The drive to Salida is a little under three hours, but you wouldn’t know with the amount of crap I packed for us to eat. Good thing, too, because Jasper already demolished the peanut M&M’S, more than half of the Red Vines, and all the Chex Mix . . . and we still have the ride home tonight. Thank goodness the car doesn’t affect Jasper like the altitude did because I wouldn’t even want to imagine the horror that could happen.

“Thanks for clearing your schedule for today.” I keep my eyes on the road in front of me. Not looking at him makes it much easier to say the things that make me feel more vulnerable than I’m comfortable with. “I know this is further than we’ve gone before, but I’m really so excited to show you Salida. It’s one of my favorite places.”

It’s been so much fun showing Jasper the local things that I’ve let this part of the plan fall behind. Plus, it’s much easier to go out for an evening than it is to take an entire day. Luckily, Dani needed to pick up an extra shift and I was able to slip away.

The best thing about Salida is there’s so much more than hiking that—hopefully—we can avoid any altitude issues this time around. I have the entire day planned and I can’t wait to see his face when he sees what we’re doing.

“I don’t know why you’re thanking me; you’ve done all of the work.” His hand drifts over the center console like it has done a few times during the drive, and he rests it on my bare knee. It’s such an innocent touch, he never moves it any higher, but the way his thumb draws circles on the sensitive skin on the side of my leg makes it hard for me to focus. “I’m lucky enough to sit back and enjoy this beautiful ride.”

I wanted the entire day to explore, so I forced Jasper into my Jeep before sunrise. It was so early, in fact, that for the first time since I can remember, I didn’t hit any traffic as we left the city behind us. It might be the first time Jasper didn’t hear me swearing like a sailor behind the wheel.

The Colorado mountains sat in front of us, and as the sun rose, the dark sky brightened into the blue that sets my heart on fire. When the trees grew nearer and the boulders rose around us, breathing came easier as we rose and fell with the road.