Page 19 of Thirst in the Mountains

The way to a dog’s heart is through his stomach, and I have no bones about buying Cutter’s friendship. Especially if it means I get to spend more time with his owner.

“Is this what you want?” I ask in a chipper voice as I pull a dog treat from my back pocket.

He licks his lips as he stares at it in awe.

“Sit,” I say. He does.

“You going to be my friend?” I ask, holding it just out of reach. He whimpers. I’ll take that as a yes. I give him the treat as Lucy watches with a beaming smile on her face. He scarfs it down and then I give him another one.

He doesn’t give me any more problems after.

“Thanks for thinking of that,” she says, relieved that Cutter isn’t in attack mode anymore. He runs into the house and returns with one of his toys, shaking it at me.

“Of course,” I say as I look her over. She’s stunning in a pair of black yoga pants that hug her curves so perfectly and a long plaid button-up shirt that hangs low. I’m admiring her outfit while undressing her with my eyes at the same time.

“I thought we could go for a hike through the mountains,” I say, trying to keep the huskiness out of my voice. “I picked up lunch from the bakery.”

She’s already blushing as she looks up at me with those breathtaking brown eyes. “That sounds perfect. Would you mind if we bring Cutter? I don’t want to leave him alone while…”

Her eyes drop to the floor.

“That’s why I chose a hike,” I tell her. “So he can come too. I have more treats for him in the car.”

His head tilts when I say the T-word and we both laugh.

It’s not long before we’re driving down a beautiful mountain road—windows open, music blasting, Cutter’s head sticking out the window. His ears are flapping in the wind and he looks so happy with his tongue hanging out, slobber clinging to his black lip in strings. Lucy laughs as she takes a picture of him and then snaps one of me.

I smile at her, wishing so much that it wasn’t too early in the date to put my hand on her knee. This is so perfect. It’s so natural. I could see us doing this forever.

This is how it would be if we were a couple. Just hanging out, enjoying each other, enjoying every moment, everything around me—every sensation and feeling—heightened because of her. I want it so badly. More than I’ve ever wanted anything.

I bring them to a hiking trail that only the locals know about. We share almost everything with the tourists that come to our town, but there’s an unspoken secret pact amongst the locals to keep this one trail to ourselves. It has some breathtaking views along the way and a perfect spot by a river to eat lunch. It’s always quiet, which I love.

Cutter bounds out of the truck, tail wagging like crazy as I grab our lunch and stuff it into a backpack.

I’ve done this hike hundreds of times, but it feels like I’m seeing it for the first time through Lucy’s eyes as we get started. She’s in awe as we walk under the tall Douglas firs and Ponderosa pines. She takes pictures of the colorful little finches darting between the branches and smiles when she looks at the photos. Cutter runs up ahead and then comes tearing back to us when he gets too far.

I already got this dog eating out of my hand. He’s looking up at me like I’m his long lost best friend. He brings me a stick, so I grab it out of his hand and launch it. Lucy smiles as she watches him take after it like a rocket.

“I was worried he wasn’t going to like you,” she says, grinning up at me.

“Is that a boyfriend test?” I ask her. “If your dog doesn’t approve, it’s over?”

“Over before it’s even begun?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.

I tilt my head, grinning at her. “Oh, it’s begun alright.”

She looks away, those adorable cheeks blushing.

“It started when I kissed those scrumptious lips.”

“Hmmm,” she says, playing with me. “I don’t think I remember that. Was that yesterday?”

I grab her arm and spin her around. She gasps as I pull her up against my body where she belongs.

“Maybe this will refresh your memory.”

She melts against me as I kiss her deeply, claiming her mouth like I’m going to keep it forever.

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