Chapter Nine #2
‘Can I join you if I promise to stay quiet? Not ask any questions?’
‘Do you have that kind of restraint?’
He set his chin. ‘Absolutely.’
I should have said no. Being alone with him was a mistake, but before I could make up an excuse to leave, Flora leaped toward the winding trail leading deeper into the woods.
We walked side by side, the dogs happily trotting along. Another breath of soft wind twisted through the trees, cooling off my warm skin. That scent of juniper Clo loved did a small dance around my head, filling my nose.
Bryce pulled in a full, cleansing breath, like he was smelling air for the first time. ‘I can’t believe I fought coming here.’
‘Fought it? Why?’
‘Having to deal with my uncle’s house, the land, it’s outside my comfort zone. I thought it’d be best to hand the job over to a law firm and let them handle the details.’
‘What made you change your mind?’
His full lips pinched together. I knew that look. It was the same face Lia made when you were bordering on an uncomfortable topic.
‘I needed a break.’ Another flash of vulnerability, maybe regret, streaked across his face.
‘Plus,’ he said, changing his tone to be breezier, ‘I wanted to let Indy run around a bit. He doesn’t have many places to roam in Studio City.
Out here he can go wild.’ He quickly followed it with ‘On a leash, of course.’
‘You are learning.’ The rise of the path grew steeper as we neared the top of the ridge. ‘Do you like living in Los Angeles?’
‘It has its perks. There’s always live music going on at the clubs in West Hollywood.
Farmers’ markets on the weekends at the Rose Bowl.
The beach is only a short drive away if there’s little traffic.
Which there hardly ever is, because driving in LA is like trying to cross a crowded parking lot.
Don’t get me started about the 5 South headed toward Orange County on a Friday afternoon. ’
I had no idea what he was talking about, but I enjoyed the way his voice went lighter. How his eyes crinkled at the edges as he told me about his life.
‘I’ve never wanted to live in a big city. My kind of traffic is when the two-lane road leading out of town stops because Randall Pelgrew is steering his cows to a new pasture.’
‘Life is slower around here, that’s for sure, but I do miss my mom. She only lives ten minutes from me.’
‘And your dad?’ I wasn’t the nosy type, but that urgent pull toward him made me greedy for more details about his life.
‘Never had one. I mean… well, I had one, obviously, but when my mom told him she was pregnant, he took off.’
‘Sorry,’ I said, tugging on Flora’s leash when she got too far ahead. ‘I know what it’s like growing up without a dad.’
‘But at least you have family. Sisters. I’m an only child.’
‘Why does that not surprise me?’
He blinked for a second, his firm shoulders giving a little. ‘Do I give off that vibe?’
‘Determined. Ambitious. Self-sufficient. Doesn’t shy away from difficult situations. Aren’t those typical traits for an only child?’
‘Careful. That almost sounded like a compliment.’
He gave me that quick flick of a grin. It wasn’t so much arrogant as confident. Like he was comfortable in his own skin, knew what he wanted out of life, and I hated that it made the blood spark in my veins.
We continued to climb, and I loved the pull in my muscles. The rapid rise and fall of my breaths. How up this high everything looked cleaner. Shinier. Full of possibilities.
The afternoon sun was turning into its regular shade of orange creamsicle as it started its slow descent toward the horizon. In silence, we ascended the trail until we reached Wildwood Point. My favorite place in all of Harvest Moon.
Bryce stopped short and whispered a throaty ‘Oh shit.’
A flourish of deep green trees furled out for miles. The clouds overhead resembled gooey marshmallows stretched out across the sky.
‘This sure as shit beats the LA smog.’
He paced along the edge of the point, the rocky ground beginning to give way under his feet.
I snaked my hand around his waist, dragging him back until we stood against another sheer wall of rock.
The heat of him pulsed beneath my fingertips, and a calm settled over me.
It wasn’t so much peace, but a deep aching sense that he was a safe space.
That for some reason he was meant to be a main character in my story, which made absolutely no sense considering I’d only been able to think of him as a villain now.
‘Look at you taking care of me. Worried about my safety.’ He playfully brushed a loose hair back from my cheek.
I quickly let go of him and inched away. ‘As much as you annoy me, I don’t feel like calling my sister and her team in for a rescue. And the cell signal out here is spotty at best.’
His eyes continued to trace the lines of my face. It wasn’t one of those hungry stares from the clinic, but more of a soft caress. Like he wanted to study every freckle and line.
I was not kissing this man again, even though every inch of me screamed to reach out and stretch my hands down the length of his corded arms. Tug his hips forward so I could feel the heat of him.
Needing to do something with my hands, I pulled the collapsible bowl from my backpack and filled it with the extra water I’d brought along. Like they’d always been around each other, Indy and Flora took turns lapping up a drink.