Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) Read Online Free PDF

them here today. And besides, we’ll have to walk lunch off with a bush walk.”
    “Yes, well, regrettably I’ve never had children. I might have to adopt Katie here,” said Nick playfully.
    Victoria almost choked on an olive. Of course, he’s just joking. She looked at Katie who was lapping up all of Nick’s attention.
    “I would love that, Nick. Then you can teach me how to ride the big waves in Hawaai.”
    Victoria was curious. “Have you been to Hawaai, Nick?”
    “Of course he has, Mom,” Katie said. “Nick was a pro-surfer in his younger days and traveled the world surfing. If you’d come to more surf lessons you would have found all that out!”
    Nick just shrugged and looked sheepish. “It’s something I don’t brag about. Katie found some old surfer magazines in the club and read the articles in there about me. So I had to tell her the stories. She forced me!” He laughed.
    “That’s my headstrong Katie,” Victoria said. “So where else did you surf?”
    “Well, actually, I did surf in Georgia, believe it or not. In a place called Sea Island.”
    “Sea Island! That’s in Waycross. That’s where we live, Nick!”
    “Well, maybe I should come over and visit you when you go back. We can all go surfing together.”
    “Is surfing the only thing you have in mind, Nick? For us to do together?” Victoria said, feeling bold and cheeky.
    Nick collapsed into laughter. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

Chapter 9
     
    The picnic had been the most romantic time that Victoria had experienced with Nick up until now. It was mid-afternoon when they finally packed up the picnic blanket and set off onto one of the bush walking tracks around the mountain.
    “Don’t forget to bring your knapsacks with plenty of water bottles,” cautioned Dan. “It gets very hot walking these trails.”
    At last they were moving along the walking trail, excited to see the sights along the way. They had all voted on doing the four kilometer walk which would take approximately two hours. The first part of this circuit wound through a eucalyptus forest full of local wildflowers and natural flora and fauna. Katie was busy taking photos as they descended further and further into a gorge.
    “Look, I can see the falls from here!” Katie shouted down the trail. “And I can see some more koalas.”
    “Careful you don’t slip!” Victoria yelled back. “Keep your eyes on the track Katie. The last thing I want is for you to slip and hurt yourself.”
    The trail was becoming hazardous in places, with paths that edged right onto a steep descent into the gorge below.
    After an hour of walking they all stopped for a drink and a quick five minute rest sitting down to admire the view. The wilderness surrounded them on all sides stretching for miles and miles into the horizon. In some places, away from the track, the bush appeared to be so dense that it sent shivers down Victoria's spine The thought of ever being lost out there was terrifying.
    “Stay on the trail at all times,” said Dan, as if reading everyone’s mind. “If you take a wrong turn, you may never find your way back.”
    “Yes, that looks so scary out there,” said Katie shuddering.
    It was close to four o’clock in the afternoon when the group restarted their walk, eager to get back to the safety and security of the picnic area. Up ahead there was a suspension bridge which would take them to their final destination.
    “At last,” said Victoria, feeling desperately in need of another rest. She checked her watch. “We’re almost there and it’s nearly five o’clock. We timed that well.”
    Nick walked up alongside her as they arrived back at the picnic grounds with Julie trailing behind them. She was looking a lot happier than she had been since she had arrived in Paradise. Nick inched in closer to Victoria, close enough to whisper in her ear, “This has been a fantastic and magical day, Victoria. One I will never forget.”
    “Me either,” she said,