He shrugs, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Well, I can’t say for certain. But don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
“My hero,” I deadpan, rolling my eyes. “And how exactly do you plan to fight off a grizzly?”
Ryder flexes his impressive biceps. “These aren’t just for show, you know.”
I snort, trying—and failing—not to stare at his muscled arms. “Right. I’m sure the bear will be very impressed before it eats us both.”
“Such pessimism,” hetsks, shaking his head. “Come on, the trail awaits.”
With a dramatic sigh, I follow him into the woods. The path is narrow, forcing us to walk single file. I stare at Ryder’s back, watching the play of muscles under his shirt as he moves. It’s not an unpleasant view, I have to admit.
About twenty minutes into our hike, I’m already panting. “How much further?” I wheeze, leaning against a tree.
Ryder turns, amusement dancing in his eyes. “We’ve barely started. The lookout point is another hour away.”
I groan, sliding down the trunk to sit on the ground. “Leave me here to die. Tell my father I loved him despite his terrible taste in art and his obsession with cufflinks.”
“Drama queen,” Ryder chuckles, crouching down beside me. “Come on, I’ll carry you if I have to.”
The mental image of Ryder carrying me through the woods is both mortifying and oddly appealing. “Don’t you dare,” I warn, struggling to my feet. “I have my dignity to maintain.”
“What dignity?” he teases, earning himself a swat on the arm.
We continue our trek, the forest growing denser around us. I’m so focused on not tripping over roots that I nearly walk straight into Ryder when he stops.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, peering around him. “Is it a bear? I knew it. We’re going to die out here, and my last meal was a stale granola bar.”
Ryder puts a finger to his lips, gesturing for me to be quiet. Then he points to a clearing just ahead. I squint, following his gaze, and my breath catches in my throat.
A family of deer stands in the dappled sunlight, grazing peacefully. The scene is so serene, so perfect, that for a moment, I forget about my aching feet and the mosquito bites dotting my arms.
“Wow,” I whisper.
Ryder nods, a soft smile playing on his lips. “See? The great outdoors isn’t so bad after all.”
As if on cue, the deer looks up, spotting us. In a flash, the whole family bounds away, disappearing into the undergrowth.
“Well, that was short-lived,” I sigh. “Can we go back now?”
Ryder laughs, the sound echoing through the trees. “Nice try, but we’re not there yet.”
I groan dramatically. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? My suffering amuses you.”
“Immensely,” he grins, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. The casual intimacy of the gesture makes my heart skip a beat.
We press on, the trail growing steeper. I’m puffing like a steam engine, while Ryder barely seems winded. It’s infuriating. All this time at the gym for nothing.
“How...are you...not dying?” I gasp, catching my breath for the hundredth time.
He smirks, flexing again. “Superior genetics.”
“Superior pain in my ass,” I mutter, taking a swig from my water bottle.
“What was that?” he asks.
“I said, ‘My, what a lovely ass,’” I lie.
“Well, I’ll let you enjoy it later if you like.”
