Page 30 of Love You
He opened the passenger door, dropped his backpack on the floor, and bobbed his chin in greeting. “Want me to drive?”
“Nope. I want to get there in one piece.”
“Whatever.” He buckled himself in. “Hit it.”
Before pulling back onto the road, she turned sideways in her seat and sniffed him. “Cologne?”
“Just soap, babe.”
She should’ve known better. Cologne would’ve ruined the whole I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-naturally-gorgeous thing he had going on.
He eyed her up and down. “Where are your hiking shorts and boots?”
She didn’t own any. “Why? We’re not hiking.”
“Yes, we are.”
“Check your itinerary, Win. There’s nothing on there about hiking. After breakfast, we’re giving them a tour of the town . . . from the van.” He didn’t say anything, which worried her. “I worked hard on the schedule, we’re not changing it.”
Silence.
“Win?” She gripped the steering wheel as they took the road to the Four Seasons.
“Just a quick stroll up the Miwok Trail on Sawtooth for that breathtaking view, then we’ll return to your regularly scheduled program.”
“A quick stroll?” She took the turn a little too fast and Win planted his feet on the dashboard to stabilize himself.
“Jeez, take it easy, Mario.”
“That’s a three-mile climb.” Straight up. She knew that because it was one of the tours they offered. It was guided by a retired naturalist who could talk about the plants and wildlife in the area.
“It’ll be nice . . . get the blood flowing.”
In a minute, his blood was going to be flowing all over the minivan. And when Colt came to investigate she would tell him it was justifiable homicide.
“It wasn’t on the itinerary. Remy, Sue, and Russell won’t be dressed appropriately for a hike because they don’t know anything about it,” she said, hoping to put an end to his asinine plan for once and for all.
“They know about it now,” he said, and she shot him a look. “What?” He smiled a little too brightly. “I texted them a few minutes before you picked me up. They’re excited about it.”
“I’m not excited about it,” she spat. Her feet were still killing her from the horrible shoes she’d worn the day before.
“Just drop us, then, and say you have somewhere else to go.”
He would like that, wouldn’t he? Instead of being his equal partner, she’d be a glorified chauffeur. “You’re crazy if you think you’re taking that hike without me.”
“That’s good, too.” He glanced down at her tennis shoes. “Those will work.”
She would’ve called him some choice names but they’d arrived at their destination and their crew was waiting at the valet stand, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Before she even stopped the van, Win jumped out. She watched him shake everyone’s hand with a big grin on his face. Even from the driver’s seat, she saw Sue’s eyes pop out of her head.
Could the man be any more affable? She wished he would give it a rest already.
“Good morning,” Remy said as he climbed into the back seat of the van.
“Morning.” She plastered on a smile. “I hope you’re all okay with the change in plans.”
“A hike sounds great,” he said. God, she hated millennials, even if she was one herself. They were so damned chipper.
“Are you sure? What about your shoes?” She turned around and . . . great . . . he had on a pair of Merrells.
