arms, her words from moments earlier whispered through his mind like a summer breeze through an aspen grove. So you’re alone.
I have been. Maybe not anymore.
She means something to me.
Shaken, he ended the kiss. Taking a step away from her, he filled his lungs with air, then exhaled a heavy breath. “It’s our first date.”
She shook her head as if clearing away cobwebs. “That’s what I said.”
Zach drank in the sight of her. Sunlight beaming through the trees caught strands of red in her hair, turning it a burnished gold. Her big brown doe eyes and graceful manner of movement made her suited to the forest. She wasn’t a deer, however. She was a mountain lion. “I think you might well be the strongest woman I’ve ever met, Savannah.”
Now she closed her eyes. “Why did you say that?”
I don’t know. “Because it’s true.”
“I certainly don’t feel strong right now. You make me feel weak.”
“I’m an excellent kisser, so while I appreciate the sentiment, that’s not the sort of weakness I’m talking about. Here, let me show you.”
Taking her hand once again, they stepped into the clearing that offered an unobstructed view of Heartache Falls. They stood at almost the halfway point between the top of the falls and the pool at its base. It was a long, narrow ribbon of water, swollen with snowmelt, that roared over the rocks and crashed some sixty feet below. Zach and Savannah stood close enough that mist drifted over them, dampening their skin.
“It’s beautiful,” Savannah said.
Now he knew why he’d said she was strong. “It’s energy and music and life flowing over bedrock that stands firm. That’s you, Peach.”
She gave him a searching gaze as color stained her cheeks. “That’s poetic. And flattering. You continually surprise me, Sheriff Turner.”
“I think that’s probably a good thing.” Then he leaned down and kissed her again. She melted against him again.
Zach concluded that their first date was off to a darned good start.
Back at the meadow, they ate lunch, and after Zach finished rhapsodizing about Savannah’s southern cooking, they threw tennis balls for their dogs until the pups pooped out and plopped down on the quilt for a nap. Zach wouldn’t have minded joining them, but Savannah was ready to fish. When he carried his tackle box and two rods to the bank of the stream, excitement gleamed in her eyes and ignited his own.
This was the first time he’d ever taught someone how to fish, and he found Savannah’s enthusiasm entertaining and, well, arousing. Of course, he found most everything about her arousing these days. When she landed her first fish—a nice-sized rainbow—and bounced up and down and then shimmied with unadulterated joy, he felt like he’d given her the moon.
He also wanted to drag her to the ground and have his way with her, but he’d hate to have to arrest himself for public indecency.
It was a fun afternoon. She scoreboarded him where fishing was concerned, catching three to his one. As they were getting ready to leave, loading up the Jeep with dogs and fresh trout for dinner, he said, “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Fishing?”
“Going on a date with me.”
She waited a full thirty seconds before replying. “I enjoyed today, Zach. Thank you.”
“Want to give it another go?”
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
“Absolutely. It’s my turn.” She rewarded him with a faint smile, and Zach shifted gears, then reached for her hand. “I’m working every day until the Fourth. I have to work the parade and afternoon picnic, but I’m off that night. How about joining me for fireworks on Reflection Point?”
She cleared her throat. “Fireworks?”
Oh, yeah. “Eternity Springs’ fireworks show is over Hummingbird Lake. The best view around is from my hot tub.”
“Fireworks. A hot tub.”
“I’ll grill some steaks, open a good bottle of wine. It’ll be nice. Relaxing.” Romantic. Maybe not-so-subtle seduction.
She turned to him with wary, troubled eyes. “I enjoy being with you, Zach. I’d like a Fourth of July second date. But I’ll be honest. This whole thing between us … it scares me. It’s happening too fast.”
Too fast? Compared to what? Cold molasses?
Okay, maybe not seduction after all. Dammit.
“Don’t be scared, Savannah. There’s no need for that. I’m not a jerk and I’m not out to hurt you. You can trust me.”
Bitterness colored her tone. “No, Zach. I can’t. I can date you. I can make out with you. Maybe one of these days I’ll even sleep with you. But I will never trust you or