Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Hannah dropped to all fours to climb back out of the tiny cave she and Hunter had occupied.
More than likely, she fell to all fours because of that mind-boggling kiss they’d shared.
Her knees had filled with jelly. If he hadn’t wrapped his long, muscular arms around her, she would have melted to the ground for sure.
Exhilaration still hummed through her. She’d had no intention of kissing him, but when those amber flecks sparked in his eyes while he looked at her, she was a goner.
After having sworn off men, she’d never expected to want to be kissed again.
Sebastián had done a number on her, and her instant attraction to Hunter scared her.
Heat rose in her face at the thought of kissing him again.
If they flamed any more, she was sure the tiny cave’s temperature would increase a solid ten degrees.
She popped out of the short tunnel behind the veil of the waterfall to find Alyssa and Bianca exactly where she’d left them. She stood and stepped out of the way to make room for Hunter.
He popped up alongside her. Tall, lean, and handsome, his sexy smile made her want to kiss him again. She had to stop looking at him, or she would. Her eyes practically scolded her when she pulled her gaze away from him.
“It was neat. Are you sure you don’t want to go in?” Hannah asked her friends.
The eagerness in her tone as a result of kissing Hunter was unnatural. It was evident, even to her own ears.
Bianca’s gaze bore into her. It went from Hunter, then returned to her. The smirk on her friend’s face let her know, she knew.
“Well, you kids were in there a while. Exactly how big is that cave you explored?”
“It’s small, but there was plenty to see,” Hannah replied to justify the time they’d spent in there.
Her friend arched a brow. “Plenty to do as well, I suppose.”
Hunter cleared his throat and gestured in the direction in which they’d come. “Shall we?”
Bianca arched her perfectly shaped blonde brow. “Sure.” She made a move to lead the way back out from under the falls.
Alyssa fell into line, and then Hannah and Hunter followed.
Once out from behind the waterfall, Hunter took the lead down the path heading back to camp.
He took his time walking at a mediocre pace and then stopping now and then to educate them about the trees, plants, and even animals.
Other than the fox they’d seen earlier, they hadn’t stumbled upon any other four-legged creatures.
She would have liked to see some deer or other mild-mannered animals, but there were none.
She’d almost given up hope when out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed a long, but tiny and slim brown creature scurrying up a tree.
The animal spun around to the backside of the tree, then peeked around it and stared at her from about ten feet up in a pine tree.
It stared, she stared, neither of them moving.
Those beady little eyes of his stayed on her with a look of intensity.
His furry face was mostly reddish brown over his forehead and to the tip of his snout.
His cheeks were lined with more of an off-white color that led up to his pert, rounded ears. He was adorable.
He disappeared, then poked his head out from the other side of the tree. Almost as if playing peekaboo.
“What do you see?” Hunter asked.
Wanting to bask in the enjoyment of seeing this beautiful, tiny creature, she didn’t answer so as not to scare it away.
The shutter of Alyssa’s camera sounded. The animal’s head snapped in that direction. Alyssa snapped another photo before the animal disappeared higher up the tree and into the thicker branches loaded with pine needles.
“A pine marten,” Hunter said as he stepped up to her side. “Nice find. They’re pretty elusive.”
“I thought that’s what it was, but wasn’t sure. I’ve never seen one before,” Hannah replied.
“They were once extinct from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan,” Hunter said.
“Really?” Alyssa asked.
“Yeah. Around the 1930s, between the unregulated trapping and logging of evergreen pine forests, they disappeared. They were reintroduced in the mid-50s.”
“That’s great, they were brought back. They’re adorable,” Alyssa commented.
“It is great, but don’t be fooled. They’re aggressive little buggers. They eat chipmunks, red squirrels, rabbits, just to name a few. So don’t let their small size fool you.”
Hunter reached out and placed his large hand on her shoulder. Her skin was sensitized by his touch.
“Good find,” he praised.
She smiled at his compliment.
His hand lingered and his touch felt warm and comforting. She hadn’t expected that from him. From any man. Not after what she’d endured from Sebastián.
When he pulled back, she felt sad.
“Alright. Let’s keep moving. Keep your eyes peeled. As we’ve just learned, you never know what you’ll see in the forest.”
“Bigfoot?” Hannah teased.
Hunter’s deep chuckle was pleasant to her ears.
“Be on the ready. You never know.”
Hunter continued to lead them through the woods, still stopping occasionally to educate them about wild animals common to the Upper Peninsula. It was enjoyable. Almost as enjoyable as their stolen glances.
By the time they arrived back at camp, her stomach screamed for nutrition. It was nearly two o’clock.
“How about a snack or a sandwich?” Hunter asked as he pulled the cooler from the metal locker used to protect the food from being stolen by bears or other creatures of the forest.
“We have ham or salami, or venison stick sausage and cheese,” Hunter offered.
Hannah grabbed the loaf of bread from the cooler and took the lunchmeat from him.
He followed her the few short steps from the locker to the picnic table with cheese, mustard, and mayo in hand.
She snagged a couple of venison sausage slices from the bag. It was delicious. She was used to venison and liked it. When she handed the bag to Bianca, her friend wrinkled her nose and held her hand in the air. Alyssa did the same, but wasn’t as dramatic about it as Bianca had been.
“You don’t know what you are missing,” Hannah informed them.
She caught Hunter’s smile.
Her friends split a ham sandwich and she ate her salami sandwich. Hunter consumed one of each.
“Now what?” Bianca asked.
“You are free to do whatever you want for the rest of the afternoon and evening. We can hike some more. Take the canoe out. Play camping games. Swim. Whatever you want.”
With her long, slim fingers, Bianca pointed to the tiny sandy beach area. “I see me lying on a beach towel over there.”
“Me, too,” Alyssa chimed in.
“Have at it. Hannah, what are you up for?” he asked.
“Let’s take the canoe out for a spin.”
Hunter’s handsome smile widened. “Let’s do it.”
She climbed into the front of the canoe, and he sat in the back.
They paddled out to the center of the narrow river and then made their way along with the current. Her eyes were peeled for wildlife.
After a few minutes, she stopped paddling, closed her eyes, and tilted her face toward the sun. The warmth of the rays seeped into her cheeks. The slight breeze kept her from overheating.
God, this feels good.
At that moment, she felt relaxed. More than she’d been in the past year. With all that had gone on with Sebastián, she’d never imagined she could feel as peaceful as she did right now. Maybe she should stay up here in the Northwoods forever.
“Feels nice, doesn’t it?” Hunter asked.
Hannah opened her eyes and glanced over her shoulder, back at her canoeing partner.
“It sure does.”
“The temperature couldn’t be more perfect.”
“For sure.”
A lazy grin lifted onto Hunter’s face. His dark, wavy hair accented that tan of his. She could only ever dream of a golden tan like that. Her pale skin seemed to act as a sun reflector, not an absorber. Well, at least she didn’t burn. Not too often, anyway.
Hannah resumed paddling. Slow strokes. Floating on this river for the rest of the day would suit her just fine. It relaxed her. Quick glances at the handsome man in the back of the canoe suited her just as well.
“There’s a little inlet up ahead with a trail about a half-mile long along the shore. Do you want to stop and check it out? It’s just a little loop.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Sure.”
Lifting that long, muscular arm of his, he pointed to a spot on the shoreline.
“Got it,” she replied as she helped maneuver the canoe in that direction.
They paddled right up to a grassy ledge where Hunter effortlessly landed when he jumped out of the canoe. He tied the vessel to a tree, then reached out to her.
Apprehension cracked through her like a whip as she stared at his hand.
Remembering his touch and kiss earlier in the day had her wanting to grab hold of him, then thoughts of her past and Sebastián’s harsh touch, sent her reeling.
Sebastián was a total dick and sadly, she now judged every man based on his actions.
She didn’t want to, but couldn’t help herself.
She’d been so wronged by him and didn’t know if she could ever find her way back to trust another guy.
However, the one looking at her right now with those dark, dreamy irises had her reconsidering.
The amber hues in Hunter’s eyes softened.
“I just want to help you out of the canoe. That’s all,” he assured.
The calming tone he used caused her to push her fear aside and reach out to him.
His grip was soft, yet firm enough to guide her out of the tippy canoe without falling. The second she gained her footing, he released her, taking the security of his hold with him. She felt disappointed.
“This way,” he said with the gesture of his hand toward the evident trail.