Chapter 14

Aria doubled back around as soon as she was out of sight of the barn, her heart pounding in her chest as she ran full tilt toward Cassidy’s house. Isaiah was leaving. She had to let Cassidy know this was her last chance with the man. If she wanted to make a move, she had to do it soon.

Then Aria’s conscience would be clear. She didn’t have to feel guilty about how every time she got near Isaiah after Tristan’s revelations, she’d searched his face for some indication that he was looking at her a certain way. And saw nothing more than the way he always looked at her, with his blend of complete focus, a slight smile as if he found everything she said fascinating, and his dual-chromatic eyes melting with unfathomable things she wished she could explore.

In short, she was in a lot of trouble.

Cassidy answered the door as if she’d been standing there waiting for her. But then her friend’s face registered mild surprise and she glanced over Aria’s shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

“You were expecting someone else?” she joked and then realized that Cassidy actually was craning her neck in expectation of seeing someone besides Aria on her doorstep. “Oh, like who?”

“I thought maybe Tristan had followed me in order to get the last word in. That man is the worst combination of player, flirt and egomaniac. It’s like he loves the sound of his voice so much that he thinks the rest of us do as well.”

“Um… I think he’s mostly nice,” she ventured, a little thrown off by the venom in Cassidy’s voice. “And that’s not what I came to talk about. You have to hurry up with Isaiah. He’s leaving town. Probably permanently.”

A puzzled frown drifted over Cassidy’s expression. “Isaiah. What am I hurrying up with him for?”

“You know.” Exasperated with the cluelessness of basically everyone on the planet, she rolled her hand in a get on with it motion. “Because you like him. You haven’t made a move yet and now he’s leaving. Maybe if you tell him how you feel, he’ll reconsider leaving and stay. That would so romantic, if he—”

Cassidy cut her off with a bemused laugh. “Aria, I’m not interested in Isaiah. I think he’s cute and all, but I gave up on him a long time ago. Right about the same moment when I figured out that you two were perfect for each other.”

“You, um…figured out—you…I mean, what?” Her eyelids fluttered closed as about forty-seven different emotional reactions swamped her at once, none of which she could sort fast enough to pick the strongest.

“I thought you guys were spending time together. Alone.” Cassidy smiled gently. “Getting to know each other. You forget how small this town is, clearly, if you thought that was a secret. Besides, I’m not blind. I see your face when he talks to you.”

“What does it do?” she whispered, fairly certain she was going to hear that she looked at him like he hung the moon, or some variation thereof, because of course she did.

All of this felt strangely inevitable. She’d started falling for him and her stupid face had broadcast that. Probably that’s why the almost kiss had happened, because she’d given away what was going on inside without realizing it. He’d responded in the way that made sense to him—and thank goodness she’d fled.

Imagine if she’d given in. They would have shared an amazing kiss, maybe more. Probably more. She’d certainly been primed for it. And then she’d have floated away in a cloud of bliss, only to wake up the next morning to learn that once again, she hadn’t been enough to keep someone she cared about in town.

Because he’d still be leaving. Of that she had no doubt.

“You look like a woman who has found everything she’s looking for. Which begs the question. Why do you look like you’re about to cry?” Cassidy asked, her concern bleeding through the palm she reached out and placed on Aria’s forearm. “Am I wrong about all of this?”

“No.” She sniffled as she realized Cassidy had called it in one. She was about to cry. “He’s on his way out of town. What am I supposed to do about that?”

“Go with him,” her friend said as if it was obvious.

And maybe it was. The possibility flooded her instantly, filling all of the empty places that had hollowed out when she accepted that she’d been unsuccessful at shutting down what was happening between her and Isaiah.

“I couldn’t do that,” she breathed but it was a token protest.

She could absolutely do that. Why couldn’t she? It was a lot better of a plan than being left behind and this time, she wasn’t a teenager. And she had every reason to be bold—Isaiah had even said he liked that about her.

“Sure you can. What’s holding you here?” Cassidy waved at the dusty road behind Aria that stretched toward town, but otherwise had nothing much to recommend it. “You still live with Serenity, just like I live with my parents because what else can you do here? This is your chance to find something more. Take it.”

“He might not even want that,” she mumbled.

How could she take such a huge risk? Five minutes ago, she’d been battling guilt and a host of other things that had prevented her from even thinking like this. She couldn’t realign the absolutes in her head that fast. She could barely process that there was the remotest possibility that Isaiah could be hers.

And now she was actually contemplating the possibility of seizing her dream and leaving Superstition Springs—something that had never seemed plausible but with Havana back and living with Serenity again, she could watch out for their aunt in Aria’s stead. It was perfect.

Cassidy raised a brow. “He might not. But what if he’s waiting for you to make a move? Can you really not take this opportunity to find out? And if it doesn’t work out, fine. He’s leaving. You don’t ever have to face him again.”

The wisdom settled inside her. That was true. The risk wasn’t as great as she’d pretended but the reward—that might be worth it. All she had to do was pick up everything she’d intended to apply to her quest for Tristan and aim it back in Isaiah’s direction. Right? What was the worst that could happen?

And if it went well, she’d finally be the star in her own story.

“I have to go.”

Cassidy laughed. “Send me a postcard.”

Aria gave her friend a quick hug. “You don’t deserve a postcard. It didn’t occur to you to mention that you’d lost your interest in Isaiah like, I don’t know, two weeks ago? Or at church when I told you that you’d missed your chance with him at the movies? I mean, come on, Cassidy. I’ve been wracked with guilt.”

“Because you’re a good person,” Cassidy told her gently. “That’s why I love you and why everything is going to work out. I can feel it.”

That made one of them. Aria’s pulse was doing this weird thing where it missed beats and then made up for it by doing the next three triple time. “Do me a favor and let Ruby know I’ll be late.”

Cassidy cackled. “I’ll do you one better and tell her you’re sick.”

And that was that. She had no excuses not to forge ahead and find out exactly where she stood with Isaiah West, the man she’d accidently started falling for while she was busy pretending she’d been interested in someone else.

As she wandered away from Cassidy’s, everything came to a head instantly when she spied Isaiah’s lean form walking toward her in the distance. Her throat went creek-bed-in-a-drought dry as the conversation with Cassidy swirled through her chest to mix with the one she’d had with Tristan. If he could be believed, Isaiah had been making googly eyes at her this whole time and she’d missed it. No. She’d noticed but refused to acknowledge it—that was the real kicker. What might have happened on the roof that night if she’d been given these revelations prior to?

She couldn’t breathe. Think. Swallow. But neither could she flee. Not this time.

Isaiah’s pace slowed when he saw her but by that time, she’d started moving again and they met up halfway between the barn and Cassidy’s.

“I thought you were on your way to work,” he said when she halted in front of him.

“I was. But there was something I had to do first.”

How was she supposed to navigate this, just blurt it all out? This wasn’t like one of their rooftop sessions when the expectations had been low and she had all kinds of excuses not to admit what she was feeling. This was totally different, fraught with the possibility of being rejected and she had no safety net.

But this was also her one chance to be bold, to choose her own destiny. He was already on his way out the door and for some reason, knowing that in advance helped.

If she did it right, she might be buckled in next to him as he moved on. The idea appealed to her enormously. Adventure, romance, connection—all of it was right here in her grasp. Without a stupid makeover.

Inspired, she smiled. “I was thinking. You haven’t seen the springs yet. You can’t leave before you get to experience them.”

Equal parts intrigue and caution warred through his face. “You’re right, I’ve neglected that part of Superstition Springs. I might breeze by there tomorrow on my way out of town. Can you give me directions?”

Directions? Like he intended to go by himself? Not hardly.

“Um, no. I can’t. I have to take you there personally. Right now. Come on.” Emboldened, she grinned. “Race you. I bet you can’t beat me.”

And with that, she took off, praying he’d follow her, that the dare was enough to pique his interest when he’d clearly been thinking the trip would be a solo venture. Gratified to hear his footsteps echoing behind her, she slowed her pace just a touch in case he had trouble keeping up. She should have realized that his body had been honed by the military and thus he had absolutely no problem sprinting a mile to the springs that lay to the north of town.

Aria, on the other hand, was breathing pretty hard by the time the outcropping of rocks appeared on the horizon, but she kept going until she hit the base of the springs.

“That was…invigorating,” Isaiah said, his mouth quirking as he leaned on one of the giant boulders to catch his breath. “Was there a reason we had to come today? At full speed, no less?”

“Yeah, this is more private than the roof.” Obviously more than just one person had seen them up there and she had little interest in an audience. Leaving him to puzzle through that comment on his own, she started climbing the rocks until she stood at the top. Glancing down, she lifted her brows. “You can’t see the springs from down there.”

Isaiah didn’t hesitate to start climbing and the moment he drew up next to her, his eyes widened. His gaze panned the gorgeous and thoroughly hidden area that she’d always loved. They were standing on the natural basin that contained the crystal blue water of the springs that were an odd, atypical section of the normally mud-colored Colorado River.

“Welcome to Superstition Springs,” she said.

“You should really lead with this,” he murmured. “It’s beautiful. It kind of spears you, right here.”

He brushed his chest with his fingertips and then let his hand dangle down between their thighs, which happened to be where hers was. Their fingers somehow intertwined, maybe because she helped matters along, and suddenly, his gaze shifted from the springs to land on her.

“That’s funny,” she whispered as she got likewise tangled up in his eyes. “I was just thinking that’s exactly what you do to me. Spear me. Right here.”

She lifted his hand along with hers and placed them both on her chest. There was a moment when she thought he wasn’t going to bite, that he intended to jerk away, but he didn’t. His fingers rested on her flesh, warming it, and oh yes, there were butterflies. A whole flock took flight in her stomach, wings beating in time with her pulse as Isaiah’s different-colored irises did beautiful things.

“Aria—” His voice cut off as if he’d choked on the word. “We can’t.”

“Can’t what? Finish what I stupidly ended too soon the other night? We can.” Where she’d gotten the courage to talk like this to him, she’d never know. But she had no intention of stopping until all the barriers between them fell away, once and for all. “I’m not scared anymore. I want to know what you were about to do. When we were dancing. Right before I left.”

“You were scared?” His fingertips nipped into her skin and then without warning, he released her fingers and his hand skated up to her jaw, cupping it exactly as he had then. “I thought…well, it doesn’t exactly matter now. But you don’t have to be scared.”

“I know.” She nodded once, pushing her chin deeper into his palm deliberately until it became a caress that thrilled through her. “I know you’re leaving. I know I acted like an idiot putting Tristan between us. But he’s not in the picture. Neither is Cassidy. It’s just us and I want to know what it feels like when you kiss me. Before it’s too late.”

And then time unraveled as he complied, lifting her jaw just so and then laying his lips on hers. Fire tore down her throat and exploded in her midsection as Isaiah kissed her. It was everything she’d imagined and nothing she’d expected. He tasted of heat and passion and it made her ache for things she couldn’t articulate.

All at once, the kiss ended and Isaiah had backed off, his expression equal parts chagrined and gobsmacked as his hands fell away. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Don’t, Isaiah.” Disappointment seeped into the lovely floaty feeling, staining the experience with darkness that shouldn’t be there. “I wanted you to kiss me. Why shouldn’t you?”

“Because. I’m—” He bit off whatever he’d been about to say and shook his head.

“What? Not interested?” Her temper didn’t get riled too easily but when it did, she said stuff she couldn’t take back. A deep breath didn’t help. “Didn’t enjoy it? Not a fan of my lack of experience?”

“No! None of that. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.” The admission didn’t ease the misery pulling at his expression or settle hers much either. “It’s the timing. It’s all wrong.”

She crossed her arms to keep herself from reaching for him again. Which was harder than she’d have expected, but she’d had such a small taste of him. She wanted more. Much more. Why did this have to be so complicated?

“Maybe the timing is exactly right,” she countered. “Maybe I need this. Maybe we both do. I don’t know what the next steps are after tonight, but why do we care? Can’t we just spend time together like we’ve done in the past without stressing about what tomorrow might bring?”

His eyelids slammed shut as he absorbed that. “I don’t think you know what you’re asking of me.”

“Then explain it,” she countered. “I’m not going anywhere. I took a sick day from work. So you have no excuses. I think we have something special that’s worth taking a little deeper. Or a lot deeper. If you don’t feel the same, then just tell me.”

“You are special.” His whisper floated along her skin, raising goosebumps. “I just don’t want you to be disappointed. You know, when I leave.”

A fierceness rose up inside that she didn’t recognize, a burning to lay it all out and beg him to take her when he went. But it was too soon to talk like that, too overwhelming to contemplate giving up the home she’d known since the age of seven in pursuit of a man. This was all too new. Right now, she just wanted to skip all the emotional tripwires and enjoy Isaiah’s unique brand of amazing.

Once she felt a little less precarious, like everything that had suddenly come to matter to her might slip away, then she could think about whether she could follow him to parts unknown.

“Let me worry about that. The only thing you have to understand is that I’m not the slightest bit interested in keeping you tied here. I get that Superstition Springs isn’t in your long-term plan. I wasn’t either. So think of tonight like a gift, freely given, with no expectations.”

Without warning, he closed the gap and caught her up in a brutal kiss that swept away everything between them. Except the heat. Except the dizzying sense of rightness. Completion.

His mouth claimed pieces of her that shouldn’t have been available, or at the very least, shouldn’t have been so easily transferred. How would she get them back? And then her brain ceased to function as the kiss deepened, dragging her into a maelstrom of sensation.

Instinctively, she pressed closer, yearning for…something. She met solid warmth in the form of Isaiah’s lean body, and she shivered as his hands skimmed down her back, slicking across her hair. He groaned and murmured her name in a wholly encompassing way that clamped down on her with teeth and wouldn’t let go.

“Your hair,” he murmured as he nuzzled at her mouth with his. “It’s so beautiful. It might be my favorite thing about you.”

“Your eyes are my favorite thing about you,” she admitted, tilting her head to let him access her throat with his magic mouth. “I could look at them for hours but I’m always worried you’ll take it the wrong way.”

He laughed softly against her skin. “I’m used to people staring at me. It’s a bonus if it’s you.”

“I’ll do it a lot more then.”

The implications of that weighed down the space around them. She could only do it a lot if something changed. Otherwise, they weren’t going to be in the same place long enough for her even begin looking her fill.

They stared at each other as the moment dragged out and she wanted to ask at least one of the million questions running through her head, but she couldn’t bring herself to break the little bubble they’d fallen into. It felt like her entire life had been headed toward this exact moment, when she had to stop being afraid that she’d be abandoned. It might still happen. She might get her heart torn out. Or she might figure out how to prevent both.

If she knew anything, it was that people left when things got difficult. So she’d strive to ensure she never gave Isaiah an excuse to start looking for the exit.