Chapter 5
Paisley
My hands shake the entire drive back into town. The short distance from Johnson River Adventures to the little vacation rental cabin feels endless, every curve in the road another chance for me to second-guess myself. But I don’t stop. I can’t.
The moment I pull into the driveway, I kill the engine and sit there for a long minute, staring at the steering wheel. My eyes burn. I blink hard, refusing to let the tears fall yet.
Inside, I move on autopilot. I strip off the damp clothes that still smell like river water and Dean’s campfire, then step into the shower.
The hot water feels too good, but it only makes the ache in my chest worse.
I scrub quickly, trying not to think about Dean’s wandering hands, or the way he tucked me against his chest like I belonged to him.
I pack in record time. Clothes get thrown into my suitcase, I shove toiletries into my bag, and I scan the room twice to make sure I haven’t left anything behind. The place already feels empty. Like it knows I’m running.
By the time I load everything into the rental SUV and slam the trunk, the sun is dipping lower in the sky, painting the mountains in soft golds and pinks I’m trying very hard to ignore.
I climb behind the wheel, grip the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white, and pull out onto the main road heading out of Crescent Ridge.
This is the right decision. It has to be.
A vacation fling. That’s all it was. Two days of kisses and cuddles and feeling safe in the middle of nowhere.
He never asked for more. Never said anything about tomorrow, next week, or forever.
I was just the clumsy tourist who smacked him in the face and got swept down the wrong branch of the river.
A fun story for him to tell his brothers later.
Meanwhile, I was falling in love with him.
The realization sits like a stone in my throat as I drive.
Denver waits for me. My tiny apartment with paper-thin walls, the endless traffic, the banking job that pays the bills but never quite fills the emptiness.
Back to crowded sidewalks and honking horns and pretending I don’t feel completely alone in a city of millions.
Tears blur my vision. I swipe at my eyes angrily.
Get it together, Paisley.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I almost miss the flashing lights up ahead.
Red and blue strobes cut through the twilight.
A line of traffic cones and sheriff’s department vehicles blocks the two-lane road out of town.
A deputy stands in the middle directing cars, but it looks like they’re turning everyone around.
“What the…?” I mutter, slowing to a stop behind a line of other vehicles.
I roll down my window as the deputy approaches.
“Road’s closed ahead, ma’am. County’s doing a bridge inspection. So I’m gonna need you to turn around and take the detour through town.”
Of course. Because the universe clearly isn’t done torturing me today.
I manage a weak nod and start the painful process of turning around in the growing line of traffic.
My chest feels tight. The bleak future I was dreading stretches out in front of me again.
Quiet nights scrolling on my phone, wondering what Dean’s doing, if he even thinks about me after I left without saying goodbye.
I can’t do this. Not like this.
Spotting a small turnoff ahead I pull over, idling on the shoulder.
My hands are trembling on the wheel. I could rent a room for another night.
Stay in Crescent Ridge, track Dean down tomorrow morning when I’ve had time to pull myself together, and actually talk to him.
Ask him what this was. Tell him how I feel, even if it terrifies me.
I will talk to that man, so help me.
A heavy sigh escapes me as I wipe my eyes again and glance in the rearview mirror, looking for a safe place to do a U-turn.
Tap tap.
I jump at the sharp sound on my window. My head whips around.
There’s Dean. Soaking wet, chest heaving like he ran the entire way, green eyes wild with something raw and desperate as he stares at me through the glass.