Page 21 of Stone
She’d enjoyed every minute of it, but she didn’t want it to end. When she’d dated men before—not that she and Stone were dating—she’d been worried she’d say the wrong thing. Living with Jared had only increased the stress and worry. With Stone, she didn’t think before she spoke. It was a magnificent, freeing feeling.
Standing there was a little awkward because she didn’t know if she should say thanks for the ride and head back to Locks, but Stone hadn’t parked near Locks’ house. He’d parked under an overhang by the clubhouse.
He got off the bike and turned to her.
“I walk at night. Would you like to join me?” he asked.
Naomi stared at Stone, wondering if he was asking out of obligation or if he wanted to spend more time with her. Maybe she needed to be a big girl, quit wondering, and ask.
“I’d love to. I don’t want you to feel you need to entertain me, though,” she said.
Stone stepped closer until she could feel the heat of him and breathe in the scent of the outdoors from their ride.
“Naomi, I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. I walk some nights because it helps me sleep. I enjoy spending time with you and thought you could join me,” he reassured her, his low voice vibrating in the quiet air.
“I’d like that,” she admitted softly.
He tilted his head toward the orchard, and she followed. Walking with Stone was comfortable, but not in anI’m-tired-of-this-personway; instead, in athe-silence-doesn’t-have-to-be-filled-with-meaningless-chatterway.
They passed the snowplow barn and, if she was correct, were making their way over to where the dirt track was.
Stone unhooked the gate so she could go through, then walked through, latching it behind him. He pointed over toward a tree and something behind it.
“There’s a den of foxes that have moved in there. If we’re quiet, we might see them out,” he said, standing still. She stared, trying to see the foxes but couldn’t. He leaned closer, “Look on the right side of the tree, about three feet where the ground makes that natural mound. They’re in there.”
She finally saw them. “Oh,” she whispered.
“They’re cute, aren’t they?” he murmured.
“Yes,” she said.
They watched for a little bit, then Stone took her hand and led her away from them and past the dirt track. The warm May wind blew through the trees.
“What was something you wish you could have done when you were married but weren’t able to?” he asked.
She thought through all the different things she hadn’t been allowed to do. She could have done them, but after the first time that Jared corrected her, she had to make choices.
“Jared thought books were useless, so I didn’t get to read much. I’ve been catching up on that. Karaoke at a bar. I’ve always wanted to because it sounds so fun, but it wasn’t appropriate. What about you? What is something you wish you could have done while you were away?” she countered.
“Away,” Stone echoed, chuckling.
“I was trying to be nice. What would you prefer?” Naomi teased gently.
“Call it what it was. I was in prison. I loved movies. Being able to choose what movie to watch and also what I wanted to eat. I had a horrible sweet tooth after I got out and gorged myself on all the sweets,” he said, shrugging as they walked.
“I find that hard to believe. You don’t look like you overindulge in sweets,” Naomi observed, blushing a little. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything about how he looked.
“I’ve started to control myself, though I never turn down Regina’s cinnamon rolls, Beth’s chocolate chip cookies, and Sarah’s pumpkin bread. Since I have trouble sleeping, I go to the gym and work out. It burns a lot of calories,” Stone explained.
Naomi listened to the sound of Stone’s voice as they walked the compound. When it was quiet, the lullaby of the prairie enveloped her in a peace she hadn’t experienced.
Naomi’s phone beeped. She glanced at the text.
“Whoops! Uncle Locks is checking in to make sure I’m okay,” she said.
“He’s a good man. He’s probably wondering why you aren’t home at three in the morning,” Stone teased.
“No, it’s not three. We haven’t been walking and talking that long,” she protested.
