She wants me.
“Everyone starts somewhere.” He strapped his pack on backwards onto his chest, turned and bent down. “Climb on.”
“I weigh more than a hundred pounds, you know.”
He glanced at her over his shoulder. She was staring at his back and he couldn’t tell if she was tempted to climb on or just checking him out some more. “I’m aware fully grown adults normally do.”
“You’re saying you can hike with a hundred pounds on your back?”
“I could do more. Come on. We’re losing daylight.”
She walked around to stand in front of him. “I want to be you when I come back as a tough guy.”
He laughed and sprang to his feet.
She waved him on. “Keep going, tough guy. I’ll do this my own way. Slow, but I’ll get there.”
He tweaked her hat. “Slow and steady has a lot of integrity.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I’ll wait for you at the summit. If you’re not there within a half hour, I’m coming back for you.”
“There won’t be a search and rescue, geez!” She adjusted her hat and spoke through her teeth. “I…can…do…this.”
He put his palms up and headed back on the trail at his usual pace. Far be it from him to get in the way of a determined woman. He admired the hell out of her grit.
He caught up with the group, keeping his ears open for the sound of a determined woman collapsing on the trail behind him. Next thing he knew, they were in the clearing at the summit. The view took his breath away like always—blue sky as far as the eye could see, the wide expanse of lake reflecting the sky, the surrounding trees lit with afternoon sun in an explosion of colors—green, yellow, red, and orange. He inhaled deeply, at peace. Moments like this he believed, contrary to all of his experiences, that the world was a good place.
He turned back to the trail and looked for Ally. Several minutes passed in silence except for the sound of the group behind him eating and joking around. They often ate a healthy snack at the halfway point. He’d wait for Ally to eat his. He’d brought two apples, one for him, one for her.
He heard her before he saw her, her feet heavy like she was trudging along. It took everything he had not to scoop her up to give her some relief.
Finally she came into view. The moment she saw him, her face broke into a wide smile and she threw her arms in the air. “I did it!”
“Sure did,” he managed over the lump in his throat. Her small victory touched him for reasons he couldn’t comprehend. It wasn’t like he did anything. He was just so happy for her.
She made her slow way over to him. “I guess I’m the one who has to jump in the lake.”
“Nah. Much too big a fall. C’mon.” He jerked his head for her to follow. When they reached the best viewing spot, almost but not quite at the edge, he whispered, “Check it out. Your reward for all that hiking.”
She sucked in air. “Oh! It’s just like you described. Breathtakingly beautiful.”
He took in the view with her. “It is.”
After a few minutes, she turned to him. “Please tell me there’s a rest period before we hike back down.”
“Yes, and downhill is a lot easier. You hungry?”
She nodded.
He gestured for her to follow him to a flat boulder and offered her an apple.
“Thanks,” she said, taking a big bite. “This is better than a granola bar.”
“Agreed.” He ate his apple and kept an eye on her for signs of falling asleep. She was actually perky, bright-eyed, looking around as she chomped the apple enthusiastically. Fighter all the way. Something in the vicinity of his heart shifted. He really liked her.
Some of the other hikers came over to fist-bump her and congratulate her for conquering her first hike.
“Still have to make it back,” Ally said.
“You got this,” one of the Matts said. “This is a tough trail for a first-timer. Your boyfriend should’ve told you that.”
Ally smiled and crinkled her nose. “We’re just friends.”
Matt checked in with him and Ethan narrowed his eyes. Matt smirked and Ethan’s hackles rose. He stood to face Matt eye to eye, man to man. Seriously going to move in on the woman wearing my shirt in front of me?
Matt turned and walked away. Thought so.
Ethan sat next to Ally and finished his apple in three fierce bites.
“What was that about?” Ally asked.
“I didn’t appreciate his smirk.”
“You smirk all the time.”
“Not like that.”
“Oh-kay.” She finished up her apple. “Where should I throw this away?”
“We take out whatever we take in. Here.” He held out his palm.
“You want my chewed apple core? My slobber is all over it.”
He laughed. “I’ll live.”
She gingerly placed it in his palm.
“Ah!” he exclaimed. “Girl cooties!”
She laughed. “Tough guy does have a sense of humor!”
He tucked the apple cores into a sandwich bag in his pack. “Not as good as say, a knock-knock joke, but ya know…”
“Hey, some of my knock-knock jokes are very funny.”
“To first graders.”
She poked his shoulder. “To everyone, tough guy.”
He met her eyes. “Tough girl. I’m impressed with how hard you worked to get here. Some people would’ve taken the easy way out and gone back to civilization.”
“Weenies all!” she declared.
He found himself smiling again. He couldn’t remember ever smiling so much. “Got that right. I honestly didn’t think it was that hard a trail. Sorry if I underestimated it.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re probably going to be sore tomorrow. Take a day to rest your muscles.”
“I will, thanks.” She bumped her shoulder into his.
He bumped her back and then had to grab her before she tipped off the boulder. “You’re a lightweight.”
She smiled sunnily. “That is the nicest thing a guy has ever said to me. It’s nice having a guy friend.” She stood and stretched, arching her back in his blue shirt, her breasts full and tempting.
Guy friend. Not for long. He smirked, picturing her in his shirt after a roll in the sheets, prancing around his townhouse, bare underneath.
She didn’t notice his smirk, instead walking over to admire the view again. He admired her rear view, his shirt clinging to her cute ass.
On the way back down, Ally trailed behind again. He knew she’d be okay. She’d get there in her own time. He whistled to himself on the way down, enjoying sharing one of his favorite activities with Ally. She’d only improve as she got stronger. Maybe they could go on some trails just the two of them.
He stopped off for her shirt, which was still damp, and tied it to the straps of his pack, letting it dry over the back of the pack. He reached the parking lot and waited. And waited. She finally emerged, smiling and chatting with their leader, dreadlock Rob. The guy must’ve doubled back for her because he was always at the front of their group.
He met up with them just in time to hear Rob asking for Ally’s number.
She smiled and shook her head. “Sorry, I’m seeing someone, but thanks.”
Rob met his eyes. “Sorry, man. Matt said you were just friends. That’s cool.”
“No worries,” Ally assured Rob. “Ethan and I are just friends. It’s somebody else.”
Rob shot him a confused look before turning back to Ally. “Hope to see you back with the group. Very nice to meet you.”
“You too!” she said cheerfully.
Ethan clenched his jaw. What the hell? She was seeing someone after all that commitment to singlehood talk? He turned and headed back to his Jeep and Ally followed, patting his backpack.
“My shirt’s still pretty wet,” she said. “You mind if I hang onto your shirt until the next time I see you?”
“No problem,”
he muttered.
“Do you have an extra shirt in your car?”
“Just a hoodie. I’m fine like this.” He would continue to go shirtless as long as Ally continued to ogle him. He calmed down a little. She must’ve been giving Rob a line, right? She’d been going on about her single me, happy me plan on the way over here.
They reached his Jeep and he opened the passenger-side door for her. She climbed in and turned to him, her gaze glued to his face. “You want to put the roof back on? I don’t want you to get chilly.”
Real men didn’t get chilly.
“I’m fine.” He headed over to the driver’s side, started the Jeep, and looked over at her. She had a small smile playing over her lips. “Enjoy yourself?”
She beamed. “I did. There’s something about being in nature that just makes you feel at peace. Like all is right in the world.”
“Yes.” He relaxed because she really appreciated what he’d shown her here today. He put the Jeep in gear and pulled out of the lot. It wasn’t like he had a claim on her. Of course men were going to hit on her. She was beautiful, sexy and sweet, lit from within from some exuberant life force. Oh, man, he had it bad. He had to make a move soon before another guy moved in. But wait, maybe another guy already had.
He glanced over at her to find her staring at his chest. Her eyes met his, the expression somewhere between lust and guilt. Did she feel guilty because she was secretly seeing someone? If that was the case, then what the hell was with all that single me, happy me talk?
“Who’re you seeing?” he asked casually. “I was just wondering because it’s only been a day since your commitment to singlehood.”
She laughed. “I’m seeing myself. I want to focus on my life. I wasted too much energy on relationships, you know? Now my relationship is with myself.”
He smirked. “I bet you have a great sex life.”
“Excuse me?”
His attempt at humor had flatlined. “I mean, you’re in a relationship with yourself, so you know exactly what you like.”
“Oh, I guess so!”
They laughed.
“Sorry if that was inappropriate,” he said.
“Not at all! I love inappropriate. I always say a vibrator is better than a man and it’s true!”
“No—” he started.
“You’re actually really funny.” Her gaze wandered from his bare shoulder to his bicep. “I don’t remember you being funny before today.” Her voice came out hoarse and she cleared her throat.
He dropped his voice to a husky tone. “I think the right man would definitely be better than a vibrator.”
A moment of charged silence.
He glanced over at her staring at him, lips parted, eyes wide. He winked.
She sucked in air. “Well, that’s not—I mean, I don’t…”
He chuckled, low and dirty.
“Of course a man would say that,” she retorted. “Men vastly overestimate their prowess, no offense.”
“Whenever someone says no offense, they mean offense.”
“No, really, no offense.” She stared straight ahead, smoothing her hair. “So how come you’re funny today and not when I saw you before, you know, at Garner’s for drinks with the guys, parties and stuff.”
“Usually I’m tired when you see me after pulling some long shifts. Today was an easy morning.” He paused and then just decided to go for it. “So hiking club meets every other Sunday. You want to go again? Or we could go sooner, just the two of us.”
She spoke quickly, the words tumbling over each other. “I’ll let you know. I’ve got a lot of things I want to try. I need to keep my options open. How’s Cali doing?”
He deflated. “She’s fine.” Keeping options open sounded like a no to him, but he didn’t give up that easy. “You did say you enjoyed yourself today and you’ll only get better the more you hike. I’ll give you my number, so text or call, whatever, if you change your mind.” He waited while she pulled out her phone, and spoke slowly and clearly as he told her his number. Then he told her to text him so he knew she had it right, which was mostly so he could get her number. He’d check it once he parked.
“Aww, you are cold!” She rubbed his arm and he warmed at the spot. “Look, you’ve got goose bumps.”
“Maybe a little,” he admitted, hoping she’d keep touching him. He had a lot of skin exposed, being shirtless and all. Her fingers wandered the shape of his arm from shoulder to elbow, her touch soft, until she suddenly seemed to realize what she was doing and snatched her hand back.
He smiled. That felt like a yes.
Chapter Five
Ethan knew it wasn’t the subtlest of moves showing up at the Happy Endings Book Club meeting for the sole purpose of running into Ally, but he figured the more he saw her, the more chances he had of hooking her interest. It had been four days and he hadn’t heard from her about going on another hike, but that could mean she just didn’t want to go hiking again. Nothing against him. He went to the counter of Something’s Brewing Café and ordered some coffee to go. He couldn’t stay long. He was in uniform on his way for a night shift. One of the guys had called out sick because his wife was in labor. Ethan was one of the few single cops on staff and didn’t mind picking up some overtime. Even if he didn’t have to work, there was no way he’d stay long enough to actually participate in a girly romance book club. His goal was simple, see Ally and exchange a brief hello.
His coffee was served up by the red-haired owner, Shane O’Hare. “Thanks, Shane. Your coffee is the best.”
Shane smiled. “That’s our new house blend, all fair-trade, organic.”
“I’m sure it’s fantastic.” He turned at the sound of women’s laughter as they filed in, walking close in the way women friends did. He spotted Ally right away with the blond Carrie. They could pass as sisters and seemed as close as ever to him. Ally wore a soft-looking light blue sweater that clung to her beautiful breasts with black jeans and canvas high-top sneakers—one red, one green. He loved that quirkiness.
Ally spotted him and rushed over. “Looks like I have a stalker.” She smiled cheekily.
He smiled back. You’d have to be a corpse not to return one of Ally’s smiles. “I was here first. Maybe you’re stalking me.”
She tossed her hair. “This is our book club night, you know.”
He tugged a lock of her hair. “And does your book club discriminate against men?”
She bit back a smile. “That depends if men enjoy reading hot romance. Hmm?” Her blue eyes danced with good humor, like she knew she’d got him.
He smirked, his mind already going to men acting out hot romance when Hailey, the leader of the book club and notorious matchmaking wedding planner, suddenly appeared at his side. He casually eased away from her. Hailey had pulled out all the stops flirting with him last month in a heavy-handed attempt to prove he was not a sex addict, but actually great boyfriend material. Though it was clear she wasn’t interested in him, more like her flirting was for the benefit of everyone around them. He’d felt steamrolled.
Hailey beamed at him. “We’d love to have you. We’ve been trying to get more men in here from day one. The male perspective on romance could be very useful.”
He eased back another step. “I’m probably not the guy you’re looking for.”
He and Ally exchanged a smile. He lifted his to-go cup. “Back to work. Enjoy your book club.”
“Bye!” Ally wiggled her fingers at him.
He wiggled his fingers back and quickly dropped his hand, embarrassed at the wimpy gesture. He turned and resumed his usual tough-cop swagger out the door.
It was a strange situation he’d found himself in. He could see competing with another man for a woman’s attention, but to compete against a woman’s attention to herself was a much trickier situation.
Hell, he lived for a challenge. Bring it on, Ally. Let’s both pay attention to your sexy self. Maybe then you’ll believe a man is better than a vibrator.
He smirked and got into his cruiser.
~ ~ ~
Ally settled into her seat in the circle of women at the Happy Endings Book Club meeting at Something’s Brewing Café, a cozy space with dark wood tables, deep red walls, and golden sconces around the hanging lights. The nine of them sat in the center of the room, the tables pushed to the edges.
She was bursting to share. She crossed her leg, resting her ankle on the knee of the other leg, and then gripped the black jeans over her calf with both hands, waiting for a lull in the conversation. Finally, she got her moment and boldly declared her new philosophy. “These stories are escapist fantasy. I love them, but it’s no longer anything I expect for myself.”
She waited breathlessly for the explosion of protests. She’d just rocked the foundation of what the Happy Endings Book Club stood for. These were her closest friends, a sisterhood founded on their shared love of romance. Everyone loved the happy endings. Everyone wanted that for themselves.
Silence. Everyone stared at her.
Oh-kay, perhaps further explanation was necessary. “I’m no longer looking for a man to bring me my happy-ever-after. I take responsibility for my own happiness.”
“With you, girl,” Missy, a tough practical woman, replied. She’d recently dyed her beautiful red hair back to dark brown and it made her look even more tough and serious. “I only read these books for the hot sex.”
“Me too,” Lexi declared. She was a vivacious, terribly-jaded-about-men corporate event planner. “Like a happy-ever-after is real,” she scoffed.
“I used to feel the same way,” Mad declared. This was not surprising. Mad was the youngest and only girl in the Campbell family and a total tomboy. Mad leaned forward in her V-neck T-shirt, giving them all a peek at the hawk tattoo above her heart. “But, ladies, happy-ever-after kind of love is real. I’ve got it with Park. I’ve never been so happy in my life.”
Everyone got quiet. The group was now about evenly split between single women and coupled women, and Ally felt that divide even more keenly.
Hailey, their fearless leader, looking radiant as ever in a designer tan A-line dress with matching heels, spoke up. “We can agree to disagree on the truth of these stories we all love. But remember—” she paused, queen of the dramatic pause “—sometimes love blooms where we least expect it.”
Mess With Me Page 5
