within a few steps, we launch into the air and then break the surface of the water with a huge splash. Not letting her go, I kick forcefully to send us back up to the surface until our heads pop up for air.
I’d forgotten how cold the water is up in the mountain and straight off the waterfall.
I let Ash go so she can get her balance in the water and suck in a bit of air that I’m sure whooshed out of her the moment we were airborne.
“I can’t believe you did that.” She splashes water at me, half annoyed at taking her by surprise, but I can tell that the other half of her is trying to hold back laughter.
“Just giving you the full nature experience. There is nothing purer than the water in this swimming hole.” Lying on my back, I float, enjoying the sun warming my face.
“So pure it’s straight off a glacier somewhere, it’s so freaking cold.” I can hear her shivering.
“Come here, baby, and I’ll warm you up.” I reach out to pull her to me.
“I don’t know if I can trust you to just warm me up.” Ash swims back one stroke for every stroke I swim toward her. “You are trouble.” She splashes me again as I match her strokes. “With a capital T.”