water—one of my favorite things to hear. I paused a few times and closed my eyes, simply taking in all the sounds. It was so peaceful. Water rushing over the rocks and down the mini falls, harmonizing with the sounds of birds singing. Every now and then, the rustle of the leaves blowing in the wind nearly had me swaying along.
“You okay?” Hudson asked as he looked back at me.
With a silly grin, I nodded and made my way to him. “This is Stairs Falls.”
Hudson pulled out his camera and started to take pictures. The water fell gracefully over the tiered rocks, and then meandered down to follow the trail we had just walked up. The sound was so soothing, I had to take another moment to let it filter through me.
“I can’t even imagine what this place looks like when fall is at its peak,” Hudson said.
“Winter is beautiful, as well, when the water is frozen over the falls. You can still hear the water running under the ice.”
“I see why they call these the Stairs Falls. It’s beautiful.”
I smiled and watched while Hudson snapped a few more pictures.
“Up just above this falls is another one called Swiftwater Falls. There should be a good spot up there if you want to stop and eat.”
Hudson looked back at me and winked. “I am starving you on your birthday, aren’t I?”
I raised my index finger and thumb and almost pinched them together. “Maybe a tiny bit.”
“Come on, let’s go.”
As we made our way up the trail, we saw another couple coming down. We said our greetings as we passed, and then Swiftwater Falls came into view.
“Oh my God,” Hudson said, lifting his camera from where it now hung around his neck. “You didn’t tell me there was a bridge above it, Greer!”
I chuckled and took the basket that Hudson had been carrying during our hike. “There’s a spot over there. We can sit on the rocks and eat.”
Hudson took more pictures, the shutter of the camera going crazy. “There’s a blanket in the basket under the food, courtesy of Arabella.”
I shook my head and let out a soft laugh. Of course, there was. The moment she’d heard Hudson was taking me on a picnic, Arabella had probably called Willa and they’d brainstormed about how to make this as romantic as possible.
I took out the plastic containers of food and placed them on the rocks, so I could get to the blanket. After spreading it out, I laid out the food. By the time it was done, Hudson was back.
“Did you get some good pictures?” I asked, shielding my eyes from the sun shining through the openings in the branches. Tall trees surrounded us, but sunlight was still able to filter down, giving it a secret garden feel.
A brilliant smile lit up his face. “I did. This place is beautiful. This whole area is. I can’t believe my folks never brought me here. And if they did, I don’t remember it.”
I could almost feel the same magic he clearly felt floating in the air. His eyes seemed to catch the golden rays of the sun as they danced across his handsome face. When his gaze caught mine, I swore my breath was stolen right from my lungs.
“Maybe they thought you were a bit too young,” I finally stated after regaining my wits. Standing, I took his camera so that he could get his pack off his back. He set it down next to mine and we both sat. He reached for the camera and gently placed it on the blanket.
“God, if I lived here, I would be up in these mountains all the time.”
I glanced around and nodded before focusing back on Hudson who was opening the containers Arabella had packed. Fruit, veggies, and little finger sandwiches appeared before my eyes, and my stomach once again made it known just how hungry I was.
Hudson looked up and grimaced. “I’m so sorry I made you wait so long to eat, Greer.”
I waved him off. “It’s not a problem. I love that we waited. This is the perfect spot for a picnic.”
He winked. “I think so too.”
My body shivered, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the chill in the air or the intensity of Hudson’s gaze.
“You’re shivering. Are you cold?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ve got a sweatshirt if I need it. It was just a little chill—I’m good now.”
After we each made a plate of food, we ate in comfortable