“Nah, I’m good. Just don’t use up all the hot water. I know how you girls can be.”
Rolling her eyes, she fished out what she would need from her bags while he sang about insanity. She recognized the tune from the night before.
Maybe she was insane. Locked in a cabin, in the woods, with a magnetic man who could light a dangerous fire. Was this just testing the waters, or was it the first step on the road to a psychotic break? She didn’t know—not yet, at least. And the first step to finding that answer would begin with the forest trail.
Chapter Eleven
Skye and Ashspent the day hiking in the pines, following national forest trails as they searched for Skye’s elusive waterfalls. They found three—two dried up and one frozen for the winter. The frozen one sported huge icicles, which sparkled in the sunlight, creating a dazzling display. The sun climbed high, banishing the clouds, and brought warmth to the day.
A dense carpet of pine needles covered the forest floor and cushioned the ground beneath their boots. They hiked in silence with only the whisper of the wind, the scratching of squirrels scampering through the foliage, and the twittering of birds to fill the quiet.
Ash helped her scramble over the rocks, taking every opportunity to hold her hand. He hummed melodies. His mind seemed to be constantly fixated on the beauty of music. His brilliant smile lit up the gloomier parts of the trail, and the eagerness of his step pulled her forward, around the next bend, and up the steep slopes.
When they failed to find more than damp rocks during their waterfall search, he pulled her to him, fluttering light kisses all overher face. His lips banished the chill, but he broke off the kiss long before she was ready.
He scampered across the base of the last waterfall, the rocks glistening with seeping water. “I suppose it’s more difficult to hunt waterfalls than I thought.” He balanced on the slippery rocks, despite her insistence for him to be careful. “Who knew waterfalls could hide?”
“Sleeping maybe,” she said with a smile.
“Let’s do something different,” he offered. “Since these fabled waterfalls seem to have been scared into hiding, let’s get out of here.” He winked.
“They’re not hiding.”
He pointed to the damp rock. “Okay, sleeping. How about we grab lunch? I remember passing a greasy spoon on our way to the cabin.”
She’d packed granola bars and nuts into her backpack, intending on a light lunch on the trail, but at the mention of diner food, her stomach grumbled. “Greasy diner sounds perfect.”
On the way to his Jeep, Ash would chase her on the flat parts, claiming a kiss each time she allowed him to catch her. She’d laugh while he chased, and then she’d become speechless under the press of his demanding kisses. Everything about Ash brought a smile to her face and had her heart racing.
Before long, they arrived at the trailhead, and a short drive brought them to Chuck’s Bar and Grill.
Ash had on those wretched mirrored sunglasses again. His eyes were too beautiful to keep covered, and she missed the smoldering of his gaze when he looked at her.
“Can you take those glasses off?” She tried snatching the frames from his face, but he jerked out of reach.
“My headache’s back, and the light is bothering my eyes.”
He’d complained about a headache before.
She had pain relievers in her bag. “Do you need to take anything?”
“I’ll be fine,” he said with a wave of his hand. “But maybe no more hiking for the day?”
The waitress came and took their orders, placing water on the table. Skye asked for a cheeseburger with bacon, hold the fries. Ash ordered the same burger, asking for her fries to be placed on his plate.
He patted his stomach. “I’m starving from all that hunting.”
The waitress gave an odd look and then left them alone.
Skye rolled her glass between her hands. “If hiking is out, what do you want to do?”
His brows lifted above his sunglasses. “I saw an ad for a helicopter tour.”
She’d seen the same ad and canceled her reservations for the following day, thinking it would be too expensive for a struggling musician to manage. Her lips twisted. “I’m not so sure about that.”
The waitress returned with their meals, her gazing lingering a little too long on Ash. Skye couldn’t blame her. He was a hard man not to stare at.
“Oh, come on. It’ll be fun.” He pulled out a flyer she hadn’t seen him pick up. “They have flights in the afternoon. I’m sure they’re not busy this time of year. Let’s call and see.”
