“Meat is bad for you,” Darak murmured over the top of his menu. He’d insisted they stop to eat. Eden suspected it had something to do with her dizzy spell, but she kept her mouth shut.

Her eyes widened. “Ah, no. Last time I heard, people still need protein.”

“You can get it from other sources. No meat.”

“No meat? Seriously? That’s all that’s on here.” He’d chosen The Boatyard Grille. What did he think they served?

“No.”

“Who are you? My dad? If I want meat, I’ll have it.”

“Go ahead then, but don’t include me.”

“That surprises me about you. You seemed so enthusiastic last time.” Meat. Ha-ha.

He gave her a blank look, and Eden cleared her throat. Weren’t dicks sometimes referred to as…? “Forget it. Actually, about the skydiving.”

“What? You don’t want to now?”

“No, I do—it’s just, I meant what I said. It might take a few days to get an appointment.”

His expression cleared, and he flipped the menu closed and sat it on the table. “I’m not on a set schedule. Are you? I never asked—do you have a job?”

“I had a job as a mail clerk at the university, but my parents made me quit.” Eden had gotten the flu, and they’d gone apeshit. It had taken a week for her to recover fully, and once she had, they’d put the full guilt trip on her.

“Why?”

“Too many pathogens.”

“Come again?’

“I know. They’re complete germaphobes.” Eden smoothed her hair. That was their excuse for everything. No cats because that meant a litter box, no job because there were too many people who didn’t wash their hands, no travel because of airplanes circulating microbes. Sometimes Eden wanted to let loose in a roomful of snotty children and roll around with them. But then, she didn’t want a cold, so… “I just go with it and count myself lucky they let me out of the house without a hazmat suit.”

Darak cocked his head. “Your family really is protective.”

“They’ve been through a lot.” She hid her face in the menu, hoping he’d get the hint.

“Your dad’s project, right?”

“That and other things.” She slid down farther behind the menu.

“Did I say something wrong?”

She peeked over the edge. “No! I just…I want to think happy thoughts.”

Darak appeared to hesitate.

“Please?” Eden winced. “You showing up put me in the best mood ever, and I want to stay that way.”

His gaze softened. “What would make you happy?”

Was he really interested in what pleased her, or was this an opening for her to give him dude props and say, just being with you? What she liked about him was the freedom he offered her, but freedom wasn’t just flying through the air. She needed to have some kind of say in her life. “Let’s get this stuff to go,” she said, indicating the menu. “I want to go on a picnic.”

* * *

“Are you sure you know where we’re going?” Darak asked as he turned onto yet another county road.

“Would I steer you wrong?”

“I don’t know. You tricked me out of my virginity, after all.” His tone was light, playful.

“Virginity.” She snorted. “You’re the worst liar ever. How many girls have you been with?”

He tossed her a wicked smile. “Did I forget to tell you? The whole reason for this trip was to get as much pussy as my dick could handle.”

Eden’s smile faded. “Really?”

His brow furrowed, and he pursed his lips as though in thought. “Maybe. All I know is I wasn’t counting on meeting someone like you.”

“So you’re hanging around because you know I’ll have sex with you?” Suddenly the picnic seemed like a bad idea.

“I don’t consider you pussy, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I guess…ah…sorry,” she said, feeling flat and empty inside. “I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”

He squirmed. “I’m saying you’re not like the girls at home, and not at all what I thought I’d find on my travels. I don’t know. I’m not good at…uh…”

Relief flooded her, and her lips twitched at his awkwardness. “Please don’t declare your undying love and ask me to marry you. I have no intention of watching sports.”

He squinted. “Sports? What does that have to do with anything?”

“It has nothing to do with us. Trust me.” Contentment wrapped around her like a warm, fuzzy blanket. How was it possible that without even trying, Darak freed her of the invisible cord that tugged at her, never letting her stray far from a prison built of love and fear?

“Turn in here,” she said as they approached a gravel parking area.

On command, Darak pulled the SUV under the shade of some trees. “Okay, boss, what now?”

“Now we hike.”

“How far?” he asked, opening the driver side door.

“A couple miles, maybe,” she said, hopping out.

He hesitated. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”

Eden’s chest tightened. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Treat me like an invalid. I’m fine. I can walk a few miles.” She yanked open the rear passenger door.

“What?” he asked, spreading his hands wide.

“Are you going to help me carry this stuff, or are you going to stand there?”

He let out an audible breath. “I guess I’ll carry stuff.”

Eden shoved extra water into her backpack, deliberately making it heavier than his. Being spoiled no longer appealed to her.

“Come on. This way,” she said, slinging the pack over her shoulder.

Darak’s mouth took on a hard line as he followed her to the trail. Eden felt like a jerk. He wasn’t trying to stuff her back inside her cage. He may have acted a little high-handed that first night, but each time she saw him, he got a little more mellow. The guy was sweeter than Turkish baklava, and Eden knew she’d have to lose the attitude or he’d disappear forever.

Eden was not easy on herself. The first hill was steep, but she forged ahead, refusing to give in to her limitations. What kind of life was that? Sitting on a porch and sipping tea, living within one’s limits? She could do this hike. She knew she could.

The physical challenge absorbed some of her ire, and by the time they reached the top of the second major hill, she was feeling much more herself.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice hesitant. “No offense. Just asking.”

“I’m sorry I snapped at you.” Panting, she scraped her hair back away from her face. “I’m out of shape. That’s all.”

“Maybe we should…”

“The only way to get in shape is to challenge yourself. At least, that’s what Travis says.” She licked her finger, dabbed it to his arm and made a hissing sound.

He narrowed his eyes. “Who is Travis?”

“The pouty college student back at the dock. He kept giving me fitness tips.” She scowled. “I hate when guys do that.”

He held his hands up. “Hey. I’m just here for the view.”

“Is that why I’m going first? So you can look at my behind?”

“Absolutely.”

“Perv.” Smiling, Eden covered her backside as she continued up the path, but her arms got tired, and soon she gave up. The heat of the day brought out the scent of wild mint and herbs, and sweat slicked Eden’s shirt to her back. At one point the trail grew narrower, a mere six inches wide with a thirty-foot drop on the right, but still they pushed forward. Darak crunched behind her, and Eden made sure to hold the briars aside for him. Each time he passed her, he brushed up against her and leaned in for a kiss.

“Are we there yet?” he asked as he released her from what had to be the sixth caress.

“Not even close. Oh, look how cute!” she exclaimed, spying an orange salamander shading against a flat rock.

“A newt!”

Newt? Eden snorted at the old-fashioned word as he hunkered down to get a closer look, but the critter crawled back under the safety of the forest floor.

They pushed onward, and despite her confidence, Eden bent against a tree to catch her breath. Dark splotches threatened her vision, and for a moment she was afraid she’d faint. Darak reached out as though to help her, then checked the movement, making Eden feel like a monster for yelling at him earlier.

“I’m okay.”

His eyes darkened with concern. “You don’t have to prove anything.”

She did need to, but not for him. For herself. She’d hiked with her dad several times since her recovery and not felt bad at all. Shaking her head, she pushed herself off the tree. “I should be able to do this.”

“Well, obviously you can’t. Not today. Your face is white, you’re wheezing, and I’m not sure I want to carry a dead girl back down the trail.”

“What are you doing?” she protested as he lifted her into his arms and shifted her over his shoulder.

“I’m carrying you off to my lair. Which way?”

“Put me down.” Eden buried her face in her hands, but bouncing around like a dead animal was no fun so she braced them against his back. “What lair? How do you not know where your own lair is?”

“All I know is it’s something spectacular,” he said, trudging up the hill as though she weighed as much as the newt. “A beautiful girl told me about it.”

She squeezed her toes. He’d called her beautiful. “You just want a closer look at my bum. Take a left at the next fork.”

“Perfect,” he said, running his hand over her backside.

“Seriously, put me down. All the blood is rushing to my head.”

“Mine too.”

“Behave!” she said, swatting the back of his head.

“Now you have to do number one on my list,” he said as they reached the top of the hill. Bending his knees, he set her on her feet.

“What list? What do I have to do?” Her head tingled as the blood drained.

Darak stepped closer, and the smell of clean sweat mixed with the heat of the day left her aching to be filled.

“Kiss me,” he said, cupping the back of her head and brushing his lips over hers. “Kissing a pretty girl is always first on my list.”

As she parted her lips, yearning took hold of her. God, he felt good. He deepened the kiss, and Eden let out a soft moan. The feel of his erection pressed against her belly sent liquid warmth between her thighs. Was there anyone else around? Would they be seen? Her fingers trembled at the hem of his shirt, so badly did she want to press her skin to his. Summoning all her willpower, Eden broke the kiss.

“Have you kissed lots of pretty girls?”

“Too many to count,” he said with a twinkle.

Eden dropped her hands. “Oh.”

“None of them were as beautiful as you.” He raised his chin. “How many have you kissed?”

“I’ve never kissed a girl. Not even once.” She pulled away and took several steps down the path before turning back. “You coming?”

As they continued, a dull white noise that had been subtly growing developed into a steady roar.

“What’s that?” Darak peered around as though in search of the source.

“One of the seven wonders of the ancient world.” Eden held a sapling to the side and tilted her head for her thank-you kiss.

“Really?” Instead of a gentle peck, Darak cupped her backside and pulled her against him. She felt his warmth through the denim, and her insides sang in response.

“No,” she said when they finally came up for air, “but it’s cool anyway. Come see.”

She led him to a carpet of pine needles, then onto a large, sun-warmed outcropping.

Above them to the immediate southwest, a waterfall tumbled fifty feet down and splashed onto a scattering of boulders. A cool spray rose and misted her skin.

“Doesn’t it take your breath?” she breathed. “Doesn’t it make you want to stand underneath and smell the moss? I wonder if the fish take turns leaping over the top.” Lifting her head, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Tiny droplets freckled her cheeks, and she smiled.

Darak ran his hand down the back of her head, and Eden turned to him, a question in her gaze.

“You live more in five minutes than most people do in a year,” he murmured.

“Most people don’t realize they’re dying.”

“What?” He eyed her sideways.

The smooth thrum of the water hypnotized her, and she had a wild impulse to lean forward and let herself fall. Blinking, she shook her head. “What if you only had one week to live?”

He lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know.”

She waved away a bug. “Most people spend their time thinking about how crappy their life is, or giving themselves reasons why they can’t do something they really want, and they don’t understand they need to do those things now, before it’s too late.”

“Are you planning on getting hit by a bus?” he teased.

“No. I plan on eating all the Mike and Ike’s candy I can get my hands on. Don’t get comfortable,” she said as he began shrugging out of his backpack. “This isn’t our spot.”

“Bossy little thing,” he said, casting a last glance at the waterfall. “It’s darker there in the forest.”

“You afraid of the woods?”

He tickled her, and then he kissed her until she didn’t give a rat’s ass about picnics and waterfalls. When something rustled against a nearby fern, Eden shrieked.

A chipmunk scurried across their path, and Darak laughed.

“It’s not funny. What if that’d been a snake?”

“I’d have cured you.”

“You’d suck out the venom?”

Darak produced the latest Samsung phone. “I’d call for help.”

“I didn’t know you were such a hero.”

He cast his gaze downward, his expression stricken. What was that all about?

They continued down the path, past the May apples and wild blackberries, the constant crunch of last year’s leaves their only company.

“Are you ready?” Eden said at last.

“I can take it,” he said, squaring his shoulders.

They emerged into a clearing with shin-high grass and tiny white wildflowers. Directly ahead of them lay a view of Cayuga Lake and the distant hills beyond.

“Nice!” Darak said, shucking his backpack.

“Shhhh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Can you hear it?”

He tilted his head. “What am I supposed to be listening to?”

“Bees.” Spreading her arms, she raised her face to the sky and spun in a slow circle. “This is a bee-loud glade.”