Page 80 of First Bride to Fall
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
He pursed his lips and folded his arms across his broad chest. His gaze swept over her, settling on her face. “So. What other stories have you told?”
Uneasiness washed over her. Uh-oh. “Stories?”
“I mean, okay about the camping. That’s not such a huge deal. I can teach you.”
“Exactly.” She heaved a breath. “That’s what I was thinking. It will be a fun project for the two of us. You teach; I’ll learn. Just like how you showed me about deboning that fish!”
“So, when you said you were an expert hiker—”
Her pulse beat faster. “I’m not really an expert at that, either.” Her heart hammered, and she feared this whole thing was going to blow apart.
Then Grant surprised her by chuckling out loud. His laughter was good-natured, too. Sweet and forgiving. “Honey, I had that one figured out the moment you stepped from your car.” His eyes twinkled, and relief coursed through her.
“What? You did?”
“You need to be careful, Nell. Lies have a way of building on each other.”
“That’s…that’s what I hear.”
“You have built a campfire, though?”
“Um.” She shrank back a little. “Not exactly.”
He held out his arms. “Come here.”
She hesitated.
“I’m not mad at you. Honest.”
She took a baby step toward him.
“Closer.”
And then another.
He walked forward and drew her into his arms, hugging her tightly. “There’s nothing we can’t get through together.” He pulled back to gaze in her eyes. “Isn’t that what you believe?”
“Yeah. For sure.”
“Then great.” He gave her a firm peck on the lips and released her, so abruptly she nearly stumbled. Nell caught herself and stood upright, shifting most of her weight to her left foot.
“Then here’s what we’ll do. We don’t have to talk or worry about the camping until tomorrow. There will be plenty of time for you to practice then. Besides that, we’ve already got our work cut out for us today.”
“We do?”
“Yes, but first.” He rubbed his belly. “I’m famished. Do you think you can make us some lunch? Maybe some BLTs?”
“With the fake bacon?”
He chuckled. “It’s not fake; it’s tofu.”
Of course it was. What wasn’t?
She stared back at the kitchen, which was in a disarray with a lot of the groceries still in their bags. He might have offered to help. But he didn’t.
He glanced at the kitchen. “I see you still have a lot to do, so I’ll wait.” He walked over to the stove and picked up the apple bread. “Maybe I can have a slice of this to tide me over?” He scanned the loaf. “Uh-oh. Oh no.” He glanced at Nell. “Are those nuts in here?”
