Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
Current Day
The lake was lovely at night, the water inky black. It was silent when the motor was still, leaving only the gentle lapping of the lake around the boat’s sides. Ryan’s boat was sleek, with a centre console and space for a table with padded seating around it. Matilda sat, hunched over with one bent leg hugged to her chest, looking out across the water and revelling in the peacefulness it brought to her soul. Ryan threw the anchor over the side, then opened a cooler. He set several containers on the table, along with plastic wine glasses.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he said. “I made fried chicken and gravy.”
“I’m famished,” she said. “I spent the half of the day on the phone with my family members. They’re calling all the time, wanting information about Julie and what I’ve learned, and asking me if I’m really, truly certain.” She laughed and ran her fingers through her hair. “I think they’re more wigged out by the whole situation than I am. I’ve known for a while there was something amiss.”
“It’ll take them some time to process,” he said. “The story is a strange one, even for those of us on the outside of it.” He handed her a glass of champagne and then held up his own. “To new beginnings.”
She smiled. “Cheers.”
They drank. She watched him out of the corner of her eye while pretending to be studying the lake shore. He was gorgeous. But it wasn’t just about the way he looked There was a confidence, a comfort in his own skin, that she found appealing. She couldn’t believe he was interested in her. She’d always seen herself as more of the frumpy, uncoordinated type who grew on a person over time. Perhaps that was why she’d expected so little of Cam and had accepted his lacklustre commitment to her. She hadn’t seen herself as being worth more than that.
But now, with everything that’d happened in the past few months, she wanted more. Needed more than that. She felt she deserved to be loved well by a man who enjoyed spending time with her and wanted to know what she thought.
He spun to face her, then reached for her hand and held it in his. Tingles ran through her fingertips and up her arm. It was exciting to be so close to him. To be touching him. She leaned closer so that her shoulder pressed up against his arm.
“What are you doing for Fourth of July?” he asked.
“I don’t have any plans. That’s more than a month away.”
“We could take the boat over to the other side of the lake—there’s a restaurant that makes great burgers.”
“That sounds good.”
“They have fireworks too.”
“Do you always make plans so far in advance?” She was teasing him, but she liked it. He was planning ahead.
“I’m making sure you’re still going to be around in July.” His thumb ran gently over hers.
“I’ll be here.”
“Good.”
She gazed up at him, her eyes meeting his. It was hard to see his expression in the darkness, but his face looked kind. Familiar. She knew him. And he knew her. It had only been a few months, but already he was closer to her than Cam had been after two years. She trusted this man with her heart. She hadn’t been ready to do that when he first spoke of it, but now she was ready. She knew who she was, where she came from. The truth had settled in her spirit until she was at peace. She might not need him for her visa any longer, but she wanted him. That was more than enough.
He leaned down, tenderly grazing her cheek with his knuckles, then cupped her cheek in one hand, not breaking eye contact. His smile faded and a passionate intensity filled his eyes. Her lips yielded to him as her posture softened against him. His kiss was soft and teasing, reminiscent of summers at the beach and the freshness of a field after rain. She kissed him back sweetly, ardently, as a tremor ran through her body.
He framed her face with his hands, his kiss becoming more urgent, his lips searching and seeking as though he needed more. She surrendered completely, her eyes squeezed shut and her heart racing. Finally, he drew back, looking deep into her now open eyes.
“Do you still feel the same way you did before?” he asked. “Because I don’t want to push you into anything…”
“No, I don’t,” she said. “Everything has changed. I’m finally at ease with my life and who I am. I’m ready to move forward. And I want to do that with you.”
He grinned, and with a little shake of his head, said. “When I first met you, I thought you were rude. Obnoxious even. But ever since that first moment when you fell on those slippery tiles, there was always something about you that drew me in. I found it infuriating for a while, it bothered me to be attracted to someone who seemed so opposite to me in every way. But it didn’t take me long to realise I’d been completely wrong about you. You’re the perfect compliment to me, the balance I need in my life. You make every day worth whatever it brings. You’re the one I want to see when I’m tired and have had a hard day at work. Even living next door is too far away. You healed my wounded heart and gave me back a chance at life again.”
Tears sprang onto her cheeks at his words. He kissed them away, then his lips found hers again and they kissed passionately and deeply.