Perilous Assurance

  ******

  Mattie lay on her side and gazed at him, studying his face as he slept, slightly turned toward her. She had to be honest with herself. She'd known since that day in the lounge that she was attracted to him on a different level than anyone she'd known, and the thought both thrilled and terrified her. She smiled as she saw him stir, and open one eye at her.

  "I just woke up," she whispered, tucking her forearm under her head to raise herself up a little.

  He shifted his position so that he was facing her as they lay in the camper's bed, and he trailed his finger along her jaw, staring at her intently.

  "You are so beautiful, Mattie," his deep voice was low and intimate. She nodded, her eyes soft, and she rested her hand on his shoulder. "I told you that I felt I knew you," he smiled at her. "It's as if I've always known you."

  "I feel the same way," she whispered, feeling her pulse quicken at the admission. "I don't know how that's possible, but I do." He smiled broadly at her now, and his eyes glistened.

  "Now I understand my parents a little more." He brushed a strand of her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead.

  "What do we do now?" Mattie laughed softly.

  He eyed her thoughtfully. "We both have our priorities set in stone right now, I guess, with your job and my traveling. I can juggle my schedule so that I can come to Brooksford almost every weekend." He brushed her hair back from her cheek, gazing at her as if he were memorizing every feature of her face. "Although, I'm having to resist the impulse to ask you to run away with me right this very moment." She smiled and shivered a little and he slid the blue plaid blanket he'd gotten them a little earlier up over her shoulder, and pulled her closer. She nestled her head against his shoulder.

  "But, you know, Clay...." she sighed, feeling a sense of wonder that these thoughts were in her head. "I would...if that were possible." He stroked her hair as she tilted her face up and he kissed her softly.