When her eyes lifted to his, Richard’s heart pounded. It was frightening how attracted he was to her.
“Where are we going?”
“There’s a jazz festival in Bigfork. It doesn’t finish until eight o’clock tonight. I thought we could drive there, enjoy some music and food, then come home before it gets too late.”
“That sounds like a perfect first date. I’ll get my jacket, and we can go.” With an excited smile, she handed him the helmet, then hurried inside.
While he waited, he double-checked the reservation he’d made at a restaurant and called Shelley to make sure Jack and Louie were okay.
“I’m ready.”
His eyebrows rose when he saw the leather jacket Paris was wearing.
She laughed and kissed his cheek. “You aren’t the only person who likes motorcycles. Before I moved to Sapphire Bay, I spent a month touring around California with some friends. Our bikes weren’t as amazing as this one, but it was fun.”
“If you tell me you like shooting ranges, hiking, and basketball, I’ll marry you next week.”
“Yes, to the hiking and basketball, but I don’t like guns.”
He sent her a teasing smile. “I guess we’re back to dating.”
“For now.” And with a flick of her wrist, Paris lowered the visor and waited for him to mount the bike.
The next few months would be interesting.
Richard reached for the cup of hot chocolate Paris had given him. Their date in Bigfork had gone too quickly. Over tacos and enchiladas, they’d talked about their lives, their businesses, and what was important to them.
The jazz festival was every bit as good as the advertising had promised. With three venues and non-stop entertainment, it was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Before either of them was ready to come home, they’d joined the line of vehicles heading south and made their way back to Paris’ house.
Even though he’d enjoyed her company, one thing was worrying him. And, beyond everything else, it was the most difficult to talk about.
Paris sat on the sofa beside him. “I can see why Levi and Brooke are planning a summer vacation on their motorcycle. Riding on the back of the Harley was a thousand times better than the motorcycle I drove in California.”
“I’m glad you liked it. There’s something I need to talk about, but I don’t know where to begin.”
“It sounds serious.”
“It is.” He tried to put his thoughts into a logical order, but it wasn’t working. A part of him wished Jack was here to interrupt them, but he was still at Shelley and John’s house. Taking a deep breath, he started at the beginning and hoped for the best. “My life changed after I lost my leg. The prosthetic I use makes my disability less recognizable, but it will always be there.”
“You walk a lot better with your new leg.”
“It’s the best artificial limb on the market. Would you like to see what it looks like?”
Paris studied his face. “Are you worried about me seeing it?”
He wasn’t worried. He was terrified. “Apart from Jack, my parents, and the medical staff who have been working with me, no one else has seen my stump.”
“I guess it’s not something you’d share with everyone.” She left her cup of hot chocolate beside her and nodded. “I’d like to see it.”
Sweat broke out on his brow. “There’s a lot of scarring that wouldn’t be there if I’d lost my leg another way. The explosion sent shrapnel everywhere and caused a lot of damage. The surgeons worked hard to keep my knee joint but, at the time, I couldn’t see what difference it would make.” He wiped his hands on his jeans. “Tell me if you don’t like what you see.”
Paris sat perfectly still. “Why do you think that could happen?”
“When I got home from Afghanistan, I felt like a failure, as if the landmine destroyed every dream I’d ever had. It took me a long time to get used to seeing my body the way it is.”
“Show me your leg, Richard.”
With a pounding heart, he reached for the zipper on the leg of his jeans. “Mom found a company that makes jeans and other clothing for amputees. The zipper makes it easier for me to attach my artificial limb.”
