“Keep telling me that, okay? I have moments where it’s not easy. If I were a dad, my wife and kids would be my priority. Even if it cost me money or a promotion.”
Ryder waited for her to say something about family, but instead she said, “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“I want to show you something.” He turned her to the opposite tower wall, or what remained of it, and aimed his phone’s flashlight. “See this? MD loves BC.”
“Look at all the carvings,” she said, repeating the initials. Then, “Pops and Granny?” Elizabeth traced the letters and read the date underneath. “Five-eight-sixty…May 8, 1960. Look, here’s another one. And another. ED hearts JM. Ethan and Julie. February 2, 2018.”
“I think my grandparents are on here someplace,” Ryder said.
“Ryder, you can’t destroy these boards. It’s Hearts Bend history. I’m not sentimental about much, but these are priceless. You could add your initials one day.” She shifted away from him with that declaration. “You know, when you meet the right girl.”
What if she’s standing in front of me right now?
“If I’m living here. I suppose. Sure.” Maybe he should shove off, go to Colorado, stop this free fall into love with a girl who had no romantic interest in him. Who was leaving town in a few weeks without looking back.
“So when are you going to start repairs?” Elizabeth inspected another set of initials, noting one from 1882. “I’d love to help.”
“This week. I’m still on limited duty. I have all the supplies. Travis is still hot about expenses I didn’t accrue, but I’m not waiting. You’re right, this tower is part of Hearts Bend history. A testimony of love.” He motioned to the carved boards. “If he’s finding hot water to boil me in, what’s another bucket?”
Elizabeth squeezed his arm. “That’s the spirit.”
He laughed. “I think I’ll take the boards with initials, trim them up, varnish them, and tack them along the walls.”
“Seriously, I want to help. Let me know.”
“When are you not working?” He winked at her.
“Okay, wise guy, touché.” When she swatted at him, he caught her arm and pulled her close. “I’ll text you when I’m not…” She ran her hand up to his shoulders. “Um, you know, working.”
If she said anything else, he missed it, because everything in him shouted kiss her. But she twisted free.
“Careful,” he said just as her foot broke through one of the weak, crumbling boards. “Elizabeth.” He grabbed her hands to keep her from falling back, then aided her onto her feet.
“That was dumb of me.” She bent to inspect her leg under the glow of his flashlight. A red scrape ran from her ankle to her knee, but no blood.
“This is on me. I should’ve warned you earlier.” Ryder examined her calf. “The skin’s not broken. But get some antiseptic on it just the same.”
When he rose up, she was so close he could almost hear her heartbeat. Ryder stepped closer and slipped his arm around her waist as the moonlight haloed her dark hair.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said.
“So…so are you.” She was breathless and supple, leaning against him.
One inch, and he could taste her kiss. But as he dropped his gaze to her sweet, parted lips, he went cold with the realization he wasn’t kissing Elizabeth Dorsey tonight or any other night.
“Elizabeth, I, um—” He eased his hold on her.
“We should get going.” She exited his arms again, carefully sidestepping the broken board.
“Yeah, I promised I’d have you back by eight thirty, eight forty-five at the latest.”
Ryder helped her down the tower’s ladder, shaking free of his desires, blaming the moonlight, the dumb songs on the radio, and the stand-up man values his dear departed grandpa had insisted on instilling.
As he drove her to Angelo’s for her car, they talked about the initials carved in the old tower, how Granny and Pops won the senior three-legged race at the Scott’s Fourth of July party, and if the good Lord would ever bring rain.
He waited while she started her vintage VW Bug and headed west toward home. He drove to his place, windows open, blowing the last of her perfume around the truck’s cab.
Despite the fire Elizabeth Dorsey stirred in his bones, he could not—would not—steal what he suspected was her first kiss. She could give it if she wanted, but he’d not take it. While the night bourgeoned with the sights, sounds, and smells of a perfect evening, falling in love with Elizabeth Dorsey was nowhere near a reality. She had goals and dreams. Even more, she was the kind of girl who deserved her first kiss from the man she wanted to love the rest of her life.
