Chapter 1

Walking along the narrow boardwalk, thoughts drifted in lazy paths through my mind.    

Ah peace. Wonderful solitude, peace, serene, in my favourite place... I breathed in deeply of the heady scent of the rainforest, feeling another wave of pure bliss wash through me to my core.

Utter bliss! I watched the boards pass under me as I strolled along, noticing some were old, greyed, worn, and some were newer, still untouched by weather and mosses. Hiking in the woods, on this perfect fall day, alone, not a care in the universe... 

I descended a flight of steps down to a bridge over a small streambed, and barely noticed a small sound up ahead, far away, like soft steps... the sound stopped, and I thought it was forest sounds, and I was indeed alone here, yet the farthest thing from lonely. All around me I heard the high sounds of tiny birds. I sighed deeply again, inhaling the rich earthy scent I craved. I stopped at the bottom nearest the stream, turned on my camera and took a few shots from different angles with a few exposure changes to experiment with the light. I began to make similar bird sounds sucking air through my teeth. One by one I saw them venture near, flitting about on branches a few feet away.

They seemed so curious, twisting their heads to locate the source of attraction. One corner of my mouth tugged upwards. What could be better, alone, not a soul around, in the woods, perfect weather, playing with creatures, no plan, no destination...wandering, the way I love to be... another smaller sigh escaped my lips as I began to climb the stairs up the opposite ridge. I reached the top and continued around the curved boardwalk, which floated ten feet above the forest floor.

My eyes were drifting past salal, wild huckleberry, majestic cedar, sitka spruce and lacy hemlock, absently looking for perhaps a macro opportunity... my peripheral caught a flash of movement and I jerked my head up to see another hiker was directly in my path. What the?

I tried desperately to move fluidly to the side, hoping I could squeeze past without looking like an idiot for not paying attention, at the same time taken completely off guard by their completely silent and sudden appearance... uh...uh...whoa...oh shit...  I started to lose my balance and felt myself in one of those slow motion moments -where you know you’re going to fall and it’s going to hurt and there’s nothing you can do about it.

I felt a hand grip my upper arm, and my world teetered in the opposite direction and I found myself instinctively reaching and I came in contact with a strong arm. I pulled myself toward it, and landed with a soft thud into a solid chest.

I exhaled sharply as I made contact, and keeping my grip I stood perfectly still, besides shivering involuntarily at the realization I’d nearly cut my entire vacation short or worse, yet all was averted in a split second.

I took a deep breath, and looked up to see who had been so quick to change the course of my life. I lost the ability to breathe altogether. The greenest eyes looked down at me, wide with was that amusement or fear or?  I couldn’t place it. As my vision opened up beyond the eyes, I could not help but see hair, the next most noticeable feature, nice bronze tones, not unlike my own, yet swept up all over with chunks twisting in all directions, and the overall effect was literally breathtaking. I glanced down and saw a broad mouth, one side curled up in a most intriguing crooked smile... I must look like such an idiot, not only not looking where I am going, but diving off the boardwalk, and now gawking and speechless.

 I frowned at the spectacle I was making of myself, and at the complete difference between this moment and one only seconds before. “Th...Thanks!” I stammered, only furthering my humiliation. “Mmm... You are welcome. I am sorry if I took you by surprise.” His voice was deep, with a rough edge, and I couldn’t help but detect a touch of amusement behind his sincere words.

 Feeling my face flush as I realized my nearness to him, in fact chest to chest, my hand still gripping his bicep, I dropped my hand. I noticed he still held his hand lightly around my upper arm, and he did not let go. “Are you okay? I think I gave you a scare.” He still held my eyes with his. I felt a tinier shiver run through me at the vibration of his voice. His eyebrow flicked upwards.  “Uh ...yeah, I’m okay, and yes, you did.” I smirked. I shook my head, to dispel the shock and to try and free myself of the spell of those eyes. My heart sounded loud to me. What is wrong with me?  What’s going on here?

“Good...uh... I mean... that you’re okay. Are you out alone?” He spoke the latter softly, lilting up at the end, and I felt completely disarmed... and speechless again. I thought of his question, how it could be dangerous to answer truthfully, how I was very much alone, how absolutely no one knew where I was, how I was only one day into an entire week of complete solitude, how I’d rehearsed a ‘safe’ answer for this question... “Yes.” I answered quietly.

For some baffling reason I spoke the truth. I felt my face colour , and saw his brow twitch again. “I see. Are you headed for the beach?... Yeah, uh sorry, where else would you be going?!” He said the last in a rush, realizing his query silly as this trail led down to a beautiful wild west coast beach, as most all of the trails in the Pacific Rim National Park led. He looked embarrassed; the corner of his mouth twitching as he held my eyes, and again that feeling of - ‘what-I-don’t-know’ - caused me to shiver imperceptibly. I felt his hand loosen its hold on my arm, then unthinkably slowly and deliberately brush down the length of my arm, his fingers lightly making contact with my hand as his arm fell down to his side. I heard him inhale slowly.

His mouth erupted into a broad smile, and his eyes lit up turning impossibly greener, matching perfectly with the surrounding surreal glow of the forest. I took a tiny step backwards.

Before I recovered from his spectacular expression, he spoke once again. “Well... I too am alone...would you mind if I joined you?”  His mouth twisted as he seemed to struggle for words. “I was down at the beach, and it was bea-uti-ful (he drew the descriptor out deliciously) ...and well...I wondered if I could come with you.” He sounded so...so... warm, sincere, and inviting. An odd feeling crept into the pit of my being, nothing fearful, nothing negative, but a distant knowing, a recognition?, something I couldn’t put my finger on, all I knew was it felt warm and familiar.

I could not help but return his smile with one of my own, causing the corners of his eyes to crease as his smile grew broader. “Uh sure, I’m in.” In... yeah, in what exactly? I shrugged and turned to face my original direction towards the beach, and completely unintentionally, my left shoulder brushed across his chest.  Geez this boardwalk is narrow! I shot a quick look up out of the corner of my eye to catch him in a slow blink, his grin twitching on one side. I looked ahead swiftly, rolling my eyes at my idiocy, and lack of space judgement, and began walking forward. I heard him directly behind me and glanced over my left shoulder to find him so near his breath caused some of my curls to drift forward.

My heart skipped for a split second what am I doing?! Why did I say I was alone, and invite this man to walk with me?  Thankfully, I was able to keep my feet moving forward at an even pace, his magically following very closely.

We walked for a few minutes in silence, and I felt my shoulders return to a relaxed state.  I inhaled the sweet damp air and despite the oddness of my current situation, once again revelled in the peacefulness of the nature surrounding me. Yeah, what now?! My thoughts, seeming incoherent, and unable to focus, rambled around for an explanation, something to make sense of what was occurring. Nothing came through, I was baffled. Apart from the tiny sounds of the birds, there was only the soft thud of our feet on the wooden walkway, and my heart. My heart? I don’t remember hearing my heart before this encounter. My heart, audible in my ears, and with his nearness, could he hear as well? No. No way. “Have you found some good subjects?”  My brain struggled to comprehend. His voice was so... “Yeah, I love this place, many great things to capture.” I replied, trying to sound semi-intelligent, and at once realizing what I said. What-ever. “Any you want to show me?”

“Sure, when we get to the beach...uh, are a lot of not-so-great shots...” I tried to convey my total lack of photographic abilities. “I’d like to see them anyways... and oh... if you see something on our way you’d like to –capture- (drawing this word out in a purr) – he doesn’t miss anything I thought ruefully “please feel free to stop anytime.” “KK” I said quickly before I realized I was using leetspeak what a geek. He seemed not to notice and we continued on, rounding another bend between some fabulous cedars with signature west coast windblown branches.

Without thinking, what is up with me? I stopped suddenly closing one eye and framing a perfect shot...he quickly stopped too, but not before his cheek came forward over my shoulder as his momentum carried him forward. This all happened swiftly, but as it all flashed by fast, as his face neared mine, I saw such a look cross his features. Such a look. My God! But what – what was that look?!  Surprise? Pleasure? Like he knew something I didn’t? It was all so maddening, one minute I am completely content, all is well in my universe, and the next minute I can’t think straight, and my world is completely upside-down or at the least reeling... I collected myself with great effort, and did my best not to have noticed any ‘look’. I turned the camera on and started to frame and focus. Lovely branches. More zoom.

 I felt his eyes on me as I pressed the shutter, reframed another angle, changed exposure, feeling him watch, yet, mmm... interesting, I didn’t feel discomfort or embarrassment, no, instead, I felt what I sensed earlier, that warm and familiar feeling... I realized I felt comfortable with him watching me take photographs, how perplexing this all was, why would I feel comfortable with a perfect stranger watching my every move? 

After taking five or six shots, I spied something off the trail, some late ripening wild raspberry, red and bright against all the green. Eyes...so green...  I gingerly stepped off the boardwalk onto the forest floor, which was less than a foot down. I slowly moved toward the berries, careful where  I placed my feet,  trying not to disturb any tiny plants, and knelt down as carefully, switching the camera to ‘super macro’ mode, moving my arms up and out, the strap coming off my neck as I brought the lens to within a few centimetres of my target. Ca-lick my digital shutter noise broke the silence as I wished I shut off all camera sounds as I usually do before venturing into the wild. I made the adjustment with ease, and was able to take shots silently. As soon as I looked up again I came face to face with a tiny red squirrel. I stopped breathing. Without taking my eyes off the little creature, I changed the angle of the lens, began to increase zoom toward it and angle the LCD screen towards me, and pressed the shutter repeatedly making little changes in between. The squirrel went along with it all well, staying still long enough for me to focus and shoot, moving and to give more interest to my shots. I could not hold my breath another second and I tried to silently inhale, but it was too much for the creature and the squirrel began chirping loudly and took off in a flash back into the underbrush, popping up onto a nearby tree, only to disappear again.

I let out a sigh, and as carefully as I knelt, I got up and walked backwards in my original footsteps back on to the boardwalk. He stood there, a look of wonder on his face, unmistakeable this time. “You’re good.” “Uh no, lucky.” I started to shake my head.  “I saw him watching you, as I was watching you, and he was curious, as I am, and it was like he couldn’t help himself, he had to come and be with you...” he trailed off quietly at the end, yet I caught the connotation.  A breeze stirred up from behind him, coming up off the ocean. I inhaled an intoxicating scent that could only be coming from him. I felt unsteady on my feet. Whoa.

 It was as if I was seeing him for the first time; he looked striking, standing with his strong jaw holding that gorgeous crooked smile, those warm, extraordinarily green eyes and impossible hair, perfect in its wildness.           And he smelled so good! I continued staring, taking in his tall lean body, his worn jeans, well-used hiking boots, his long muscular forearms with his hands casually shoved in his jean pockets. His gray plaid shirt had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, open at the front, enough to show a masculine well-formed neck, down to a glimpse of his prominent collarbones... My eyes moved up and met his, I saw his tolerant expression as I realized I been ogling, no, not that, anything but that... I flushed yet again. Whoa, hormones running rampant at my age? I swallowed, trying to think of something to say.

He saved me. A second time. “It looks like you have as much curiosity as I do.” He let out a soft chuckle. Oh-my-god, I felt the vibration of that chuckle travel through the boards and up through my body. Mmm. “Uh, yeah, I don’t know what to say.” sorry, I don’t usually ogle “I’ve always felt like I have a special animal thing...“ There I go again “But I think it’s all in my mind.” Yeah, see, I’m crazy...“I have a good imagination.” Will my badly chosen words ever stop erupting from my mouth? “I... uh...”  I mumbled. He tilted his head to the side expressively. “I see. Well after what I just witnessed, I don’t think it’s all in your mind. You seem to have an affinity for attracting remarkable things.” “I’ll say!” I blurted. Oops. “Mmm...Well, shall we continue?” I added quickly.  He flashed me another magnificent smile. “Most certainly.” He replied, in a most charming manner.  I hesitated, and he noticed my momentary lapse and proceeded to take the lead. I tried to keep step with him, and could not, not as close as he could, so I fell in behind at more of a distance, where I felt like I might not stumble into his heels. After a moment, he slowly turned his and looked back at me, and inexplicably a thrill ran through me and I drew in another breath of him and found myself grinning stupidly as a happy warm feeling welled up.

 I don’t know what’s going on. Out of nowhere a Tragically Hip song softly played in the back of my mind...’I want my life to smell like this...’- yes...exactly like this!

I inhaled again deeply, and the mix of ocean, forest and his scent mingled and created an exquisite atmosphere. Seeing the trees begin to clear, I glimpsed ocean in between the gaps. Ahead the boardwalk turned into steep steps down towards the beach below us. As he began to descend I stopped, captivated by the expanse of ocean. The beach curved off for miles to my left and right, tiny islands and large rocks jutting out into the sea, waves crashing onto them, past them rolling up the beach in a slow hypnotising rhythm. The sun warmed my face and I lifted my chin and basked. And breathed. And wavered. The breeze caused my curls to swirl around my face and tickle my cheeks. I giggled. Giggled? I took a number of shots, left, right, up, down, Down? Yup, I think I caught him on film. I am not a people photographer. Nope. I like taking pictures of anything, except people for some reason. I looked down again, where my camera been aimed moments earlier, and saw him looking up at me. I smiled-no smirked, sheepishly and he cocked his head to one side, as if wondering what I was thinking, or knowing what I was thinking and slowly a smile spread across his incredible face as if beckoning me to him.

I started down the steps without giving it a second thought. I was  caught up to him when my foot landed at an odd angle on the next step and I felt a sharp pain stab in my bad knee and we go again my knee buckled as my hand flew to the railing. I caught the railing and my hand slid down Shit! Ow! A sharp pain shot up my palm and I instinctively jerked my hand back... Oh Shit! I hit a wall.

The pain grew sharper by the second as I made contact with him, and I pressed my face into his shoulder as tears began to run down my face. His free arm flew around my back protectively, comfortingly, as his other hand stayed glued to the railing to keep us both in place. I felt his warm breath on the back of my neck as he brought his face down to rest his cheek on my shoulder. Oh god. How wonderful... Ow!  My hand! My knee! We stood, motionless, except for my tears dripping silently off my nose onto his shirt. After a moment, my heart slowed and he whispered, “Can you make it the rest of the way down?” Again the vibration of his voice, soothing, familiar, moved like a current through me, his whispering tone full of concern. “I think so.” I spoke softly into his shoulder, my words muffled. He gently twisted his body keeping his one hand secured to the railing, and in one slow fluid motion, me turned around, his arm around my waist, supporting with incredible strength. I curled my hurt hand to my chest, not wanting to look at it, took a deep breath, and starting with my good leg, continued down the stairs, letting him take my weight when I needed to use my wrenched knee. 

We made it to the bottom, and in the next moment, in one swift motion he scooped me up, cradling me in his arms. What the!? Careful of my injuries, he started walking towards a grouping of logs. I vaguely wondered how he could be carrying me with such ease; after all, I am five foot eleven, and an Amazonian 150 lbs. I felt foolish... as the edges of my vision blurred, darkened, my eyes became heavy. I felt him gently prop me against a log, deftly removing my backpack and camera, and I think he was asking me something...

I was floating. Floating... drifting. It felt like lying on an air mattress floating on the ocean, undulating, peaceful... wonderful... dreamy. In the distance I heard a long ripping sound, and idly wondered if my air mattress was failing... a scream, steadily growing louder and louder and my eyes shot open without seeing - I felt fire searing my hand  - in an instant I realized the scream was tearing from my own throat. Holy Shit! I sat up sharply and my forehead encountered something unyielding. Ow! As the fire continued to burn, my senses were filled with a delicious scent. Him!  I leaned into the solid mass of his chest closing my eyes and wishing the fire away. I felt hands on my shoulders easing me back to the log, gently, smoothly my hand was manipulated, turned this way and that, something cool dousing the flames.

The burning subsided and I tentatively opened one eye. Ah, things started to come into focus, and as my eye traveled around toward my hand, I saw his eyes, deep green pools peering at me inquisitively.  I opened my other eye. I drew a ragged breath and exhaled slowly. The fire was smouldering now, much more tolerable. My knee felt tight and swollen, pulsing deep inside with its own more familiar fire. 

“Wow. Saved twice in one day - exciting.” My voice was shaky. “Mmm...Yeah, not so much.” He looked anxious. “Thank You – again.” I breathed.  He tried to explain. “You passed out. I thought it was a good time to get the chunk of wood out of your hand.” He exhaled, looking strained. “I’m sorry I hurt you... when you screamed... I never meant to cause you pain...”  I glanced down, seeing the gray plaid wrapped neatly around my hand. I looked back up at him, smiling softly, trying to assuage his concern, noticing one entire sleeve was missing from his shirt, and tried hard not to notice the exposed arm, tanned and powerfully built. Oops. Too late. I noticed. Did he notice me noticing? I took a steadying breath and tentatively moved my sore leg, while turning my hand I inspect the damage. I winced from both movements, unsure which one felt worse. “You might want to take it easy.”

I nodded at his sagely advice, pulling my pack toward me with my good hand. I felt around inside, extracting a zip loc bag and water bottle. Opening the bag with my teeth and fingers, I removed half a sandwich, extending my hand towards him. He smiled as he reached for it, taking a huge bite. I took a small bite of my half, watching his face visibly relaxing as we ate. I saw slight changes cross his expression, but none I could decipher. “I didn’t know I was hungry!”  He beamed as he swallowed. “That was good, thanks.” I handed him the water bottle. His hand covered mine as he reached for it, and he held still searching my eyes. “Are you feeling any better?” “Yeah, I am, thanks to you.” Some of the anxiousness crept back into his gaze. “I can’t help but think I caused this... I mean, if you came on your own, I don’t think...” He said. “Get out, I don’t think...” I countered. “No, I think I’ve thrown you off balance, you had your own game plan, and I came along and...” “Seriously, it’s fine; I wanted you to join me, geez, what if I been alone and wiped out on those stairs...” I shuddered. He reached out his free hand and brushed my cheek, his fingers following the curve of my jaw. I closed my eyes for a moment, the coolness of his touch soothing away the visions of myself in a crumpled heap at the base of the stairs.

His other hand tightened around mine as we both still held the water bottle. “I’m sorry.” He said softly as his eyes searched the sand in front of him. “I’m not sure why I did that just now, I just... wanted to... comfort you.” He slowly drew his face up and met my eyes. “I’m not sure...” he hesitated. “I feel... you seem... so...familiar.” His struggle was palpable, very like my own attempts to put a finger on what was happening. I sighed, the sound coming out in a soft hum. Great. “I think I know what you mean.” I narrowed my eyes looking harder into his, as if I could find an answer in them. “When you touched my face...” I continued to search his eyes. “Well, I... it...seemed natural, expected, and it... well, it felt good.” I felt heat rising up my neck to my cheeks. “Ever since I... we... ran into each other, I’ve been trying to figure out what’s going on.” As I finished, it was as if his whole face began to glow. “I know- me too. It’s un-nerving, but don’t get me wrong, I am thoroughly enjoying myself...except the part where you got hurt of course.” We both smiled. His smile and glowing face was beautiful and confusing me further. I felt a need to explain. “It’s not like I agree to go walking alone in the woods with strangers all the time.  I’ve never... I mean, I try my best not to seem alone, not to attract attention...”  He tilted his head sideways slightly, his lips parting, causing my stomach to flutter. I felt giddy. “I have never approached anyone in the woods and asked if I could join them on their walk. It’s totally unlike me to do something like that. I asked before I knew I was speaking. I fully expected you to decline; I was shocked you accepted.” He suddenly looked shy. “I am pleased you did accept.”

We sat looking at each other, feeling like we confessed our souls to one another. Silence hung in the air. “Daniel.” As he spoke his name aloud for the first time, I felt detached from everything for a moment, as if time stood still for me alone. Where did I go? “Alexis.” I breathed. I was not sure what to make of his response, yet he continued to look into my eyes as I spoke my name. It was all surreal, I think for both of us, sitting on the beach, not knowing each other, yet inexplicably connected.

I began to move, slowly, twisting my body, giving him the water bottle and placing my good hand on the log as I pushed myself up to a standing position, putting all my weight on my good leg. I wavered. “Are you sure...?” He was up in a flash, standing directly in front of me supporting me with his hands firmly on my hips. “I want to get my knee in the water, I think it will help.” “Okay, uh, can I help?” He did not look convinced I could move. “I want to try... see if I can walk.” His hands slowly left me, and I felt the warmth of them linger on me. He moved to the side watching me intently, and I took a small step toward the water. So far, so good.

Another step, deliberate and cautious, I nodded my minutely as if assuring him I was okay. “My knee has been bejiggered for years, its fine for a long time, then one wrong step...” I explained as I made my way closer to the waves lapping on the shore as he followed. “Apparently I am far too young for a knee replacement.” I sounded exasperated as I bent and undid my laces with one hand. I stepped out of my shoes and pulled off my socks, wobbling, he was near enough to catch my fall, but I stayed upright.

Ahhhhh... I stepped into the icy water, and continued carefully to deeper water. The waves washed over the hem of my capris, and I took another few steps and both my knees were submerged. “Oh yeah!” I rejoiced in the cooling, soothing, healing of the frigid ocean. “Isn’t it freezing?” He stood on the shore and looked at me like I was nutty, standing in the pacific ocean past my knees in the late September weather. “No way, not when it has the power to heal!” I  nearly yelled. “I’ve lived on this island my entire life, and I will never get enough of its power and beauty.” I spoke from my soul. His expression changed to a look of joy matching my own, shaking his head as he watched me revel. “You are a most interesting being Alexis, I am more drawn to you every minute.” He was at the edge above the waves reach. He bent down and removed his hiking boots and socks, pulled his pant legs as high as he could, and placed one foot into the water. He hissed loudly and his breath hitched. “That is SOOOO cold!” but he took another step. He held his face in a tight grimace, braving the cold to join me. I enjoyed his slow progress, not many I know would brave these waters to be near me. “I am extremely impressed with you Daniel; I thought I was the only one crazy enough to play in an ocean this cold.” I gave him what I hoped was a winning smile, to convey the depth of my feeling.

He reached my side, and manoeuvred himself to stand a couple feet away directly in front of me and looked into my face with such an incredible expression my heart  leapt and began thudding in my chest, simultaneously feeling myself flush at the sudden welling of emotions I felt. He slowly reached out his hand and tenderly lifted my good hand and brought it to his chest. I placed my hand flat, applying pressure, feeling his heart pounding like my own. His hand, still covering mine tightened, pressing my hand into him as he closed his eyes and raised his face to the sky. Oh my god...He was absolutely magnificent; his faced bathed in sunlight, his wild hair dancing in the breeze, I stared in awe, my breath catching in my throat, my heart beating at an even faster rate. None of this struck me as inappropriate. It did not seem sexual or erotic, yet, it was– so powerfully intimate!

He stepped closer, my hand fell down to my side, and he pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me. I laid my face on his chest, closing my eyes, inhaling his sweet fresh earthy scent and my arms curled around his back. He bent his face into my hair, took a deep breath and sighed. “You smell wonderful.”  I remembered to breathe. “You smell great yourself.”

He pulled back and as my eyes opened, his brow creased. “Alexis.” His voice was hoarse with emotion, and I stopped breathing altogether. Hearing him say my name, it was too good, too much. I took a step back, taking his hand in mine, and silently led him to shore. My knee was much better, from both the ocean’s coolness and the complete distraction of our embrace.