My arms dropped. He looked anywhere but at me.
“Maybe we should head back? That was a lot for one day,” he said. His voice was so casual. He would have fooled anyone else but I knew something was wrong.
“No.” I crossed my arms.
“No?”
“You dragged me all the way out here. Forced me to look at your stupid pretty face. I’m not going back yet.”
“Wait, wait.” He shook his head. “Stupid pretty? Or stupid and pretty?”
“Sanders.” I glared at him.
“I just don’t have anything else planned.” He scratched at the back of his head and looked at the trail leading back into the trees.
“You didn’t even have this planned,” I said.
“Fine. We can stay and try something else. But only because you’re stupid pretty too.”
“You can’t say stuff like that.” But there was no heat in my words. I was getting used to his bold flirting. He was like being around a plate of cookies when starving. How was I supposed to not sneak a little sugar where I could get it?
Sanders pulled out a battle-weary Nalgene water bottle covered in stickers from places like the Grand Teton National Park and the Great Wall of China. He took his time unscrewing the cap. After a few deep drinks, he smacked his lips with an “ah, better,” then carefully spun the cap back on. Everything took an eternity.
“Are you stalling?” I asked.
“Not at all,” he said giving me a look like I was crazy. Then he pulled out an apple and started polishing it on his pants. “Hungry?”
I blinked at him. “Nope.”
He took a huge bite and chewed thoughtfully.
“Sanders.” I shifted from foot to foot. “Youarestalling.”
“Not at all.” He took another huge bite. The apple was already mostly gone.
“We’ve been gone a half hour.” I glared.
“Can never be too careful. Low blood sugar is dangerous,” he said through a cheekful of food.
Watching him eat was hypnotic. His jaw worked like a sleek machine. Like everything he did, his movements were so relaxed yet purposeful. His throat moved as he swallowed and it was impossible to not fantasize about biting him there and then, soothing it with a soft kiss.
I moved away and circled the small overlook.That was weird. Don’t be weird, Roxy.
The apple core went whizzing through the air and into the valley below us.
“Okay,” he said, wiping his hands on his pants. “This one is called, two truths and a lie.”
I shot him a look. “I’m familiar.”
“No holding back. Honesty.”
In Denver we hadn’t had a chance to really explore each other because we kept the details out. So what would happen this time if we pushed each other too far?
“You’re going down, Colonel,” I said.
He squinted at me.
“Colonel Sanders?” I clarified.
