All the Feels (Spoiler Alert #2)(37)

“Is this my life now? Am I a mere pack mule?” Mournfully, he shook his head as he deposited everything in the left pocket of his track pants. “I imagine you’ll expect me to carry you up and down the steps too. Which, again, will tower over you like monoliths, but I shall persevere. Perhaps I can rig up a pulley system of some sort.”

Her jaw was making an odd, grinding sound. “I don’t believe that will be necessary.”

“But you don’t know, do you?” He grinned at her. “Have you ever seen this set of secret stairs before?”

Her face lit, her irritation temporarily forgotten.

She swiveled her head, scanning his property. “The secret stairs? We’re near those?”

The name wasn’t entirely accurate, as many people—locals especially—knew about them. But since the century-old sets of narrow, steep, public stairs on the mountainside cut between the private estates of various wealthy and/or famous people, his neighborhood didn’t exactly advertise their presence.

“Evidently, you haven’t gone out the side gate yet.” He waved her ahead. “After you, Smurfette.”

Their steps shushed over the pebbled path as they walked, and he shortened his stride, then shortened it again. For all her bustling, she didn’t get anywhere quickly. And for all his restlessness, he didn’t seem to mind. The steady sway of her ample backside was both calming and oddly mesmerizing.

Wait. Was he watching her ass? What the fuck?

Lengthening his steps, he hustled until they were walking side by side, and he no longer had a rear view. “I’d hoped to reach the stairs before dawn, woman. Channel your shrew nature and scuttle faster.”

He’d been gunning for a middle finger, but all he got was an eye roll. Disappointing.

No matter. Perseverance was good for the soul.

They reached the edge of his estate a minute later. A stone wall lined this side of the property, with faux turrets bracketing the lone, heavy door made of dark wood.

She paused to eye those turrets. “Really?”

“If you can’t properly commit to a theme, Nanny Clegg, that’s a flaw in your design, not my estate’s.” He stood in front of the gate and fished out his own keys. “Anyway, this set of secret stairs runs alongside my property. There are hiking trails nearby too, but they’re not officially open after sunset, and they’re not lit. That’s when they have the best views of downtown L.A., though, with all the lights.”

Her eyes closed for a moment. “Please tell me you don’t hike alone at night on unlit paths.”

“Well, I don’t anymore.” He patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll have you with me now.”

She groaned.

Even through her tee, the warmth of her skin heated his palm and tingled in his fingertips, and it was absurd. An overwrought response born from exhaustion, clearly.

“I’m sure the coyotes will be excited to meet my new companion.” He removed his hand and beamed at her, determined to ignore his baffling overreaction to such glancing physical contact. “Also the possums, skunks, raccoons, and snakes.”

Her skin was going to wear off if she kept rubbing her forehead so hard. “Holy crackers.”

“What?” He tilted his head, the picture of innocence. “NoHo doesn’t have coyotes?”

“No,” she said emphatically.

“NoHo,” he corrected, just to earn another glare. Which he did.

He unlocked the door and ushered them both through before shooting the bolt closed again. On his own, he wouldn’t have bothered securing the property during a relatively brief, late-night jaunt, but with Lauren living there …

Well, it was different.

She stood in silence for a moment and contemplated the stairs, which both ascended and descended into darkness.

He didn’t rush her. “When you’re ready, we’ll head down. That’s where my favorite section is.”

When she turned to face him again …

That smile. Oh, God help him if she ever realized what he’d do to elicit that brightness in her astounding eyes and that sweet curve of her mouth.

“I’m excited to see it.” She waved a hand. “Why don’t you lead the way, and I’ll follow behind?”

The steps were too narrow to walk abreast, and yes, perhaps it was safer not to allow himself the sight of her ass again. But something in him rebelled at the thought of not being able to see her easily and evaluate how she was doing.

“The steps are steep and made of granite, so if you fall, you’ll do some damage.” He frowned down at her. “Hold on to the rails.”

“Yes, Dad.” She blinked up at him, eyes wide.

Such sass. If he weren’t lecturing her, he’d congratulate her.

“If you get tired or start hurting anywhere, you tell me and we’ll stop,” he added.

Setting her fists on her hips, she watched him. “I thought you needed exercise to deal with your insomnia.”

That’s not as important as you.

“I have a gym back at the house. Besides, if you hurt yourself, you won’t be able to go anywhere. If you can’t go anywhere, I can’t go anywhere.” He started down the steps, adding over his shoulder, “And as we both know, my self-interest is paramount, always.”