On A Night Like This (Callaways #1)

crowded."
    "Having navigated Times Square on a summer day, I can definitely agree that the world can be too crowded."
    "You're a long way from home, aren't you, Sara?"
    She nodded.
    "Are you scared?" he teased, repeating her earlier question.
    She gazed into his eyes, a tingle running down her spine. She felt as if she was about to embark on an adventure. "I'm out of my element," she said. "But I'm up for the challenge."
    "Good, because we're going to have some fun."
    "So far you haven't let me down," she said. She grabbed a bag and they made their way into the forest.

Chapter Nineteen

    Aiden led Sara through the woods, picking his path with unerring preciseness. He knew exactly where he wanted to take her. They ended up in a clearing next to a winding creek. "We can camp here," he said, setting down the gear.
    "This is beautiful. And isolated."
    He could hear the nervousness in her voice. "Do we need anybody else?"
    "No, but it's very quiet out here, and it's a little spooky."
    "I don't think you're listening very well." He moved across the clearing and put his hands on her shoulders. "Close your eyes."
    "Why?"
    "No questions, Sara. Just do it."
    "Fine." She obediently closed her eyes.
    "Now, listen for a minute, and then tell me what you hear."
    She breathed in and out, her eyes closed, her expression contemplative. Sara liked tests. She liked to pass tests, and he sensed that she would do her best to tune in to the world around her.
    "Water running over the rocks like a sweet melody," she said a moment later. "Birds squawking. I can picture them flying across the sky. The wind rustling the branches of the trees." She paused. "And you, breathing."
    She opened her eyes, and smiled. "How did I do?"
    "Very good."
    "Thank you for making me take the time, Aiden."
    "You're welcome. Nature has its own soundtrack."
    "It's running through me now." She glanced around. "So, do we set up the tents? Take a hike? I hope there's food in that cooler. I forgot to ask what you got at the store."
    "All the essentials and some non-essentials. We can set up later. Let's take a walk first."
    "Will our stuff be okay here?"
    "We're good."
    "It's strange to think that there might be no one around us for miles."
    "I prefer to think of that as a great possibility."
    "In New York, you can't turn around without bumping into someone. I think that's why everyone is so tense all the time. They need more personal space."
    "I know I would," he said.
    As they walked a trail he'd taken many times before in his life, Aiden found himself appreciating the fact that he wasn't on his own this time. It was fun to share this world with Sara, to introduce her to a new experience, an experience she was embracing with open arms. He liked how she'd blossomed since her teenage years. She was so much brighter now, assertive, confident, adventurous and funny. She had a dry wit, and she didn't take herself as seriously as he would have thought.
    His heart twisted a bit more as he watched Sara skip ahead to pick a wildflower. She held it up to her face, inhaling the scent, and something inside of him turned over. It was a sweet yet sensual moment, which was exactly the way he saw her.
    Making love to her had been both passionate and tender. They'd fit together so perfectly. There hadn't been an awkward moment. Everything had seemed exactly right. He could still taste her on his mouth, still feel her body under his and hear the breathy sound of his name on her lips.
    It had been a great night, and he was in big trouble…
    No matter what she said about casual, no strings, no promises, he knew they were getting too close. He just couldn't bring himself to push her away again. If he did, it would probably save them both some pain. They were very different people, and they were both in a vulnerable place. He didn't know what he was doing with his life, where he'd be working or living next year.
    Sara was reeling now because of the secrets she'd learned about her family, but there was probably a good chance that she would go back to New York in the end and return to the life she'd spent so much time building.
    Shaking his head, he tried to stop thinking about the future. It would get here soon enough. He picked up his pace, realizing they were almost to his favorite spot, and he wanted to see Sara's face when she saw it.
    A moment later, they moved around a bend, and Sara stopped abruptly. Her gaze was full of wonder as she took in the shimmering waterfall, the clear