Page 3 of Tiago

Finally, he drops my braid and steps back as though he’s come to his senses.One of us needed to.“Where are you taking me today?”he says in the most seductive voice I’ve ever heard.

I want to respond with something snarky like,“how about my bedroom,”but I draw in a deep breath and nod toward the counter.“I have a map.”

My bedroom isn’t an option anyway.I live in a small house with my grandfather, where I sleep on a twin bed in my childhood bedroom.That suddenly makes me feel far too young and unworldly next to this much older, far more sophisticated man.

Any doubts I might have had about whether or not he’s attracted to me have flown out the window.Tiago is into me.Would he be if he knew more about me?Like my age, my living arrangements, and the single-digit number in my bank account?

I shake my concerns from my head.Tiago has hired me to take him on a private hike.He booked it yesterday by text.I almost couldn’t believe it when I saw his message after two weeks of willing him to call me.I’m still stunned.

I need to get a grip on myself because I’m definitely overreacting to this situation.I’ve blown Tiago out of proportion in my head.He’s just a guy I met one time.A guy who likes hiking.Maybe he booked a private tour because he doesn’t like crowds or strangers.

Everyone in this town is a stranger to Tiago.He’s only been here three weeks.He hasn’t spent much time in town.Everyone knows everything about everyone in this small town.And I have not shied away from listening to the gossip about him.

The biggest gossips in town are Arnie and Blue.They sit in the bakery sipping coffee in their window seats nearly every morning of the week.They hear everything, and they spread it like wildfire.

I know Tiago is a painter.I Googled him.He has paintings in galleries all over the country.From what I can tell, he does pretty well.I know he came here in an RV because he’s a nomad who has been traveling around the country for years.I know he’s Ryder's older brother, son of William Wilde, and grandson of the late Amos Wilde.He’s here to claim his piece of the pie like every other one of Amos’s grandchildren.

After three weeks of gossiping about these brothers, we all know the only way any grandchild can collect their inheritance is by moving to Wilde for ten years and taking care of the town.Amos’s grandchildren are not kids.They’re grown adults.The oldest is forty-five.I’m not sure how young the youngest is.I’m not even sure how many grandchildren there are.Amos had four sons, and they all have adult kids.

I walk behind the counter to put a barrier between me and Tiago so I can breathe.I pull open a map of where I intend to take him today and point to the path I’ve marked out.“You said you wanted to go five miles.Is that still okay?”

“Yes.”He nods as he leans over to look at what I’ve got planned.When he reaches up to smooth the map out, his fingers brush mine.

I don’t move my hand.I just continue to hold the map in place as if I haven’t noticed or am unaffected by the slight contact.I’m affected like a wolf in heat.

I have to stifle a giggle.That’s the third time I’ve pondered our odd connection as though we were not fully human.

Tiago is smiling when he lifts his gaze.“What’s so funny, Reagan?”

I love the way my name rolls off his tongue.It sounds like a seduction.

My face heats at being caught.There’s no way I would tell him my thoughts.They aren’t even rational.Who could explain what I’m feeling?I shake my head.“Nothing.”

His smile grows.“Tell me.”

Oh shit.

I smile back.“Not a chance.Shall we go?”

He sets his hand on top of mine, holding it against the counter.His thumb starts rubbing my skin.“What made you giggle, Reagan?”

I sober slightly and swallow hard.He’s holding my gaze again.I want to climb up him, wrap my legs around his middle, tug his ponytail loose, thread my fingers through his hair, and then kiss him.I bet this man can kiss like nobody’s business.

I want his hands to wrap around my ass cheeks to hold me up.I want him to spend hours looking into my eyes like he is right now.I want him to flatten me to the wall and grope me until we’re both breathing heavily.I want everything I’m feeling to be mirrored by him, and I hope I’m not wrong in suspecting it is.

I shake out of my mental stupor and whisper, “We should go.”

He grins.“You’re adorable when you’re flustered, and I’m persistent.I won’t let this go, Reagan.I want to know your thoughts.”

“You’re so intense,” I respond.“I’ve heard Ryder is, too.Is it genetic?”

He chuckles.“Maybe.”Still holding my hand, he lifts it off the counter as he rounds to my side.He’s so very close when he says, “I want to get to know you.Tell me what made you giggle.It’ll be a good icebreaker.”

I draw in a breath.“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Nope.”He pulls my fingers to his mouth and kisses the tips.

My breath hitches.This is intimate.It’s mesmerizing.I can’t draw my gaze away from his full lips slowly kissing every one of my fingers.We’ve definitely crossed the client-saleswoman line.It’s been obliterated.There are no doubts about his intentions now.Gone.Poof.

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