“That I make very poor choices when it comes to picking men.”
“Well, you could always give me a go.” Jake held his breath and waited for her to look at him. He recognized the enormity of the moment; he had just given her an opening to accept or reject him.
“Are you sure about that? I managed to turn a straight man gay,” MacKenzie quipped.
“You and I know that’s not true. Carlos is who he is and that has nothing to do with you.”
“I know, and you’re right.”
Jake was a little surprised at her response. He hadn’t expected her to capitulate so readily, but he was unprepared to look too closely into her agreement. “I’ll probably drive you crazy, but you’ll be the happiest crazy woman in the world.”
MacKenzie didn’t smile at his joke. There was a sadness about the way she looked at him that hitched at Jake’s heart. Of late, her life had been filled with one disappointment after the other. Unprepared to allow the sadness to take hold; Jake took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
“I have something I want to show you,” Jake said as he began walking with her in tow.
“What is it?”
“Just a little further and you won’t need to ask me that question.”
Soon Jake came to a stop, and MacKenzie glanced around with a skeptical look. “What am I supposed to be looking at?”
Removing his shoes and socks, Jake turned to MacKenzie with a secretive smile. “Close your eyes.”
“Why? I swear to God, Jacob if you dunk me again–”
“MacKenzie, you need to trust me on this. I promise you won’t regret it,” Jake coaxed. After a momentary hesitation, she did as he asked.
Stooping down, Jake swung MacKenzie off her feet. Her eyes popped open. Jake lowered his brows with a mock frown. “Keep them closed!” He ordered with false severity.
MacKenzie’s eyes fluttered close. Holding her securely in his arms, Jake teased. “Wow, if I had known how much you weighed, I would have made you walk.”
MacKenzie gasped at his comment, collected herself and sallied back. “Surprisingly, for such a big dude, you’re a wuss!” MacKenzie delivered her teasing insult while still following his order of keeping her eyes closed.
Stepping into the water that ran over his feet, Jake walked around an outcropping and then stepped back onto dry land. When he came to a stop, he looked at MacKenzie to ensure her eyes were still closed, they were.
Lowering her to her feet, Jake took hold of her shoulder and turned her around. “Okay, you can open them now.”
As MacKenzie took in the view before her, Jake tried to imagine how she was feeling seeing this place for the first time.
Laid out before them was an expanse of land overhung by trees that formed a canopy over the enclosed space. The trees grew so densely as to give the impression that nothing but more woodland lay behind it.
Scattered around as though Mother Nature herself had designed it, were wild flowers of every hue. Turning around, MacKenzie looked out over the water. Then she spun in a full circle taking in every aspect of the enclosed space. Finally she looked back at Jake.
“It’s perfect, Jake, just perfect!” MacKenzie spoke in a soft reverent voice, as though unwilling to disturb the serenity of the setting.
“I thought so after I completed it.”
“You did all this?” MacKenzie asked in surprise.
“Yeah,” Jake blushed. “When I came back home from my stay with Diana, I needed something to distract me. I worked on the design on and off for a couple of years. I was only a kid, but when I suggested this project to my dad, he gave me full rein. The pool came first, then this outcrop.
“Did it help, Jake?”
“Yes.” Jake nodded.
“I’m glad you had something to help you heal.”
Jake acknowledged her words with a smile, but that wasn’t why he had brought her here. “It’s my place of renewal. I brought you here because I hope it will do the same for you; mark a new beginning.” Pulling her close, he wrapped her in his arms and closed his eyes as he allowed the moment to wash over him.
Chapter 30
The feel of her body pressed against his reminded Jake that although she frustrated and angered him in equal measure, his feelings for her were undeniable. He loved her, and he probably had for a while. He was now ready to be completely honest with himself. Jake knew the reason he had chased after her was because he had hoped that one day they would be together.