Through an opening in the trees, she saw the ranger cabin where Fin lived. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. Thinking about those kisses and what he’d be like in bed. Thinking about him and his family, and how they’d become estranged.
“And that has to stop now!”
The sound of feet up ahead had her tensing again.
Fin appeared.
“What has to stop?”
“Oh, thank God it’s you,” Maggs wheezed, clutching her chest. Big and vital. Dressed in jeans, hiking boots, a jacket, and woolen hat, Fin stood there watching her as she attempted to get her breathing under control.
“What has to stop, Maggs?”
“Nothing.” She waved a hand about, glad that the color in her cheeks would look like it was from the exercise.
“What the hell are you doing out here at this hour anyway?”
“Walking.”
“I can see that, just not why.”
She noted he wasn’t even slightly out of breath, like the seniors.
“I’m exercising.”
“Seriously?” She heard the surprise in his words, and that pissed her off.
“I can exercise!”
“I thought it gave you hives.”
“Ha ha.”
“I think in future you’d be better walking through town, Maggs. You can get lost on these trails, and no one would find you this time of year, as not many people are about at this hour, plus there’s the snow and ice.”
“I can look after myself. Besides, I just saw the Robbins sisters and Mr. Goldhirsh, and they’re on the trail.”
“They have been hiking these trails for years; you haven’t. I get that you like the privacy though. There’s nothing like being out here alone.”
Maggs nodded.
“But my advice is still to walk in town, and if not, with someone if you’re on the mountains.”
It niggled at her that he didn’t think she was capable, which she probably wasn’t, but still, she didn’t like that pointed out so clearly by him.
“I can handle myself.”
“Sure, I saw that when you attempted to pull a man twice your weight off another man. Both who, I may add, had been drinking.”
“Shut up, Fin. You’re ruining my peace.”
His smile did not make her tummy flutter.
“I’ll walk with you if you want. Just tell me what time. I’m usually out here anyway at this hour.”
Maggs wasn’t sure walking with a man you were sexually aware of was conducive to relieving stress, which she was trying to do.
“Thanks, but I don’t go far and am fine alone.”
