“You said you were out here for a month,” Kieran said as they walked, while Natasha was still mulling over how to break it to him that all she was after was a casual thing. “So you’re just on vacation?”
“Uh, something like that,” Natasha murmured. She didn’t really want to spill her guts to this guy – but something seemed to be compelling her, against her will, to keep talking. “I’m taking a bit of a break from work, and I figured this might be a good place to help me get some R&R… and maybe help me remember why I left in the first place.”
“Really?” Kieran looked surprised. “It’s beautiful out here, though – I used to adore coming here when I was a kid, playing in the forest and just running around in nature. It’s something I always looked forward to. Or did you mean something else?”
“Uh, no, that’s what I meant,” Natasha admitted. “I guess I wasn’t really what you’d call the outdoorsy type.”
Unlike you, apparently,she thought, allowing her gaze to linger on the outline of his pectoral muscles, visible beneath his t-shirt and open jacket.
“I always dreamed of escaping,” she continued after a moment. “I guess I just… wanted something more. A bigger challenge. To prove myself. When I was young, everything here seemed really just… small. The same thing every day. But I admit, that was kind of through my cynical teenaged self’s eyes. Looking at it again now… well, it’s changed a lot. Or maybe it just seems that way.”
“You mean you think you see more to appreciate in it now, perhaps?” Kieran asked, cocking his head.
“Maybe,” Natasha admitted, not without a little reluctance. “Ithaschanged – or maybe it’s that I have. I guess I achieved everything I wanted to in the city, and now…”
She trailed off, blinking. She hadn’t meant to talk about herself so much, and nor, until she’d said – or half-said – it out loud, had she realized what exactly all the mixed feelings that had been swirling within her chest had meant.
And now I feel like maybe I want something else out of life.Is thatreallyhow I feel?
“But listen to me, blabbering like this,” she said quickly, with a laugh that sounded strained even to her own ears. “I haven’t really asked you anything about yourself. Or should I leave that for tomorrow?”
Natasha bit her lip as soon as the words were out of her mouth.
No! Don’t make him think you’re interested in him as a person! It’s a vacation fling!
But… the truth of the matter was that shedidwant to know more about him. Where did a guy likethiseven come from? She didn’t know men like him – men who were that tall, that broad, with that dazzling a smile and that kind of irresistible magnetism – even really existed in the world.
If only I’d known he spent his childhood summers here, then maybe I wouldn’t have been quite so quick to run off!
“Me? Oh, there’s not a lot to tell, I have to admit,” Kieran said, flashing her another of his wide, dazzling smiles. Natasha almost felt like she had to blink the stars from her eyes – at least until he frowned a little. “Or… well, I suppose there aresomethings to tell. But I guess the main things to know are that I work in horticulture – which sounds fancy, I guess, but it’s really mainly just doing maintenance and landscaping at the botanical gardens I work at. Operating machinery, caring for trees, pruning them, making sure the whole area is safe for visitors, as well as creating new garden beds and planting them. Maybe it doesn’t sound like a lot, but I really enjoy it.”
“Ah, Iknewyou were the outdoorsy type!” Natasha exclaimed – before remembering that that had been a little bit of internal commentary as she’d checked out his bulging muscles, rather than anything she’d said out loud. “I mean, uh, you justlooklike you’d enjoy the outdoors,” she added, aware that shereallywasn’t making anything better.
“Well, as outdoorsy as I can be, in the middle of the city,” Kieran laughed. “But the park I work atispretty big, and there’s always plenty to do in the way of clearing up the garden, planning new beds, and checking for hazards. And it’s better than sitting behind a desk… I mean, forme, anyway, more power to people who love that kind of thing.”
“No, I understand what you mean,” Natasha said with a light laugh. “To be honest, even though I’m notcompletelydesk-bound I still get a little tired of it sometimes. I’m lucky enough I get to go to events, go visit clients, go on buying trips… all that kind of stuff. So thereisa little variety.”
“You sound like you’re a pretty high flier, then,” Kieran said musingly. “Can I see if I can guess what you actually do?”
“Oh, be my guest.” Natasha found herself laughing again, relaxing into the easiness of being in his company. It wasn’t what she’d planned to do, but…
But can I really help it if he’s going to bethatcute?
“Hmm.” Kieran looked her over, a considering expression on his face. “Expensive hiking boots. Nicely fitted jacket. Is that scarf mohair? You clearly know what looks good on you, and you like looking good.”
“Are you guessing my job or flattering me?” Natasha said, laughing – but to be honest, she could feel just the slightest blush rising in her cheeks, and also, perhaps, her heart fluttering just a bit.
“Can it be both? Though is it really flattery if it’s all completely true?” Kieran asked, flashing her another of those dazzling smiles. “I mean… well, I just meant youdolook good. But I think you already know that – you don’t strike me as someone who doesn’t know her own worth.”
Natasha, almost despite herself, found herself disarmed by his honesty – he didn’t say it as if it was a subtle put-down, or as if he was trying to suggest she was arrogant. Kieran just said it as if it was a fact; something that should be obvious to anyone.
“So… I’m going to guess some kind of corporate high flier. Maybe you work in design or something like that? You’re well-dressed and put together, so it’s something where appearances matter. Maybe it’s something with expensive clients, who want to know they’re dealing with a professional and don’t mind paying for the privilege.”
“You’re pretty observant, I’ll give you that,” Natasha laughed. “You’re getting warmer, so I’ll just tell you: I work in marketing and advertising.”
“Ah, my guess was going to be interior design or architecture,” Kieran said, joining in her laugh. “You just seem like someone who cares about things looking nice.”
“Well, to be honest, I studied design at college – it was my first job at the company I work at now, but then I got promoted. And I guess I just found my way up to where I am now.”
