Page 42 of Hard to Get

“You just moved in recently, you said.”

“Yes, beginning of September.”

“Where’d you live before?”

“East Van. Tiny little place.” I swallow a sigh. The condo I moved to after Cole and I broke up. “I wanted some outdoor space and to be closer to our office and the arena and stadium so I moved to Yaletown. Even though I nearly had a breakdown about spending that much money.”

“Oh yeah, places are not cheap here.”

We chat more about how long he’s lived here and how long he spent in Abbotsford, then we climb back on our bikes and cycle farther, stopping again at English Bay Seawall.

“Another gorgeous view,” I remark as we walk our bikes along the path. A seagull cries above us, wings stretched out against the blue sky.

“How’s your butt?” Jayden asks.

I grin.

“I mean, I know it’s gorgeous.” His smirk is unreasonably charming. “But is it sore?”

I laugh. “I’m fine.”

“Okay. We have a lunch reservation at one o’clock. So we can have a break there.”

“Where’s lunch? The Teahouse?”

“Yeah. That okay?”

“Absolutely. And I’m hungry, so let’s go!”

The ride along the Seawall is breathtakingly beautiful, so much blue with the sky and the ocean. Then we head off the path and into the park to lock our bikes up at the Teahouse. I try to fluff my hair up so it’s not all flat from my helmet before we go inside. We’re seated at a window table with a view of the bay and mountains. I let out a happy sigh.

Jayden smiles.

“There’s just something so… satisfying? I’m not sure that’s the right word. About being around all this beauty.”

“I think I know what you mean. It gives me energy.”

“Yes! And it feels good to use some muscles. I guess you do that every day.” I make a face.

We both order salads, hearty ones with lots of good stuff.

After a few uncomfortable moments on the beach, things feel easy again. I’m still annoyed at myself for failing at my plan, because he’s only made himself more attractive to me since then, adding to my belief that he is someone I could fall for and therefore someone I should stay far away from.

But I’m here. Might as well make the best of it, right?

“I worked up an appetite.” I look out the window. “I should have ordered the steak.”

“I considered that. I love a good steak.”

“Me too.”

“Hmmm. Do you like it rare… or well done?”

I look back at him. His eyes gleam, his lips quirk.

I slide my tongue over my bottom lip. “Medium.”

“Do you cook steak at home?”