Page 74 of Forbidden to Fall

“It’s an experience you’ll never forget,” James said.

“For good or bad reasons?”

He chuckled. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

He’d made a couple of promises tonight, and so far, he was batting a thousand.

He watched me with a keen interest—and something a lot like hope.

I pulled in a deep breath, then let it out quickly. “Why not?”

His mouth stretched into the biggest smile I’d seen yet.

I was half regretting agreeing, but James looked so excited, I couldn’t bear to backtrack. “Move over, James Carver,” I said, my voice a bit breathless. “I’m about to be Mia’s favorite again. The cool aunt who also sleeps under the stars.”

“I’m ready to cede my place to you.” He clapped his hands together. “Okay. I’ve gotta take this garbage and the cooler back to the house, then bring back the pads and sleeping bags.” He paused, his gaze fixing on me. “Unless…”

“Unless what?”

He took a second before responding. “Did you want to sleep out here alone?”

My eyes widened. “And risk being eaten by tigers? Are you crazy?” It was my turn to pause. “Unless you don’t want to⁠—”

“I do.”

We stared at each other, then I let out an awkward laugh.

His response had come so quickly, for a second, I’d thought it was because he wanted to be with me. But James loved sleeping out of doors. It was his thing. His happy place.

And, despite the confidence he’d expressed in me, he probably worried I’d end up dead if he left me to my own devices.

James carried the cooler while I carried the garbage bag and flashlight. I took the opportunity to ask him more about his job and learned that he’d landed it when he’d been backpacking through British Columbia six months after he left Autumn Ridge. A forest ranger had started chatting with him and been impressed with his knowledge about maples. After six months on the road, James had been ready for a longer stint somewhere and some steady income, so he’d helped with tree planting, then made his way to his current position: Forestry Consultant/Reforestation Specialist.

He had a slashy job title, which meant he was too smart and valuable for a short, pithy one like assistant baker.

A few pinpricks of light alerted us we were almost to the Carver house. When we reached it, I put the garbage bag in the big bin near the porch.

“I’ll just go set this in the kitchen,” James said, indicating the cooler. “Do you want to come in?”

“Um…sure. I should probably use the bathroom.” I followed him into the house, where the sound of running water and the light clattering of silverware indicated May was in the kitchen.

I used the bathroom and put my hair on top of my head for sleep. I didn’t have pajamas or a toothbrush, to say nothing of facewash. I stared at myself in the mirror, hardly recognizing this spontaneous version of myself.

I kind of liked her.

I’d have liked her better with minty fresh breath.

There was a light knock on the door.

I opened it to James in the dark hallway.

“Thought you might want a couple of things.” He handed me a toothbrush still in plastic wrap and some toothpaste like he’d just been in my thoughts. He was certainly there more often than he should be. “I thought you could wear some of Mama’s pajamas, but she only wears nightgowns. These are mine.” He handed me a small pile of folded clothes. “They’ll be big, but you can cinch the waist pretty tight.”

I hesitated for a fraction of a second.

“Or you can sleep in what you’re wearing if you’d rather,” he said.

I took the pajamas from him. “These are perfect. I didn’t mean to make all this trouble, though.”