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“Watch where the hell you’re going,” she snapped as she looked up—straight into Justin Blackman’s heart-stopping hazel eyes.
“Sorry, didn’t see you,” he murmured politely, stepping back.
Mortification washed over her. Of all people to run into. She was dressed in her ratty shorts and an old tank top and she hadn’t even brushed her hair before tossing it into a ponytail, damn him. Wait a second, Marley, since when do you care what you look like?
She frowned. When she started forward, he took another hasty step back. The flash of alarm on his face would’ve been comical if it hadn’t been so insulting. She knew she didn’t look the best, but she wasn’t going to infect him with anything. Her annoyance deepened as she moved around him.
“Are you done or just beginning?” he asked before she could make a clean getaway. She faced him again. He couldn’t tell? Man, she must really look bad.
“Just beginning,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Me, too.”
He looked and sounded way too chipper for her mood.
“Good for you.” She gave him her back once more and headed for the trail.
“How’s the hand?” he called after her.
She flexed her sore knuckles. “Fine.”
“Want some company?”
Her step faltered. Run with him? Sweating and panting with him while she fought to catch her breath at eight thousand feet? Yeah, that’s just what she wanted to do after the humiliation of having been fired. She shook her head and resumed her long stride. “I’m not good company right now.”
He fell in beside her. With a sideways look she took in his running shorts and tank top, noticing his wide chest, bulging biceps, trim waist, and muscled legs. Man, she’d take a whole calendar of just him.
“I’m not looking for company,” he said. She heard a grin in his voice and looked up to see his smile. Damn, he’d caught her staring.
Her gaze locked with his. “It’s been a really bad morning, Justin. I just need to run.” His smile faded, and he glanced away. He almost looked guilty, but she had no clue what for.
“How ‘bout a race?” He swung around and jogged backward in front of her.
“I’m not going to race you.”
“Chicken?” he challenged.
She stopped and put her hands on her hips, regarding him with narrowed eyes. Okay, fine. If he wanted to get trounced this morning, she was in the perfect mood to do a little ass kicking.
“First one up to the look-out point and back to the visitor center wins. And you have to stay on the trail,” she warned.
“That’s a given.”
“Let’s go.” She jogged past with a vengeful smirk.
“Loser buys dinner.”
He spoke from right beside her, and she almost tripped. Dinner with him? She glanced over.
“Just making it interesting,” he clarified.
Of course, no big deal. It wasn’t like it’d be a date or anything.
“Winner chooses the restaurant.” He was going to pay dearly for this.
“Deal.”
Marley took off and Justin kicked it into gear, thankful he’d thought to challenge her to ward off any suspicion at the guilt he knew had flooded his face. How could it not when he was full of it? Not that it made any sense. He had every right to fire her, not only for her recent mistakes, but because whatever she was up to with his dad couldn’t be any good.
