Why was he asking? Didn’t people usually ask that question if they wanted to hang out? Did he want to hang out with her?
He texted again before the crazy thoughts could completely take over.
Cody: Because if you’re not busy, I was thinking I could show you around town. I could even show you the mountains.
Her jaw dropped. Hedidwant to hang out. Oh, Jesus. She should say no, right? Keep her distance from the locals because her time here was limited?
But then why did she want to say yes so badly?
Ha. She knew the answer to that. The same reason she’d looked at his lips tonight and hadn’t been able to get them out of her head since.
She was about to respond when a noise sounded outside. The creaking of a wooden board…on the porch? Was it Ali?
Slowly, she walked over to the door and looked through the peephole. Nothing. She was about to turn away when she heard it again. She stopped and frowned. This time when she went back, she opened the door to look out. Even though she didn’t see anything, unease slid over her skin. Because it almost felt like there were eyes on her.
Her mind flicked back to the muddy footprints.
“Hello? Is anyone here?”
Nothing. Nothing but the eerie silence of the night.
Quickly, she closed and locked the door, her pulse suddenly beating too fast. She was still standing with her back to the wood when her phone vibrated in her hand.
Cody: Hey…you there? Everything okay?
She needed some good in her life. There was no harm in letting Cody be that good, even if it was just for a little bit…right?
Harper: I would love for you to show me around town tomorrow.
CHAPTER 6
Cody turned into the parking lot in front of the Misty Peak Visitors Center. He’d picked up Harper and she’d been quiet the entire drive, despite his attempts to make conversation.
Because they’d almost kissed last night? Fuck, the moment her eyes had landed on his lips, he’d been a second away from crashing his mouth onto hers…but then she’d stepped back.
“So,” he started as he pulled into a parking space and turned the car off. “This is the Misty Peak Visitors Center. There’s a café, a small eco-center, the start of a few walking trails, where you can use maps or a guide to take you through the mountains, and they’re just building a skywalk.”
“I saw something on your noticeboard about a skywalk.”
“Yeah. It looks like it’s going to be pretty awesome, but it’s not finished yet.”
“That’s okay, a walk through the mountains sounds great. Do you think we’ll see your brother?”
“Probably, the man basically lives and breathes these mountains.” He undid his seat belt. “He’d either be taking tourists for a guided hike or rescuing some unlucky soul who has to endure his wrath.”
She chuckled as they climbed out. “His wrath?”
“Oh yeah. Kayden works in search and rescue but has zero tolerance for people who get themselves lost by their own stupidity.”
“I see.” They moved toward the entrance of the center. “So if we get lost, we’ll be the unlucky souls who have to endure his wrath.”
“We won’t get lost. I know these mountains like the back of my hand. They were my backyard growing up. You’re safe with me.”
An emotion flashed through her eyes. Surprise, maybe? He’d used that word a couple of times around her, and each time, she reacted the same. Had no one told her she was safe before?
He touched a hand to the small of her back. “Come on, Storm. Let me dazzle you with my town so you never want to leave.”
She gave him a small smile as he bypassed the entrance to the visitors center and led her toward the start of a trail.
