Chapter 6 – Ellie
I’m standing on the edge of the dirt parking lot when a black SUV rolls to a stop. My stomach begins to flutter with nerves.
I can’t believe this is happening. Henry really did it.
One of the back doors open and a second later Henry hops out. Shooting a quick smile my way, he reaches back in and drags out a large backpack.
The low murmur of his voice reaches me, and I feel a shiver dance its way down my spine.
Oh man, it’s already begun. I needed to get myself under control. We were going to be alone together for a six-hour hike, so I needed to at least begin the day on a professional footing.
As Henry approaches, the slamming of his door echoing through the trees, I take in the slight flush on his cheeks from the cold spring air.
His hair is a little wild today, the curls looking unruly and full. I like it. He even looks adorably eager to begin the day.
No, I can’t think like that. Crap, what have I’ve gotten myself into? There was no way I was making it out of this day-long hike without some kind of damage—most likely to my heart.
The sky was clear, the weather brisk and invigorating, and yet, I knew a rocky path was ahead of me. I had to walk that weird line of personal hike tour guide and woman on the edge of total lust. A forbidden civilian to this royal heir.
Or, like, whatever he lorded over.
Henry’s words about wanting to spend time with me play over in my head as he stands before me. I wasn’t sure if this was something new he was doing or if I truly was special, yet either way, I was looking forward to our time together. That wasn’t to say I wasn’t a damn catch, but the chances of me ending up with a member of a royal family were super slim. Like, almost nonexistent.
We’d spend a lovely day hiking together, share some personal stories and take in some amazing views, but then we would also part as friends. That’s the way it had to be.
Then why does the thought depress me? I was making the emotional rules after all.
“Good morning, sunshine,” he says, coming to a stop.
“Good morning, Henry,” I say back, quickly losing my train of thought when I see what he’s wearing. Oh no, I’m done for. When I’d agreed to do this hike last night, I forgot to take into account one thing: the vest paradox.
It was a proven fact, entirely science-driven really, that when an attractive man put on a moisture-wicking outdoorsy vest, he got twenty times hotter. Thirty if he was wearing a plaid shirt. And God help you if the sleeves were rolled up to expose forearms. There was no coming back for your ovaries if that was the case.
Henry was wearing a damn vest…over a burgundy plaid shirt. A color that brought out the rich texture of his skin.
I was totally screwed.
The clearing of a throat brings me out of my thoughts. I realize my eyeline was…just below his beltline. My cheeks heat and turn an embarrassing red. I’m going to blame it on the vest paradox. It was throwing me off my game.
A strained smile spreads across my face while I give him a little wave. The amusement of how awkward I’m being is written all over Henry’s face.
It wasn’t just the vest and plaid combo that was grabbing my attention, it was also how…normal Henry looked right now. With his outdoor gear on and a backpack thrown over his shoulder, he looked like your average, run-of-the-mill outdoor enthusiast. Not an earl. Not someone royal.
And wasn’t that just shitty of me.
I needed to get over his title or rank or whatever it was that seemed to be glued in my head. I was categorizing him. Holding him hostage in this little box when he was so much more than a title.
I needed to get over my damn self. Henry had done nothing but be a kind and considerate man. He’d also been refreshingly honest about his attraction to me. Who booked a private hike at double the rate just to spend time with them? Henry—that’s who.
I promised myself right then that I would give him a chance. We had this opportunity, just us, to get to know one another while seeing some of the most breathtaking sights in Calgary. I was going to take it.
With my mind made up I instantly felt the tension in my shoulders melt and the stress in my smile ebb. As if sensing the change, Henry paused in clipping together the restraints of his backpack across his broad chest and eyed me.
“Need any help?” I asked him, following suit and picking up my backpack, which was resting by my feet.
“No, I think I’m all good.”
My head tilts back as I look up at him. The light dizzying flutters that began in my stomach the moment he arrived burst into full butterflies.
He brings a hand up to the side of my face, cradling my cheek. The instant his warm palm touches my skin, I feel electric.
“How are you today, sunshine?”
God, that nickname. I don’t care how many times I hear him say it, each time feels special. He makes me feel special.
“I’m good,” I whisper back, hypnotized by the sky blue of his eyes. “Are you good?”
One side of his grin tips higher than the other. “Better than good. I’m here with you.”
I unintentionally stop breathing, the answer taking my breath away.
On a whoosh of air, disguising my sigh, I step back.
“Good. Great. Fantastic,” I ramble, not sure what the hell I’m doing. “How about…we get going? Yes! Let’s get going.”
Oh my God, Ellie, nice cover. It’s not like leading this hike is your job or anything. I internally shake my head at my idiocy.
“Lead the way,” Henry says with a sweep of his hand.
So I do. Giving my backpack one little hoist on my back, I turn and head to the trail’s opening. There’s no going back now. We’re really doing this.
Fingering the walkie-talkie that’s hooked on the side of my belt, I reassure myself that everything will be okay. Even though Henry and I are the only ones scheduled to hike this particular trail today from Elevated Adventures, I still have a team of people who are looking out for me. Plus, this was a public trail. I’m sure we’d run into other hikers too along the way.
A couple minutes into the hike, surrounded by the quiet of nature with only the crunch of our boots to disturb the peace, my equilibrium returns. I always feel my best when surrounded by nature, out in the sunshine.
“How long have you been leading hikes like this?” Henry’s voice floats to me from behind.
“About three years now. I used to live in Toronto—do you know where that is?” His grunt sounds affirmative, so I continue. “With an engineering job. I was supposed to step in and join the family firm. I thought I liked it in the city, you know? But all it took was a visit out here to meet up with college friends and I knew this was where I was meant to be. And then the obsession with hiking took over.” I laughed at my own words.
Obsessionwas putting it mildly. As soon as I discovered Elevated Adventures and found out they were hiring, I applied nonstop until I got the job.
“I can understand that. There’s something so humbling, yet so powerful about being out in nature. Back in my country, we have mountains and trails similar to this, and I try to get out and explore them as often as I can.”
His words hit me like nothing else ever has. That’s exactly how I feel when I’m outside, getting lost in these hills: powerful but humble. I’ve never felt so small surrounded by these tall trees, decades in the making and yet so strong. They inspire me, making me believe I can tackle any challenge that comes my way.
Licking my lips, I eye him over my shoulder. “And do you? Get out often?”
“No.” He shakes his head slightly, eyes turned down to watch his step. “Unfortunately a lot of my duties have me behind a desk. But I’m hoping to change that soon.”
That has my curiosity piqued. I’m not able to ask him what he means, instead he asks me a question.
“So is all your family back in Toronto?”
Dread falls like a brick in my stomach. Family was always a sensitive topic for me.
“Umm, I actually don’t know.”
“What does that mean? How do you not know where they are?”
Usually, this is the point I change the subject. Hell, when someone asks me about my family I often pretend like I don’t hear them and continue talking like the question was never brought up.
Yet, I find myself clearing my throat and confiding in Henry. I trust him.
“Well, I know my sister still lives out there, but when I gave up my engineering job and moved out here, my parents didn’t…well, they didn’t approve. They didn’t understand why I would throw away the privileged life I had worked so hard to achieve just to walk in nature all day. Their words, not mine.”
He’s quiet, taking in what I’ve said. Turning my head, I see he’s looking at me with that little tilt to his head again. There’s something in his eyes I can’t make out. Is it admiration?
The trail opens up and he catches up to walk beside me.
“That must have been very hard,” he finally says, his hand brushing mine. I think it’s an accident, a wayward swing of his arm, but when his pinky intertwines with mine my heart skips a beat. He’s done it on purpose.
“I know the pressure you speak of. I love my family and the good change my title allows me to create in the world and for my country. But sometimes…” His voice goes soft, almost wishful. “Sometimes I think about what else I could be doing. What my life would have been like if I hadn’t been born into my title.”
That was…a lot to take in. And he was sharing this with me? That thought alone made me glow from the inside out.
He trusted me.
“That does sound like a lot. But you said you were taking more time now for the things that were important to you. I’m sure you’ll find the balance between duty and what sparks joy.”
“And is that what this job is for you? Your spark of joy?”
“The job is definitely awesome,” I laugh, skipping over the bumpy ground of a tight corner. “But I think it’s more about being outside for me. I could do a job like this anywhere in the world and be happy.”
He gives a little grunt. I can’t tell if it’s a grunt of acceptance or if he’s concentrating on his footwork.
For the next hour and a half, we steadily climb the mountain, sharing pieces of our lives and our innermost feelings like it’s the most natural thing in the world. With Henry, the words tumble out of my mouth, like we’ve been friends forever.
There’s no hesitation as I tell him more about my family and my reasons for needing a break from the city. I feel no shame when I admit that after days of back-to-back group hikes, I need to time to recover and hide out on my apartment balcony.
Henry opens up to me too, sharing with me the side of his family that the public isn’t privy to. He tells me wild stories about the mischief he and his cousins—actual princes!—got up to when they were young and how they’re like brothers to him.
I learn that although the title of earl comes with many responsibilities and high stress, he doesn’t take his privilege for granted.
He has such a big heart. And the higher we climb, the more my heart fills with admiration for him. I won’t dare call it anything else.
I can’t let myself dream like that.
As we make it to the first peak, stopping to bask in the breath-taking view, a gentle mist of rain begins to fall. The spring shower comes out of nowhere—it definitely wasn’t in the weather report I looked at early this morning.
It’s not enough precipitation to have us running for cover and grabbing the tarp from my backpack, but it dampens my hair. My gaze turns to Henry and I lose all logic.
His head is tipped up to the sun, arms open with his palms facing the sky. The serene grin on his face makes my stomach flip. He looks so happy. So at peace.
He must feel my eyes on him because Henry extends his hand to me, his head rolling to the side to encourage at me. Without hesitation, I take his hand and go willingly.
With his arm wrapped tight around me, we stand like that, basking in the warm sun and the cool rain. It’s a perfect moment.
My heart takes a running leap off the cliff and begins its fall. There’s no stopping my growing feelings for Henry now.