Page 38 of Catching Feelings

?CHAPTER NINE

MILES

Hell, she’s cute in her black leggings and loose purple tank top. She’s wearing a white baseball hat with an embroidered heart and a stick figure of a boy and a girl holding hands on the front.

The name of the pediatrics office she works at is sewn into the side of the hat and her auburn ponytail swishes as she runs to the clearing at the top of the mountain.

“It’s beautiful up here.”

“It sure is,” I say as I take her in.

Her eyes are wide and bright as she looks over the tops of the trees and to the Atlantic. A smile stretches across lips I’ve fantasized about morning, noon, and night.

Wrong time. Wrong place.

I tear my gaze from her mouth and take in the view as well.

Mount Agamenticus is in York, Maine, a quick hour ride from Boston, and tall enough to offer breathtaking views from the top but not so grueling that I’ll be sore for tomorrow night’s game. Something Rowan was worried about on our drive north.

“Thank you for asking me to join you, Miles.” She squeezes my forearm. “I needed this. Fresh air. Exercise. And the view is stunning. I’d love to come back in the fall when the leaves are changing.”

“It’s a date.”

“I bet that’s what you say to all the girls,” she teases.

I’ve never been this awkward and unsure of myself around a woman before. Hell, I’ve never been awkward or unsure.

Rowan is different. She’s a friend first. But fuck, I’m ready to change our relationship status. If only I knew how she felt about me.

She’s sweet as fucking cherry pie around me, but that’s how she is with everyone. I guess it’s kinda the same with my flirting. Although, with Rowan I mean all the sexual words that come out of my mouth.

“Can’t say I’ve ever been on a hike with a woman before.” She has to see she’s different.

“Right.” She snorts. “You usually take your dates to clubs and back to your place. Let’s head down that trail. It looks like there’s another open area with a great view.”

I follow her as she jogs toward the trail, not making any attempt to take my eyes off her round ass. She’s giving me no signs that she’s remotely interested in me, which means I need to work even harder to show her the real me.

“It’s so pretty up here, Miles. I can’t believe we’re only an hour out from the city.”

I take out my cell phone and curl my arm around her waist, tugging her into my side. “Selfie time so we don’t forget the view.”

I hold my phone out in front of us, but since I’m so tall, it’s hard to capture Rowan and the view behind us.

“You’re too short.” I snap a few pictures since all I really wanted was a picture of her anyway.

“I’m five-six. That’s hardly short.”

“You’re still eleven inches shorter than me. Climb on my back so we’re the same height and I’ll be able to get the view in behind us.”

While it’s true, it’s also a stellar tactic to get Rowan’s body closer to mine.

“I’m not hopping on your back.” She laughs.

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