One Unforgettable Night: Wild at Heart / From This Moment On / Her Last Best Fling

He wrapped her tight in his arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I know you didn’t come.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. I’ll make it up to you.” He rocked her in his arms. “I will make it up to you a dozen times over. But that…Naomi…that was exactly what I needed.”

“I know.”

“How did you know?”

“That’s my secret.” And it would remain her secret. If he ever guessed she was falling in love with him, he’d leave.

12 (#ucac4a8a1-7841-5598-815e-8eccc658dbec)

LUKE WASN’T SURE what he’d done to deserve someone like Naomi, but she was a lifesaver. As the sun went down, she insisted they should haul the sleeping bags up to the platform for the night. Even when he protested that his father was probably in bed by now and wouldn’t call, she refused to consider going back down to the campsite, where the phone reception was bad.

“Just don’t let me fall off in the middle of the night,” she said, laughing.

The thought made his heart stutter and he stopped unrolling the sleeping bags. “Do you think you might? Are you a sleepwalker?”

“No. At least I don’t think so.”

“Let’s forget this.” He started bundling up his sleeping bag. “If there’s the slightest chance that you’ll wake up at night and start wandering around this platform half-asleep, it’s not worth the risk.”

“I won’t. And we’re staying.” She crossed her arms and planted her feet. “I’ve always thought it would be fun to sleep up here, but I was a little worried about doing it by myself. This is perfect.” She peered at him. “Unless you’re a sleepwalker.”

“Nope. Never been a problem for me.” He crouched next to his sleeping bag, thinking. “So spending the night up here would be an adventure for you?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

“You’re not just saying that because of the phone thing?”

“That’s a good excuse to do it, but from the moment I first climbed onto the platform, I thought of spending the night, pretending I’m Tarzan. I’ve just been too chicken.”

He smiled. “You wouldn’t make a very good Tarzan.”

“You’d be surprised.” She took a deep breath and let out the most Tarzan-like yell he’d ever heard.

He laughed so hard he had to sit down.

“Wait, that wasn’t as good as I can do. I’ll try again.” She sucked in more air.

“No, no, you’re great!”

She looked at him. “Yeah?”

“Amazingly good. I wasn’t laughing because you were lousy at it. I was laughing at that big Tarzan yell coming out of such a blonde cutie-pie. It’s so unexpected.”

“My college friends and I taught ourselves to do it. When we backpacked through Europe, we sometimes entertained people in pubs by doing our Tarzan yells. I’m better after a couple of beers.”

“I’ll bet.” He chuckled. “I can just imagine that.” He also felt a pang of longing. Although he’d traveled with friends when he was younger, they’d all settled down with families. They still traveled, but now it involved taking spouses and kids, which was a whole other ball game. Not his deal.

He stood and surveyed the platform. “So if this is something you want to do for the adventure factor, but you’re a little scared of falling off, we’ll put your sleeping bag next to the tree and mine next to yours so I’m on the outside.”

She nodded. “I like that. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. It’ll be fun.” He knew that for sure because everything involving Naomi was fun. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed this much.

They ate cold sandwiches for dinner, watched a family of deer graze in the clearing and made love to the sound of wind in the trees. They slept spoon-fashion, with Luke on the outside. He figured if he kept a hand on her at all times, she wouldn’t get away from him and risk falling.

That thought made him restless. And then there was the issue of a potential phone call. It didn’t come until dawn, and it woke them both.

Luke scrambled to pick it up before the chime disturbed Naomi, but he was too late. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, as he put the phone to his ear.

“Luke, it’s Dad.”

Luke grimaced. “Hi, Dad.” Who else would it be at this hour of the morning? His father had probably forgotten the time difference. Travelers usually thought about that when they made phone calls. Nontravelers, not so much.

“Listen, I thought about your invitation, and it won’t work for me.”

Luke had prepared himself for that answer, but even so, disappointment sliced through him. Apparently he’d placed more importance on this than he should have. “Okay.”

“I checked flights, and it’ll cost an arm and a leg.”

“So it’s the money?”

“Well, that, and your mother has a cookout planned with the Sullivans. She has her heart set on that cookout. You remember the Sullivans, don’t you?”

“Yep.” They were neighbors whose attitude toward travel was exactly like his mother’s. They claimed everything they needed was right there, so why go anywhere else?

“Anyway, thanks for asking. Maybe next time.”

“Sure, Dad. Have a nice Fourth. Talk to you later.” Luke disconnected and laid down the phone.

“He’s not coming.”

Naomi put a hand on his shoulder. “Luke, I’m sorry. It was a great idea.”

He shrugged. “I should have known better. He’ll just keep watching documentaries about places he’ll never see.”

“His loss.”

“I think so, too, but I can’t make him get out there and see the world.” He gazed at her. “I did think it would be cool, though. I’ve never been here for Fourth of July, but the town’s really gearing up. Are you coming in or staying here?”

She smiled. “Are you inviting me to come and party with you?”

“Hell, yes! We’ll have a blast. Although maybe the fireworks will look more spectacular from this platform, come to think of it. We could—”

“Hold on. Did you say fireworks?”