Page 39 of Catching Feelings

“Fine. We’ll do it this way.” I flip her upside down and over my shoulder in a fireman’s carry.

“Miles!” She pounds on my back. Between giggles, I take a few more pictures, this time zeroing in on her ass.

“The view is amazing.”

“My butt is in the way.”

“Exactly.”

The giggles and the thumping on my back stop. Too far? Possibly. I spot a boulder and walk over to it, setting her down on her feet on top of the rock.

“Better? Now you’re a few inches taller than me.” I hold out the phone again when a couple comes up to us.

“Would you like me to take your picture?” the woman asks.

“That would be great, thanks.” I hand her my phone and return next to Rowan, wrapping my arm around her and holding her close to my body.

If our closeness makes her uncomfortable, she doesn’t show it.

“You’re a gorgeous couple. To be young and in love again,” the woman says as she hands back my phone.

“Would you like me to take your picture?” I ask instead of correcting her about Rowan and me.

“Thank you.” She hands me her phone and I add my Miles sense of humor to make them laugh, keeping it PG, of course.

A few minutes later, we head back down the trail toward my vehicle.

“Would you rather always have wet socks or a pebble stuck in your shoe?” I ask as I shake my foot, trying to loosen the sand that’s creeped up by my toes.

“What?”

“Come on. Don’t tell me you’ve never played would you rather. It’s a Miles Buckingham favorite.”

“Is it now?” She laughs.

“You can learn a lot about a person with this kind of questioning.”

She glances over her shoulder and gives me a fucking gorgeous smile that is so genuine and real that makes my cock twitch. Granted, everything about Rowan makes my cock twitch.

“I guess I’d go for the pebble in my shoe.”

“Good choice. Wet socks are the worst.”

We dive deep into the nastiness of wet socks, then switch over to our favorite hiking trails.

“I’m serious about going for another hike if you’re still game.” More serious than she can possibly imagine.

“Isn’t your schedule kind of tight? I’m off on the weekends and that’s when you have your games. Maybe next spring or summer when you have more time.”

Fuck that.

“I have plenty of time.” I don’t. But if I devote the time I’m not at the field to Rowan, we can fit in some fun adventures. Other couples make it work.

Couples. We’re not one, something Rowan has reminded me of a few times today. I don’t even sense an inkling of interest on her end.

She doesn’t shy away from touching me or letting me touch her, but she’s a hands-on friend. Hugs, comfort. It’s the nurse in her. The caretaker.

But I want her hands on me for a different purpose.

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