A Love to Treasure (Sunriver Dreams Book 1) Read online

“Now?”

  She looked around the emptying room. “Why not?” If they didn’t get a move on, she’d talk herself out of spending the afternoon with him. “Let me say goodbye to Sarah. Be right back.” When she’d told her friend about Mark’s request she sit with him, Sarah encouraged Nicole to join him. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Grams had planted Mark in her life. Grams might be able to pull off a scavenger hunt of sorts, but there was no way she’d arranged for Nicole to meet the man of her dreams.

  Her brain stuttered. Impossible—Mark couldn’t be the man of her dreams. He lived in the biggest city in Oregon and had a dangerous job. She didn’t like big cities, and she definitely didn’t like danger. Especially where people she cared about were concerned.

  Nicole wheeled the tandem from her garage. “Here it is. What do you think?” Her nose tickled and she held back a sneeze.

  Mark pushed on the tires and gave the bike a general once over. “Looks sound. The tires are a little low, but we can fill them at the North gas station.”

  “Okay. You want the front or back? On second thought, you take the front.” She didn’t want him staring at her backside—not that he would since he was a gentleman, but still . . .

  He straddled the bike. “Can you believe I’ve never ridden one of these things?”

  “Me neither.” She pulled the garage door closed then got on behind him. She scrunched her nose trying to hold in a sneeze. Her eyes watered. She would not sneeze. “Ah-choo!”

  “Catching a cold?”

  “Allergies. They’re usually mild, but they’ve been bothering me for several days, even with allergy meds.” Another sneeze escaped.

  “Sorry to hear that. You sure you want to go riding?” He looked over his shoulder.

  “Positive.” Then again, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. They were both inexperienced on a tandem bike, and she didn’t want to break a limb. Plus, her head was beginning to ache from the congestion that had suddenly attacked her.

  He pushed off and pedaled. Too late to back out now. Besides the alternative was hanging out inside the close quarters of her house. She copied his motion and within seconds they bumped through the dirt to the path.

  After pedaling for a while, she realized Mark could do all the work, and she could coast along. Good thing too because she’d started to wheeze. Odd. Her asthma almost never acted up. It hadn’t been much of a problem for years. She tried to ignore the wheezing and relax. There was no reason to push her body if it wasn’t necessary.

  Mark grunted. “Think you could help pedal up the hill?”

  “Oops. Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

  He chuckled. “That sounds familiar.”

  Nicole’s face burned and not from the exertion of going uphill. She coughed several times and tried to ignore the tightening in her chest. “I know you’re a detective in Portland, but is it normal for cops to work at other police departments like you’re doing?” She concentrated on taking controlled breaths.

  “It’s not unheard of, but not the norm either. Sometimes we are loaned to other places, but this job is different. I actually applied and went through the interview process the same as anyone else would. My position in Portland will be waiting for me in September.”

  The grocery store/gas station was in sight. Good thing too because her legs had turned to jelly. Since getting caught not pedaling, she hadn’t quit pumping. They crossed Cottonwood Road and stopped at the air machine. “You want something to drink?” She slid off the bike.

  “How about a bottle of water?”

  “Okay. Be right back.” On noodle legs she walked inside. Bike riding had sounded like a good idea, but now not so much. She chose Vitamin Water for herself and a plain H2O for Mark, paid then headed outside.

  Her legs finally felt like they would hold as she strolled over to where Mark stood talking with a family. “All set?”

  Mark nodded and took the water she offered, then stuffed it in one of the bottle holders on the frame of the bike. He turned back to the family. “Good to meet you, and remember to watch for the signs on the trails. As long as you stay on the right color path you shouldn’t get lost.” Mark straddled the bike and looked over his shoulder. “Where to?”

  “My place. I’m thinking about that hill we coasted down. It’s going to be a killer to get back up, and I’m not feeling well.”

  “You really do sound like you’re coming down with something. How about you wait here, and I’ll ride to your house on my own and come back for you with my car.”

  She looked around the gas station/mini-mart parking lot, and considered his suggestion. If she allowed him to go get the car, he’d think she was a wimp. “No. I’ll be okay.”

  “If you’re sure.” He turned the bike in the direction they’d come and pedaled off. “That first day I was on duty, I thought my legs would give out more than once. At least I didn’t have any serious hills to patrol.”

  Nicole studied Mark’s muscular back. They’d be leaving Sunriver at about the same time. She couldn’t help the attraction she felt toward him, and spending time with him drew her to him even more. Today had been a bad idea! All this sunshine and warm weather must be messing with her mind.

  “You still with me back there?” He glanced over his shoulder.

  “I’m helping.”

  “Not what I meant. You’re so quiet. Everything okay? If you’re feeling worse, we can walk the bike up the hill.”

  “I’m fine. Just thinking.” She dug in and pedaled hard to the crest. Pain shot through her chest. Her breath came in short gasps. “Must . . . stop.”

  Mark pulled off the path and angled toward her. “You okay?”

  She shook her head and tried to breathe, but her lungs wouldn’t cooperate. Pulling in short shallow breaths, she prayed for God’s help.

  Mark touched her back. “Nicole?”

  “Asthma attack.” The words were barely out of her mouth before she sank to the dirt on the edge of the path. Her eyes watered. She hadn’t had an attack like this since she was a child and didn’t know what to do. She never carried her emergency inhaler.

  “Where’s your inhaler?”

  “Home.”

  Mark’s heart slammed against his chest. Why would someone with bad asthma not carry an emergency inhaler? Now was not the time for a medical emergency. He looked around for help. A few houses were nearby, but there was no guarantee they were occupied.

  Nicole seemed to struggle to get even a little air. At least she hadn’t passed out—yet.

  Precious seconds ticked by as he tried to figure out what to do.

  A group of kids rode up on their bikes. “She okay?” A girl asked.

  “No. She’s having an asthma attack. Do any of you have an emergency inhaler?” He looked from the girl to the others riding with her.

  A boy who looked around fourteen pulled something from his pocket. “I have Albuterol. I’ve never used it, but my mom makes me carry it.” He handed it to Mark, who in turn passed it to Nicole.

  With tears in her eyes, she depressed the canister. An eternity seemed to pass before she repeated the process. She took a shaky breath then another. Finally, she breathed deeply. “Thanks.” She handed the boy his medicine. “That’ll teach me to go riding without my inhaler. I’ll pay for a replacement.”

  “You’re welcome. Like I said, I’ve never even used it. Don’t worry about buying me a new one. My inhalers always end up expiring unused. I always thought it was stupid that my mom made me carry mine, but now I’m glad. You okay?”

  “I am, thanks to you and your mom. Be sure to tell her I said thank you.”

  The boy grinned. “Okay. ’Bye.”

  The kids took off, leaving Mark alone with Nicole. He sat on the pavement, his feet resting in the dirt. “Lady, I’ve seen my share of emergencies, and though that didn’t come close to the worst, you really had me scared.”

  “Sorry.”

  Mark thought about Tracy and the bomb that had taken
her life. Nicole’s asthma might not be a bomb but could have been as deadly.

  Nicole’s concerned eyes searched his face.

  He squeezed her hand. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one who could have died.”

  “I wasn’t going to die, but thanks for your help. That was a little disconcerting.”

  He nodded. Too bad he couldn’t have stopped Tracy from picking up that bag with the homemade bomb inside.

  “You have a haunted look in your eyes, and it’s scaring me. What are you thinking about?”

  “Nothing good. You ready to go?”

  Nicole eyed him, frowning. “I wish you wouldn’t do that. Sometimes sharing what’s bothering you eases the burden of carrying it alone. I’d like to help.”

  He pulled her to standing, their faces inches apart. His gaze locked on hers. “Thank you for caring.” The sounds around them faded as he brushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. He lowered his mouth and brushed his lips across hers.

  Her eyes fluttered, and she grinned. “Nice deflection.”

  He chuckled. “Not the response I was going for.” He took her hand. “You up to riding back?”

  “Maybe we should walk.”

  “Okay.” He stood on one side of the bike and she the other. “Why don’t you carry an emergency inhaler?”

  “I’ve never needed one. I guess that’s not entirely true. I haven’t needed to use one in so long that I didn’t think to bring it. Like that boy who helped me, mine always expire unused.”

  He nodded. “I guess I get that, but you take a risk not keeping it with you.”

  “My asthma is under control. I never have attacks. Well, I haven’t since I was a teen. One thing is certain, I’ll be carrying it with me from now on. I think my allergies set off this attack.”

  His gut tightened at the casual way she approached her health. He cared about her and didn’t want her taking unnecessary risks with her well-being, but from her perspective her reasoning made sense. “You mentioned having allergies?”

  “Yes. They are usually mild, but not today.”

  “I’ve noticed.” He shot her a teasing grin.

  They walked in silence for the next twenty minutes until Nicole’s cabin came into view. They cut through the foliage on a worn path.

  “Home sweet home.” Nicole opened the garage door. “Thanks for today. And sorry about earlier.”

  Mark touched a hand to her cheek. “No need to apologize. In spite of your asthma attack I had fun this afternoon.”

  “Me too.”

  “I have tomorrow off also. Maybe we could get together and do something? I’m thinking something water related.”

  She hesitated a moment then nodded. “I’d like that.” A smile reached her beautiful eyes.

  He let out the breath he’d been holding. He liked this woman—a lot.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Nicole stretched, arching her back, and kicked off the covers. She’d dreamed about Mark last night and relived his kiss over and over. What was she doing? She couldn’t help being drawn to Mark, but how could they ever have a lasting relationship with her aversion to big and congested cities and the fact that he put his life on the line every time he put on his uniform.

  Confusion knotted her stomach. Maybe she should call him and cancel, because the more time she spent with him the more she liked him.

  She squinted at the sunlight streaming in through the bedroom window and breathed in deeply the scent of fresh brewed coffee that wafted from the kitchen. Oh the joys of having a programmable coffee maker. Glancing at the bedside clock, she gasped. Mark would be there in fifteen minutes. No time to cancel now, it would be rude, and she couldn’t treat him that way after he’d been so kind.

  She darted to the bathroom and banging her toe into the doorframe, she sucked in a breath. This was not a good way to start a day that held such promise. Hopefully it wasn’t a sign of things to come. Tears of pain and frustration pricked her eyes.

  Closing her eyes, she shot off a quick prayer. She had been praying since coming to Sunriver, and thanks to Sarah’s invite to church, she’d begun to rekindle her relationship with the Lord. Grams would be pleased. She winced at her throbbing toe. No way would she allow this to ruin her day. She stood putting pressure on her foot and gasped. Who would’ve thought a tiny toe could cause so much pain? She limped to the sink and splashed water on her face, doing her best to ignore the throbbing. After running her fingers through her hair to get out the tangles, she slipped on the black swimsuit from Grams then topped it off with a tank top under a red button-up blouse and khaki shorts. Her reflection in the mirror startled her. She appeared . . . happy even if she was in pain.

  She peered down again at her red and swollen toe and sighed. It really looked ugly. She tried to move it and gritted her teeth against the groan that pressed at her throat. Hopefully the swimsuit meant they’d be in cool water, which would soothe the pain and maybe bring down the swelling.

  Pain or not, no way could she make it through the day without coffee. She hop-walked to the kitchen, being careful to avoid putting much pressure on her right foot. After pouring a mug full and adding vanilla flavored creamer, she sat and savored the rich aroma for a moment. A quick glance at the clock above the stove prompted her to gulp it down. She still needed makeup!

  Reaching into her purse, she pulled out the essentials and applied tinted sunblock to her face, a touch of lipstick, then brushed on a light dusting of powder. She gave a mental shrug. “That will have to do.” She transferred the important stuff into a hobo bag and dropped it onto the counter.

  A knock at the door drew her away from the kitchen. “Coming!” She hobbled as fast as possible then pulled the door open.

  Mark’s face lit, and her heart rate kicked up a notch. He looked like he’d stepped off the cover of a sports magazine with his khaki shorts, dark sunglasses and rafting sandals. “Good morning. You ready?”

  “Just about. Be right back.” She turned toward the bathroom again and moved forward trying desperately not to limp.

  “What happened?” The concern in Mark’s voice stopped her. He sidled up to her and knelt beside her foot. “That looks painful.”

  “It’s nothing.” She looked down at the cause of her embarrassment. “My little toe collided with the door frame this morning.

  He frowned. “Is it broken?”

  “I couldn’t tell.”

  “Let me look. I’ve broken my fair share of bones.”

  Her lips twitched. “So you’re a doctor too, huh?”

  A slow smile lifted his lips, and he settled his hands at her waist. “Up you go.”

  Before she realized what was happening, he’d lifted her onto the counter. Good grief the man was strong! She was no lightweight. He squatted before her and took her foot in his hand. She caught her breath. Her gaze trekked down from his face to his hands as they gently probed her injury. “Careful.” She winced when he touched an especially tender spot.

  “I think you’ll live. It might be broken, but it’s hard to say. Do you have any tape?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “In that case, I’ll have to carry you.”

  “What? No. I can walk.”

  He scooped her into his arms before she could protest further. Her heart tripped into a staccato beat. She reached for her bag.

  “You have everything?” He spoke softly inches from her face.

  Her cheeks had to match the color of her top. “My flip flops are by the door.”

  “I’ll come back for them.” Somehow he opened the door without dropping her and managed to maneuver through without bumping her foot. He gently deposited her on the hood of his car.

  He chuckled. “Sorry, I didn’t think this through. I should’ve opened the door before bringing you out here.” Sadie barked from the backseat.

  “But then I’d have been right behind you, and it wouldn’t have mattered.”

  He grinned and stro
de off for her flip-flops.

  She sat stunned for a moment before gathering her wits and scrambling into the car. To say he had surprised her was an understatement, but boy she liked his kind of surprises. Had he heard her heart pounding when he held her close? She shook off the embarrassing thought and watched him jog back to the car.

  Sadie whined for attention.

  Nicole turned and scratched behind the dog’s ear. “You’re a good girl.”

  The driver’s side door opened, and he slid in. “All set?”

  “Yes.” She glanced at him. “You do realize you can’t carry me all day?”

  “No worries. I have tape in my gym bag.”

  “If you had it all along why didn’t you . . .”

  He shot a mischievous look her way. “I’ll tape it when we get there. Were you sleepwalking or something?”

  “Not exactly. I overslept and wasn’t paying enough attention.”

  “At least we won’t be walking much today.” He started the engine and pulled out.

  “I was hoping that would be the case since you said to wear my swimsuit.” Looking out the side window, she mentally mapped where they were. “When do I get to know what you have planned?”

  “We’re going canoeing. Spencer has a canoe and offered to let us borrow it. He’ll meet us at the river and will pick us up at the takeout point in a few hours.”

  The image of the officer dressed in drag brought a smile to her lips. “That’s nice of him.” Then another thought struck her—the last time she was in a boat her oar broke. Hopefully there would be no repeat of that incident today.

  Mark pulled the car to a stop on the side of the road. The river wouldn’t be crowded this time of day. The chill in the air made him grateful he’d worn a hoodie. But the clear sky would soon allow the sun to warm them.

  “Stay put, Nicole. I’ll be right back.” He grabbed athletic tape from his gym bag and pulled open the passenger door. She looked at him with worry in her eyes.

  “I think it’ll be fine. I don’t need that.”

  He shook his head and squatted then rested her foot on his knee. “Sorry, but you’ll be getting in and out of the canoe, and I’d feel better knowing your toe is protected at least a little. I’ll be gentle.”