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“So since the goal is to get to know each other better while you’re here, tell me whatcha wanna know. Ask me anything,” he says with a smirk. “Give me your best.”
I glance over at him and laugh. “Anything, anything?”
“If you have any burning questions”—he shrugs—“I have nothing to hide from you, Zoey. Trust is everything to me.” I swallow hard. Trust is everything.
“Hmm, okay. When did you lose your virginity?” I throw out. “And to who?”
He snorts. “That’s your burning question? I was sixteen, and it was with a girl I dated in high school. Dana Jones.”
“Where is she now?” I ask.
“I think she’s married with like four kids or something. I dunno, honestly. Didn’t keep up with her after we broke up. But I hear some through the town gossip mill.”
“Four kids? Geez. Did she start in high school or something? Wait, are they yours?” I tease.
“God, no. She married Billy Barnes right after graduation and basically popped them out one after another.”
I laugh, wondering if that’s common down here or something. According to his grandmother, women are basically expected to multiply as soon as they get hitched. Or at least that’s her philosophy.
“So what about you?” His arm brushes against mine, and I lean into him. “What’s your story?”
“Ha! Not much of a story. I was seventeen, and he was a guy I had dated for a short time, mostly to piss off my parents. Don’t know what he’s up to now. Probably in jail.” I laugh, but I’m not joking.
“What type of guys do your parents want you to date? I’m guessing not the bad boys.”
I swallow down a giant knot in my throat. “Doctor types.”
It feels dirty coming out of my mouth, and I hate that it’s even a thing.
“They wouldn’t approve of me, then?” he asks straightforwardly.
I glance at him, not wanting to hurt his feelings. “Truthfully?”
The boyish grin doesn’t leave his face as he nods.
“Probably not. My father has always wanted my sister and me to marry men who were of a certain prestige. Since he’s a doctor, he wanted us to become or marry one and raise them.” I groan just thinking about it.
“My mom’s a nurse, and my uncle and aunt practice; does that count for anything?” He chuckles, and it’s such an easygoing sound.
“If you were their kid, then maybe. But then they’d probably ask why you didn’t go to med school too and think something was wrong with you—the same way they treat me.” I roll my eyes, releasing a slow breath.
He grabs my hand. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I ask.
“For feeling like you’re not good enough, but honestly, fuck ’em. As long as I’m good enough for you, by your standards, that’s all that matters to me. I didn’t marry them. I married you.”
I stop, and so does he. Searching his face, I grab his hands and pull him closer. “You’re too good for me, Riley Bishop. I don’t deserve you. Or the kindness you or your family has shown me. None of it.” Guilt weighs heavy on my chest almost to the point of smothering me. I need to tell him the full truth of why I’m here before it blows up in my face, but I don’t want to ruin our time together.
“Why would you say that?” Confusion is written all over his face as he pinches his brows.
I shake my head. “I think about the past two weeks and how incredible and welcoming you’ve been, and then I think about the future and everything. It’s just a little overwhelming.”
He sucks in a deep breath and runs his fingers across my cheek. “Then how about we don’t? Let’s just focus on the now.”
Tipping my chin up, he crushes his lips to mine, and I inhale his scent. He’s all I can smell. I’m completely and utterly encapsulated by him as he steals my breath away. Nothing else in the entire world matters at this moment. The only thing that pulls us apart is the sound of feet shuffling down the trail, and I see one of the women who’s also staying at the B&B.
“Don’t mind me, kids,” she tells us as she walks past us, and we both hold back our laughter.
Riley leans forward and gives me another peck on the lips, and we continue. “Mrs. Dennison has the worst timing.”
“Yeah, she does because if she would’ve been a minute later, I might’ve been riding you like a horse,” I whisper.
He swallows hard and adjusts himself. “Don’t you dare tease me, woman.”
My laughter echoes on the path. Our conversation becomes lighthearted as we travel farther down the trail until we end up at a lookout on a hill. The trees are sparse, but we take cover from the brutal sun under one. We’re both sweaty, but the smiles on our faces don’t falter as we eat the granola bars he packed. Though it’s hot, I can’t seem to sit close enough to him under the shade. I could stay right here in this spot for the rest of my life. I’ve found my solace.
