Page 49 of Tempting Devil
She dropped the armful of ingredients onto the island, her eyes narrowing on me. “Are you sure you’re okay? Just yesterday, you told me how horrible you felt for accusing Gideon of being Sam. And now, after spending the night with him, you want to hike to one of your and Sam’s favorite spots?”
If anyone would put two and two together, it was my mom. But I needed some fresh air. Needed to go somewhere with no distractions. Somewhere quiet. Peaceful. Where I could sort through my thoughts and feelings.
“I can’t pretend he never existed.”
“No one is asking you to.” Approaching me, she ran her hands down my arms. “Just don’t let this stand in the way of what you might have with Gideon. I did the same thing with Lachlan and almost lost him. Well, not the same thing, but I kept letting the past control me. I don’t want you to make the same mistake.”
Twenty-four hours ago, I would have promised I wouldn’t.
That was before I learned my past was my present.
“I won’t be long. Can I borrow your car?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks.”
I headed toward the refrigerator and filled up my water bottle. After grabbing a few protein bars from the cupboard and throwing them in my bag, I kissed my mom’s cheek, then slipped out of the house and into her silver SUV, making the thirty-minute trek out of the city.
Despite having often hiked the trail up Stone Mountain with Samuel, being out here allowed me to think. No electronics. No distractions. Just me and nature. Plus, the view from the top couldn’t be beat. While I preferred it around sunrise or sunset, it was still beautiful, especially on a clear day like today, the Atlanta skyline sprawled out in the distance.
Once I reached the top of the summit after the relatively easy mile-long hike, I sat close to the ledge and sipped on my water.
I hadn’t been up here in years.
Not since my birthday five years ago.
This was where the last clue of the scavenger hunt Samuel organized for me led.
A bittersweet smile tipped on my lips as memories of exploring the city through Samuel’s carefully planned clues flooded back. Some of them were more challenging than others, but this one didn’t require even a moment’s thought on my part. I knew where to go the second I read it.
Where love happened.
This was the exact spot where Samuel told me he loved me for the first time.
And five years ago, this was where he told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. That he was ready to tell Liam the truth.
How did I react? By panicking. Telling him I needed more time.
For years, I’d regretted the way I responded. Wished I’d told him I was ready. That I wanted him and only him.
After investigators found his car and he was presumed dead, I would have given anything to have another chance with him. For him to still be alive.
Well, I got my wish.
I just didn’t expect it to be like this, tainted with lies and manipulation.
“This will always be my favorite view in the city,” a familiar voice mused, cutting through my memories.
I jumped to my feet, sucking in a sharp breath when I saw Gideon standing mere inches away.
Or was he Samuel?
Right now, wearing a white t-shirt, gray shorts, and sneakers, he looked more like Samuel. He was even wearing a hat.
It was a stark contrast to the sophisticated man who I let have me for breakfast this morning.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, pushing down the bile rising in my throat from the reminder of his deception. His betrayal. Then I noticed the bandages wrapped around his hands. “What happened?”