"May I please get your number?"
I give it to him and he forwards the info. "As soon as the rain passes, I have to run into the forest to check one of our monitoring stations. I can meet you at Jim's Pizza in an hour. Your parking spot is right behind it. Sounds okay?"
"Sure." I look him up and down doubtfully. “You're not going to run through the wet underbrush in a suit, are you?”
Kai looks down at himself and laughs. "Oh. Right.”
"You can grab your stuff and change in my bedroom, if you like."
His smile hits me like a beam of sunshine. "You are really saving me today, Leah. Like a guardian angel with her own motorhome."
The rain is barely a drizzle now, and he quickly dashes to his truck to grab his other clothes. While he's changing in the back, I force myself to stay as far away as possible: the door doesn't quite close with him in there.
He's just sohuge. The powerful frame of a bodybuilder, but with this incredibly chill energy. He’s exactly the kind of guy I've thought about dating someday…far,farin the future, once I’ve seen the world and know what kind of life I want. But since the situation is presenting itself right now…? Might as well make the most of it. It’s only one meal, right? No harm in admiring the view.
He comes back out in a t-shirt and jeans, and I try not to notice how perfectly the denim hugs his fabulous ass as he squeezes by me to the door.
"I can't thank you enough, Leah. But I'll try to start by introducing you to some truly amazing pizza."
"Thank you." I hesitate. “I haven't shared a meal with anyone in weeks, so the company will be really nice. "
A flicker runs through his eyes, dimming his smile a bit. Then he nods to himself, his thumbs flying across the screen. My phone lights up from where it sits on the passenger seat.
"There. I’ve sent you the address. When you arrive, you’ll see the place to park in the back. See you there in an hour-ish?"
"Sure. Thanks."
He hesitates for a moment, then sets his stuff back down on the table. "Leah?" The way he says my name gives me chills. His deep, rich voice is gentle, as if he's savoring the word.
"Yeah?"
"May I hug you?"
Before I can even blink in surprise, Kai steps back, shaking his head. “I’m so sorry, Leah. That was inappropriate. I’m in your home on a back road in the woods. It just popped out. It’s okay, I’ll leave.”
He’s halfway out the door by the time I sputter, “Wait.”
I've seen his last name on businesses all over, not to mention the mountain itself. He can’t be some sleaze. Plus?—
Oh, who am I kidding. I'm not listening to logic right now. Just the deep, solid thumping of my heart pounding in my chest.
I want his arms around me. Want…bordering onneed. And I’m out on the road to experience new things, aren’t I?
"Sure."
He approaches me slowly, giving me every opportunity to change my mind. He’s careful. It awakens an unknown craving deep inside me.
His thick tree trunk arms wrap around me gently, rocking me slightly while his palm runs firmly up and down my back. I grip the back of his neck, and his head dips to press our cheeks together.
"Simply beautiful," he murmurs in my ear. "Warm and soft. I like your coziness, Leah." I'm not sure how he made that word sound sexy, but he did.
Kai releases me, but clings to my fingers for another few seconds before grabbing his stuff and flashing me another dazzling grin on his way out of the RV.
The rain has stopped by now. He places everything in the truck, then waves goodbye before heading into the forest. There's no hint of a trail, yet Kai clearly knows where he's going.
I wind my window shut and secure everything again, then follow the directions to Old Hemlock Valley.
When I reach Jim's Pizza, there's a young man standing out front waiting to wave me around the side of the building to the back. It’s a great spot – well out of the way of the employee parking, but right next to a power outlet. There are fallen leaves everywhere else, yet this area looks freshly swept. There are even two plastic lawn chairs set out in front of a nearby tree.
