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“We haven’t even started the hike,” Blaze said. “Give it a chance.”
“I don’t see how this is supposed to make me want to write a song,” she groused. “Right now, I just want to get back in bed.”
“It’ll come to you. Nature always helps me find the words I didn’t know needed to be let out,” Asher explained, taking the notebook out of his backpack.
Giselle lowered her shades just so they could both see her eyes roll.
“Asher, you were a teacher’s pet in high school, weren’t you?” she teased.
He smiled, beatific as always. “I did well,” he answered.
“And let me guess—you were one of those weird burnouts skipping class to smoke in the parking lot?” she directed to Blaze.
He snorted and crossed his muscular arms over his chest. “Takes one to know one.”
“Pfft. I was an outsider by choice,” she quipped defiantly. “Not my fault those kids couldn’t handle me.”
“Who in the world could?” Blaze shot back.
“The sun’s coming out. We should get moving before the day trippers show up,” Asher interrupted calmly. “Unless you want to share the trail with a bunch of tourists.”
Giselle and Blaze blanched at the same time.
“I’d rather eat my own hands,” she said. “Fine. Let’s take a hike.”
“You sure you can keep up in those shoes?” Blaze mocked.
Giselle looked down at her platforms and then scowled up at him as he and Asher made their way to the trailhead. She ran after them.
“See, you guys always think you’re so tough. But I can do all the same things you can do—but in heels!” she snapped.
“Maybe if you weren’t the size of a first-grader you wouldn’t need those heels,” Blaze tossed back at her over his shoulder.
She pouted, her plush lower lip jutting out as her dark brows knitted together.
“I’m not a first grader,” she grumbled.
“Could’ve fooled me,” he laughed.
“Look,” Asher said, pointing out the green trees waving gently in the breeze as they crested the first hill. The sun cast dappled light over the green and golden fields.
“Yeah, yeah, nature is amazing,” Giselle mumbled.
“How does it make you feel?” Asher prompted.
She glowered at him, but he seemed immune to her bad attitude.
“I guess it makes me feel kinda good,” she admitted.
“That’s a start. Don’t fight it. Let the inspiration come to you, even if it doesn’t make perfect sense at first,” he instructed her.
Blaze had to hand it to him—the guy was a pro at keeping his emotions in check. Not even an instigator like Giselle could knock him off his game. He had assumed Asher was a pushover at first, but the longer he knew him, the more apparent it was that Asher simply didn’t let things get to him. He didn’t need to fight and brawl for a place at the table; his talent was enough to land him a seat. His professionalism, passion, and unending patience kept him there. It made sense why Bruce Jimenez had hired Asher to deal with Giselle.
Blaze felt a little more respect for the guy. If he could deal with Giselle’s prickly personality, then surely Blaze could do the same. He couldn’t help but glance back at her now and again. Even with a sourpuss expression, she was wildly beautiful. She was out of her element, like a vampire trying to get a suntan. But she didn’t let it slow her down. Even in her platform shoes, with her shorter legs, she managed to keep up with Blaze and Asher out of sheer determination. The landscape only became more breathtaking as they climbed the path.
“Alright, I can admit this place is beautiful,” said Giselle, in between catching her breath. “But what does it have to do with my lyrics? I don’t write about nature.”
“Yeah, I can tell by how pale you are,” Blaze remarked.
