She’s sucked me into her world. I don’t care that the relationship is “fake.”
What we did together at her place was anything but fake.
I’ll take this woman any way I can have her.
For someone that’s been all about work the last few years, it should scare me how easily I want to dive into this thing with her. My job has been my life. With running my security firm, it is convenient to give women the excuse that I don’t have time for dating. I never lead them on because I don’t want to hurt them.
I saw enough of that with my mom. I didn’t want to be another guy that treats them like shite.
What if I get hurt in the line of duty?
It could happen, so it made it easier to not date. The reason I kept giving myself as to why I never made the time for anyone. A way to not get close.
Rarely—very rarely—does anything happen in my line of work. And why would it when we’re the only three hiking out here?
I’m thankful for that. But it’s always been the reason I don’t want to settle down.
Except now. Maybe I was holding out for the right person.
Could that be Layla?
It was supposed to be fake, yet here we are. Having our first real date.
And I can’t fucking wait.
As we leave the ranch’s property, the trees become more sparse. The sun bakes my skin as sweat clings to me.
This is something I wouldn’t mind doing with Layla.
A hike? A good fuck.
Anything to get to spend the day together.
Pierce and Charlotte stop at the trailhead, where it cuts to the right.
“You still with us?” Pierce asks, chucking a water bottle at me.
“Fuck off.”
“I figured you couldn’t hack it, city boy.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Please. I totally can.”
“You two don’t need to get into a pissing match about it.” Charlotte wraps her arms around Pierce, tugging him into her side. “I don’t need either one of you injured because your egos can’t handle not winning.”
“That’s sweet of you, Charlotte,” I tell her, “wanting to protect Pierce from losing.”
“Oy!” he chirps.
“Stop it. Both of you.” She sounds exasperated, but a smile is stretched across her face.
It’s always like this with Pierce. It’s why he’s one of my best mates. And why I take these jobs with them whenever needed.
It’s then I notice a couple of hikers walking over to us. I can’t see their eyes behind their sunglasses, but they’re trading whispers as they approach us.
“Hi. Can I ask what you’re doing?”
The couple looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. I hold off the people from getting closer. They stop short, like I came at them with a pistol drawn.
