Once they had leashed Mac and Chewie, they started out, walking between tall pines and over a bridge misted with cool water from the rushing river a few feet below.
“Be careful you don’t break your neck,” Sylvie told Alex.
“What? Is there a drop off up ahead?”
“No, but the way your neck is swiveling, I’m afraid your head’s going to fall right off.”
He chuckled. “It’s gorgeous here.”
She nodded “I love it. Have you had a chance to dip your toes in the St. Vrain yet?”
“In Lyons? No, though I’ve watched it from the coffee shop.”
“Well, you’ll get your chance today.”
“This is the St. Vrain?” He pointed to the stream winding beside the trail.
“It is. She’s a long river, fed by glaciers. She’ll be even colder up here.”
“It’ll feel good after hiking in the sun.”
So will your body pressed against mineSylvie thought. She knew the perfect secluded spot away from the trail, a flat, grassy bank where the river flowed cold and clear. A good spot for a picnic and a nice, long make-out session.
“So,” she said after they’d been walking in silence. “You know a little bit about me, but I know next to nothing about you, except that you were a SEAL.”
“I was. It’s how I met Kyle, through the military working dog program.”
“Family?”
He paused, making Sylvie wonder what he didn’t want to say. “Military. Navy. I was born on a base in Guam and grew up all over. I have a brother who’s still enlisted. My parents are retired and living in San Diego, but I’m hoping they’ll move to the Springs here. Trying to get Dad away from the water though is like trying to talk a killer whale out of the ocean.”
Sylvie grinned. “You seem to have made the transition just fine.”
Alex looked at her, a bright, sexy spark in his eyes. “I had some motivation.”
“Oh really? Do tell.”
He only laughed and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into him as they walked.
“So…no one special back in California who was sad to see you go?”
And dammit, he stiffened at her words.
“No.”
Sylvie bit her lip. “I hit a sore spot, I can tell. I’m sorry.”
He relaxed and pulled her closer. “A very old one. I have an ex-wife. We’ve been divorced for years.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” And she genuinely was. It must have been a nasty breakup if he still reacted physically when the subject came up.
“It was for the best.” He stopped them and turned Sylvie to face him. “Sylvie. I’m going to be honest with you. I haven’t had a significant relationship since then.”
Oh. Did this mean he wasn’t interested ineverhaving one again?
“I’ve never had a serious relationship either,” she said quickly in self-defense. As the words left her mouth, she realized just how much she was hoping this would be her first. Her chest tightened and her mouth dried out as she remembered watching him turn away a beautiful woman at the bar. Stupid of her to thinkshehad a chance with Alex. It would be good to get this conversation out of the way before her heart could really break.
So why did it feel like it had already broken?
