Christmas in the Cove by Carol Ross

Author:Carol Ross
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-09-18T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

ELI REMEMBERED THE exact date he’d discovered the cave. It was the second of May, memorable because he’d just turned sixteen and gotten his license the day before. His dad had let him take his Jeep out for a drive. The afternoon had been bright and clear and he’d driven up to the lighthouse simply to enjoy the view. The year before, Alex had managed to steal a key and occasionally they’d let themselves inside and climb to the top.

But that day Alex hadn’t been with him so he’d parked, deciding to take a hike along the cliff’s edge. He’d walked for maybe a half mile and, although the weather had been sunny and warm, it was breezy like it usually was along the ocean’s edge. A gust of wind had taken him by surprise, lifting his baseball cap from his head. It had sailed over the edge and landed about fifty feet down the cliff on a wide ledge of rock. He probably wouldn’t have bothered except that the cap was his favorite. Aubrey had given it to him after she’d attended a Gonzaga University basketball game with her dad.

Studying the situation, he’d decided that it wouldn’t be that difficult to retrieve. He’d carefully picked his way down until he’d reached the ledge. As he’d retrieved his hat and turned to face the cliff before him, he’d noticed a narrow crevice in the rock face. He doubted he would have explored further than that except that a butterfly had chosen that moment to flit by, disappearing into the space. Curious, he’d gone closer and discovered the opening to a small cave.

The next day he’d brought Aubrey back with him. They’d visited the cave regularly and, when they’d started dating, it became their “spot.” The place they’d go to be together, to talk or to enjoy the ocean. He hadn’t been back in twelve years and he found himself wondering if Aubrey had. He’d never shared the cave’s existence with another living soul. By mutual consensus, they’d never even showed Alex, knowing that he’d never be able to keep it a secret. And later they’d wanted the place for their own. Even now, the idea of her bringing someone else here, to their place, bothered him.

With Aubrey in the passenger seat beside him, he drove past the lighthouse and parked. Turning off the engine somehow revved up his nerves. What would she think about this? If she had any doubt about his intentions this would certainly steer her toward thinking he was serious.

She was staring out the passenger window. “I can’t believe you brought me here.” With her head turned away and her voice so soft, he couldn’t gauge her reaction.

When she turned to look at him, her serious expression had him believing he’d made a mistake. At her next question he began to formulate an apology.

“You know what I’ve always wondered?” she asked.

“What’s that?”

“If anyone else has ever found our cave.” With a laugh she was out the door and running before he could grab his jacket.

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