Despite the strain on my lungs and the fact my hips are beginning to ache, I’m enjoying myself. Hugh is good company; I’m comfortable in his presence, and I appreciate he doesn’t feel the need to fill every silence or make small talk. He’s interesting and funny and smart, which makes for one hella sexy package.
Since our short break, the trail has slowly been getting steeper. We reach a narrow pass that won’t allow us to go side by side. Hugh suggests I go ahead of him so I can set the pace. With him behind me, I’m now doubly glad I wore my best pair of butt-enhancing yoga pants. Not that I imagine he’s staring at my derriere, but still.
My breaths become more strained as we climb—because that’s what we’re doing now, climbing. The gentle rise has turned into more of a hill, and besides being narrow it’s also littered with debris. I keep my eyes cast downward to avoid stumbling or slipping on the slick leaves that cover the forest floor. With my attention on the ground, I narrowly miss colliding with a tree that’s sticking out further than the others. Expelling an embarrassed laugh from my tired lungs, I stop and collapse against the offending tree to catch my breath.
“That would have been great,” I say between pants. “Concussion in the middle of the woods. I thought you said this wasn’t a steep path.”
Hugh leans on a boulder across from me. His breathing is only slightly heavier than usual and he’s barely broken a sweat. Bastard. “There’s aweechance I might have chosen the wrong path,” he says slowly, glancing up the incline ahead of us. When his gaze returns to mine, he gives me what I’m sure he thinks is a winning grin.
I compress my lips, trying to my reaction. I can’t help it. He has this gorgeous, bright smile that always makes my lips twitch in response. “Don’t try to be all cute and charming,” I say. “Using words like ‘wee’ and grinning at me like that.”
Said grin widens. “I think the smoother path was a bit further down in the park,” he says. “The good news is we’re not far from the top. I promise the view is worth it. And I’ll be sure to find the more even path for the way back down.”
“Good, otherwise I’d probably trip on something and end up rolling to the bottom.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen.” He pushes off the boulder and moves toward me. His long legs close the distance between us in a few steps. I swallow hard as he enters my personal space, standing so close I have to lean my head back to look up at him. The image of him wavers in front of me slightly and I realize I’m holding my breath. The air rushes out of my lungs in a whoosh, and I cover the sound by clearing my throat. My tongue darts out to moisten my lips, the movement drawing Hugh’s attention to my mouth.
He’s finally going to kiss me. The butterflies that took flight in my stomach a moment ago start doing a giddy jig.
His lips part, but instead of lowering to mine, they start moving. It takes my brain a few beats to catch up and tune in to what he’s saying. “—go first now so I can help you over some of the rougher terrain. We should reach the top in another ten to fifteen minutes, and then we can eat.”
“Eat?” I ask stupidly.
“Aye, I brought us a picnic.”
There he goes again, being all cute and charming and Scottish. It almost makes up for the fact he didn’t kiss me. Almost.
Hugh takes the lead and I follow. He’s somehow able to pay attention to the path in front of us while also keeping an eye on the ground and checking regularly on me. His strides are confident as opposed to my tentative steps as I pick my way over roots and rocks and dips in the earth. He reaches back for me several times, grasping my hand to assist me. At one point the incline becomes so steep it’s as if we’re climbing straight up. If it weren’t for Hugh, I have a feeling I’d either have to drop to my hands and knees to crawl, or grasp nearby low-lying branches as leverage.
I’m about to forsake what’s left of my pride and beg for a rest when sunlight hits my face. Blinking against the bright rays, I see we’ve reached a small clearing. Several feet ahead of us, the ground evens out in a wide expanse before dropping off. It gives me the energy I need to surge ahead and reach the top.
My already-strained breathing hitches at the sight laid out before me. After a moment, I sense Hugh’s presence. “You weren’t kidding about this view.” The city stretches out below us, a mixture of trees, fields, and grid-like patterns of streets, with the river snaking through the middle. Many of the trees have lost their leaves by now, but I bet this view was spectacular in October and early November.
“Not the best time of year for optimum viewing,” Hugh says, his shoulder brushing mine as he shrugs. “Still quite lovely, though. Makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.” He strips off his backpack, letting it fall to the ground before stretching his arms over his head. I turn in time to see his shirt ride up, exposing a few inches of bare skin. Bare skin dusted with dark hair leading south into his cargo pants. I glance away quickly so I won’t be tempted to gawk. Or touch.
“I’m not gonna lie, I was about ready to start cursing you,” I tell him. “Now I have to face how woefully out of shape I am and decide whether to do something about it or go back to my couch potato ways.”
He chuckles, dropping one arm around my shoulders. “You could hibernate through the winter and then start fresh when the weather turns nice. On the way back down, you’ll see the trail Imeantfor us to take is more manageable. Maybe today will inspire you to start hiking.”
“I’m sure it’s beautiful in the spring when everything starts to bloom again.” I feel a sudden chill when Hugh’s arm slides from my shoulders and he moves away to grab his backpack. From the depths, he pulls a plaid blanket—or is it a tartan since he’s Scottish?—then drops his bag again. I watch as he wanders the clearing, presumably looking for a spot to set up.
He stops in a patch of weak sunlight, where he kicks aside a few rocks and pinecones, and spreads the blanket on the ground. “This suit you?”
I nod and he motions for me to sit. A small moan forms in the back of my throat the moment I’m off my tired feet. I’d love to kick off my shoes, but with the amount of sweat I’ve shed in the last hour, I’m sure I don’t exactly smell daisy fresh. I settle for loosening the laces and letting the tongue of my runners hang out.
Hugh unpacks a small feast from his bag. I have no idea how he managed to fit all those containers in there, along with several bottles of water, plus the blanket we’re sitting on. “Is that backpack made from the same material as Santa’s sack? Something that makes it magically bottomless?”
He pauses to look at me, his eyes twinkling in that mischievous way I’ve come to love. “You really have it all figured out, don’t you?”
I give a nonchalant shrug, even though my heart is beating out a samba rhythm in response to the double-whammy of those sparkling eyes and even brighter smile.
“Actually, it’s a mini TARDIS of sorts,” he says, patting the bag. “Bigger on the inside.”
“You know, it would make sense if Santa were a Time Lord,” I say. “Able to manipulate the space/time continuum and travel the world in one night.”
Hugh ducks his head, laughing under his breath. “A girl who not only gets myDoctor Whojoke, but runs with it. I think I’m in love.”
By some miracle my answering laugh doesn’t sound shaky.He’s kidding, Ivy.Obviously kidding, and yet my heart gives an extra hard thump at his words. “If I’d known it would be that easy, I’d have pulled the nerd card a lot sooner.”
