He kept up with her, forcing his mind away from the tantalizing idea of showering together. “What’s in the pack?”
“Water and a granola bar. Where’s your backpack?”
“Left it in my Jeep.”
“Let me guess, Gatorade and an extra-heavy pack for maximum workout.”
He barked out a laugh because she was right. “Yup.”
“How much weight?”
“Twenty pounds.”
She shook her head and her big straw hat tipped. “I’m going to work up to that. How long is the hike anyway?”
“Usually runs from one to four.”
She halted suddenly, grabbing his bicep before quickly dropping it. “Three hours! Are these advanced hikers?”
He lifted one shoulder. “Beginner to intermediate. We stop for hydration breaks. You can always follow the trail back to my Jeep if you get tired.”
“Does anyone ever do that?”
He hesitated before admitting, “No.”
She continued down the stairs. “I’m not going to be that weenie. Charlotte says I already have some nice muscle tone in my quads. I just need to work on my core and my arms.”
He refrained from commenting on her body because he wanted her way more than he had a right to at this stage in their relationship. But hell, she was lush with curves. He longed for softness pressed against him, though he’d never say that out loud. It would ruin his tough-cop image. Even her being a speed demon wasn’t a deal breaker. She was just an enthusiastic person.
“Slow and steady build is better anyway,” he said gruffly, not wanting to give away his lusty thoughts.
“How long did it take you to build strength? I mean, you’re lugging around an extra twenty pounds on a three-hour hike.”
The fact that she noticed his strength was a good sign. She’d been checking him out earlier too when he pulled her over. Some women had a thing for the uniform. “I’ve been working out since high school football days. Then I upped it for my job.”
“Do you have to chase a lot of criminals?”
“You have to be prepared for any situation, but, yes, I’ve apprehended those who broke the law.”
“Have you ever been shot?”
“I’ve been shot at, but never took a bullet. Eastman isn’t a big haven for crime, but there’s enough people to warrant a decent-size police force. Most problems center around drugs.”
“Knock wood—” she knocked her head “—that you keep up that great record of never taking a bullet.”
“Thanks.”
She was quiet the rest of the way down the stairs. He wasn’t sure if his job worried her or she was thinking of something else. There was really nothing to say that would reassure her about his job. It was what it was—long periods of not much going on, sudden high-risk situations. He handled it. And he liked that he could step in and right a wrong. He liked that people needed him most of all. It went a long way for someone who hadn’t felt wanted or needed for way too long as a kid.
He gestured over to where he’d parked.
“I’ve seen this car a few times parked at Garner’s. This is yours? Awesome!” She rushed over to the passenger side of his firecracker red Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. He loved his Jeep, the four-wheel drive was great in all terrain and off-road.
He opened the door for her and she hustled in.
“Will Cali be meeting us there?” she asked.
“No.” He hadn’t bothered to call her. He figured if Ally couldn’t handle being alone with him on a short drive to a group hike, then she couldn’t handle him at all. Better to know that up front. Some women found him too gruff. Maybe they wanted touchy-feely shit. That wasn’t him.
“Oh,” she said, her gaze fixed on his bicep. She jerked her gaze back to his eyes and smiled uncertainly. “Can we put the top down?”
“Yup.” He shut the door. It wasn’t a quick thing to take the soft top down, not if you did it right—taking out the side windows, back window, unlatching everything, pulling the roof back, storing everything safely in the back of the Jeep—but he’d make the effort for her. Several minutes later, he was satisfied that everything was safely stored and climbed in the driver’s side.
“I had no idea it was that much work,” she said. “Thanks for doing that.”
“No problem.” He started the Jeep and backed out of the space. “Hang onto your hat.”
She took off the hat and rested it on her lap. Her hair remained flattened against her head and she ran her fingers through it, shaking it out. He wondered if it was as soft as it looked. Then she lifted her arms and wiggled her fingers out the top of the Jeep. “Whee-ee-ee!”
He chuckled at the reference to his partner’s comically dry take on life and headed out to the main road.
“You have any other hobbies besides fitness?” she asked.
She was definitely interested in him. He played it cool. “Most of my time is spent at work or outdoors hiking, camping, fishing. I spend time with the guys too.”
“Do you miss Zach?” That was his honorary brother he’d grown up with in the same foster home since they were nine. They’d been the youngest boys there at the time, both orphans, and had stuck together. Other kids, mostly siblings, had passed through over the years, but only he and Zach stayed put. If it wasn’t for Zach, Ethan wasn’t sure he would’ve passed high school. Academics had never been his thing. Zach went on to get a PhD. Ethan did his part for Zach, making sure skinny Zach didn’t get his ass kicked. Back then, Ethan would fight any guy that looked sideways at him. He’d been so pissed off for so long because no one wanted him enough to adopt him. He shuddered to think what would’ve become of him without Joe Campbell setting such a powerful example of what a man was, bringing him into the family, along with Zach, and making them feel like they belonged. Ethan didn’t forget that kindness. He was, above all, loyal and remained firmly rooted in Eastman so he could be there not only for the family who’d taken him in, but also the community. He worked for the Eastman Police Department and coached football in the Police Athletic League that had been his haven as a kid.
He glanced over at Ally. “Why would I miss Zach? He lives in town now.”
She waved airily. “Because, you know, now he’s part of the Carrie-Zach couple unit. They’re like all wrapped up in each other.”
“Don’t you see Carrie anymore?”
She sighed. “I do, but it’s not the same. Her mind is in her studies, she just started graduate school, and the rest of the time she’s with him. I mean, sure, I still see her at our book club meetings, a few special occasions, birthdays and stuff, but it’s not the same.”
Hanging out with Zach still felt exactly the same to him. They drank beer, played basketball, and razzed each other just like always. Women’s relationships had a layer of complexity he had yet to crack.
“I mean, I’m happy for them,” she said with forced cheer. “Yay, couplehood! But then what about yay, single friend, you know?”
He was about to ask if she wished she was part of a couple too because it sure as hell sounded like that when she went on.
“Whatever,” she sang. “I’m not bitter. I’m happy, happy, happy.”
“Because of your single me, happy me plan?”
“Yes,” she said firmly.
He mulled over how to make his case for being part of her happy-me plan minus the single, when she said in a voice full of warmth, “Thanks for not giving me a ticket.”
It was something. A start. “Sure. Don’t let it happen again.”
“I sped a little on the way home.”
“I didn’t hear that.”
“I jaywalk too. I just dart across the street the moment traffic clears.”
He groaned. “Ally, seriously I’m going to have to take you through good citizenship one-oh-one.”
“Like a dog?” She lifted her hands like paws and panted with her tongue out. “Train me up for my good citizenship. Arf! Bring lots of biscuits.”
He smirked.
“You’re thinking of doggy-style, aren’t you?” she accused.
Already she was onto his dirty line of thinking. “I admit nothing. And please cross with the light. There’s no reason to play chicken with traffic.”
“You’re kind of a goody-goody for a tough cop.”
He glared at her. She laughed.
“You take that back,” he ordered.
“Okay, okay, you just have an unhealthy respect for law and order.”
He stopped at a red light and gave her his best intimidating cop stare. “I’m a frigging cop.”
She put her palms up. “Don’t arrest me, officer! It’s not a crime to notice stuff about other people. Right? I mean, you’re not on duty.”
He clenched his jaw. He was the king of cool and not a goody-goody.
She patted his arm. “Lighten up. I’m just joking around.”
He growled out his retort, giving it some bite. “Spend more time with me and you’ll see just how much I’m not a goody-goody.” He checked the light. Still red. He turned back to see her grinning.
“Challenge accepted. This’ll be fun.”
He grunted. Clearly she didn’t find him too gruff. He liked that he wouldn’t have to tiptoe around her tender feelings.
A short while later, he pulled into the gravel parking lot of the Fieldridge Reservation. Some of his hiking club was already there—a mix of people ranging from twenties to forties, just one couple, most of them were single. He figured once you were married with kids, you had less time for Sunday afternoon hikes. If he had a kid, he’d just strap him or her onto his back and take them with.
Ally hopped out of the Jeep before he could open her door. He met up with her.
She centered her hat on her head. “Introduce me to everyone.”
He walked over with her and introduced her to the one married couple, George and Diana, then to some of the guys, Rob, Mike, and the two Matts. The women stared at her tick-resistant outfit. All the women wore jeans and long-sleeve shirts. Nobody wore a hat. All socks were under their pant cuffs where they belonged.
He gestured toward the women. “This is Trina, Hillary, Becky, Sarah,” he paused, squinting as he tried to remember the last one.
“Maria,” she supplied.
“Yes, Maria. Sorry. Not great with names. This is Ally, first-time hiker.”
“I’ve hiked before,” Ally said with a grin. “The mall is my preferred venue, but I read up on hiking and I’m all set.”
The women looked her up and down. “That’s good,” someone mumbled.
“It’s to keep ticks away,” Ally explained, pointing to her socks. “And light colors to make it easier to spot them.”
That launched everyone on their own tale of Lyme disease. Many people had been exposed, but if you pulled the tick off within twenty-four hours, you were usually safe. Caught early, antibiotics took care of it. Caught late, it was a long haul to recovery.
“See, Ethan?” Ally said, giving him a poke to the shoulder. “I told you it was important.”
“You did.”
More people showed up. Eight guys, six women. Their fearless leader, Rob, a crunchy guy with long brown dreads in a loose bun, announced they’d waited long enough and the rest of the group could catch up on the trail. Or as he put it, “You snoozed, you probably boozed.” He had lots of pithy expressions involving alcohol and pot.
At first, Ethan walked with Ally, but her stride was so much shorter and her pace so slow, it became almost painful to keep stride with her. She waved him on, already out of breath thirty minutes in. It was a gradual uphill climb.
“Do your thing,” she panted. “I’ll catch up.”
“Sure?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine.”
A half hour later, Ally trailing increasingly behind the group, they all stopped for a hydration break. It was a good stopping place in a small clearing with some flat boulders to rest on. He crossed to her side where she sat leaning against a tree.
“You doing okay?” he asked.
She nodded and took a long drink of water.
He dropped his pack and stretched. He loved a hard physical workout; something he’d learned in high school was better all around for everyone. It focused his energy and dramatically decreased the number of fistfights he got in. He chugged some Gatorade and watched Ally.
She took off her hat and fanned herself with it. He hated to say it, but she looked completely exhausted. She was sweating, cheeks flushed pink, hair flattened in scraggly blond locks around her cute pixie face. She wasn’t used to hiking.
“Jeep’s unlocked,” he told her. “Why don’t you head back and rest? I’ll meet you back there.”
She eyed him. “I am not a weenie.”
He grinned. “At the end of this trail is a nice view—a huge lake surrounded by trees.”
“Describe it for me. Make it real. I need the motivation.”
“Sure.” He looked off in the distance, trying to bring it all into focus from memory. “Well, the water is blue with light ripples. Plenty of fish—lotta trout, small mouth, yellow perch. Sometimes you’ll see a turtle sunning itself on a log. This time of year, the trees are just starting to turn color around the edges of the lake, bright reds, oranges, and yellows. Blue sky that seems to meet the treeline. So much sky, feels like a bigger sky there.” He kept going, remembering tons of little details. He’d spent a lot of time at this lake, fishing and camping. “You’ll love it,” he finally concluded, turning back to her.
She was asleep.
He admired her for a moment, geeky tube socks and all. What a fighter, working herself to the point of exhaustion. Now he had two choices, give her a piggyback ride to the end of the trail or help her back to the Jeep. The view was spectacular. She’d probably feel like a weenie sitting in the Jeep.
He nudged her arm. “Wake up, there’s an awesome view with your name on it.”
She kept sleeping.
He squatted next to her, took her water bottle from her limp hand, and plucked her hat off her lap. He fanned her with the hat. “Ally,” he barked, “up and at ’em, soldier.”
“Omigod!” one of the women exclaimed. “She fell asleep?”
Ethan straightened. “She’s not used to a strenuous workout. This is her second one today.” He nudged Ally’s leg with his foot. “Come on, wake up.”
The other hikers gathered around, looking at her curiously. “Has she been sick?” someone asked.
“No, she’s fine.” He loosened the cap on her water bottle and dripped some cold water over her head.
She startled awake, peered up at him still holding the water bottle over her head, and scrambled to her feet, snatching the water bottle from him with an unholy gleam in her eyes.
Chapter Four
Splash! Right in his face.
“Hey!” he exclaimed with a laugh. “Someone give me water. I need ammunition.” All he had was Gatorade.
Someone tossed water at his back. He turned and suddenly a water war broke out, everyone laughing and squealing as the cold water hit. It was nuts and probably the most fun their group had ever had.
Finally they were completely out of ammunition. He turned back to Ally to find her pulling her now see-through soaked white shirt away from her body. She might as well have been standing there naked in her bra, her nipples beaded tight, luscious large breasts clearly outlined. His mouth went dry.
“Wet T-shirt contest,” she quipped.
And while he damn well appreciated the view, he could tell she was embarrassed. They still had another couple of hours on the trail.
He pulled his T-shirt off and offered it to her. “Here, it’s only wet in the back. We’ll put your shirt in the sun on one of the rocks, and when we get back, it should be closer to dry.”
She stared at his chest, her gaze trailing to his abs. He waited for her to meet his eyes. Hers were wide and dilated. Nice.
He pressed his shirt into her hand. “Go into the woods
to change. I’ll wait for you.”
“Are those twelve-pack abs?” she croaked.
He looked down at himself. “Six-pack, I think.”
She gestured near his sides. “But there’s like ridges and wow.”
He smiled. He liked wow.
“Heading out!” Rob called. Everyone started gathering their packs and putting away their empty water bottles.
“Hurry up and change,” he told Ally.
She stared at him, her voice soft. “You gave me the shirt off your back.”
“It was the only one I had.”
She rushed forward and hugged him. It was so fast he didn’t get a chance to hug her back. She pulled away and hurried behind a large sugar maple tree. “Thanks!”
He just stood there in a warm and fuzzy daze.
She returned in his shirt, which hung low like a dress on her. Something primitive in his brain lit up with a possessive streak he’d never felt before. Like he’d claimed her.
“Where should I put this?” she asked, wringing out her white shirt.
He forced himself to focus. “I got it.” He spread it over a rock he knew would have full sun for a while longer.
“Last one there’s gotta jump in the lake!” she said, grabbing her pack and taking off.
He shook his head. That would be a several-hundred-foot dive into the lake, but he had to admire her fortitude. He grabbed his pack, the huge hat she forgot, and caught up with her easily. He could hear their group, now cheerfully talking after their refreshing water war, but he couldn’t see them. They really should catch up.
“You want a piggyback ride to the summit?” he asked, setting her hat on her head. “It’s no problem. You’ll keep the sun off my back.”
She frowned. “Maybe we should’ve put my wet shirt on your back for sun protection.”
“Nah, I’ve got a good tan from the summer, I’m used to it. Besides, we’ll be back in the shade trees before you know it.”
Her gaze dropped to his chest and then lower before jerking back to his eyes, her cheeks flushing pink. “You’re so…” She cleared her throat. “I mean, dang, I’m so embarrassed how much more fit you are than me.”
Mess With Me Page 4
