That’s too bad for me. I guess you have to take me out now.”
“It was a close race, and all joking aside, you are really fast. Makes me think there might be more to you than meets the eye.”
“Please, look who’s talking.”
They both agreed to walk back, although Connor had a sneaking suspicion Laren could have sprinted the entire way had she needed to. The return trip went by quickly as the two once again found joy in each other’s company, talking about the most random and insignificant things.
Soon they were back at the Welcome Center drinking water and laughing at the pickaxe still propped up against the side of the building.
“Of all things a pickaxe? Really?” Connor asked.
“Okay, let the pickaxe go . Besides, it looks kinda cool. So, dinner tonight? There’s a restaurant at the hotel where I’m staying. Dress nice. I’ll see you there at seven?”
“Sounds good.” Connor was mostly dry now, but just mostly. Without warning, he grabbed her and gave her a big bear hug, smothering her in his arms.
She gave out a scream that soon turned into a laugh, “Oh, Connor, that is so gross!”
“I just wanted to give you a congratulatory hug, to show there’s no hard feelings.” This made both of them burst into laughter.
“See ya in a few hours, Connor.”
“See you then.”
As Connor made his way to his truck, he realized Laren’s car wasn’t in the small parking lot., “Hey, where did you park?”
“I parked on a service street just under a mile down the road so you wouldn’t see my car. I wanted it to be a surprise,” she said as she grabbed the pickaxe, once again showing no strain, and slung it across her shoulder. “Here. I’ve decided to put my gold mining career on hold for a while.” She tossed the pickaxe into the back of Connor’s truck and looked at him with a single raised eyebrow. “Hurry and go home. You definitely need a shower before tonight.”
Chapter 5
C onnor started his truck. Pulling out of the parking lot, he lost sight of her as she disappeared in the forest.
Weaving down the familiar road, Connor was reminded of something Mrs. Hayes had told him earlier that day. ‘She is drawn to you and she is more than you think.’ But she couldn’t have meant Laren, could she?
He thought about this and all the other questions he didn’t have answers to on his way home. By the time he reached his house, he was no closer to an answer than when he had left. It was about six now. His mother would still be at the shop getting ready to close up.
He parked his truck and walked up the perfectly shaped square cement blocks that led to his house. Opening the screen, he pushed in his key, heard the familiar click, and let himself in. Wasting no time, he hopped in the shower and scrubbed the sweat from his body. It felt amazing. The hot water washed over him and took any sign of his earlier run with it. In minutes he was standing in his room, towel wrapped around his waist, studying his wardrobe.
The restaurant in the hotel where Laren was staying was one of the best in town. He decided on a pair of black slacks, matching black shoes, and a light blue dress shirt. The blue reminded him of Katie—her eyes staring back into his—telling him she still cared for him. But she was the one that had let him go, the one that had made the choice. It was unfair for her to do this now, when she knew he had started seeing someone else.
He buttoned his shirt, then tucked the tails into his pants and headed for the door. His black hair was tussled slightly by the breeze. It was another night of decent weather and a clear sky.
With just a few red lights and stop signs hindering his progress, he reached the hotel restaurant in just under twenty minutes. Parking his truck in the back amongst the Ferraris and Lamborghinis, he made his way around the building .
An attendant greeted him, opened the large glass door, and with a practiced smile said, “Good evening, sir.”
“Oh, hi.
“It was a close race, and all joking aside, you are really fast. Makes me think there might be more to you than meets the eye.”
“Please, look who’s talking.”
They both agreed to walk back, although Connor had a sneaking suspicion Laren could have sprinted the entire way had she needed to. The return trip went by quickly as the two once again found joy in each other’s company, talking about the most random and insignificant things.
Soon they were back at the Welcome Center drinking water and laughing at the pickaxe still propped up against the side of the building.
“Of all things a pickaxe? Really?” Connor asked.
“Okay, let the pickaxe go . Besides, it looks kinda cool. So, dinner tonight? There’s a restaurant at the hotel where I’m staying. Dress nice. I’ll see you there at seven?”
“Sounds good.” Connor was mostly dry now, but just mostly. Without warning, he grabbed her and gave her a big bear hug, smothering her in his arms.
She gave out a scream that soon turned into a laugh, “Oh, Connor, that is so gross!”
“I just wanted to give you a congratulatory hug, to show there’s no hard feelings.” This made both of them burst into laughter.
“See ya in a few hours, Connor.”
“See you then.”
As Connor made his way to his truck, he realized Laren’s car wasn’t in the small parking lot., “Hey, where did you park?”
“I parked on a service street just under a mile down the road so you wouldn’t see my car. I wanted it to be a surprise,” she said as she grabbed the pickaxe, once again showing no strain, and slung it across her shoulder. “Here. I’ve decided to put my gold mining career on hold for a while.” She tossed the pickaxe into the back of Connor’s truck and looked at him with a single raised eyebrow. “Hurry and go home. You definitely need a shower before tonight.”
Chapter 5
C onnor started his truck. Pulling out of the parking lot, he lost sight of her as she disappeared in the forest.
Weaving down the familiar road, Connor was reminded of something Mrs. Hayes had told him earlier that day. ‘She is drawn to you and she is more than you think.’ But she couldn’t have meant Laren, could she?
He thought about this and all the other questions he didn’t have answers to on his way home. By the time he reached his house, he was no closer to an answer than when he had left. It was about six now. His mother would still be at the shop getting ready to close up.
He parked his truck and walked up the perfectly shaped square cement blocks that led to his house. Opening the screen, he pushed in his key, heard the familiar click, and let himself in. Wasting no time, he hopped in the shower and scrubbed the sweat from his body. It felt amazing. The hot water washed over him and took any sign of his earlier run with it. In minutes he was standing in his room, towel wrapped around his waist, studying his wardrobe.
The restaurant in the hotel where Laren was staying was one of the best in town. He decided on a pair of black slacks, matching black shoes, and a light blue dress shirt. The blue reminded him of Katie—her eyes staring back into his—telling him she still cared for him. But she was the one that had let him go, the one that had made the choice. It was unfair for her to do this now, when she knew he had started seeing someone else.
He buttoned his shirt, then tucked the tails into his pants and headed for the door. His black hair was tussled slightly by the breeze. It was another night of decent weather and a clear sky.
With just a few red lights and stop signs hindering his progress, he reached the hotel restaurant in just under twenty minutes. Parking his truck in the back amongst the Ferraris and Lamborghinis, he made his way around the building .
An attendant greeted him, opened the large glass door, and with a practiced smile said, “Good evening, sir.”
“Oh, hi.
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