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I kissed the side of her head absentmindedly. It wasn’t what I was planning to do, but it just felt natural. She peeked up, a smile tugging at her lips, and said nothing. She didn’t turn away.
It was the perfect moment.
I bent down, holding her gaze in mine. Our lips had barely met when a scurrying sound rustled in the bushes under a nearby tree.
I jumped back. “Jesus, what the fuck was that?”
“Just a—”
“I think it was a mountain lion. I’ve heard they roam these parts.” My eyes darted back and forth, trying to locate the vicious beast about to spring.
Siena started laughing. She bent over and giggled mercilessly.
“Seriously, what the fuck was that?” I waited for her answer. “Stop laughing!”
“Okay . . . okay . . . whew.” She stood up, catching her breath. “It was just a fox.”
“A fox? How do you know what it was?”
“Well, it certainly wasn’t a mountain lion.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, for one, they rarely come around here. They’re more standoffish and like to keep to themselves. However, you could still see one. So, if you ever come out here by yourself, you need to be careful. But it was a fox. I saw it as it ran away when you scared it off.”
“When I scared it off?”
“Yeah, when you jumped and yelled.”
“Whatever. How was I supposed to know what it was? It sounded huge!”
“That’s because it’s so quiet up here.” She paused. “Anyway, scaredy-cat.” She walked past me, a sassy smile in place. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
I grabbed her around the waist, stealing a squeal as I tickled her.
“I’ll hold you to that,” I whispered in her ear from behind.
Her giggles turned to a contented sigh as she leaned back into me.
We enjoyed the view for a few more minutes before she said, “All right, time to get back.” She grabbed my hand, pulling me with her.
We were more than halfway back, enjoying the walk together, when she asked, “Speaking of big cats, have you heard the story about the city-slicker who came out here and was attacked and eaten by a mountain lion?”
I turned around, looking for some crazed animal to jump out at us. “What the fuck? No.”
She erupted in laughter as she kept walking backward, a little hop in her step. “God, you’re so easy!” She snorted with her finger pointed. “Gotcha.”
“Oh, I’m gonna get you for that.”
She squealed and started running. I took off after her. The chase was back on.
She stopped at the bottom of the driveway with me hot on her tail.
“You are a little shit, Ms. Moretti.”
“Oh, come now, Mr. Blaire. Surely you’re not surprised.” Her cheeks were flushed.
I grinned. “No. I’m not, Siena,” I said, my voice deep and serious.
