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He loved this more open Leah. The one who flirted and didn’t seem so… burdened. Maybe telling him her story Wednesday night had lifted a weight from her shoulders. “One hike. Right now. Let’s go.”
“Can Ginger come?” she asked.
At the sound of her name, the dog sidled up next to Leah and pressed her furry head into her knee. Both dog and woman gave him puppy eyes.
“Jeez, I can’t say no to you girls, now can I?”
“You definitely shouldn’t.”
“C’mon then. This way.”
Dakota led Leah—and Ginger—to the kitchen where he handed Leah a water bottle. He picked up the small pack he used for basic hikes that contained a water bottle for him, some granola bars, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a Swiss Army knife, and matches. He added a baggie of dog treats, made sure he had his phone, and guided everyone to the back porch.
“I figured a short hike through my woods here if that works for you. Do you have any cravings as far as dinner goes?” He motioned for her to go down the porch stairs and Ginger followed them.
When her blonde brow arched playfully above her right eye, he almost scooped her up and ran back into the house to get them both naked and panting.
“You did say cravings for dinner, right?”
“I did, but I’m not opposed to hearing about any other cravings you may have.” He took her hand and jogged to the trees lining his backyard.
“The other cravings can wait, I suppose.” She pushed aside a low branch as she found the path and stepped into the woods. “Am I super boring if I say I want Mountain View Pizza again?”
“Not at all.” He took her hand and brought it up to his lips. “It can beourplace.” He held his breath, wondering if that statement might cause another panic attack.
When Leah shot him a huge smile, he let that breath go along with any worries. She wasintohim. She wouldn’t have agreed to this Friday night date if she hadn’t been. Not when they had a date scheduled for tomorrow night already.
“How coupley,” she said as she let her free hand trail over a moss-covered boulder. “Is that what we are, Dakota? A couple?”
“Do you want to be a couple?” Why did he feel as if they were high school students, feeling each other out on how serious this thing was between them?
“Are you capable of being a couple?” she asked, causing a little sting to get him in the gut. “Your sisters made it sound as if you like to date. Often. Maybe not the same woman multiple times. We’ve had three dates. We’re on number four with number five scheduled. I mean, I’m out of my comfort zone, but are you too?”
He’d been wondering when his sisters’ teasing would come up. “Look, Dena and Jacy were busting my stones, but they weren’t wrong either. I have dated in more of a buffet style in the past.”
“What keeps you from additional helpings of the same dish?”
He pointed to the trail that veered left and took up the position beside her. “I’m not usually around much.”
“What?” She stopped walking. “What do you mean? I feel as if you’realwaysaround.” She poked him in the stomach. “I mean, I can’t get rid of you.”
“Very funny. Does my constant presence bother you?”
“I can’t say that it does.” She leaned against him. “I couldn’t wait to come here today and spend more time with you.” She rose on her toes to kiss the tip of his nose. “That’s why I find it hard to believe no one has claimed you already.” She angled her head, hesitating for a moment. “Or has someone tried?”
“A few women have tried, but I’ve got a wall of photos back at the cabin of all the places I’ve been that is like a flashing beacon.” He held up his hands and wiggled his fingers. “Don’t get involved with him! He’s always chasing his next adventure.” His hands dropped to his sides. “I guess that message isn’t wrong. Or it wasn’t. Before I met you anyway.”
They hiked on in silence a little bit. What was Leah thinking? She probably wasn’t a huge fan of traveling after what had happened to her family and fiancé at an airport, but would that keep her from wanting something deeper with him? He wasn’t ready to give up exploring all the beautiful places on this blue marble. What he wanted instead was a traveling partner. One with long blonde hair and blue eyes. One who made fleece and denim and hiking boots with moose and bears on them look sexier than any lingerie.
One who had maybe wormed her way into his heart without him realizing it.
“How often do you usually head out on one of these trips?” Leah finally asked as they came to a small pond and leaned against some boulders.
He picked up a few stones and jiggled them around in his palm to keep from grabbing her and begging her to not run away. “Every month, maybe two.”
Her brows crinkled together. “But you haven’t been anywhere since at least the start of school.”
“Since July actually. I probably would have gone away in late September if…” He wasn’t sure if he should reveal the reason.
