Chapter 28 It's a Long Journey
It's a Long Journey
Emily was awakened when someone opened the blinds in her bedroom. The scorching brightness of the morning sun was more than she could handle even though her eyes were still closed.
“No,” she protested, her voice barely working, “It’s too early.”
She had stayed up late into the night to write the article defending her reputation, and now all she wanted to do was sleep.
“It’s seven thirty already,” Byron’s voice announced cheerfully. He usually didn’t enter the guest bedroom when she stayed over, and they would meet up first thing in the morning at the breakfast table, but then Emily remembered he had a trip in mind.
She squinted against the light and beheld Byron looking freshly shaved and energized like some god in the golden rays of the sun.
“All you need to do is get dressed, and then I’ll throw you in the car,” he said.
“That sounds fun,” she grumbled.
He snickered evilly and left the room.
Despite her tiredness, Emily liked the idea of getting out of the city, so she stumbled out of bed to put some clothes on.
Soon they were in the metallic blue BMW and on the highway. As Emily watched the mountain peaks getting closer and the trees and waterfalls parading by, all her problems seemed to melt away.
“This was a great idea,” she said. Morning really was one of her favorite times to be out in nature, and this was an amazingly sweet and sunny one.
“I thought you were going to clobber me when I woke you up,” Byron said, briefly turning to look at her.
His driving was confident and unexpectedly smooth. The way his hands held and guided the wheel made Emily think impure thoughts about other activities that he might be good at.
“I got your article, which you sent at 2 in the morning,” he continued, “so I knew you wouldn’t be in very good shape.”
“Did you read it?” Emily asked, perking up.
“Yeah,” he winked at her, “I like the part where you defend me: ‘If Christine Tourneau thinks Byron Pomeroy is someone who needs to use his wealth to attract a lover, then she clearly knows as little about him as she does about journalistic integrity’. I like that part.”
“Well somebody had to stand up for you too,” Emily said, unable to stop smiling.
“I’m much obliged,” Byron replied, “and I’ve already sent it to the editor of the Bulletin, so we can relax and enjoy our journey.”
Emily dozed off, lulled by the motion of the car, and when she awoke, she realized they had come to a halt in a secluded part of the mountain. They BMW was all alone in a small gravel parking lot surrounded by dense bush and forest on all sides.
“Good God, man,” she murmured sleepily, “You’ve kidnapped me. It looks like we’re in the middle of nowhere.”
Byron grinned, looking satisfied with his plan.
“Where are we?” Emily asked, still wobbly from sleep as she stepped out of the car.
“This is one of the most secluded and scenic hiking trails in the country,” Byron said. He offered her a bottle of water from his backpack.
“I see you came prepared,” she remarked.
“I had to be,” he said, “because we’re in for a long hike. Are you ready for a long journey with me, Emily Danzi?”
Emily grew a little terrified as he seemed to be implying something. His mother was right, he was looking for a woman who never wanted to leave him. Why did he think she was up for this? Far from wanting to go on a long journey, Emily was too afraid to even take the first step.
“I’m still not quite awake,” she said, yawning, “but we’ll see how it goes.”
The trail took them past ancient trees wrapped in mosses while birds sang and squirrels chattered in the canopy.
Emily finally felt more awake and even energized by the mountain air. She took off her jacket, and Byron soon removed his layers too as the uphill walk warmed up their bodies. Byron looked totally devastating in a tight grey t-shirt and a pair of black jeans.
As if being good-looking wasn’t enough for him, he also showed off his knowledge by pointing out some local plants, which Emily was not familiar with, having grown up in the eastern provinces.
The roar and splash of water came from somewhere up ahead, and as they got to the next rise, Emily saw a break in the trees. The trail continued onto a bridge across a raging waterfall.
“It’s beautiful!” she said, admiring the rainbow of colors playing in the spray.
“I know,” Byron said, “but that’s not why we came here.”
He stepped onto the bridge and held her hand as they walked slowly to the middle, roaring water cascading down the cliff side in front of them and plunging down the mountain beneath them.
“No? Then why?” she asked.
She felt equally nervous and thrilled when she saw the intense look with which he zeroed in on her.
“Because I didn’t want any journalists to see me do this,” he said.
He leaned closer to her, taking hold of her body so that suddenly she was pressed up against him. Their lips met, and Emily felt dizzy with the fervor of the kiss. For a moment, she forgot where she was, closing her eyes and letting her mouth respond to the pressure of his. Her heart felt ready to explode from the intensity, but the kiss grew more urgent and desperate until they broke away, breathless.
