Amanda Tero Matthews
I didn’t believe in love at first sight. Unless it was a new book or fresh cup of coffee.
So, I very much was not in love with the handsome park ranger smiling at me across the desk—Nicholas Evans, according to his name tag.
The tingles running up my arms claimed otherwise.
“Sound good?” he asked.
I hadn’t heard a word he’d said.
“Sure!” I smiled at him, hoping I didn’t look clueless.
“Perfect! Wait over here, Alexis.”
I joined the group, trying to determine what I’d just agreed to. But, if it included a group guided by Nicholas, I didn’t care.
Ever since reading Misty of Chincoteague in third grade, I’d wanted to see the wild horses. At twenty, I was finally on Assateague, Chincoteague’s neighboring island in Virginia, where the horses lived.
“All right!” Nicholas’s deep voice interrupted my thoughts. “Who’s ready to find the horses?”
My heart leapt.
He gave safety rules then said, “We’re going where a mare and foal were spotted this morning.”
We followed Nicholas outside. Brown pelicans soared overhead. Waves provided a rhythmic background as I walked, full of anticipation.
Thirty minutes later, we looped back to the visitor center.
“Mommy, where are the horses?” a little girl whined.
I silently complained with her.
“The horses can sometimes be seen from the top of the lighthouse.” Nicholas sounded disappointed too. “They’re wild and have their own minds. You have thirty minutes, if you want to hurry.”
I needed no more persuasion to climb the 170 lighthouse steps.
My heart sank when Nicholas returned to the visitor center, letting us wander the iconic red-and-white lighthouse alone.
The other tourists reached the top first and immediately broke into excited chatter.
They’d found the horses! I quickened my pace. My heart gave a sickening double thump before spiking into a rapid rhythm.
Of all the times for my SVT to act up! I carefully finished the climb then leaned against the railing, unable to focus on the scenery. I shut my eyes, willing the lightheadedness to leave and my heart to return to rhythm.
“Are you okay?”
Oh, no. Not him. I squeezed my eyes shut, adopting some childish hope that he’d stop looking at me.
A hand rested on my shoulder, its warmth grounding as my heart continued its race.
“Alexis?”
Man, I liked my name on his lips. I opened my eyes. His face was mere inches from mine.
“I . . . need a break.”
“Are you winded or . . . ?”
“My heart sometimes gets out of rhythm.” For reasons unknown to myself, I held up my wrist to prove it.
He hesitated before his gentle fingers caressed my wrist. If my heart wasn’t already in overdrive, that contact would have done it for sure.
He gave a low whistle. “I can’t count it. Do we need to call someone?”
He released my wrist, and I had the weird impulse to lean into him. Instead, I said, “It usually calms down in minutes. I just need to be still.”
“I’m supposed to lock up the lighthouse. I have a couple other things I need to do, then I’ll come back, if you’re sure you’re okay?” The concern in his eyes warmed me.
I nodded, and next thing I knew, I was alone at the top of Assateague Lighthouse.
I sank to the ground, hiding my face in my knees, willing my heart to slow down. Minutes later, pounding running came closer.
“I looked it up and found breathing in a paper bag or using ice could help.” Nicholas panted as he held out the two items.
“Thank you.” I grabbed the ice and pressed it to the back of my neck. Within seconds, my heart gave a final hard trip back into rhythm.
“Better?” His coffee-brown eyes searched mine as he knelt next to me.
“Much.” I breathed easily for the first time since the episode started.
“Does it happen often? If you don’t mind sharing.”
I laughed. “You ran up 170 steps with ice. We’re beyond formalities.”
He chuckled, and I yearned to hear his full-blown laugh.
“Barely once a month. Not enough to medicate, but enough to keep an eye on.”
“Do you need to rest before heading back down?”
I nodded. “I’m sorry.”
He gave me a smile that felt like it was reserved just for me. “Hanging out on the top of the lighthouse with a beautiful woman? I don’t mind at all. Uh, you don’t have a jealous boyfriend or husband, do you?”
“No.”
His relief made me laugh. When he relaxed, it brought him a fraction closer to me.
“So, how did you become a ranger?”
“I was forced to read Misty—”
“Forced?”
He sheepishly grinned. “It wasn’t cool to admit I loved it. When we came here on a field trip, I was sold. I wanted to work where the wild horses lived.” His gaze filled with interest and warmth. He nodded to my Misty shirt. “Let me guess, you’re here for the wild horses too?”
“Speaking of, I still haven’t seen one.”
His eyes sparkled as he held out his hand. “Let’s remedy that.”
He pulled me to my feet and guided me to the other side of the lighthouse.
“They’re more active now that it’s cooler.” His arm brushed against mine as he pointed.
I couldn’t contain a squeal as I clasped my hands over my heart. Nicholas smiled. My face burned as I focused on a golden chestnut foal in the distance. I could almost pretend it was Misty herself, even though I couldn’t see if she had a white blaze on her face.
“We’d better head down,” Nicholas said, offering me his hand again.
I took it and turned for one last look at the horses, my heart full and happy.
As we descended the stairs, he didn’t release my hand but squeezed it tighter with meaning.
Maybe, just maybe, love at first sight really did exist.
She writes clean Christian beach romances under Amanda Tero Matthews (new in 2026), YA Christian fiction under Amanda Tero (best known for A Strand of Hope and Tales of Faith), and co-authors Christian cozy mysteries under Chelsea Michelle (2025 Selah Awards finalist, Transactions We Expose).
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