“Fine. You make outdoor bathrooms worth it. Happy?”
He twisted around and tugged her toward him, planting a quick kiss on her mouth.
“I really, really am, Dutch.”
* * *
As much funas camping had turned out to be, Faith was damn glad when the car came into view.
“Yes!” She jogged the last few feet and threw herself against the passenger door. “Take me back to central heat and Netflix and couches!”
Leo was still strolling through the parking lot as she struggled out of her pack, groaning and stretching out her spine once the backpack was on the ground. When he joined her at the car, he didn’t rush to unburden himself. Instead, he turned and looked back at the start of the trail that had carried them into and then out of the forest.
“What’s up?” Maybe this was some kind of end-of-hike tradition she didn’t know about.
“Just taking a second to lock it all in.” He flashed her a smile as he unbuckled his straps. “This was a good trip.”
She blushed, but she didn’t look away. It was clear that she was the reason he was storing this all in his memory, and she loved it.
He grabbed both their bags and stashed them in the back, and she tried to wipe as much of the trail mud off her boots as she could before climbing into his pristine car. Once they were buckled in and on the way, she nibbled on her lip before saying, “Confession time?”
He glanced at her apprehensively. “Okay.”
“I think walking back through all that mud would’ve been easier if I’d had hiking poles.”
As she’d hoped, he gave a shout of laughter. Then he reached over and took her hand. They rode like that all the way back to Beaucoeur.
When they made it to his house, he fetched both their bags and carried hers to her car for her. After an easy, companionable morning, she was suddenly nervous. Leo too, maybe. He hooked his thumbs through his belt loops and rocked back on his heels before asking, “Do you want to come in?” He jerked his head toward that huge stone house that didn’t fit him at all.
She was tempted. But she was also a little gross.
“Rain check? I want to go home and shower.”
His expression didn’t change when she gestured down at herself, but she didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
“I mean it on the rain check.” She stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You promised me dinner. Dinneranda movie actually.”
“That I did.” He walked her backward a step and pinned her against the car. “Also sex.”
He kissed her soundly. Her heart was hammering in her chest when he finally pulled away, and she was starting to wonder how much she actually needed to go home and shower when a voice intruded on their moment.
“Morning, lovebirds!”
They turned to find a barefoot, shorts-clad William standing on the doorstep with a steaming mug of coffee in his hand and a shit-eating grin on his face.
Her instinct was to pull away—this was her new employee after all—but Leo simply slung a casual arm around her shoulder.
“Wish I could say I’m sorry you didn’t make it yesterday, but I’m not.”
“Evidently.” William raised his mug in salute and headed back into the house, pausing only to say, “I’m about to scramble some eggs if you want to stay for breakfast, Fox.”
“Tempting,” she called as he stepped inside.
“Come in. Stay.” Leo dropped his hands to her hips, but she just bit her lip.
“It’s too awkward. And I’m too covered in trail mud.” His mouth twitched downward, so she pressed her lips against his to sweeten the sting of her answer. “And we actually already have a date scheduled. You’re taking me to the foundation gala next Saturday, remember?”
“Like I’d forget.” He kissed her one more time, and when he pulled away, his smile was so bright and open that her breath caught in her chest. She hadn’t seenthisLeo in so long. God, she’d missed him.
