Page 15 of Yours and Mine (Friends with Benefits)

“Who is my type, then?”

“I think someone witty and smart would be better. Not school smart, although that’s a bonus, but life smart. Someone who can survive anything and will have your back, no matter what.” I paused, thinking for a moment. “And someone who can definitely bake.”

“Someone like you?” he asked.

I stopped, surprised at his question. A patch of light shone through the canopy above, lighting his face. He looked handsome today and in his element. Nick had a few good layers of summer tan, and the humidity not only made him sweat like a pig, but also curled his hair into frizzy waves. They looked kind of nice. Maybe even a little sexy. He reached for the elastic around his wrist and tied it up.

Yes, that was definitely one of his sexier looks.

“I can’t bake.”

“Sure you can. I’ve seen you.”

“Yeah, but not like you.”

“That’s because my mom’s a pastry chef and your dad’s a bread baker. I bet if she gave you instructions on how to bake a cake you’d be awesome.”

“Maybe, but I could never decorate it the way you do.”

He was lost in deep thought for a moment, and I wondered what he was thinking.

“What if I showed you how?”

“To decorate?”

“Yes. It’d take some practice, but it’d be fun.” His smile stretched so wide that it forced my mouth to curve as well.

“I think I’d like that.”

“When we get back home, then?”

“It’s a date. Well, not adate. You know what I mean. Just knock on my window, and I’ll be there. You know where I live.” I winked.

Why did I just wink at him?And what was it with my heart beating so fast that I could barely catch a full breath of air?

He stopped, yanking at the basket, forcing me to look back at him.

“Do you hear anything?”

I listened to the sounds of the forest. The only noise I could catch was the one of ruffling leaves above us.

“No.”

“Exactly.”

Wait, what?

I looked around the forest… and all the trees, shrubs, and brushes appeared the same.

“Please tell me that you know the way back,” I said.

“I thought you said you’d never get lost.”

“That was before you distracted me.”

Nick’s shoulders stiffened, and he was looking at something behind me.

“Jo, I think finding our way back is the least of our problems.” He brought his finger to his lips, indicating that I shouldn’t talk, and then pointed in the direction I thought we’d come from.

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