Joanna's Highlander (Highland Protector #2)(19)
Joanna stopped jogging in place and tapped the annoying monitor strapped to her wrist. Her heart rate had already revved into the damn target zone as soon she’d seen Grant, and keeping it in the zone wouldn’t be a problem as long as he was around. “Look—this isn’t a race…at least not against each other. I’m trying to do this run in a certain amount of time. Kind of like racing against myself.”
“Then by all means, lead on, m’lady.”
M’lady? Again? The last time she’d brought his strange way of talking to his attention it had ended in one hell of a kiss. Let it go, Joanna. You are weak, my child. Too weak to fight off another kiss like that. Joanna sucked in a deep breath and took off down the street, once again thankful for the chilly night air.
Grant appeared beside her, silently loping along in a ground-eating run. He pointed to a path up ahead. A restricted path, closed off by three heavy chains hanging between two thick posts and a sign advising that trespassers would be prosecuted. “That path goes by a ridge overlooking the river if ye’d like a view along with yer run this evenin’.”
Moonlit night. Secluded path through the woods. Promise of a great view. Joanna’s libido alarm bells sounded and so did the heart rate monitor on her wrist. This is so not a good idea. Her judgment and self-control weren’t great under the best of circumstances—but a man like Grant in a place like this, after this morning’s kiss? Hell—nobody could pass this test.
Her fitness tracker beeped even louder with the tone that said her heart rate had peaked and needed to slow down. Again, Joanna punched the buttons and silenced it. “I’m taking this thing off. It must need new batteries or something.” She ripped the band off her wrist and shoved it in the bag at her waist.
Grant turned them toward the path but Joanna hung back on the main road, jogging in place on the pavement. “I really like running on asphalt better than gravel. Why don’t we just stick to the roads here in town.” What a lame excuse. It’ll be a miracle if he swallows that one. He’s seen me run on gravel before.
“?’Tis a good, smooth path. Ramsay and I worked on it most of the winter.” Grant twisted what looked like three large bolts drilled into the gate post. The bolts were aligned with the end of each chain stretched across the path. After he’d turned all three of the bolts, he reached through the chains, gripped the gate post, and unlatched a thick strip of metal from the main pole. The chains that appeared to be attached to the pole were actually welded to a hidden metal strip that could only be released by correctly positioning the three bolts.
Impressed at the ingenuity but even more impressed by the way Grant’s muscles rippled with every move, Joanna watched him closely as he took the chain gate, walked it across the path, and piled it in the grass beside the opposite post. When he turned around and grinned at her, she struggled to think of something intelligent to say. “Uhm…pretty ingenious. Kind of like a combination lock or something.”
“Aye.” Grant nudged the gate with his foot to clear it completely out of the path. “Easier than keeping up with keys and such.” He turned and held out a hand. “Are ye comin’ or no?”
Joanna stared at the safety of the well-lit and slightly populated road she was currently on, eyed the extremely private and secluded path, then looked at Grant. The smartest thing I could do is run back to my room.
“Are ye scairt?” Grant’s brows drew together as though he couldn’t believe that possibility might even exist. “I ne’er thought ye’d be one t’be afraid. What d’ye fear if ye take the path instead of the street?”
He would have to say that. “I’m not scared of anything,” Joanna said, a searing hot rush of defensive adrenaline making her wish she could peel off her shirt and run in nothing but her sports bra. Nobody calls me scared. Ever. I am not my mother. She sprinted up the path, slinging gravel behind her.
Grant easily caught up and padded along beside her. Fast. Silent. Like a relentless hunter staying near her until the perfect moment to strike.
Joanna shook the thought away and dug in, increasing her speed. This is nuts. He’s just a guy. I’ve got this. The only thing she needed to keep in mind was that whatever she did, she could not under any circumstances jeopardize Carolina Adventures’ potentially permanent year-round contract with Highland Life and Legends.
“Right up ahead.” Grant pointed to a widening curve in the path and a break in the thick pines filling the hillside. The evening clouds had disappeared, leaving a gap of blue-black night sky spattered with winking stars showing between the trees. “Ramsay and I are still working on the lookout platform, but the view is already grand.”
“You’re not even winded,” Joanna said between gulps of air, feeling the incline of the path more than she cared to admit. She’d been running for years. Why the devil is this run so hard?
Grant slowed to a fast walk, turned and took her hand, then led her to the edge of an unfinished wooden observation deck looking out across the valley. “Máthair says the gods wound me too tight. I’m rarely still.” He laced his fingers through hers and hugged her hand to his chest with a wink and a grin. “Maybe that’s why I rarely lose m’wind.”
Joanna had no idea what the hell Grant had just said. All she was aware of was the heat of his body against the back of her hand. Skin to skin. And the steady thump of his heartbeat. Strong. Tickling. Making her want to snuggle against him and feel it with the rest of her body.