The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 225

Chapter 225

Eleanor POV

Saturday morning arrived with gentle sunshine and birdsong. I woke before the alarm, finding myself enclosed in Derek’s sleeping embrace, his arm heavy across my waist, his breathing deep and even against my neck. I allowed myself to savor the moment, this simple miracle of waking beside him, before carefully extracting myself to prepare breakfast.

In the kitchen, I hummed quietly while making coffee, watching Boston slowly wake through the window. When Derek appeared in the doorway, hair tousled from sleep and eyes still heavy-lidded, my heart swelled with tenderness. The way he looked at me-like I was something precious, something he couldn’t believe was his-still took my breath away.

Over breakfast, we discussed our route to Blue Mountain, and I noticed Derek checking and rechecking the location of a particular campsite with unusual attention to detail. As we made final preparations, I caught him patting a specific pocket of his backpack

repeatedly, as if reassuring himself that something important remained safely inside.

My curiosity grew, but so did a sense of hopeful anticipation. Whatever Derek was planning, I would wait for him to reveal it in his own time. After all, if there was one thing the accident had taught us both, it was the value of patience, and the unexpected beauty

that can emerge from life’s uncertain path.

The drive to Blue Mountain Preserve was filled with music and comfortable conversation. Derek controlled the car with confidence, another testament to his recovery. I caught myself watching his hands on the steering wheel, remembering how limp and unresponsive they had been in the hospital.

Remember when your family used to make us all go camping every summer?” I asked, rolling down my window to let the fresh air

The wind caught my hair, sending it dancing around my face.

“What?” Derek asked, catching me staring.

‘Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. Just… remembering.”

His expression softened with understanding. He squeezed my hand and pulled me the rest of the way up the incline.

We stopped to rest at a natural overlook, drinking water and sharing a protein bar. I watched Derek as he gazed across the valley, his expression contemplative, almost nervous. There was something in his demeanor today that I couldn’t quite place-a tension an anticipation that seemed to build with each mile.

By late afternoon, we reached the clearing Derek had chosen. I gasped involuntarily at the view-rolling hills stretched to the horizon, painted in deepening hues as the sun began its descent. A small, crystal-clear lake reflected the sky’s changing colors, and wildflowers dotted the meadow around us.