Chasing Forever(40)

Regan adjusted the bottom of her suit jacket. “He taught me a lot so far this summer. Lucas is a great attorney.”

“Hmm…” Jack said. “Is that it?”

“What do you mean?” Lucas interrupted before Regan could respond. He didn’t like where things were going. One word to Richard about his suspicions and he and Regan would be out of a job the minute they stepped over the firm’s threshold on Monday morning.

“I don’t know exactly, maybe you seem friendlier than I remember.” Jack chuckled and slapped Lucas on the shoulder.

“Regan and I went to the same college for a little while, and we had a few mutual acquaintances. Maybe that’s what you’re sensing.”

Jack looked between the two of them while Lucas searched his mind for a way to redirect the conversation to a different—preferably safer—topic.

“It could be,” Jack said.

“So is your wife meeting you here for the weekend?” Lucas asked. “My family spends a lot of time here. I could give you the name of some restaurants.”

Jack shivered. “No. Thank God. She has plans for the weekend. I have a couple rounds of golf booked at Cordillera. If you’re staying for a couple days, you could join me. I think we have room for one more in our foursome.”

“No. Regan and I have to get back to work.”

“Are you sure? I can never pass up playing in high altitude.” Jack chuckled. “It inflates my ego to see how far I can hit the ball here.”

“Maybe next time,” Lucas answered noncommittally.

“All right. I’m going to take off unless you have any other questions,” Jack said as he walked toward his car.

“I don’t,” Lucas responded, then he turned to Regan. “What about you?”

“I can’t think of any right now, but I would like to take a couple pictures for our records,” Regan answered.

“Good idea. I’ll see you tonight at Sweet Basil’s.” Jack got into his car and slowly maneuvered the car back down the gravel road.

As he disappeared from sight, Lucas grabbed her hand, threading his fingers through hers. “Come on. Let’s take a walk around the side of the mine. There’s something I want to do.”

“No. My feet are killing me. I still can’t believe you let me come out here with these shoes on.” She laughed. “Besides, we don’t have any blankets, so a reenactment is out of the question.”

“I saw something I think we should check out. No reenactment required.” He shrugged his shoulders. “But I could be persuaded if you change your mind when we get there.”

She pointed to her shoes. “This had better be good because I really can’t walk far.”

As he watched the wind tease the front of her hair, tempting him to brush it away from her face, he realized how much he missed being with her, talking to her. He’d been crazy about this woman from the minute he met her, and he wished he never let her walk out of his life six years ago. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. “I’d be happy to carry you,” he said, grinning.

“Not going to happen.”

“I’ll let you brave it on your own.” Lucas led her around the side of the mine, down a slight hill. He liked that she didn’t object to letting him hold her hand. He hoped that meant she would stop resisting him, at least for now or until they returned to San Francisco.



***



At the bottom of the hill, they stopped in front of a small stream that looked so perfect Regan could hardly believe it was real. Quickly moving clear water exposed a streambed lined with perfectly smooth orange, gray, and ivory colored stones. About ten feet away, a pine tree had fallen across the stream making a bridge of sorts to the other side.

“Wow,” she whispered reverently. “Did you know this was here?”

He grinned at her for a moment letting his dimple come out to play in full force, and she felt herself falling a little more under Lucas Evanston’s spell. Strangely, she knew the realization called for an expletive or two or three, but she could only smile back and pray she didn’t regret the fall.

“Maybe,” he answered.

She pushed him against his chest. “Did you plan this?”

“No, but in all fairness, I should confess that when Jack started talking about the mine, I realized I had been hiking in the area several times and I remembered this stream, and after our conversation about Mopac Bridge, I thought you’d like to see it.”

Regan turned toward the stream again, soaking in the view, the smell of the pine trees, and the sound of the rushing water. “I love it. Thanks for taking me here.”