Baby Be Mine(Spinsters & Casanovas Series Book 1)(46)

“I’m not following you. I’m only taking a leisurely walk. It’s a nice day for a walk.”

“In this part of town? Like this?” Clarice gestured to their surroundings.

“Yes, in this part of town. Like this,” Hunter said simply, then continued on walking, pretending to admire the view around them.

“I wouldn’t expect a guy like you to be seen walking on a footpath like this.”

“What? Can’t a Greek god like me walk on this footpath too?” He inched closer to her.

“Yes, you can, but not near me,” Clarice said, feeling a little intimidated as he stood so close. She walked faster, trying to outdo him, but no matter how fast she walked, her short legs could only take her so far, and his long stride dissolved more distance than hers.

“The footpath is quite small. Of course I have to stand near you while walking,” Hunter said.

Clarice ceased her power-walking and stood facing him. She almost craned her neck just to see his face. Hell, from this distance, she felt so small standing next to him. In the afternoon sunlight, his long, dusty corn silk hair shone as if spun gold atop his head, and her hands yearned to run through it. Clarice, how could you? She mentally slapped herself for feeling this way towards this Casanova.

“Are you going this way for your walk?” Clarice asked in her serious tone, pointing to the right.

“Mmmm.” Hunter nodded.

“Good. Then I’m going that way,” Clarice thumbed to her left. “Away from you. Good-bye, Hunter. I hope I never see you again,” Clarice said, summoning all of her energy for her power-walk retreat, no looking back. Then she glanced at her watch and cringed. Yikes, only half an hour to go before she had to meet up with the representative at the Silverton Hotel.

Clarice hastened her pace, but once again she felt his presence next to her. Why was her body so in tune with him? She didn’t even need to see him at all. Her body could just tell her he was near. It was like he released some kind of pheromone that only her body responded to.

“What are you doing now? Going back to your car?” Clarice asked as Hunter followed her yet again.

“Yep. I’ve had enough walking,” Hunter said, stalking after her.

“Good. I’ll make way for you.” Clarice paused and stepped to the edge of the footpath so Hunter could bypass her, but instead, he just stood next to her.

“Mmm, the view looks nice from here,” Hunter said, pretending to look around again.

“Hunter, are you trying to annoy me here?” she asked.

“Am I annoying you? I’m just enjoying the view by standing here.” He turned to see some bushes that needed cutting. It was very unappealing, and some of the branches even snaked out onto the footpath.

“You are literally wedged to me like we’re sardines in a can,” Clarice said when Hunter drew himself closer to her, almost imprisoning her with his body.

“Am I? I didn’t know.” He feigned ignorance.

“All right, enough of this.” Clarice’s temper shot through the roof. “You go back to your car and I’m going back to mine. End of story.”

“Ha-ha-ha-ha.”

“What are you laughing at now?”

“I was just betting with myself how long before I could make you lose your temper.”

“And?”

“And it didn’t even last five minutes.”

“That’s because you rile me up, on purpose.”

Hunter turned serious all of a sudden, making her heart thump unevenly again. He leaned closer, making sure she couldn’t escape, and whispered, “You know, my tastes don’t usually extend to older women, but for you, Madam Avocado, I’ll make an exception.” Then he smiled at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief.