The small wood-frame house was a bit older than the other homes he’d passed on Clear Springs Road, but it still looked quaint and cozy. He hoped she might invite him inside for a while before they ventured to the park, but as soon as he stopped his truck, she was bounding off the front porch like she was in a rush to leave or timid about inviting him inside her home.
David turned off the engine and stepped out of the truck just as Sarah jumped off the swing and came barreling through the front yard. Her hair was long and brown like Candice’s, and she definitely had her mom’s big, beautiful smile. She ran to Candice and grabbed her hand, and as they walked over to greet him, he cleared his throat and hoped for the best.
“Good morning. You must be Sarah,” he said, as he held out his right hand. “It’s very nice to meet you. I’m David.”
She shook his hand so ecstatically, she nearly ripped his arm from its socket. “Is it true? Are we really going to Antelope Island? My friend, Molly, said they have hiking trails where you can see buffalos—real live buffalos! Did you know that?”
David laughed as he tried to decide which question to answer first. Her eyes were as big and round as silver dollars, and she was so excited, she looked like she could literally jump right out of her skin.
“You know what? I heard the exact same thing, so it must be true,” David replied with a wink.
Sarah clapped her hands together and bounced on her tiptoes. “This is going to be so much fun! I’ll get my booster seat.”
She was off and running again before he could blink, and he shook his head in amazement as he looked at Candice.
“Did I happen to mention she’s very talkative?” she asked. “You’re probably already wondering what in the world you’ve gotten yourself into.”
David smiled. “I think she’s adorable, just like her mom.”
Candice’s cheeks reddened. “I should help her. I’ll be right back.”
She followed Sarah to her car where they both worked together to get Sarah’s booster seat unbuckled and out of the back seat. He was used to seeing Candice in dresses and heels, so to see her now in a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and hiking boots was almost too much for his heart to take. Her hair hung loose and swayed with the breeze, and the way her hips sashayed when she walked made his pulse quicken.
Hearing the car door slam shut jolted David from his daydream, and he turned his attention to helping Candice get Sarah and the booster seat safely buckled in the back seat of his truck.
“This is a big truck,” Sarah commented. “I like it. What color is it? It looks dark blue, but it could be black. What would you call it?”
David grinned. “I believe it’s a dark shade of blue. That’s why I bought it. Blue is my favorite color. What’s yours?”
She squinted like she was deep in thought while he and Candice got in the front seat and buckled themselves in. He started the engine and slowly backed out of the driveway. Sarah was quite the talker, but it was fun seeing her animated expressions.
“I like purple,” she replied. “Yesterday, I turned my doll’s hair purple with a marker I brought home from school.”
Candice’s jaw slacked as she turned in her seat to stare at her daughter, and he didn’t miss the stunned look on her face. He guessed it was the first she’d heard about the marker and the purple doll hair, but Sarah ignored her and kept talking nonstop.
“I like yellow too … and red, but I don’t like pink. It reminds me of the cotton candy my daddy bought at the fair when I was four, and I got some stuck in my hair. Do you remember that, Mommy? You had to cut my hair to get it out. That was so funny.”
Sarah giggled, but he noticed the way Candice’s smile faded before she turned back around and looked out the passenger window. “Yes, sweetie. I remember.”
He glimpsed in the rearview mirror at Sarah, trying to think of something he could say to lighten the mood, but Sarah was such a chatterbox, he could barely get a word in. Thankfully, Antelope Island was only thirty minutes from Lehi, so it wouldn’t take long to get there.
“Where do you go to school, Sarah? What grade are you in?”
That seemed to grab her attention, and she stopped obsessing about the bug she’d discovered crawling on the outside of her window long enough to answer him.
“I’m in first grade, and I go to William Morris Elementary School. I have a bunch of friends there. Kim and Julie are my best friends, and Amy and Kellie are my second-best friends. I don’t have any boyfriends. I think they’re dumb.”
David covered his mouth with his hand to stifle his laughter.
“Sarah, that’s not nice,” Candice reprimanded. “Boys aren’t dumb.”
She probably meant to sound stern, but he could tell Candice was trying not to laugh. She looked at him and mouthed “I’m sorry,” and David reached over and held her hand.
“It’s okay,” he whispered so Sarah wouldn’t overhear. “I’m enjoying this.”
Sarah never bats an eye, and she continued talking incessantly about school and everything else under the sun. By the time they arrived at the park, he’d learned about her favorite TV shows, favorite singers, favorite food, and how Kim, her best friend, and Amy, her second-best friend, stayed mad at each other a lot because they both liked the same boy. The only time she didn’t talk was when he turned into the drive at Antelope Island, and that was only because she was transfixed on the park. Some of the visitors were out walking their dogs while others were unloading horses from trailers. After paying the park fees and gathering some pamphlets and maps from the visitor center, David parked his truck in the closest lot he could find.
“So, what would you ladies like to do first?” he asked.
David unfolded one of the brochures and the three of them discussed which activities they wanted to try. They voted unanimously to rent some pedal boats and bicycles, and Sarah was gung-ho about hiking some trails so she could see the bison that supposedly roamed the area.
“I didn’t even think about bringing drinks and snacks in case we decided to go hiking,” Candice said, with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
David gave her a wink. “I’ve got that covered. I brought some bottled waters, granola bars, and some fruit, just in case. They’re in a backpack in my toolbox.”
Sarah clapped her hands together. “You thought of everything, Mr. David!”
Her enthusiasm tugged at his heart, and he hoped she and Candice would have some good memories from the day to take home with them because he really wanted them to enjoy their time together. They decided to hike the Gravel Pit Trail first since it was the closest one and less than two miles long. David drove to the trailhead and parked his truck, and Candice unbuckled Sarah from her booster seat.
“You promise to stay by my side and not run off?” Candice asked her.
This time she was stern, and Sarah nodded and promised to do what she was told. David unlocked his toolbox, removed the backpack, and looped it over his shoulders before locking up his truck and stuffing the keys inside his pants pocket. Candice held Sarah’s hand, which was probably a good thing because she looked like she was ready to take off running and explore without them.
“It’s so beautiful out here,” Candice remarked.
David’s heart skipped a beat when he saw her eyes light up as she looked over the countryside. The sunlight danced through her hair as the wind wafted it on the breeze, and the vanilla scent of her shampoo made his head swoon.
“Yes, it certainly is,” he replied.
His gaze never left her, and when Candice caught his compliment, she gave him a shy smile. They stopped in the middle of the trail when Sarah came across some wildflowers she was determined to bring home with her. As they stood by and waited for her to gather what she wanted, David was very aware of just how close he and Candice were. The wind lifted her hair again, and a shiver raced up his spine when a couple of the long strands caressed his cheek.
She turned to him, but instead of looking into his eyes,
her gaze settled on his mouth. He noticed her heart was racing by the vein that throbbed along the side of her neck, and when she did finally look into his eyes, he hoped he wasn’t imagining the desire emanating from her gaze. She leaned into him, and he was afraid to move, afraid to breathe, afraid to do anything that might break the connection between them.
“Mommy, look! It’s a buffalo!”
And just like that, the spell was broken. Candice immediately took a step back and focused her attention on Sarah, who was jumping and pointing to a large open field to their left where one lone buffalo grazed.
“I see it, sweetie. Let’s get a picture of it so we can show Grandma.”
She pulled a cell phone from her pants pocket and snapped a couple of photos while David stood by, still trying to gather his wits and breathe like a normal human being.
“Let’s go see if we can find some more!” Sarah exclaimed. She stuck the wildflowers in her pockets and behind her ears and tried to take off down the trail, but Candice was faster and grabbed her by the shirt collar to make her stop.
“Sarah, what did I tell you? Don’t run away from us.”
Sarah dropped her head and shuffled her feet on the ground. “Yes, ma’am.”
Candice rolled her eyes and laughed as they walked back to David’s side. She didn’t say anything, but she laced her fingers through his and held his hand as they started along the trail behind Sarah, and it was enough … for now.
Chapter 10
Candice
Candice couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun. As she pedaled beside David and Sarah that afternoon in one of the rental boats, she laughed out loud when he lost a game of I Spy to Sarah—again.
“I told you she’s good,” Candice reminded him before giving Sarah a wink and a high-five.
David groaned. “How many times does that make now? Ten? Twelve?”
He playfully nudged Sarah’s side, which sent her into a fit of giggles that warmed Candice’s heart and made her smile. After spending the whole day at the Antelope Island State Park, Candice was physically exhausted, but her spirits hadn’t dampened in the least bit. She felt truly happy for the first time in months, and it seemed like ages since she’d heard Sarah laugh so much.
“It’s so peaceful here,” David said.
Candice sighed contentedly as she looked out over the lake toward the sun, which was getting ready to make its descent in the west. There were hardly any ripples in the water, and it was all very tranquil and serene. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
“Yes, it is,” she agreed. “I wish we could stay out here a little longer.”
Sarah yawned and laid her head on Candice’s shoulder. “I do too.”
She caught David’s smile, and her heart beat a little faster. He’d been the perfect gentleman all day, and he’d given into every whim of Sarah’s, from riding bikes along the trails to asking several of the people riding horseback if they would mind Sarah petting their horses. He stood right beside her, showing her how to pet them gently while keeping a close eye on the animals so they wouldn’t get spooked or try to hurt her in any way. He’d even carried her on his shoulders when she complained about her feet hurting after they’d hiked the second or third trail.
“I guess we should probably head back,” he whispered. “It looks like someone is getting ready to crash.”
He pointed to Sarah, who was rubbing her tired eyes and fighting a losing battle between staying awake and going to sleep. Candice wrapped a hand around her waist and held her as close as their life jackets would allow. “I think you’re right.”
She and David turned the boat around and started pedaling back to the dock. Her legs ached from all the walking, biking, and pedaling she’d done throughout the day, but it was a good feeling and a welcome reminder of how much fun they’d had together. Watching David and Sarah interact so naturally made her heart swell, and she’d lost count of the number of times they’d made each other laugh.
Sarah fell asleep on Candice’s shoulder before they made it back to the dock, and as the park attendant helped them tie off the boat, she managed to wake her up long enough to disembark and take off her life jacket. She was so drowsy, she could barely stand, and Candice’s heart melted when David picked her up and carried her to the truck. Once she was safe and secure in her booster seat, she leaned her head against it and was sound asleep again within a matter of seconds.
When she and David were buckled in, Candice relaxed against the seat cushion and closed her eyes while he drove them away from the park and headed for home. Her muscles ached, and she could’ve easily fallen asleep, too, but she didn’t want to be rude, so she forced herself to stay awake. David helped with that when he reached over the middle console and held her hand, making her heart pound and sending a rush of heat coursing through her body.
“I’ve enjoyed my day with you,” he murmured softly so he wouldn’t wake up Sarah.
She smiled and lightly squeezed his fingers. “I’ve enjoyed it too. Thank you for being so patient with her. I know how tiring it can be trying to keep up with her endless supply of energy and trying to answer all of her questions.”
David grinned. “It didn’t bother me at all. She’s an amazing kid, Candice. I can see why you’re so proud of her.”
His admiration brought tears to her eyes, and she changed the subject to keep them at bay. “You haven’t told me about your family yet. Didn’t you say you have some nieces and nephews?”
His big smile was like a ray of sunshine. “I did. My older brother, Chris, and his wife, Brittany, have three daughters, and my younger sister, Brenda, and her husband, Tom, have two boys. I’m the fun uncle who buys them stuff their parents won’t let them have and spoils them rotten.”
It was easy to tell by the tone of his voice and the way his face lit up how much he adored them. “What about your parents?” she asked. “Do they live in Texas?”
He nodded. “They do. My mom teaches third grade, and my dad is a high school principal. Next month they’ll celebrate their thirty-sixth wedding anniversary.”
As her thoughts drifted to her own family, she couldn’t help but feel a little envious of his home life.
“And what about your family?” he asked. “Have they lived in Lehi their whole lives too?”
Candice swallowed past the lump in her throat before trusting herself to talk. “My older brother, Terry, lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Wendy, and their two-year-old son, Nicholas. I have an older sister in Lehi named Whitney, who is married to Daniel. They can’t have children, so it’s just the two of them, and she keeps Sarah for me while I work. Last but not least, is my younger brother, Sam, who lives in Lehi with my mom and attends Utah Valley University. My mom’s a librarian, and my dad passed away three years ago after a long battle with lung cancer.”
She could tell by the way his hand tensed that her response caught him by surprise. She didn’t look at him because she feared she would see pity in his eyes, the same pity she noticed whenever they talked about Barry, and she didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her, especially David.
“I’m so sorry, Candice. I had no idea.”
She quickly changed the subject. “Do you think you’ll ever move back home to Texas or work construction out of state again?”
His fingers tightened around hers, and she could feel his eyes on her, but she kept her gaze on the windshield. His moving home again was something that plagued her since the day they met, and she needed to know where he stood. She couldn’t fathom living somewhere other then Lehi, so she understood the bond between a person and their hometown.
“I’ve never really thought about it, but right now I can’t see myself living in Texas again. And one of the reasons I took the job at MBC is because Aaron assured me I wouldn’t have to travel. I’ve spent most of my adult life doing that, but I’m ready to settle down somewhere permanently. Hopefully, here in Lehi.”
She didn’t miss the implications of h
is statement, but she couldn’t overlook the doubtful tone in his voice either or the long pause before he answered the question. She turned in her seat to check on Sarah, who was still sleeping soundly, and she felt a pang in her heart when she considered how well she and David got along and how she might feel if he and Candice became close and he suddenly decided to move away.
They chit-chatted about work during the remainder of the drive home, but Candice was too consumed with her own thoughts to give it her full attention. When he finally pulled into her driveway, she honestly couldn’t remember the last ten minutes of their conversation. As soon as he parked the truck, she was unbuckling her seatbelt and gathering her things.
“I’ll carry Sarah inside for you,” he said.
Candice grabbed his arm and stopped him when he went to open his door. “I appreciate it, David, but you don’t have to do that.”
He shook his head. “I don’t mind, Candice, really.”
He went to open his door again and she squeezed his arm even tighter. “David, please don’t.”
He gave her a quizzical look before resting a hand on top of hers. “Are you okay? Did I say or do something wrong?”
She cast a glance at Sarah, who never stirred and was still sleeping peacefully, and she expelled a long, weary sigh. “David, I had a great time with you today, but I don’t know if we can ever be anything more than friends. Sarah’s my world, and I don’t want to do anything that might hurt her. She’s already been through so much.”
He still looked unsure. “I don’t understand. I would never hurt her or you.”
She didn’t want to, but she released his arm and leaned back against the seat and away from his prying eyes. “I know you wouldn’t do it intentionally, David, but I know how much your work means to you too. Can you tell me with absolute certainty that you would never take on a job out of state?”
His gaze flickered between her and Sarah. He looked upset and confused, and he opened his mouth several times to say something, but nothing came out. When he didn’t reply, she nodded solemnly. “I understand, David, but I hope you can understand that I have to put Sarah’s feelings above my own because her happiness and wellbeing matters to me more than anything else. She lost the two most special men in her life, and I can’t risk falling in love with you and then losing you too.”
Knee Deep in Love: A Sweet Traveling Romance Novel (All Roads Lead to Love Book 1) Page 6