“It’s not the same when you do it alone. It’s always more fun to do it with someone.”
He groaned. “Evie…”
She blushed, and he knew she understood why he had reacted the way he had.
“Oh, my goodness…do I do that all the time? Am I secretly a weirdo who just keeps throwing out sexual phrases without even realizing it?”
“I have to admit, I never noticed it before you came to the resort, but you do tend to do that.”
“Or maybe you have sex on the brain and that’s how you take everything I say,” she challenged.
“Well, yeah. Duh. I’m a guy. We’ve gone over this already.”
“Fine. Can we go back to talking about bikes?”
“We have a couple of bikes in storage, but we haven’t set up anything for actual trails. I want to say it was because it could get dangerous to have pedestrians and bikers on the same path.” He paused. “But…maybe you and I can take the bikes out and go down and check out how the construction of the amphitheater is coming along. Has Milo taken you to see it yet?”
“No. He’s been so hyper-focused on getting the office set up and trying to force a schedule that he’s barely mentioned it.” She shrugged. “I’ve seen the plans and drawings and heard him talk about it enough that I’m super curious to see how it’s coming along.”
“Then let’s go and check it out!” It was the perfect distraction. Biking meant they were separated and couldn’t talk too much, and then touring the construction site would keep the conversation neutral. And, with any luck, by the time they were done and brought the bikes back, it would be time for dinner, and he’d have an excuse by then to put an end to their day together.
They walked down to the supply shed, and it took a while to dig the bikes out because they were all the way in the back behind a bunch of other equipment. They were in decent shape but definitely dirty, and once he got the first one out, Evie took it outside and hosed it down to clean it off. Slater joined her a few minutes later and tried to take the hose from her, but she refused. He propped the bike up near the side of the shed. With a rag in one hand, he was mildly frustrated as he surveyed the mud splattered along the frame.
“I can’t believe they got put away like this,” he muttered. “We emptied that damn shed at least three times and put things back, and no one thought to clean these things off. Myself included.”
Evie stepped closer, hands tucked into the pockets of her hoodie. “It’s not even that bad. The first one was worse,” she said lightly. “I can clean it for you.”
He didn’t look up. “You don’t have to…”
“No, really.” She stepped closer, reaching out to brush a finger along the edge of the frame. “You just sit back and relax. You did the hard part. I’ll take care of your bike.”
Slater froze. Completely. Rag suspended mid-wipe.
Evie frowned at him. “What?”
He blinked once. Twice. Cleared his throat. “I…” He stopped and then started again. “You want to… take care of my…”
“Yes,” she said patiently. “I don’t mind getting a little dirty.”
He made a strangled sound that absolutely did not resemble a word.
Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like I said something wrong again.”
He dragged a hand down his face. “Evie…”
“What?” she snapped.
The corner of his mouth twitched despite himself. “You cannot say things like that.”
“Like what?” she demanded, genuinely confused.
He stepped closer now, lowering his voice. “‘I’ll take care of your bike.’ ‘I don’t mind getting dirty.’”
He knew the instant her brain caught up.
