The Reunion: Ashley's Mountain Retreat (Starting Over Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

you.”
     
    They sat together quietly for a few moments, staring up at the massive waterfall.
     
    “Does it have a name?” Ashley asked, breaking their silence.
     
    “Not that I know of,” he said.
     
    “How about we call it Franki Falls?” she suggested with a smile. As soon as she did, he reached across and pulled her in front of him so that they were eye to eye.
     
    “That is just about the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me,” he said as he leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
     
    They spent the next hour eating the lunch that Parker had brought for them which included turkey wraps, chips and strawberries. Watching Parker eat strawberries did things to Ashley that she wasn’t expecting.
     
    “Well, I guess we’d better start heading back down…” Parker said as they finished up lunch.
     
    “I guess so. In fact, I need to pack up my things. I have to catch a flight tomorrow morning.”
     
    The mention of Ashley leaving was enough to cause a lull in the conversation. She wondered what she should do now. She had found this amazing man, and now she had to go home. At least she could visit him occasionally when she visited her cabin. The thought of him meeting another woman who actually lived in the state tore her apart inside, and she was afraid to admit it to herself.
     
    As they walked down the mountain, they were quiet. She could tell that Parker was deep in thought about something, but she wasn’t sure what.
     
    “Are you looking forward to getting back home?” he finally asked.
     
    “I suppose. It will be nice to see my dog, Layla. She’s a chocolate lab. My neighbor has been feeding her for me while I’m gone,” Ashley said.
     
    “I love dogs. I have a boxer named Boxer. Original, huh?” His laugh lit her up inside.
     
    “We grew up with boxers. They are great dogs,” she said. Without warning, he reached down and took her hand. She didn’t pull away as they walked the rest of the way down the path and to his truck.
     
    “I’d like to take you one more place while you’re here, if you don’t mind,” Parker said.
     
    “You know I will be back at some point soon, right?” she asked laughing.
     
    “I know, but I am enjoying this day and would like to extend it. Do you mind?” he asked looking at her across the seat of the truck.
     
    “I don’t mind at all.”
     
    They drove up a couple of side streets and then up a steep incline. When he made a sharp turn to avoid a squirrel, Ashley went hurtling to the left and right up against him.
     
    “See why wearing a seat belt is important?” he asked with a wink. She nodded and strapped in using the middle seat belt instead of her own. Pushed up against his firm thigh, she felt her own thighs heating up.
     
    When they came to rest at the top of the hill, she was looking at a gorgeous chalet style home with huge picture windows and a porch that wrapped around the whole house. A boxer came running to greet the truck.
     
    “Boxer! Hey boy!” Parker said rubbing the dog’s head as it jumped for joy at his arrival. That’s when Ashley realized that he’d brought her to his house.
     
    “So this is home, huh?” Ashley asked as he opened her door and she jumped down.
     
    “This is home. I bought this place about two years ago.”
     
    They walked toward the house and then around the big front porch to the back. The view was stunning. She could see a large lake off in the distance and mountains surrounding her. As Parker keyed the door, her eyes were drawn to his furnishings. She wanted to see how this man lived.
     
    Glossy hardwood floors welcomed her inside. Everything was done in an elegant rustic style from the plush leather furniture to the antler designed chandelier in the formal dining room. Black granite countertops with flecks of copper color were in the kitchen along with a stainless steel refrigerator and chef’s oven.
     
    “What do you think?” Parker asked with a sly smile.
     
    “This