It wasn’t the most attractive of places, ramshackle and jarringly out of place amongst all the pristine beauty, but when Paolo announced that hot showers and toilets were available inside, a collective cheer went up.

“A bathroom, Brett,” she said to him, her voice filled with a piteous awe she couldn’t control. “An actual bathroom. With a shower. And hot water. Oh, glorious day!”

He cast a dubious look at the rundown building. “I’m thinking it’s not going to be like the Ritz Carlton.”

“I don’t care. I’ve never been so glad to hear the words bathroom and shower in my entire life.”

“Glad you’re happy. Especially since you’ve seemed sort of…not happy all day.” His gaze searched hers. “Is everything okay?”

No. “Yes.” At this point, what was one more lie?

He lightly grasped her arm, then led her several steps away from the others. When he looked at her again, there was no mistaking the mixture of concern and confusion in his eyes. “Kayla…did I say something, do something, to upset you?”

She immediately shook her head, then reached out and placed her hand against his whisker-roughened cheek. “No. You’ve been…perfect.”

“But something’s wrong. Can I help?”

She briefly squeezed her eyes shut. Yes. Stop being so nice to me. So wonderful. So generous. So understanding. I’m not the honest person you think I am.

When she opened her eyes, she drew a deep breath, then said, “Thank you, but as much as I appreciate the offer, I need to work it out on my own.” She offered him a weak smile. “I guess all this exposure to nature and peace and quiet has forced me to do some serious self-evaluation, and I’ve discovered, much to my chagrin, that I’ve come up short in a few areas.”

Comprehension dawned in his eyes. “I’d lay odds that everyone here is in the same boat, myself included. A trip like this offers the time and setting conducive to reflection, which is exactly the change that’s needed to gain balance back in our lives.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “If it’s any consolation, I think you’re terrific.”

To her utter mortification, hot tears pushed behind her eyes. “Thank you. And I think you’re…extraordinary.” And, God, I’m going to miss you so much.

“Thanks.” He gave the air an exaggerated sniff then wrinkled his nose. “Of course, I’ll think you’re even more terrific after you’ve showered.”

Although the facilities were stark and rundown, to Kayla they represented the height of comfort. She luxuriated in her shower, soaping herself twice from head to toe, then dressing in her most comfortable jeans and softest sweatshirt. While the shower hadn’t cleansed away any emotional dirt, at least she felt physically clean.

Dinner that night was a gala affair. Ana, Alberto and Miguel had hiked ahead of the group in order to set up the kitchen tent and campsite early. Their meal consisted of pachamanca, a classic Inca dish distinguished by its method of underground cooking. Meat, potatoes, cheese, peppers and herbs were baked in a hole in the ground over hot stones, with banana leaves placed between the layers of food.

“The act of cooking in the ground was symbolic for the Incas,” Paolo explained while they enjoyed the delicious meal. “Because they worshipped the earth, to eat directly from it was a way of honoring Pachamama, Mother Earth, and giving thanks for her bounty.”

After dinner, over coffee around the campfire, Paolo said, “On this, the last night of our journey together, I always encourage everyone to talk about the trip thus far-what you’ve learned, what you think will stick in your minds as memorable years from now when you look back on your hike.” He nodded toward Dan Smith, who’d kept mostly to himself over the past two days, and said, “You went last on our first night, señor, so I invite you to begin this evening.”

Everyone’s attention turned to Dan, and as it had the first night, it took him a moment to answer. “This trip has shown me that there are places in the world that go beyond just looking beautiful. These last few days, I’ve cherished every step, every aching muscle, every extraordinary thing I’ve seen. I’ve also missed Marcie so much I could barely breathe. She would have loved this place, but would have despised the bathroom tent. Probably even more than Kayla.”

His gaze flicked to Kayla who, the entire group agreed, hated the bathroom tent more than anyone else, and the ghost of a smile touched his lips. “My Marcie loved a long soak in the tub.”

He cleared his throat. “So I learned I could miss her even more than I thought possible. I learned that it doesn’t take long for strangers to feel like family, especially when you’re all trying to accomplish the same difficult task.”

Again his gaze settled on Kayla and an invisible camaraderie passed between them, squeezing her heart in sympathy for the kindly man. “And I learned that it helps to know other people understand exactly how I feel. Long after the scenery has faded from my memory and I can no longer even see the pictures I’ve taken, I’ll remember how good the accomplishment of this hike, the tranquility of this place and the kindness you people made me feel.”

His comments were met with a round of applause. When the clapping died down, Paolo nodded toward Bill and Eileen, indicating they were next.

“Most memorable so far for me,” Bill said, “is the way this place has made me think about history. Eileen and I have been to Rome where we spent a day visiting the Forum and the Coliseum and it certainly gave you a sense of ancient times. But you were also surrounded by the very busy, very modern city of Rome. Here, there’s nothing but nature for days on end, nothing to pull you out of the past.” He winced and rolled his neck. “And based on all my aches and pains, I learned that I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“I second that bit about the aches and pains,” Eileen said. “Most memorable for me will be the quiet of this place. In our hectic, busy lives at home, there’s rarely quiet. Between work, our boys, our students, the phone, the doorbell, the television, it’s just always so noisy. I’ve really enjoyed the utter stillness and quietness here.”

After another round of applause, Paolo pointed to Brett. “How about you, señor? Have you found the balance you mentioned seeking on our first night?”

Kayla turned toward Brett, who sat next to her, and stared at his handsome profile. His dark hair gleamed in the golden firelight, and her fingers itched to glide along the tempting plane of his freshly shaved jaw.

“I haven’t completely regained my balance because I haven’t been able to focus all my energies on deciding what I want to do about my formula.” His lips quirked upward. “I’ve been too busy trying not pass out from lack of oxygen or slide down two thousand stone steps on my butt.”

Laughter and nods of commiseration greeted his words. “I’ve also been a bit preoccupied by a certain beautiful lady,” he said, turning to smile at Kayla.

A group “awww” sounded and another knife of guilt stabbed into Kayla’s gut.

After shooting her a wink, Brett turned back to the fire. “But in spite of not making the actual decision, my being here, away from the phone and e-mail and craziness, has cleared my mind so that when I return home, I’ll be better prepared to make it. Everything else has fallen into place, into balance here, so I’m confident the decision regarding my formula will follow suit. As for what I’ll recall as most memorable…”

Again he turned toward Kayla, and the look in his eyes stilled her. Dear God, he was looking at her in a way that made everyone, everything else dissolve. As if no one existed except them. As if she were the most beautiful, desirable woman he’d ever seen.

“I can sum up most memorable in one word,” he said softly. With his serious gaze steady on hers, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her fingers. “Kayla.”

For several long seconds, the only sound was the snapping of the flames while she stared into his beautiful eyes and pretended her heart hadn’t twisted into a hard, painful knot. Then someone whistled through their teeth and everyone applauded, jerking her back from the private place where only she and Brett existed. A place where nothing could come between them.

An impossible place that didn’t exist.

“That is so romantic,” Ashley said, giving Shawn an exaggerated jab with her elbow.

“It will be difficult to top what your man said,” Paolo told Kayla with a smile.

Your man. The words ricocheted through her, filling her with a dull ache as she realized just how much she wished they were true.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she looked down to hide them. A single droplet plopped on her hand, and she watched it trail over her skin before clearing her throat to rid it of the lump which had lodged there. “This…this has been the single most challenging and fulfilling experience of my life. The no change, no gain mantra that brought me here has proven very prophetic. What I think I’ll always remember about this adventure is how much I discovered about myself. Some of which I like, some of which I don’t.”

She blinked back more tears, and in an attempt at lightening a situation that threatened to emotionally crush her, added, “I also learned how much I take the everyday niceties of life-like indoor plumbing-for granted.” She then turned and looked at Brett. Their gazes met and her throat closed off. But she couldn’t not mention him. “And of course, I’ll always remember Brett,” she whispered, scarcely able to find her voice. “Brett, who is…unforgettable.”

Yes, she’d always remember him-with a deep ache in her heart for what they’d shared and what might have been if they’d met under different circumstances.

When the applause quieted, Paolo nodded toward Ashley.

“Since I met Shawn, I’ve taken a lot of camping trips, but this one is, by far, the most strenuous and exhausting. But also the most beautiful. I’ll never forget the feeling of pride and accomplishment I experienced when I looked back from Dead Woman’s Pass at the trail we’d hiked. And what I’ve learned is really just a reconfirmation of something I already knew-that I’d rather be exhausted from hiking and living in primitive conditions with Shawn than hanging out at some ritzy resort with anyone else.” She leaned over and planted a noisy kiss on his cheek, and the group whooped, whistled and clapped.

After the noise died down, Shawn said, “Well, I’m really glad to hear you say that, babe, because what I’ve learned on this adventure is really just a reconfirmation of something I already knew-that I never want to be without you. And I’m hoping that the next moment will be our most memorable of this trip.” He shifted off the log bench onto one knee, then slipped a small, square box from his pocket. He opened it and a diamond ring sparkled in the firelight.

“Ashley, I knew you were ‘the one’ the first time I saw you. You’re my best friend, my best girl and I love you. Will you marry me?”

Kayla, along with everyone else, silently watched Ashley’s eyes widen. Her gaze bounced between Shawn and the ring several times, then, with a sound that was half laugh, half sob, she flung her arms around him and buried her face against his neck.

“I take it that’s a yes,” Brett leaned over to whisper in Kayla’s ear.

“That’s my guess,” she whispered back.

“Yes!” Shawn shouted, jumping to his feet and dragging Ashley up with him. “She said yes!”

Everyone offered their congratulations to the beaming couple and admired the solitaire ring. Shawn pulled a bottle of champagne from the bottom of his backpack, exclaiming, “This bottle’s been burning a hole in my backpack this entire hike.”

“Good thing I said yes,” Ashley teased, “because now your pack will be considerably lighter.”

After pouring some champagne into everyone’s coffee mug, Shawn raised his and said, “A toast to my beautiful bride-to-be.”

“Who promises to look much more beautiful than I do right now when the big day actually arrives,” Ashley added with a happy smile.

After the champagne was finished, and good-nights were said, everyone headed off to get ready for bed. Once Kayla and Brett were ensconced in the intimate coziness of their tent, he remarked, “Nice way to end the evening. Glad she didn’t say no. He was pretty nervous.”

“How do you know?”

“He told me what he planned to do.”

“Really? When?”

“This morning. While we performed that centuries-old male bonding ritual of pissing in the woods. I think he just needed to get it off his chest. And to hear someone tell him he was doing the right thing.”