Page 70 of A Cup of Autumn
He blinked, unsure where he was for a moment.
The falls came into focus. So did Raine, who stood on the bridge, her face lifted to the water cascading down.
He put away his pen and paper and made his way to her. “Get enough photos?”
She nodded. “You seemed in another place, so I came down here. Find inspiration?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Thank whoever discovered this place.”
“That’s you for me. I stand by my initial thank you.”
His gaze held hers. Neither of them said anything. The roar of the falls provided the soundtrack. “I’m glad we came.”
“Me, too, but unless you feel like getting soaked, we should head to the car.”
Bummer. Keaton would have liked staying there longer. At least, she would be with him on the way back. “Lead the way.”
If he wasn’t having dinner with Brandt and Garrett tonight, Keaton would have asked Raine to go out with him.
Practice date or date didn’t matter. Spending more time together did, Boo Bash or not.
*
That evening, Rainesat at Callie’s dining room table with her four closest friends in Silver Falls. In between them lay a casserole pan with what remained from their pasta dinner, their plates and utensils, a basket of bread, and an empty salad bowl.
Her muscles ached from the hike with Keaton, but they’d managed to just beat the rain, so the soreness was better than getting caught in the downpour. He’d needed to concentrate on the road during the drive home, which meant they didn’t talk much. But she’d enjoyed every minute of the hike, especially watching the play of emotions cross his face as he wrote.
Magic.
That was the only way to describe what she’d seen today.
And that made her more excited for his book. She wasn’t a huge reader, but she would make the time for his story.
Callie, Taryn, and Anna laughed at whatever joke Pippa told.
“Tired?” Taryn asked Raine.
“Just thinking.” She raised her glass of Chardonnay. The wine went well with the scallops in a white cream sauce served over pasta they’d eaten for dinner. “To Callie for a delicious meal and organizing a girls’ night. It’s been too long.”
“Hear, hear!” Anna, Pippa, and Taryn cheered.
Callie blushed. “Thanks. It’s about time we started doing these again.”
This year, they hadn’t had a chance to get together much. Callie and Anna had managed a few times with only the two of them, but their nights out—or in—had taken a back seat with all the changes in their lives.
“Well, now we need to keep it up.” Anna sipped her wine. “I’m happy to host the next one.”
“I’m in. Soon, I won’t have to work weekends.” Raine couldn’t wait for that to happen. “I haven’t been in all day today. Feels so good.”
“Is Robin working out?” Callie asked, her voice quiet.
Nick Baxter had made life miserable for Brandt seven years ago and as recently as December. “She’s a hardworking employee. Appreciative every hour she’s scheduled. When Nick has the kids for the weekend, she asks to work weekends.”
“I’m so happy for both of you.” Callie grinned. “I still consider her a friend, even after what Nick did.”
Taryn nodded. “Nick, Brandt, and I grew up together. Nick always wanted to be center of attention, but he was never mean about it. No one else cared. It was kind of joke. But he changed. The guy’s a sociopath now.”
