Chapter 13 #2
She made a joke of it. “Are we coming back to the car every fifteen minutes so I can try a different pair?”
His smile threatened to melt her. “I wouldn’t do that to you. You should wear whichever one feels best.” He closed the back, but instead of going to the driver’s side, he followed to open the passenger door for her.
“Thank you.” The man was too polite.
Once inside the car, he smoothly headed them toward Highway 9, which would take them up into the mountains.
“Where to?” he asked, his hands lazily turning the wheel as if it barely took a push.
“I thought we could do something in Castle Rock State Park. It’s along Skyline.”
“Sounds great. Which trail would you like to try?” He shot her a glance.
Skyline Boulevard ran along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Castle Rock Park took up a lot of the surrounding area. “Let’s do the Saratoga Gap and Ridge Trail Loop. I haven’t done that one yet.”
He glanced at her, grinning. “Neither have I. I’ve been doing hikes that are closer to home, trails I can practically walk to. But I’ve been meaning to get out and do places like Castle Rock, Portola, Big Basin.”
“There’s also Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, over the hill in Felton. And Wilder Ranch out on the ocean. Have you hiked either of those?”
He shook his head. “I’ve done more in the East Bay and the North Bay. Before I moved to Los Gatos.” The SUV glided around the road’s curves as they climbed into the hills. “I guess you’ll have to show me some of those hikes.”
Okay, she’d stepped into that one. “And how many pairs of boots do you want me to try out?”
He laughed. He was so handsome in profile—perfect aquiline nose, firm jawline.
She had to tear her gaze away. “I’m sure you can find some employees who’ll wear the boots.”
It wasn’t exactly a no. But it wasn’t yes either.
They drove companionably while he concentrated on the increasingly winding road.
She hoped like heck this hike wasn’t a bad idea.
She was too aware of him—his profile, his laughter, his musky male scent.
For God’s sake, she’d had her mother call Susan Spencer to find out what his favorite foods were—after she’d been so annoyed at Flo for telling him .
But, she mollified herself, they’d have to eat lunch out on the trail.
At the summit of Highway 9, she directed him onto Skyline. It was early when they reached the park entrance, and the lot wasn’t full yet. Before she could hand Troy her state park pass, he leaned over her, reaching into the glove box for his own.
With the brush of his arm, her blood started to bubble, as if he’d turned her from simmer to high.
Once through the gate, he hung the pass on his rearview mirror.
“You have a park pass?” Before he could answer, she added, “I thought you’d pay at the entrance everywhere you went.”
He eyed her after he’d pulled into a parking spot. “You mean because I’m a billionaire and couldn’t be bothered to get a yearly pass?”
She couldn’t help saying, “I wouldn’t have thought you’d even know they had yearly passes.”
He shot her a smile of gleaming white teeth. “I support the park system with donations. The park pass makes it easier to get around.”
Well, he’d put her in her place. And she could be gracious. “It does make it easier.”
Then she climbed out of the car before he could walk around to open her door.
When he opened the cargo area, he surveyed the row of boots. “Three different styles. I chose a half-size up and half-size down from yours as well. Just in case.”
He’d brought a trail runner, a lightweight hiking shoe, and a heavier boot that would support her ankles. “I’ll try the boot. I read that part of the trail is rocky, so I’d feel more comfortable with better ankle support.”
He handed her the middle pair, which were her size. She hitched herself onto the back of the SUV to take off her own boots and put on the new ones. They seemed to meld to her feet, soft and supple, hugging her ankles. “Wow.”
His grin stretched wide. “Good?”
“It’s like stepping into lambswool.”
He beamed at her. “That sounds like a great slogan for the boot.” Hunkering down in front of her, he pinched the toe box, which didn’t have much give. “Where’s your toe?”
She showed him.
“Perfect.” Then he held her ankle, almost caressing her. “How do they feel up here?”
How could she even tell when he was making her feel so damned shivery? “Good. The real test will be walking over the rocks and doing some scrambling.”
He helped her down off the tailgate. Did his hands linger a little too long at her bare waist? Since the day would be hot, she’d worn a sport top that was little more than a bra. Maybe that hadn’t been such a good idea.
“Walk around,” he told her, circling his hand.
“They’re great.” She marveled at how amazing the boots felt. No breaking in needed at all.
He handed her backpack to her and pulled out his, which had a hydration bag on it. Michaela had put two water bottles into the nested loops on either side of hers. He helped her on with it, though it was completely unnecessary, his fingers lingering on her shoulders as he placed the straps just so.
If it had been any other man, she’d have stepped away and told him not to be so handsy. But with Troy, she couldn’t seem to do that.
To cover the fact that she was flustered, she headed to the signboard with the trail map.
After closing the SUV, he walked up beside her, standing close. Too close. She could have shuffled away, but somehow, her feet wouldn’t move, despite how comfortable the boots were.
She pointed to the map. “That’s the trailhead we want.”
He leaned in as if he couldn’t read where she was pointing, which brought him up close and personal. Lord, he smelled good. It wasn’t cologne or aftershave, but him, his maleness.
She jerked away from him, covering up the move by striding to the trailhead. “I’ll lead the way.” She held up her phone, where she had a trail guide on the screen. But truthfully, she wouldn’t be able to handle walking behind him and watching every flex of his delectable butt.
They’d gone only a short distance when he asked, “How are the boots?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve never worn anything that’s felt so comfortable right from the get-go.”
“They don’t rub your ankles on the inside? Sometimes that’s an issue.”
She kept walking. “They’re perfect. I don’t feel my toes rubbing either.”
“Good. The ones I’m wearing are fantastic.”
“You’ll carry these in your stores and online?”
The trail started to rise, getting a little steeper, but she marched on while he walked close behind her, so they didn’t have to shout to be heard.
“I’m trying to work a deal with them now,” he said. “I like to provide footwear that’s cost-effective for everyday hikers.”
She smirked at him over her shoulder, before turning back to the trail to make sure she didn’t trip. “I checked out your site. You’ve got some pretty hefty price tags on there.”
“True. But I’ve also got middle-of-the-road equipment. And high-quality bargain-basement deals too. I try to provide for a variety of customers.”
Though they hadn’t reached the scrambling part yet, the trail had turned quite steep.
But she was doing it. She wasn’t even breathing that hard and began to feel pretty good about her fitness.
“I was afraid I might not be able to keep up with an Olympian.” The comment popped out, though maybe she should have kept her mouth shut.
He snorted behind her. “Are you kidding me? I’m trying to keep up with you.”
She stopped, turning to look at him with a narrowed gaze. “I don’t hear you breathing hard.”
He laughed and said in the sexiest of voices, “Not yet. But I’m pretty sure I’ll be breathing hard at some point today.”
It could have been a sexual innuendo. Especially the way he said it. But maybe that was her thoughts conjuring what she wanted to hear.
Because she was still thinking about that kiss . Thinking about what it would be like to do it again. Would the next kiss be even better?
Instead of acknowledging her thoughts, she flounced around once more and stomped on, saying over her shoulder, “I’m sure you’ll have no opportunities to breathe hard.
” And to make sure he got the message—in case that had been an innuendo—she added, “And may I remind you, this isn’t a date.
” Then she changed the subject completely.
“Tell me more about these talks you give at youth groups. I’m sure when I’m trying to find a match for you, the ladies will want to know about that. ”