“Hey, sweetie,” I said, leaning into my friendliest voice. “Is your mommy or daddy somewhere nearby?”
“Nope. Mommy’s home with my new brother, Benjamin,” she announced proudly. “Daddy’s carrying Bella up the mountain. I told him I was the fastest. I am.”
“You definitely are.” Eric’s amusement was thick in his voice.
“Kara.” A man’s voice boomed across the space as a tall, exhausted-looking figure stepped up to the lookout, a squirming toddler balanced on his hip.
Relief and irritation battled across his face when he saw his daughter. “I told you to stay with me.” Then his gaze slid to us. To Eric’s arm still around my waist. To my leg still very much over his lap.
His expression hardened.
“Come here, Kara. Leave these people alone.”
“But Daddy?—”
“It’s okay.” I tried to ease out of Eric’s hold.
The man’s eyes flicked pointedly to our tangled lower halves. “Perhaps you two could…relocate. I’m sure there are better places to enjoy the birds and the bees.”
I jumped to my feet, grabbing Eric’s hand and tugging him along with me.
“Daddy, I don’t see the bees.”
Eric barked out a laugh so loud and sudden I lost it, giggles spilling out of me as we started down the trail.
The man just stared after us, unimpressed, exhausted, and possibly a little envious.
“Thank you. Goodbye.” I called over my shoulder.
Eric didn’t slow until we were clear of the lookout, fingers still laced with mine, laughter still shaking his chest.
And somehow, even as I fled downhill, embarrassed and red-faced, I was still turned on.
Chapter Thirteen
Eric
By the time we were out of view of the lookout, she was breathless.
Not from the hike. From laughing.
Jamie had cracked jokes the entire way through the woods. Dirty ones. Creative ones. Delivered without an ounce of shame.
The girl was trouble. Exactly my kind.
And she wasn’t taken. No boyfriend. No invisible boundary I had to respect.
Which meant the only thing holding me back was my own fucking restraint. And whatever it was that Jamie wanted. Hopefully, it was the same thing I did.
“I just have to know…” Laughter still bubbled in her voice as we stopped beside a trickling waterfall. “Were you holding my leg over your lap to hide your erection?”
I held her gaze. “It wasn’t obvious, was it?”
Her grin widened. “Oh, I noticed. Kara’s dad might’ve been suspicious, but I couldn’t tell if that look on his face was disapproval or jealousy.”
“You think he was jealous of my poorly timed wood?”
“Oh my God. You brought your own wood to the woods.” She doubled over laughing, and I couldn’t help joining her. “Seriously, though. You should put up a billboard. You’ve got a lot to be proud of there.”
