The Perfect Lie (Hope Falls Universe)(8)

“Or maybe you just feel bored and you happen to be a rich girl and that makes you feel guilty.”

“Well, I guess I don’t need my therapist when you’re around.”

“Shit. I shouldn’t have overstepped,” he said.

“No. Overstepping can be okay when you’re right. I left because I wasn’t happy with myself and I guess I’m still not there.”

“Well, you might be spoiled and rich, but so far I like you.”

His very uninformed approval made her feel better than it should.

“Because you feel bad even when you shouldn’t, and that’s a good sign.”

“Well, I like you too,” she offered.

“So does that make this officially a date?”

She glanced behind them to the winding trail they had walked down. “Did you purposefully wait until we were this far away from the car to ask?”

He glanced behind them and back to her. “No, but that is a happy coincidence now that you point it out.”

“All my reasoning from last night still stands.”

“Fine. It’s not a—”

“Shut up. We both know it’s a date.”

He threw both arms up in the air in victory. “Boom! Nailed it.”

She shook her head at his overstated joy but a second later, he was reaching for her. She let out a little shriek as an arm went over her shoulders and pulled her close. She lost balance for a second, but he held her well enough that she didn’t fall and soon she was stable enough to walk alongside him with his arm still around her.

“We’re in date mode now,” he warned.

“Oh, God. What have I gotten myself into?”

They reached a fork in the trail and he stopped. “Right is the stables and left is the experienced trail.”

“Experienced trail? I don’t know if I’m good enough for that.”

“Let’s put it this way. The experienced trail is going to be very secluded. The stables will be busier, but there are also horses.”

“Well… The horses will be there later today, right?”

“They don’t move all that far.”

She took a few steps to the left. “So…experienced trail? I do have the best tour guide on staff, don’t I?”

“The best. I’ve gotten lost so you don’t have to,” he said with a wink as he took her hand in his and led her down the trail.

“No, you haven’t!”

“Not really lost. That’s what makes me a good guide. When I get lost, I know what to do.”

“Way to fill me with confidence.”

He gave her hand a little squeeze and pulled her on. She soon realized that the reason the experienced trail was experienced was because it was very narrow and sometimes hard to figure out what was trail and what was random patches of dirt. There were other rocky bits where someone could really fall and hurt themselves. She wondered whether she was supposed to sign a waiver before doing this…

She carefully set her feet where Josh set his and about forty-five minutes later, they were at the top of the large outcropping that looked out over the property. “Wow.” Steph gazed out over the mountains and forest. A beautiful river meandered through the trees, leading to a babbling stream. All this was bordered by the majestic mountains that gave Mountain Ridge its name. “Wow,” she said again. This view warranted a second wow.

“Not a bad place to work,” said Josh, the pride evident in his voice.

“I can see why you like it so much.”

“I can see why you stayed.”

She bit her lip and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “I think we both know the scenery isn’t the reason that I stayed.”

“I don’t do one-night stands either,” said Josh.

“Where does that leave us then?” Because she had no idea what to do. She did not want to taste him and never get a chance to have another bite. But at the same time…

“I can’t not kiss you up here. You know that, right?”

She sucked in a breath. Hell, at least they’d be confused together. “I got that.”

“Good.” He turned to face her and there was something special about knowing she was about to be kissed here at this perfect spot. “Why did you kiss me last night?” he asked suddenly.

She frowned as she looked up at him. “Well, I guess I couldn’t not kiss you.”

He leaned in closer. “This is weird.”

“Well aware.” She set her hands on his chest and stood on her tiptoes.

“As long as we understand each other.”

“I don’t understand a thing,” she admitted. But then she didn’t care because he was kissing her.

Their kiss last night had been desperate and needy. This was different. Josh seemed to know they had all the time in the world. As much as she enjoyed the soft, chaste kiss, she couldn’t help closing the small gap between them. She melted against him and enjoyed the press of his muscular form against hers. Running her hands along his shoulders and back, she appreciated the feel of him.

Then he tilted his head and started to take control of the kiss. He cupped her face with his hands and his tongue pushed through her lips. Without hesitation, she opened for him.