Cal was one of those who jumped from diet to diet, because he was certain whatever structure was wrong for him if it didn’t show him immediate results.
I kept trying to make him understand, and in the meantime, he’d paid for my kayak, my last trip to San Francisco, and a month’s mortgage payment or two.
CHAPTER 5
Natalie Nolan
The Last Stop.
I squinted up at the sign that’d seen better days. The pastel colors were pastel no more, and moss was growing at the top.
The place promised the best ice cream in all of Washington. Impressive.
Expensive gas, though.
I climbed out of my car and looked around some more. We were surrounded by forest here, and I spotted several signs pointing to various hiking trails.
We were allowed to park here for four hours, so I could imagine it got crowded on the weekends.
Aside from the gas station and café, they had picnic tables and tourist information available.
I was ready to hike my butt off. The sun was shining, to boot!
I’d bought a new hoodie that didn’t fit too tight, and my boots were comfortable. So were my leggings, but that went without saying.
Should I have brought something else? I had my water bottle…
Surely we wouldn’t be gone for long. I had an hour with him, and that was supposed to include the time it took to get to and from wherever we were. Which would be tricky today, because it’d taken me twenty-five minutes to drive here.
It was damn beautiful, though. I could already feel my move from New York to Washington had inspired me in my work. I had the beginnings of a forest collection tumbling around in my head. I was thinking delicate silver leaves and mountain silhouettes.
A big truck rolled into the parking lot, the gravel crunching underneath its tires, and I spotted Ethan behind the wheel.
Ethan Quinn, RAM truck. It beat the red Porsche, but it still made me smirk.
I couldn’t lie. I was having fun trying to figure him out.
As he parked next to my Jeep, I pulled my hair back in a high ponytail. I’d finally cut a bit of it off, and Chloe’s girl was amazing. Kate was now my girl too. She’d added some highlights. Fall was almost here, and my hair was giving it a chestnut greeting.
“Morning, Coach,” I said as he left his truck.
“Good morning, Natalie.” He smiled and grabbed a day pack.
Hot damn, he was wearing a flannel shirt under his windbreaker. That was all kinds of hot. My kind of lumberjack porn, so to speak.
He removed the jacket before he shouldered his backpack. “You ready to work up a sweat?”
“Yes, sir, but now I’m a little worried I didn’t bring enough stuff. I only have my water.”
“I don’t think you need anythin’ else.” He folded up the sleeves of his shirt. Solid forearm porn. “But in case you sprain an ankle or you get dizzy, I’ve got you covered.”
Wasn’t that sweet?
“What’s the cure for dizziness?” I teased.
He chuckled. “Orange juice and chocolate.”
I planted a hand against my windshield and pretended to be near fainting. “Oh, dear…”
