Paint with Me (Fellside Mountain Rescue Book 3) by Dani Elias

Author:Dani Elias [Elias, Dani]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Charlotte

For the tenth time in as many minutes, my gaze wanders to the clock on the kitchen wall. Nick should be here any moment. My small backpack is packed with some snacks and water. Given that he asked me to wear hiking gear, I assumed we would venture into the hills, and I never go hiking without some basic rations. You never know what can happen.

I’m sitting at my dining table, fiddling with the phone in my hands. I didn’t sleep well last night. I kept drifting off and dreaming of Nick standing at a cliff edge, and as I was catching up with him, he would smile at me, turn around and walk away. The dream scared me awake, and I ended up lying in bed, wide awake, overthinking the whole situation between us. Situation, that’s the best way I can define it.

The doorbell chimes, and immediately butterflies fill my tummy. I grab my backpack and phone and climb down the stairs.

“Hey,” Nick greets me when I step outside. He looks swoonworthy in his grey outdoor trousers and a tight black thermal shirt. He puts his hand on my left hip and places a soft kiss on my cheek, just like yesterday when he said goodbye.

“Hi.” I smile at him and ask: “Is this okay?” I point to my outfit.

“Perfect. Don’t worry, it’s not a long hike.” He grabs hold of my hand and pulls me to his SUV. “But it can get quite muddy up there, so you are better off in gear.”

He opens the boot and puts my backpack inside when we get to the car. I climb into the passenger seat. When he starts the car, loud music fills the small room and I flinch in surprise.

“Sorry, when I’m on my own, I like to listen to it at full volume,” he chuckles after he has turned the volume down.

“I don’t mind loud music,” I say as a way to keep the conversation going. Nick just smiles, but he must feel that I am nervous as he reaches out and grabs hold of my hand. The small gesture sends butterflies flying again, but he also seems to share his calmness with me, as I can feel myself relax. What voodoo is this?

When we get near Rydal Water, a small lake not too far from Fellside, Nick makes a left turn and follows the small lane until it abruptly stops. He parks the car in a bay on the side of the road.

“From here we need to walk,” he explains. We grab our bags—Nick brought his own—and start up the gravel path starting at the end of the lane.

“Are you going to tell me where you are taking me?”

“Nope, but it’s only about a twenty-minute walk, so you won’t have to wait long.” He grabs my hand and links our fingers. The feeling of his hand around mine warms me more than the autumn sun.

We follow the path which gradually ascends the hill. After a short walk we leave the woods and step onto an outcrop overlooking Rydal Water.

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