Lights and Shadows (Oregon In Love) (10 page)

The purpose of the walk was for the children to collect things like
leaves, pinecones, and twigs to use in a photography experiment.
Struggling over a fallen log with the two kids in her keeping, she
was glad she wore her new boots and jeans.

They all spent an hour foraging through the vegetation for various
specimens of nature. At one point Julia looked up from tying the
laces of a little girl’s shoes to find Marc watching her from a
distance. A pleasant flush spread through her that had nothing to do
with the warmth of the day.

Back at the center, they spent the remainder of the afternoon working
on experiments involving specially treated light-sensitive paper and
boxes pierced with tiny holes. To Julia, it was nothing short of
miraculous that in the midst of near chaos, each child ended up with
a nature print they could show off to family and friends.

After talking to a myriad of people while helping clean up, she was
relieved when Marc appeared at her side to take her to his truck. She
sagged against the seat of the Toyota while he drove her to the
town’s only hotel. She checked in, and he helped her carry her bags
into her room.

Before leaving the room, Marc reached up to her hair to pull out a
small leafy twig. It took a minute to completely untangle it, and
when he succeeded, Julia smiled tiredly and thanked him.

“I’m the one who should be thanking you for all your help today.
I didn’t plan for you to be dragged into the fray.”

“You didn’t plan for me at all. I invited myself, remember?”

“Well,” he said softly, “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me, too.”

Silence burgeoned before Marc spoke. “I’m meeting some friends at
a restaurant for dinner. Think you’d be up to coming along?”

Julia nodded. She'd almost be enthused if she wasn't so darn tired.

Marc glanced at his watch. “We have a couple of hours before we
need to go.”

“Actually, I was hoping to rest for a bit. Would you mind meeting
me here when it’s time to leave?”

“No problem.” He turned to go. “I’ll see you then.”

“Bye.”

The minute the door shut behind her, Julia collapsed onto the bed and
fell asleep.

***

As Marc knocked on Julia’s hotel room, he worried about her obvious
fatigue after the 4-H class. He assumed she'd hang out at the back of
the photography class as an observer—not actually end up on the
hike. But she'd been a natural with the kids. He remembered her sweet
smile as she engaged her small companions. It was only on the way to
the hotel that her manner had seemed subdued, her eyes heavy.

When she opened the door and smiled up at him, he wondered if he’d
been imagining things. She looked fresh and lovely, wearing a
sleeveless blue dress. Her hair glowed softly in the lights from the
hall. He was becoming familiar with the light fragrance of her
perfume and tinkling sound of her ever-present bracelets.

To not touch her was unthinkable. Marc held out his hand. When she
placed hers in his without reservation, he had to remind himself that
she was just being gracious. They walked a short distance to the
restaurant. He couldn’t remember why he meant to avoid her.

The restaurant was small, homey, and dimly lit. Marc led Julia around
clusters of tables to a curved booth near the back. His small group
of friends looked up expectantly at their arrival and made room for
them in the booth. After introductions were made all around, Julia
turned on her palpable charm, and any awkwardness dissipated into
natural, enjoyable conversation.

He could almost imagine they were a couple.

***

It was late when Julia followed Marc’s lead and got up to leave.
After saying their goodbyes, they walked out into the cool night air.

Julia smiled as she thought of the last few hours. “That was a lot
of fun. You have great taste in friends.”

Marc caught her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “I’m sure the
feeling was mutual.”

Julia had planned to say something else, but the instant he touched
her, all thoughts went flying out of her head. An occasional car
passed by while they strolled along the sidewalk of the main street.
Laughter from nearby conversations drifted along the breeze and the
song of crickets filled the air. When they arrived back at the hotel,
Marc saw her to her room, and seemed reluctant to leave.

He leaned against the door frame, still holding her hand. “Are you
sure you want to brave the wilds tomorrow?”

She noticed the way his dark eyes glinted down at her—and tried to
remember why being with him was a bad idea. “Yes.”

“Did you get two pair of socks to wear with your boots?”

“Yes, again.”

“Did you get a first-aid kit and a canteen for water?”

She nodded.

“Good, because I might need to borrow them.”

Julia laughed softly. “I had a nice time tonight.”

“Me, too.” His expression shifted and his gaze dropped to her
lips. The air between them became charged. Julia knew he planned to
kiss her. She caught her breath, inexplicably longing for his touch
with all her heart.

A door slammed and loud voices rang out down the hall, ending the
moment. She bit her lip when he released her hand and sighed.

“I’ll meet you in the lobby at seven, okay?”

She nodded, somehow comforted by the fact that he seemed as
disappointed as she was about what had
not
happened. Julia
murmured goodnight and watched him leave.

***

Marc entered the lobby at seven sharp and saw Julia chatting with the
man behind the hotel check-in counter. Regaled in stiff new blue
jeans, boots, and a flowery shirt, she looked utterly
green
.

Julia glanced up and saw him. “There he is!” she hissed to the
man. “He’s that author I was telling you about. Oh, I can’t
believe it’s really
him
. I’m so nervous!”

The man looked with forced interest at Marc, apparently trying to
figure out just who he was.

Julia approached Marc with a trembling piece of paper and a pen. “Mr.
Dorin, may I please have your autograph?”

Marc stifled a grin. A long night of telling himself he was a fool to
even hope for a chance with a girl like Julia evaporated in light of
her sweet silliness. In that moment he knew he was head over heels.
Trying to talk himself out of the fact didn't change anything. On the
paper he wrote
you’re craz
y and handed it back to her.

She took it, brushing her hand against his. “I touched him!” she
said over her shoulder. “I will never wash this hand again!”

Marc took her other hand and led her out the door. When they were
outside, he turned to her. “What was that all about?”

Her eyes shone in the early morning light. “I noticed they didn’t
have your book in their tiny gift shop, so I thought a little PR was
in order.”

He laughed. “Despite the fact that it hasn't technically been
released yet, are you interested in becoming my agent? Maybe you
could get me on a talk show.”

“At least I can try and create buzz.”

“I'm truly appreciative.” As they walked to his truck, Marc
wondered how he ever dreaded her company on this trip.

Once inside the cab, Julia pointed at the white paper sack on the
dashboard. “What’s that?”

He stowed her backpack behind the seat. “Breakfast.”

“I don’t eat breakfast.”

Marc started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. “You do
today.”

“Why?”

“You need energy to trek the trails.”

Julia peeked inside the bag. “This isn’t energy. This is grease
and dough.”

“Mmmm. You’re whetting my appetite.”

Julia made a face when he pulled out a powered sugar donut. He took a
huge bite and smiled, knowing he had a little white mustache above
his lip.

“Those things give you a sugar rush and then you crash and feel
tired,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

“That’s why I also brought peanuts.”

“Peanuts are fattening.”

He held out the bag. “Choose your poison.”

Julia gave a little shiver and peered into the bag. Gingerly, she
pulled out a plain cake donut and held it up for inspection like it
was a bug. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten one of these things
before.”

“I suppose it would be considered fashionably incorrect to eat a
donut in southern California.”

She smiled ruefully after taking a nibble. “You’re not far off. I
think I started dieting before I turned ten.”

“Well, don’t worry. You’ll burn it off today.”

***

Julia felt sure she’d burned that donut off an hour ago. She was
ravenous and they were still hiking to some elusive place along the
Deschutes River.

They were surrounded on all sides by the roar of the water and the
majesty of the flora that lined the riverbanks. Julia couldn’t
appreciate the view too much. She was too busy trying to keep up
scrambling over huge boulders that ran alongside the river. Suddenly,
Marc stopped. Julia nearly ran into him.

“Here,” he announced, and began to unload his camera equipment.

Julia gratefully sank onto a moss-covered rock nearby. She grimaced
and rubbed her blistered ankles only when sure Marc had his attention
elsewhere.

She watched while he set up his tripod and put a light filter onto
the lens of one of the two cameras he’d brought along. He became
consumed in his task; it seemed she no longer existed. Julia didn’t
mind. She found it fascinating to watch him work. Every move he made
was methodical and meticulous.

For some reason, Julia thought he’d just pull out a camera and snap
off a roll at random, like a fashion photographer. But a full half
hour of preparation passed before he took his first picture. Julia
tried to imagine how the pretty scene of sunlight rippling on the
rushing water would appear to Marc’s trained eye.

Distracted by his undertaking, he didn’t notice her unabashed
scrutiny. She leaned back against a rock and noted how the sunlight
reflected on the darkness of his hair, smiling when he pushed it back
off his forehead for the umpteenth time. While he adjusted his camera
lens, she admired his hands. They were artist’s hands, heavily
veined with long bony fingers.

Julia admired the rest of his lean frame as well, and
wondered why he hadn’t been snapped up by some female before now.
Were all the girls blind where he came from?
If I was in the
market, I might be tempted to set my sights on him.
She wasn’t,
so she could appreciate him from afar. Any notions that he might be
seriously interested in her were vain imaginings. Even if it were so,
it would be foolish to start something she couldn’t finish.
I
don’t plan on being in Oregon any longer than I have to
.

Then she remembered her desire for his kiss and felt her
face grow hot.
Hypocrite
.

Marc suddenly glanced back at her and smiled before
returning to his work. Annoyed by the way her pulse jumped in
reaction, Julia decided to ignore it. She leaned back against a large
warm rock and closed her eyes.

***

“You snooze, you lose.”

Julia’s eyes fluttered open. She found herself looking into Marc’s
dark gaze, which sparkled with mirth.

“What?”

“Because you were napping, you missed seeing some birds fishing on
the rocks. It was a true Kodak moment.”

Julia sat up and yawned. “Did you capture it on film?”

“Absolutely.”

She smoothed back her hair. “How long was I out? Ten minutes or
so?”

Marc stretched out on the ground next to her. “About an hour and a
half.”

“You’re kidding!” Julia sighed. “I’m sorry. I guess I was
more tired than I thought. I must be keeping you from doing more
hiking.”

“Actually, I took several hundred digital photographs and exposed a
couple of rolls on my other camera so I think I have enough for my
article.” He leaned back on his elbow. “I also got some nice
shots of you napping against the rock.”

“You didn’t!”

He smiled. Julia was relieved to see the teasing glint in his eyes.

“I have to admit, though, I was tempted.”

She brushed mossy debris from her jeans. “Well, I am sorry to just
drop off like that. That’s me, lately. Life of the party.”

Marc scrutinized her expression for a moment. “This might perk you
up,” he said finally, rummaging in his backpack. He held out a
brownish rectangle thing for her to take.

“What is it?”

“Beef jerky.”

“Oh, I’ve heard of this stuff. I remember the salesman telling me
it’s a common food for hiking.”

“You sure are a greenhorn.”

“That doesn’t sound very complimentary.”

Marc took a bite of his jerky. “You’re learning pretty fast,
though. Here’s a tip to speed you along the path to expert status.
Never hike in new boots. You should break them in first. I’m sure
you’ve discovered the joys of blisters.”

“I’m just fine thank you,” Julia said primly, while daring
herself to take a bite of the jerky. Hunger finally overcame
aesthetics.

“You wouldn’t admit to being in pain, would you?”

She raised her brows.

He smiled. “I knew it.”

Marc also supplied peanuts, apples, raisins, and cold water. Julia
couldn’t remember when anything tasted so good. A few minutes
later, she went down by the water’s edge to rinse off her hands.
Ferns crept out from between stones lightly misted by the rushing
water. There was a small pool nearby where the water was cordoned off
by larger rocks. She noticed a pretty white stone and fished it out.

“What’s this?” she asked over the roar, holding it up to the
sun.

Marc came over and crouched down beside her. “Looks like it might
be some kind of agate.”

Julia pulled out another rock and handed it to him.

“I think that’s feldspar.”

She put another one in his hand, enjoying the feeling of having him
so close.