The Falling of Love by Marisa Oldham Read Free Book Online

effortlessly as music goes from note to note.

 
 
 
    They return to the campsite where she hears Brandon and Bailey goofing off in their tent. They have gone out of their way to make a comfortable space. Grace glances at the two tents set up by a fire pit.
    She looks back at Ian with a smile. “Only two, huh?”
    Ian smiles back. “The intention is for you and Bailey to share.”
    “Oh,” she says, blushing.
    “But if you’re more comfortable sharing a tent with me, you’re more than welcome,” he says, with a snicker.
    “I’d like to sleep with you,” she says, frankly, but only meaning that she will actually sleep with him. She has no deviant intentions.
    Ian takes off his shirt, walks over to a large fallen tree trunk, lifts it up, and carries it over to the campsite. Holy shit ! Grace thinks, he is so hot !
    Grace sucks on her bottom lip as she checks out Ian. She turns her head and sees Bailey staring at her. Bailey bursts into giggles. Grace puts her hand over her mouth, and giggles as well.
    “Your brother is so hot!” She leans in whispering to Bailey.
    “Gross!” Bailey teases.
    The four of them sit around the campfire later that evening and to Grace’s amazement she is completely relaxed outdoors. She feels utterly safe with Ian and his family. Brandon strums the guitar while Ian and Bailey sing.
    “This family is talented!” she says, as she sings along with them.
    They spend hours by the fire singing, telling ghost stories, and roasting marshmallows. Bailey and Brandon start to get tired and head to their tent. Once they are out of sight, Ian pulls Grace close to him and wraps her in a blanket.
    “Are you having a good time?” he asks, as he softly kisses her on her head.
    “Wonderful.” She smiles.
    “Even with all the bugs and scary forest animals?” he teases.
    “I haven’t seen one bug! Those candles really work!”
    “I told you I would take care of you, baby.”
    Baby. The word rushes over her body like silk.

 
 
 
    The next morning the sounds of birds chirping in the trees wake Ian from his peaceful slumber. He has his arms wrapped tightly around Grace. He is perfectly content staying right here, in this moment for the rest of his life.
    At the sound of her breathing, he shifts his body so he can see her better, and she stirs, but does not wake. He cannot take his eyes off every distinct feature of her beautiful face. Her flawless skin shines without the aid of makeup and her cheeks glow a pinkish tone. His eyes fall on her mascara free, thick, long eyelashes, then follow the slope of her nose to the perfectly shaped tip. Ian cannot decide which of her looks he prefers, with makeup or without. He appreciates that she can pull either of these looks off effortlessly. The adorable, soft snore that comes from the slight part in her lips makes him fall for her even more.
    An hour later, Ian climbs out of the tent. His goal is to find a tree to relieve himself on. In the glowing morning light, drinking delicately from the lake is a mama deer and her fawn. He pokes his head back into the tent and quietly says, “Grace, come and see this.”
    Grace crawls from her sleeping bag and pokes her head out the tent. She looks at him with the most remarkable glowing smile. He cannot help but smile back at her. She makes him forget all the troubles he has in this world. He wraps his arm around Grace and they watch the beautiful scene unfold.
    All of a sudden, Brandon yells, “Wow!” and the deer run off into the forest.
    Ian glares at him and Brandon shrugs before climbing out of his tent.
    They spend the day playing by the lake, lying in the sun, playing music, and singing.
    Grace sits in a lounge chair, lakeside painting a watercolor of the landscape.
    “Can I have that?” Ian asks, as he stands over her while she puts the finishing touches on her painting.
    “Yeah. Consider it yours.” She smiles.
    “You’re really good!” he says, carefully holding the wet painting in