Page 92 of Over the Line
Considering him and the vast, empty distance, she asked, “Do you ever get lonely out here?”
Instead of immediately responding, he faced her, his hands pressed together, seemingly considering her question. “It’s an honor to sit here, and an obligation to the past, and the future. As for being lonely…” He shrugged. “There’s peace here. One that was ruined when I thought I might lose some of the land. Harsh lesson, but it taught me it’s better to be alone than with the wrong person.”
His ex, no doubt.
“How about you?” he asked.
“Me?”
“No desire to put down roots?”
“As you said, it’s better to be alone than with the wrong person. The relationship with Lewis made me regret my choices.” She thought back to her life with her parents. They’d moved every year or two, looking for new experiences. And all of their vacations had been exciting. “There’s too many places to explore, so many adventures that are still on my bucket list.”
“Such as?”
“Climbing Everest.”
“I should have guessed.” He grinned. “What intrigues you about that?”
“The challenge, right? Standing at the highest spot on the planet, a place so few people have ever been.”
“So what stops you?”
“It’s been a combination of the time and financial commitment. With acclimatization, ascent and descent can take a couple of months.” She took a tiny sip of her wine. “And while I’m away, I’m not working in my business.”
“That makes sense. What else is on your list?”
“This is one I don’t tell a lot of people.” She smiled. “Seeing penguins in the wild.”
“Penguins?” he repeated.
“You know, those adorable creatures that look like they’re wearing tuxedos.”
“I know what they are,” he replied wryly.
“Did you know that the emperor penguin can dive to about sixteen hundred feet. And some species can swim up to twenty-two miles an hour.”
“Seriously?”
“Fairy penguins are the smallest of all of them.” She grinned. “The African penguin used to be known as the jackass penguin because they seem to bray like donkeys.”
“No way.” At least he didn’t sound bored.
“And many mate for life.”
His eyes turned the color of the forest at dusk. “Now I’m finding your trivia interesting.”
With a laugh, she rolled her eyes. “Is that all you think about?”
“When you’re around?” He perused her. “Yeah.”
Flashing back to the kitchen table, her insides turned molten.
“Along those lines, are you staying the night?”
By way of an answer, she tipped her glass in his direction. “I’m ready for a refill.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. And we can build a fire out front, if you’d like.”