Chapter 3 #2
“Well, no children from me or Jace; much to Mom’s disappointment.
I keep telling her there’s time. She says she’d like to be able to run around with them before she’s decrepit.
” Gavin laughs. “Dad’s brothers married later in life, in their late-30s, and have kids.
I’m forty and Jace is thirty-five, so, yeah, there’s time.
” He looks at me and winks. “What about you?
Siblings? Nieces or nephews? Other family in Cali?
“Single child. No other family; they’re back in Italy where my father was born, and Algeria where my mother was born. We’ve visited a few times over the years, and I have loose contact with a few relatives.”
“Will you be spending the holidays in San Diego then? Because if you want a dose of family exuberance, you are more than welcome to spend it with us.”
“Gavin Driscoll, are you inviting me to Christmas with you and your family?”
He glances at me and smiles. “I am.”
“You are too sweet.”
“Nah, I’m just right.”
I snort, thinking he’s not wrong. We fall silent as Gavin turns off-road, following a path not many would consider negotiable.
But I have faith in him as I stare out the windows, taking in the beautiful greenery.
The sky is laced with a blanket of wispy clouds, a little blue is seen.
Birds perform acrobatics in the distance, and a small creature darts across the road, causing Gavin to slow down.
“What was that?”
“Either a weasel or squirrel. It ran too fast for me to be sure.”
“Should I be concerned about wildlife encounters on this hike?”
He parks in a wide spot marked with a sign indicating the trailhead. Ours is the only vehicle. “Nah, just little mammals and birds. Maybe a snake, but it’s too cool for them right now, so those chances are small.”
“But still a chance. What about bear or mountain lion?”
“Again, always a chance, but slim. I brought a collapsable baton along with a firearm.”
“Firearm? Gavin, you aren’t making it any easier for me to exit this vehicle.”
He reaches over to take my hand in his. It’s warm and comforting.
“Tiana, relax. I know these trails; been on them many times. So, I’m prepared.
And I wouldn’t have invited you if I thought there was any danger.
It’s nature, so yes, other creatures, but we usually give each other a wide berth. Can’t let that stop us from adventure.”
“Okay, I’m trusting you, but just know I shriek like a banshee should anything startle or scare me.”
He laughs. “Good to know. That alone would probably scare anything off.”
“It’s my superpower.”
“Ha, no, your superpower is creating divine edibles no one can resist.”
He stares at me with such a sexy grin, I have to resist leaning closer to taste those plump lips. I notice his gaze drop to my lips before looking back at me. Gavin then clears his throat and releases my hand. He turns off the vehicle and pockets the FOB.
“Shall we?”
“Yes, we shall,” I say.
We exit the vehicle, and while Gavin goes to the rear, I grab my pack and meet him there. He’s unlocking a box, pulling out a small pistol, and sliding it into a holster at his hip. He closes the hatch, shrugs into his coat, and retrieves his larger pack, easily slinging it onto his back.
We each take a deep breath of the fresh air as we take in the solitude.
The temperature is pleasant, so I hold off putting on another layer right now.
I’d braided my hair in one long tail and decided to wear a colorful wrap instead of a beanie.
But I have one in my pack if I change my mind.
Gavin’s wearing a deep red beanie and jacket that stands out amidst the green and brown.
“We’ll take that trail,” Gavin says, pointing off to the west. “It circles close to a stream and there’s a great high point, the lookout, where we can see down into the valley.”
I look off to the northeast at a peak that already has a dusting of snow. “And what’s that mountain?”
“That’s Mount Laguna, over fifty-seven hundred feet high. There’s another trailhead up there that’s nice but a bit more challenging. And there’s also an observatory. Pretty cool to check out sometime.”
“Is that another date you’re asking me on?” I grin at him.
He looks at me and grins too. “Sounds like you’re implying today is a date.”
“Is it not?”
“It can be construed as such.”
I throw my head back and laugh.
“And I’m not opposed to there being more,” he says.
I meet his gaze, seeing mischief in those crystal blue eyes. “Me neither,” I reply.
His smile broadens as he adjusts his pack. “Let’s begin.”
I fall in step next to him as we head out, traversing an easy path.
We slowly climb in elevation, and thankfully, I’m handling it well.
The only exercise I get besides my yoga is walking around my cafe and walking or biking around San Diego.
If I don’t need to use my vehicle for shopping or deliveries, then I won’t.
We stop after a few hours, drinking water and enjoying the views.
Tiny wildflowers dot the landscape and plenty of birds and insects buzz about.
As I place my tumbler in the side pocket, a red and black blur slithers a few feet from us.
I can’t contain the yelp that escapes or the death grip I have on Gavin’s arm as I move close to him.
He looks at the ground then at me as my gaze darts back and forth from him to the snake. “It’s okay. It’s a Coast Mountain Kingsnake. They aren’t venomous.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Gavin unclips something from the side of his bag then whips it in front of us.
It’s the baton. He starts to walk closer to the snake, but I have a firm hold on his arm.
He turns to me. “I’m just going to encourage it to move along.
Rare for one to still be out in the cooler weather.
” I release his arm, and he takes a step toward the reptile, tapping the baton on the ground.
The snake slinks away into the low underbrush. “See, nothing to worry about.”
“Uh, huh.” I inspect the area, seeing it’s safe to join him. Gavin keeps the baton extended as we continue on.
Within another hour, I hear the stream and see a rocky formation that looks like a pedestal. “The lookout?”
“Yeah. About two hundred feet tall. There are footholds on the other side that were created, making it easy to get to the top.”
“Lead on, Bear Grylls.”
Gavin chuckles as he takes my hand in his, leading me around to the steps. They’re wide enough that we easily ascend side-by-side to stand at the top.
“Wow. The view is gorgeous.” I start to rotate around as Gavin drops my hand, murmuring, uh huh. I take in the sight from every direction, and when my gaze lands back on my guide, he’s staring at me. “I guess you’ve seen this many times, so it’s nothing that takes your breath away.”
“I’m gazing upon you, and that takes my breath away.”
My mouth drops open, but I quickly snap it shut as my pulse speeds up. It’s nothing new to have men flirt with me, but there’s nothing flirty about Gavin’s remarks. They’re simply statements of his feelings, and I find it attractive and refreshing. Magnetic even.
He steps close, staring at me as he places his hand beneath my chin, lifting my face. “Any objection to me kissing you, Tiana? Because I’ve been holding back since last night.”
“No objection,” I whisper.
He smiles as he leans down, placing his lips on mine.
I close my eyes and sigh, breathing him in, relaxing as he takes control, kissing me tenderly.
My fingers grip his jacket as he shifts, angling, kissing me deeper.
I open my mouth, and he dives in, sweeping his tongue against mine.
Not one to remain passive for too long, I pull our bodies flush to each other, matching his energy and engaging in the kiss with just as much need as he’s kissing me.
All too soon, he’s pulling away, and I hear our breaths rushing in and out. “Damn,” he murmurs. “Delicious.”
I open my eyes to see him staring at me, his lips moist and swollen, tempting me again.
“Stop looking at me like that, or I’m liable to perform obscene acts in public.”
I twist my head one way then the other. “I see no one else around.” I grin.
“Tiana.” He practically growls before claiming my mouth again.
The kiss is quick but no less intense, and when he pulls away, he takes my hand in his.
“Let’s head out. I feel the air cooling.
” He looks to the sky, causing me to do the same.
“The clouds are condensing. We might get some precipitation after all.”
“Can we make it back to your vehicle before we do?”
He looks up then to the west. “I hope so. We’ll have to hustle.” He looks at me. “You doing okay? You have your poncho?”
“I’m fine, Gavin, and I have a raincoat.”
We start down the steps. “I’m sorry,” he says. “This is the unpredictability factor. I thought we’d have more time to at least stop for our picnic.”
“Don’t be sorry. You can’t control the weather.” We reach the bottom, and I pull us to a stop. “Let’s at least grab a snack bar. We’ll eat as we walk. But first, turn around because I have to pee.”
Gavin chuckles as I drop my pack to the ground, retrieving hygiene items and a baggie. “No peeking. Be right back.” I walk to the other side of the lookout to take care of business before we journey on, hoping we make it back without getting drenched.