Page 105 of Timelessly Ours

I agree because I don’t want to argue about something that’s likely a moot point.

I smile. “Yeah. I tend to like her too. She kind of adopted my language so when I talk to her, it’s like I’m talking to my own conscience, you know?”

“Hmm. She’s good at her job. Think she’ll train me?”

I laugh. “You don’t want to be inside my head, trust me.”

He glances at me while watching the road. “What would I see there?”

Fear.

Doubt.

Too many fucked up emotions muddled together.

“Dirty things I want to do to my boss.”

“I’m not your boss, Nicole.”

“Well, the weekly fund transfers would say otherwise.”

“Technically, Rory is your boss.”

I gasp. “We have to stop at the mall later. I need to pick something up.”

He sighs. “It’s for Rory, isn’t it?”

“I saw this super cute shirt that says Boss Lady on it. I can totally get it in pink.”

After a quiet lunch by the water, Royce drives us further down the highway in the opposite direction.

“You know we don’t have time to go to the American Falls, right?”

“I know. But there is a close second on the way.”

I gaze out the window, drawn by the overcast blanketing the road ahead. Despite the gloomy sky, the drive expands like a canvas painted with fall colors. My eyes zoom in on the mountains in the distance and the rolling hills that lead toward it.

“It’s so beautiful here...so peaceful.”

Quietly, he takes my hand but doesn’t say anything to my comment as he drives. So I keep the rest of my comments, like how much I’m loving today…to myself.

When we begin our trail along the water with a couple of hot chocolates, I finally speak again.

“Did I say something, or…are you worried we won’t be back in time?”

“No. It’s not you.” He grips the guardrail along the walkway and looks out into the water. “Nicole, inside and out, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.” He turns to me, regret in his eyes which don’t make any sense. “You’re a real fucking treasure.”

I blink.

He looks at our surroundings like it’s just his backyard. “I want to show you so much more than this. A hidden escape a few miles from town is not even a fraction of what you deserve.”

“Where is this coming from?” I ask, but he doesn’t need to answer. I think I might know.

“Have you ever been outside the city?”

Yep. Bingo. I swallow the tears stinging my bottom lids.

Because no. I haven’t. And this man must have seen the world. Unimaginable beauty while I’m captivated with the simple view in front of us.