Chapter Four
Skye
We ended up sharing dinner even though Aaron clearly didn’t want to. My chili recipe lured him in.
He came here to relax alone, but I’d never known the man to relax. I might as well keep him company and maybe get a favor at the same time. “What did you think of the chili?”
He nodded reluctantly. “I admit it was pretty damn good.”
I beamed at him and prepared for impact. “Have you heard of the Devil’s Horn Trail?”
“Why?” he asked through gritted teeth.
Wow, that goodwill from the chili disappeared quickly. “Well, if someone wants to climb it they are supposed to have a guide with them.”
“Uh, huh?” The firelight was dancing over his face, making even his pissed off expression sexy.
“And some pictures and info from the trail would really round out this article I’m writing…you’re a certified guide, right?”
He threw up his hands and rose from the log he was sitting on. He stalked towards me. Kyle leapt out from behind a table leg and batted his ankle before making a run for it with his ears pinned back.
Aaron loomed over me. “You really think I’d take you up there? I’m on vacation, for one thing.”
Alright, on to Plan B.
“That’s fine,” I waved my hand dismissively. “I’ll just head up with Kyle. What are the odds some park ranger will come by and bust me, anyway?”
He was studying me but I kept my eyes on the table where I was untangling one of Kyle’s leashes.
“The guide requirement is just to limit traffic, anyway. It isn’t dangerous.”
“The backcountry is always dangerous. You’re not going up there.”
I flicked my eyes up to meet his. “I am, one way or another.”
He let out an impressive string of curses. “Fine, tomorrow morning. Early. Be ready.”
Aaron marched towards his cabin door, stepped inside and slammed it behind him. Kyle leapt onto the porch chasing a moth and I smiled at his antics…and Aaron’s too.
Played right into his hero complex. The man is nothing if not predictable.
* * *
I was ready to go at dawn with a pack of supplies on my back, Kyle in his harness and my backup camera around my neck.
The other was still resting in its little rice home. I wasn’t sure how long to leave it, but figured twenty-four hours sounded right.
Stepping out of the cabin into the cool morning air, I glanced over to see Aaron coming out of his cabin too. “Morning.”
His posture slumped. “You’re ready on time.”
“Duh, I wasn’t going to risk you leaving without me.”
His cheeks reddened.
That was exactly his plan and we both knew it.
I walked over to him, holding the straps of my pack off my shoulders.
“You’re bringing Kyle?” He put one of his feet up on the edge of the picnic table and tied the laces of his boot. I tilted my head to get a better look at how his ass was stretching his pants, then pulled my eyes away.
“You don’t follow my social media, do you?”
He shrugged.
“Kyle is an adventure cat. He’s famous.”
He stared at me. “What is an adventure cat?”
Damn mountain man lived under a rock.
“Adventure cats go everywhere with their owner like Kyle does with me. He hikes, he camps, he judges strangers from my shoulder. Adventure cat.”
Aaron made a rude noise. “Okay, but who the hell would follow a cat on social media?”
“About three point four million people, last I checked.” I said it nonchalantly, but it had taken a shit ton of effort to get that following and I was proud of myself.
Aaron stopped adjusting his pant leg and looked at me. “You have to be kidding.”
“He has half a dozen sponsors. I make more money from his account than from journalism.”
His face froze in the expression of a man who had lost all hope for humanity.
He stood to his full height, a sight that would be intimidating if I didn’t know him. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Let’s just go, then. Kyle knows the way.”
“Oh good, the cat is navigating,” he said sarcastically but he fell into step behind me.
His presence at my back was solid and steady as we made our way along the narrow path.
It was still cool, especially in the shade, and the odd mosquito still buzzed around my ear.
Stretching my legs felt good, I had lazed around at the lake yesterday and was itching to burn off some energy.
Not to mention see the view from the top.
“You bring sunscreen with you this time?” he asked.
I looked over my shoulder. “Of course I did. Yesterday too, I just didn’t reapply.”
He grunted.
A few more minutes went by.
“Did you bring enough water?”
I rolled my eyes. “If I didn’t, I’m sure you’ve got enough for both of us.”
“You can’t rely on other people in survival situations. You need to have everything.”
It was going to be a long day.
I stopped and turned to face him on the trail. “I know you do things in a very organized, military kind of way. I do things a little more haphazardly—”
He made a dismissive sound and crossed his stupid sexy arms over his chest.
“But, I spend as much time in the bush as you do and guess what? We’re both still alive.”
“Yeah well you’ve been lucky,” he said.
I rolled my eyes. “No, I’ve been smart. I just don’t do smart the same way you do.”
He moved a step closer, looming over me in a strange sexy forest-creature sort of way. “You’re reckless, you lost something in the lake, you got a sunburn, you—”
“Ooh, a sunburn,” I interrupted. “Big deal. It’s not like I tried to pet a bear or wandered off a cliff.”
He made that dismissive sound again.
“Look,” I tried to inject some calm into my voice even as my pulse pounded. “We’re both almost forty and I spend as much time in the bush as you do, we’ve both managed to survive. Can you just cut the big brother routine and enjoy the hike.”
He glared, his arms still flexed across his chest. I fought to keep my eyes on his face and off his muscles. Something about verbally sparring with this guy just worked for me.
“I actually am friends with your big brother,” he pointed out.
“Yeah, friends with him. That doesn’t mean you are him.” We were standing way closer than necessary, almost chest to chest and I could smell the subtle spice of his deodorant or aftershave. “I mean, there are things I’d do with you that I would never—”
I snapped my mouth shut, realizing I’d said too much.
Aaron didn’t need to know I’d rather climb him than the mountain.
His eyes went a little wider, and he cleared his throat. His blue eyes dipped to my mouth and stayed there long enough for my face to heat. “I was just checking, that’s all,” he muttered.
I nodded, then took a step back, half-tripping over Kyle, who was hunting a rock. I caught myself before he could lecture me on ankle hazards or something equally ridiculous. “Let’s just keep going.”