The Real by Kate Stewart

Author:Kate Stewart [Stewart, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: novel
Publisher: Kate Stewart
Published: 2018-04-11T16:00:00+00:00

I was doing it. I was running in the woods, and it wasn’t because I was being pursued by a mass murderer, which was a definite bonus. Cameron had dressed me that morning in one of his thick sweaters that hung down past my knees. I also had my leggings, coat, scarf, gloves, and snow boots on. I looked ridiculous, but I was warm, and getting warmer as we ran through the woods.

After only a week, with Cameron’s encouragement, I was getting to the point that I could keep his pace despite his longer stride, though I was sure he made allowances. But I’d been speed walking around Chicago for a little over ten years, so I already had a fair amount of stamina. And it helped. I was becoming a runner, and the knowledge of that had me blissful as he glanced back at me with a smile.

We didn’t venture far. Cameron told me he wasn’t pushing his luck. But he did bring me to a break in the trees the led to a breathtaking view of a large pond. Surrounded in a winter wonderland, I appreciated everything about the silence that engulfed us. It was a picture-perfect storybook type of isolation with the only person in the world I would want to share it with.

“Not so bad, is it?” he asked, looking back at me as I scoured the sight in front of us.

“It’s beautiful,” I answered, catching my breath before walking toward a small dock.

“There’s a little boat out in the shed next to the house. I saw it last night when I was grilling. I’ll bring you back here this summer and you can read me poetry or Jane Austen, while I row you around.”

“Let’s not get too carried away, Casanova.”

“Too late,” he said as his eyes swept over me. “Too fucking late.” He tugged at my hand, pulling me to him. “You can’t run too much in those boots. It’s not good for you.”

“I know. I just don’t want to break the routine.”

“I’m proud of you. You don’t even look like you want to kick my ass when I show up at your door in the morning.”

“Oh, but I still do,” I said as we shared a grin.

“And it’s just the beginning. Wait until you run your first 5K,” he said with a wink.

A rush of emotion swept over me as I looked up at him.

“What are you thinking?”

I swallowed.

“Okay,” he said playfully, “now I have to know.”

“I don’t know how to say this without geeking out.”

“Abbie, you can tell me anything.”

“It’s just . . .” I frowned to keep my chin from wobbling, but the tears sprang up anyway.

“Baby, what is it?” he asked, his hands cupping my face.

“It’s like when people say they can’t swim, I have a hard time believing them because it came so naturally to me. Some people are terrified of the water, and treading it seems simplistic. I mean, it’s not exactly swimming, but it serves the purpose. For most, it’s like a natural reflex.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.