Chapter 34
Last night I slept like a baby. The air was perfectly cool, and I was safe enough with Reid outside that I left the window open enough to smell the fresh air. Reid wasn’t wrong—I needed that massage desperately. I’m a brand new woman now.
Unfortunately, I woke up damp in more ways than one.
That was by far the most charged moment we’ve ever had.
I’m certain I must have imagined him putting his lips on me.
My fingers trail up to the spot, and I swear it still feels warm.
I’m laying in bed fantasizing about him as I attempt to forget what today has in store.
Reid knocks on Willa as soon as my mind drifts to how soft his lips are. Mortified, I scramble out of bed and into the shower. I’m beyond grateful that we left my bike at the track yesterday. They have a maintenance garage for us.
I hear Reid over the pelting water. “Addie, I’m coming in. I hope you’re decent.”
His tone suggests he’s hoping for the opposite. This energy between us has been building for a while now, but it’s intensifying faster than I can handle. The scalding water brings me back to my body some, but there’s still an uncomfortable ache in between my legs.
He’s right on the other side of the shower now, and I feel his head thumb against the pseudo-wall. “Addie.”
I want to throw up, I’m so nervous. “Reid.” It comes out as a plea.
“Do you need help in there?”
“Nope!” I’m stern. In no way, shape, or form, am I ready for Reid to see me naked. Plus, this shower is hardly big enough for me.
The sound of his footsteps trailing away puts me at ease long enough to pull some clothes on and take a few deep inhales. Reid is halfway through making breakfast when I open the door—he’s scrambling eggs and frying two slices of bacon.
I can still barely speak but I manage a soft, “Thanks.”
He hands me my plate and lets his fingers linger on my arm. “Oh you’re welcome. Anything else you want to thank me for?” He winks.
I shove a piece of bacon down my throat to avoid answering.
My cheeks are hot—my nerves fried. The air between us is electric as we eat in silence.
Every time he takes a bite, my eyes follow his lips.
I can’t fucking stop thinking about how they felt on my neck.
I need to forget about it—at least for now.
Today we put the finishing touches on the trail, and then we start the ride days. Now is not the time to have my focus pulled. I shoot Reid a glare to remind him as I say, “No more lingering touches, okay? Not today.”
He’s nodding with his head, but his eyes are telling a different story. We’re going to have to talk about this later. I might burst with the amount of pressure building up inside me.
We’ve been up on this ridge since sunrise, lamenting over the features like we did yesterday. My shirt is soaked through, and I’m covered in dirt.
“Why does no one talk about how hard this part is?” I ask no one in particular.
Reid replies, brushing my hair out of my eyes as he does it. “Don’t worry, Addie. I’ll keep moving literal mountains for you. Go take a break.”
I can’t tell if he’s mocking me or being genuinely sweet. I’m taking advantage of it either way. My water pack is empty, so I tug Reid’s free from his pack, and my fingers graze the exposed skin of his chest. My breath catches in my lungs, and my eyes lock with his.
He licks the pad of his thumb. “Uh, what are you—” Before I can get the question out, he’s using it to rub the dirt free from around my eyes.
“You’re looking like a raccoon. A cute raccoon, but a raccoon nonetheless.”
I resist the urge to feel the spot where he touched me. He needs to stop doing that, teasing me with almost-touches and flirty remarks. It’s impossible to focus on this competition when I can’t stop thinking about tumbling into bed with him.
The sun is at its peak, and we’re almost out of water.
It’s time to head down for a lunch break, and I’m about to say so when I see a thick mass of dark curls crest over the horizon.
Damien is here. Josie’s on his shoulders, beaming brightly.
They’re wearing matching hot pink shirts that say ‘Blondie’ in big curly letters just like Reid had talked about.
He lets Josie down, and she runs over to me and hugs my leg. I didn’t realize how much I wanted to see them until this moment, when they are all right in front of me. Damien hands Reid a giant box full of shirts. “Here you go, man.”
Of course Reid actually went through with making shirts. It makes total sense he used Damien to do it. That man always has a hookup.
They’re cute, and it makes this all feel real. I start to panic.
Reid rubs circles on my back. “Oh no. You hate them?”
A laugh forces its way out of me, but it sounds more like a sob. I sit myself down on a rock, and Josie makes her way into my lap. “What’s wrong, Aunt Addie?”
I wipe tears from my eyes. “Nothing bug, I’m just excited to see you.”
Ruffling up her dark brown curls, I look up at her dad. He must realize how scared I am because he comes over and gives me a side hug. I’ve never known Damien to be affectionate with anyone but with his daughter—she has him wrapped around her finger.
They observe us as we work on the trail for a while before Josie starts yawning and they head back to the hotel. It’s hot today—the sun is pounding down, and I have to drink water every two seconds or I’m going to pass out.
Reid strips off his hot pink shirt and lays it out on a rock. “Take a break, Addie. I’ve got this.”
“What am I supposed to do? Just sit here?”
He winks at me and his muscles flex while he takes the shovel. “Just enjoy the view.”
The view makes me even thirstier. He strains himself as he pounds the sandstone down, making sure the trail flows perfectly.
They finish right as the sun begins to go down. I’m sitting biting my nails, trying to stave off a panic attack. I try to focus on the clangs of the shovels against dirt, but every few seconds I get distracted by Reid’s biceps.
Reid leans down beside me, heat radiating off of his hard abs. He pushes his sweaty arm into my side. It should disgust me—he’s covered in dirt, smudged under his eyes and across his brow—but it makes him sexier.
“Ready to head home?”
I nod and try to peel myself off of the rock. My thighs seize up a little, and I fall back.
He leans down in front of me. “Climb on.”
“I can walk.”
“I know you can. But you don’t have to.”
Reid meanders down the trail like we have every other day, but this time it feels different…tomorrow I have to ride this trail and officially find out if I actually deserve to be here.