Page 5 of Marrying the Guide
“I’m holding everyone up, aren’t I?” Onno wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. “I don’t think Mother Nature got the memo about my being a beginner.”
“First hikes are like first dates. A little awkward, plenty of sweating, and you hope it ends with a good story.”
Onno laughed, a delightful sound that resonated with the rustling leaves. An unexpected jolt twinged in my chest, not from the exertion of the hike but from the connection sparking between us. Did he feel it too?
His lips quirked upward. “Thanks for slowing down for me. I promise I’m not usually this much of a drag.”
I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something told me his apologetic behavior had a reason, an underlying cause. As if he’d been conditioned to apologize, maybe to avoid someone getting angry? And I would bet good money it was a partner. Or ex-partner. Onno had to be a few years older than my thirty-nine,making it less likely that a parent would still have that kind of influence.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Onno. Really. Trust me, you’re far from being a drag.”
He eyed me incredulously, as if he expected me to mock him. But when I held his gaze with sincerity, he relaxed. “Thank you.”
I gradually slowed us down until Onno had caught his breath. He shot me a look of pure gratitude. “Do you do this full-time?” he asked.
“No, I work for Rock Adventures part-time, mostly between April and October, with an occasional winter hike. But I’m also an EMT and a lifeguard, and I teach several community classes in the area. Oh, and I’m a CPR instructor. I think that’s it.”
He laughed. “That’s all? Don’t you think you have room for a few more jobs?”
I chuckled along with him. “It requires solid planning to keep my schedule straight and show up at the right place at the right time. Oh, I forgot to mention I’m a search and rescue volunteer all year long, so whenever a hiker is in distress, I’ll be one of the people gearing up.”
“Wow. I’m seriously impressed.”
I shrugged. “What can I say? I have a passion for the outdoors and love helping people.”
Morris kept checking in with us to ensure he wasn’t going too fast, and the family in front of us had clued in to Onno needing a slower pace. I was grateful but not that surprised. People who loved nature were generally kind to each other. Being around nature had a calming effect.
I wove through a forest of towering pines, stealing glances at Onno. The occasional sunbeam that managed to pierce the dense canopy highlighted his blond hair, and every time he caught my eye, he’d flash that disarmingly sweet smile. It was hard not to keep looking his way.
After an hour, I called for a ten-minute break. “Make sure to drink plenty of water, guys, and eat a snack. And then grab your maps and see if you can find our location.”
Onno plonked down on a tree stump next to me, dug out a KIND bar from his backpack, and devoured it. I was glad to see he’d brought good snacks. I took my turkey and cheese sandwich out of my bag. “Dutch bread.”
He laughed and pulled a similar package from his backpack. “Brianna made me lunch.”
“That’s a good sister-in-law to have.”
“She’s amazing. And perfect for Joost. He’s so happy with her.”
I munched on my sandwich. “And you? Since you’re here visiting by yourself, should I conclude you’re single?”
He cast his eyes down and a deep sigh escaped him. “Divorced, actually. Four months ago.”
“I’m sorry. Were you married long?”
He flicked some crumbs off his pants. “Fifteen years and together for eighteen…until he told me he’d grown bored with me and wanted out.”
“What? I’m so sorry. That must’ve been devastating to find out.”
He looked up. “Worst day of my life. Until he topped it two days later by walking it back and saying he hadn’t meant it like that. But he never apologized and merely stated we shouldn’t throw away what we had just because of my overly emotional reaction.”
“Jesus, that took balls. I hope you turned him down flat.”
“Fuck, yes. And then I made sure he couldn’t touch a single penny of my money. He’d always insisted on separate accounts because he made much more than me as a plastic surgeon. And because he was a big spender, he walked away with nothing, whereas I was—am—a saver and have a healthy savings accountand plenty of investments. Plus, the house, since that was in my name.”
He flushed. “Sorry, got a little carried away. You couldn’t be possibly interested. As you can tell, I’m still upset about it.”
“I would be too in your shoes.” God, he must’ve been heartbroken. Probably still was. My heart went out to him.