Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“And I’d do it again if you were interested.” He averts his eyes as if regretting admitting that aloud. But my dick sure pays attention. It’s gratifying to know he’s been thinking about me too.
“Let’s see how good of a hiking companion you are first.”
“Why? Is that one of your criteria?”
“I need to see how annoying you are, might push you off a cliff by the end.”
Uncannily, he loses his footing, and I reach out to grab his arm. “Careful. It would help if you had the right shoes.”
“I only brought these sneakers with me.”
I pretend to study his shoes and not his hairy legs and thighs that I didn’t get a chance to admire a couple months back. “They’re slippery on the bottom and don’t have much traction.”
He hitches a shoulder. “I’ll get better shoes for next time.”
“Next time? I’m going to guess you don’t trek around like this in the city, so hiking shoes would be an expense that might go to waste.”
He arches a brow. “If I like it well enough, I just might. Is there a store in town that sells them?”
“You can find them at Honeycomb General Store. My aunt Dina runs it.” She keeps them stocked for just these occasions.
“Cool, thanks.”
We fall silent for a few comfortable minutes as we traverse the rocky terrain.
“Damn, that view is pretty.” Aaron pauses a moment to take in the sky, still faintly painted in streaks of orange and pink from the sunrise.
“It is.” I try not to take it for granted, but lately, it feels like I’ve done just that with everything around here. Maybe I’m having a midlife crisis. Or maybe this place has soured to me since I lost some pretty important people in my life.
“You’re not even breaking a sweat,” Aaron pants as we climb higher. “You must be in good shape.”
“You tell me. You’ve obviously seen me.”
Christ, I’m flirting now?
“Eh, it was pretty dark that night,” he teases.
I playfully elbow him. “Jackass.”
When he grins, it does something to my stomach, and I fight to keep my lips from tilting upward.
He pauses and bends at the waist, catching his breath. “I work out, even have a gym membership, but somehow, this is harder.”
“Sort of like running on the treadmill versus outside.”
“Probably.” He side-eyes me. “So, you do this every morning?”
“I try to. Usually, I like to get started before sunrise. Watching the sun emerge from behind the mountain is breathtaking, but I was late today.”
“Yes, you were,” he quips, and that gives me pause.
“Exactly how long were you waiting for me?”
He turns an imaginary key against his lips. “I plead the fifth.”
“Had you told me—”
“It’s fine. Maybe I can watch the sunrise with you tomorrow.”
My stomach performs that same divebomb action. “Are we trying to make this a regular routine?”
“I just… It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”
“And you certainly like to talk.”
“Hey!” He pushes me with a laugh, and I feel entranced by his smile.
We stop to rest near an outlook point and sip from our water bottles. At least he’d been smart enough to bring one.
“This is probably my favorite view,” I admit, unsure why. Maybe it is nice to have someone to talk to up here.
“I can see why.” He stares into the valley dotted with trees and wildflowers. “So now what?”
“We head back down.”
“Oh, thank God.” He fist-pumps the air. “You don’t plan on killing me any more than you already have.”
I chuckle as we wait for another group of hikers to pass by us.
He’s less winded on the way down. “So what doesn’t your family own in this town?”
“What can I say? We like opening and running businesses. We learned from the best.”
“Your late grandparents?”
“Christ, June was busy.”
He chuckles. “Well, it’s not like pulling teeth to have a conversation with her.”
I feel a little miffed at the insinuation. “Always been this way, can’t help it.”
“Nah, it’s all cool. Just makes you tall, dark, and mysterious. And that’s mighty attractive for a…thirtysomething guy.”
“Add a seven and you’ve got me pegged,” I reply, warmth flooding my stomach. “And you?”
“One year shy of forty.”
I nod. “I would’ve guessed younger as well.”
He smiles at the compliment.
“Do you enjoy owning your business?”
I consider my photography and wonder where I’d be without it. “Most days, I suppose.”
“Yeah, I hear you. It’s hard work, but the payoff can be sweet.”
Is there a payoff for me? Besides keeping my parents’ memory alive?
“Would you ever consider selling it?” he blurts.
What is he getting at?
“Maybe, if someone in my family is interested. Or maybe Frank.”
“You been friends awhile?”
“Since we were kids. He loves working on cars.”
“Good thing he’s a mechanic, then.”
I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done if Frank hadn’t stepped in to help out after the accident. And he’s never left.
We fall silent as we walk single file through a thicket.